DEIVATHIN KURAL #151 (Vol #4) Dated 23 Feb 2011

DEIVATHIN KURAL #151 (Vol #4) Dated 23 Feb 2011

(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 the last century. These have been published by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each as Deivathin Kural. Today we are proceeding from the last para on page number 841 of Vol 4 of the Tamil original. The readers may note that herein 'man/he' includes 'woman/she' too mostly. These e-mails are all available at http://Advaitham.blogspot.com updated constantly)
463. D h a r m a M e d i c i n e. Dharma medicine is not like the news paper advertisements, which talk about medicine that is almost free of cost or 20% extra or something like that. What we have to do is to get rid of the Karma Vyaadi. How will the Vyaadi be got rid of? If you go to a doctor, get diagnosed, pay for the medicine and get treated. Then the disease will go. Who is the doctor who will correctly diagnose the Karma Vyaadi? He is Manu, who has given us the first Dharma Saastraas. From this you can guess as to what the medicine is going to be. The Saastraas which guide us on what we have to do are the medicines. Whatever Manu has said is the ‘beshajam’ (medicine) says the Taitreeya Samhita. Those who know Rudram and Vishnu Sahasranaama would have heard the word ‘beshajam’ at least, even if they do not understand the meaning.
464. When you are given the medicines, it is invariably accompanied with restrictions on diet known as ‘Patyam’. In it some items will be forbidden and some permitted in limited quantities only. Somehow one day or the other this body is going to be dropped anyhow. Till it is there, it should be kept in good condition as otherwise it will take away all your attention from any spiritual progress! When we are ready to take the medicine whether it is bitter or strong, we have to give greater attention to the dietary restrictions as per the ‘Patyam’. Similarly with further greater discipline, we should be observing the Do’s and Don’ts as required by the Saastraas. Though we do these things initially under compulsions, as time goes on, these Dharma Karma Anushtaanaas become appealing to our minds like the Unani and Homeopathy medicines!
465. Adharmam we know anyhow causes us to go astray. But if someone says that, “similarly Dharmam also waylays us due to Maya,” it is sheer nonsense. It is a statement made without the least amount of understanding as to what Adwaitam is all about! Similar is the criticism that, “because these Adwaitins are advocating that there is no difference between Jeevaatma and Paramaatma, people are giving up devotional activities, thereby causing harm to the whole society”, is another mischievous allegation!
466. There are some Adwaita Saastraas written purely for such people who have fully matured and risen above the need for cleansing their minds, in which there may not be any mention of Dwaitam, Karma and Bhakti etc. They are not meant for the common folks. But even such people far advanced in Adwaitic Gnaana were clear that the starting point has to be with morally righteous actions (of Dharmic Karma) and devotional practises (of Upaasana). That is how they have believed and advised others. In Adi Sankara AachaaryaaL’s Bhashyas he has repeatedly emphasised that pure Gnaana Marga is meant only for a few really advanced beings (uttama adhikaaris) on the path. Lower down the order for those who are just starting on the path, that is for the not yet matured people and those who have advanced somewhat, (of madhyama and adhama adhikaaris,) Karma Anushtaana and Easwara Upaasana are essential musts, as reiterated by our AachaaryaaL in many of his writings.
467. Great Adwaitic scholars such as Madusudana Saraswathi and Appayya Deekshidar have authored many books dripping with devotional sentiments. People like Govinda Deekshidar though being a far advanced Adwaitin have conducted many Yagnas and undertaken many socially responsible service activities! The aim and purpose of all their such activities was to be role models for others to emulate and follow what they showed by example of direct action. It is true that there are also people who are ready to criticise Adwaitam at the drop of a hat, so to say. But there have been such Adwaitins who see the relevance of Karma (daily and periodic Anushtaanaas and conduct of Yagnas) and Upaasana (poojas at home, temples and public places and conduct of festivals) and so have written with much sympathy elaborating on those points of principles (Dwaita and other Siddhaantaas).
468. Sankhyam, Poorva Meemaamsai, Nyaaya (Tarka) Saastram etc are all different from Adwaitam. Even Yoga Saastra is not in concert with Adwaitam. But one of the luminaries of Adwaita Siddhantam, by name Vachaspathi Mishra has written authoritative books on all these branches of philosophy. VidyaranyaaL was one of the Adwaita AacharyaaL as a Sankaracharya in Sringeri. He has written the very famous Adwaita book of authority known as, ‘Panchadasi’. He has also authored a book known as ‘Sarva Darsana Sangraha’, in which he has covered all points of view of every shade covering all traditions and Siddhaanta like an Encyclopaedia. In it he has discussed in detail the principles behind even the Nastik ‘Lokayatam’ which is pure atheism!
469. More than all this, I should be making a mention of another special point which is rather peculiar! Today if you want to know clearly about Madhva’s Dwaita Siddhaantam, Ramanujacharya’s Visishtadwaitam and Sri Kantachaaryar’s Saiva Siddhaantam; in Sanskrit, the most authoritative reference book is what Appayya Deekshidar (a real deep rooted Adwaitin) has written, as a Bhashyam to Brhma Sutra, following these three lines of Siddhaantams! The Adwaitins who have so generously accommodated differing viewpoints of other Siddhaantams, have never failed in their strict observance of Karma Anushtaanaas and Pooja paddatis. Instead they have been epitomes of model behaviour and conduct for others to emulate!
470. Simply consider the number of devotional slokas written by our AachaaryaaL! He has had time to walk to every important temple in the whole of India from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, where he has refurbished and repaired the premises, installed Yantras, re-established the pooja procedures, and sung songs in utter devotion for that particular deity! In the Matams established in his name, Veda learning and teaching is being nurtured; for all sets of people their interest in the observation of religious practices and festivals has all been rekindled and revived. To follow the righteous way of living has been emphasised as per Dharma and Saastraas! Especially we from these Matams have been encouraging conduct of Kumbha Abhishekam in each temple, which is supposed to be done at least once every 12 years with concurrent repair and rejuvenation of the buildings, environs and the organizational infra structure. Adwaitam is about the end stage of our understanding and awareness. If we take proper care of the Hindu religion from the grass roots level or from the foundation level; then we can later think about the end point of views! That Adi Sankara did for the whole of the Hindu Religion, fully recognising the relevance of other’s point of view, at various stages of the individual’s development.
471. So as not to lose track of the end aim though I am now lecturing about Adwaitam. But if any one of you come to me singly; that is if you come and get stuck with me by chance, I will only be telling you, “Do Sandya Vandanam; do Oupaasanam; visit temples regularly; in Ambal’s Sannidy light ghee lamps; clean up the temple premises; if you find thorns in the praharam remove them, dig wells and ponds for public usage; save at least one handful of rice daily so that you will be able to contribute a substantial quantity at the end of the month to help out some poor family; contribute what you can in kind or cash for social welfare” and such things with which I will pester you! By all such worldly activities only we will be able to grow mentally and spiritually to come to some understanding of different Siddhaantams of Adwaitam, Dwaitam, Visishtadwaitam and Saiva Siddhaantam!
(To be continued.)
Sambhomahadeva.