DEIVATHIN KURAL # 72 (Vol # 3) Dated 01 April 2009

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 72 (Vol # 3) Dated 01 April 2009
(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over a period of some 60 years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of last century. These have been published by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from page 311 of Vol 3 of the Tamil original. The readers are reminded that herein 'man/he' includes 'woman/she' too, mostly. These e-mails are all available at http://advaitham. blogspot. com constantly updated.)
34. So, instead of simply concentrating on that one God, this Hindu religion has given its followers a multi layered tasking of taking care of Deva-s, Pithru-s, other human beings and many other life forms small and big that, the Hindu if he does all his ordained duties ends up as the most prolific contributor for Paropakaaram. God appreciates this contribution of his for social service and bestows on him the highest wisdom of 'Atma Gnaana'! That is the reason for the fact that Hindu Religion spins off more Mahatma-s than can all the world's religions put together! Another way of saying this is that, since in this religion the majority of people are taking care of so many of the other life forms uncared for by other religions, that in recognition of its contribution, God creates a greater percentage of people who go for the Ultimate Reality!
35. There is another way of looking at it. God is the ruling, administrating, organizing Power in being. All the other Deities and various life forms are part of the divine beuracracy. So evidently, the King would not be interested in every Tom, Dick and Harry, approaching Him for every odds and sorts of minor matters! We know God to be Omniscient with unlimited capabilities. It is man who has to be trained in approaching God. For minor benefits, man has to be trained to approach the minor powers in being. Till he goes beyond his natural tendency and pre-occupation with the world and its affairs, he has to approach only these minor office bearers.
36. He has clarified this beyond any doubt in the Bhagawat Gita (B.G.). “Pack up all other Dharma-s and take refuge in Me” He says, in the 18th Chapter. This has become famous world over. But before this, He has said in the 7th Chapter of the same Bhagawat Gita, “To satisfy many of their desires, people approach many of the other Devata-s. On those occassions, it is I who instills their firm belief in those Gods! The devotee should realize that I am the indweller in those Gods too, lest he remains stuck at that limited level of satisfaction! But, the devotee who knows that, through all those Gods, he is addressing Me only, eventually attains to Me!” It is worth remembering here that the final position of Visishtadwaitam and Adwaitam is beyond even the comprehension let alone attainment, of most of the Sadhaka-s i.e., perseverers!
37. So, what is said in the 18th Chapter of the B.G. is for the rarest of rare, that is, 'leave all other Gods and surrender to me'. What is said in the 7th Chapter is for the 'half way stage Sadhaka-s'. For people like you and me, He talks not even touching the fact of His being the Indweller in all Gods, much earlier in the 3rd Chapter of the B.G., “At the time of creation Brhma created two species, Human beings and Divine beings. They are to be mutually inter dependent and supportive, 'parasparam bhaavayanta:', thereby attaining to high advantage. For this reason were created mehtods and means for Humans to do Yagna-s for propitiating the Deva-s.” 38. For life on Earth, it is the Gods who provide, Sunshine, Air, Fire, Rains and so on. By the conduct of Yagna-s we are to fulfill their requirements and they in turn provide our needs and necessities. Their is a mutual Give and Take contract here. Those who enjoy these benefits without 'Deva Pooja' are actually thieves! They are not eating food but Sin! Thus the same Krishna who ends advicing, “Surrender only unto Me”...'maam ekam saranam vraja'.., recommends, propitiating all Gods and Devata-s, for people like you and me! 39. Thus Hindu religion recommends a structured custom made approach for each individual, mainly related to that individual's level of understanding and maturity! The purpose is to successively but gradually, raise the individual to the highest levels of maturity, of oneness with God! The non differenciation of 'Jeeva-Brhma abhedam' comes at the end. Before that is the 'multi theism' and 'Pithru Aaradana'. Before all that is the basic moral duties of every member of the society. Without understanding all this, I am afraid people from other religions are too quick to level charges of lack of sophistication and liberal mindedness!

40. Having clarified the situation, let me stress the need for humility. Our minds are capable of very subtle thoughts and our brains are capable of a very fine comprehension. But that is not to give us head-weight! The human beings may be endowed with very fine mental brilliance and effulgence. But with all that, it is still limited. Between God and ourselves, there are many subtle life forms and powers in being. Thus Kaththavarayan and Karuppannan and such deities are also important. That is why on certain days of the year, such deities were venerated by all people irrespective of castes.
41. Similarly, the Dharma Sastra-s having given all their directions and injunctions go on to say, “That is not the end of all instructions. On occassions of quandry, you may have to take advice from, old ladies and old people of the fourth and fifth castes”! This clearly proves that their advice and propitiation of all village deities were accepted and agreeable to the Saastraa-s. We believe in propitiating the whole range of life forms in being as God's creations! We try and pacify the make them beneficial to all. If people without understanding end up criticizing, we are not to think low of our own religion.
42. All their criticism to me looks like Certificates of Merit! The same religion which extols Adwaitam, is also accommodating 'multi theism' and 'Pithru pooja'. It is able to carry all sorts of people of different gradations of maturity and sophistication, with equal felicity. That is why, Paropakaaram as a concept, instead of remaining restricted to taking care of human beings only, has gone on to include all life forms in its ambit, in Hinduism! That results in benefits not only to this country but to the whole world. That is the reason for there being more Saints and Sages in this country. That is the reason for this religion becoming popular all over the world, irrespective of caste, creed, nationality and languages!
Sambhomahadeva.