Swamy Nampillai just finished his daily worship and was about to conduct a discourse .
His ardent disciple Pinbalagaram Perumal Jeeyar had a doubt to be clarified.
He approached Swamy Nampillai and submitted his question
.. Acharya !!
Please tell me , whenever a person is in difficulty we approach our Acharya and seek his blessings to ward off the problems .
Acharyar also blesses by abundant compassion ” shubena manasa dhyaatam ” adding Thathasthu …and the problem is solved .
Such incidents have happened several times in the past and continue to happen .
Adiyen wants to know whether this is because of Acharya or the Lord ?
Swamy Nampillai in a composed mood , clarifies his disciple that all the good that was happening was because of Lord himself .
Pinbalagam Jeeyar again once again submits , Acharya !! in that case can we approach LORD directly ?
Swamy Nampillai with compassion replies !
My child …….
It is incorrect to directly approach the Lord .
In order to seek LORD’s grace we must first seek HIS devotees blessings .
LORD ensures that the blessings showered by HIS pure devotees are always effective . There is no other way to seek HIS grace .
Pinbalagam Jeeyar was convinced with the answer , but expected more .
Swamy Nampillai continued !
Look my child !!
In Mahabharata, Jayadhrata the powerful warrior killed Abhimanyu ( Arjuna’s son ) after leading him into the Padmavyuham ( Lotus formation ) .
Arjuna deeply upset vowed that before the sunset he would kill Jayadhrata else he would kill himself.
Having coming to know about Arjuna’s vow the kauravas were very happy . They decided to protect Jayadratta till sunset to see the end of Arjuna . Meanwhile , Arjuna was searching for Jayadratha everywhere in the battle field till the evening . Time passed swiftly and the sun was about to set . The Kauravas were overjoyed . They were keen to see Arjuna killing himself as per his vow .
Lord Krishna watching Arjunas anxiety , released his Sudarshana chakra and covered the sun thus appearing the night has arrived .
The kauravas were overjoyed . Jayadratta also came out from the hiding place . Looking at Kauravas , Lord Krishna ordered Arjuna to behead Jayadrata which was immediately obeyed and simultaneously recalled the sudarshana chakra . The sun came back in its own glory which amazed the kauravas . The vow announced by Arjuna was fulfilled by Lord Krishna . Lord ensured that HIS help is always available for HIS devotee. This pastime proves that LORD alone is responsible for the blessings of the devotee to be effective .
Swamy Nampillai further continued , Koorath azhwan the ardent disciple of Swamy Ramanuja was humiliated by the bigoted cruel king Krimikanta .
He along with Peria nambi lost their eyes in the process of saving the rich srivaishnava sampradaya . Koorathazhwan returned to srirangam in great distress . The tyrant king passed an order that all those who had any connection whatsoever with Swamy Ramanuja shall not be permitted to enter the temple in Srirangam.
Unknowingly , one day Koorathazhwan makes an entry into the SriRangam temple . The temple guards stop him from entering . However one temple guard allows him to enter into the temple to have darshan of Lord Ranganatha . Kooresan was curious to know what was the reason for his special favor towards him ? The temple guard replied Oh Seer ! you seem to look like a person with good qualities though a follower of Swamy Ramanuja and that is the reason you were being allowed . Kooresa was shocked .
He exclaimed ..
Are you concluding that the followers of Swamy Ramanuja have bad qualities ?? and If my good qualities entitle me to enter the temple are the followers of Swamy Ramanuja bad ?
In that case I do not wish to sever my relationship with Swamy Ramanuja and will avoid entering into the temple ………
For realisation of the self, my association with Swamy Ramanuja is essential . No prayer pleases Lord without Acharyar’s mercy. Kooresan politely refuses to accept the gaurd’s honor and walks back to his house . This pastime establishes the supremacy of Acharya sambandham with our poorvacharyas …
A lotus which is not in the water , will not be allowed to blossom by the sun .. Not only that It will fade away soon …….
Adiyen Ramanuja dasan
Pics credits : Google images