Swamy Parasara Bhattar the great successor of Jagath Acharyar Swami Ramanuja was a prolific writer of great distinction.
Acharyar’s works in Sanskrit and tamil bear amazing scholarship and command . Swamy’s works in Sanskrit include Ashtasloki, BhagavadgunaDarpanam , SriGunaRatnakosam, SriRanganathaStotram, Sri Ranganatha Stavam.
Swamy Parasara bhattar was officiating as the chief-priest in SriRangam temple, and hence was known as Purohita of Lord Ranganatha, SriRangesa Purohitah.
Swamy’s transcendental life was full of divine incidents and anecdotes, which are cherished by all .
The below mentioned incident happened a few hundred years ago at Srirangam the capital of Srivaishnavas .
The Sastras proclaim that whenever there is a transit of a planet from one sign to another sign of the zodiac , it is necessary to perform holy bath ( Abhishek ) to the Lordships .
Accordingly all arrangements were being made inside the temple .
A vedantin who had several doubts on srivaishnava mode of worship happened to enter the temple to offer respects to the Lordships to have darshan of Lord Ranganatha .
Inside the temple , Swamy Parasara bhattar was in ecstatic mood .
While having darshan he noticed the revered Acharyar Swamy Parasara bhattar was reciting a verse which kept all the devotees spellbound . The verse was new to his disciples . They were very eager to learn about the meaning of the divine verse .
The curtains were drawn . The Lordships were being dressed with royal garments amidst divine fragrance. The disciples approached Acharyar and submitted .
Acharya …
The sloka which was recited was very new to us .
Kindly explain us the content for us to recite .The vedantin also was keen to hear the commentary .
Acharyar replied ,
My dear children ……..
that was an emotional outpour having darshan of our LORD .
Tvamme , ahamme kutastat tadapikutah….
yetachanaadi siddaaanubhava vibhavaat tarhi saakrosha yeva
kvaakrosah kasya gitaadishu mama viditah kotrasaakshi sudheeh syat hanta
tvat pakshapaateesah iti nrukalahe mrigyamadhyastavattam…….
The divine verse interpretation attracted the vedantin closer .
He had several doubts to be cleared and by the discourse he could understand the esoteric truths from the legend himself.
Acharyar words were crystal clear .
Swamy began …………
My children ..
There is always a tussle going on time to time immemorial between the Jiva and Paramatma .
Though the absolute truth is “LORD is independent ” and ” we jivas are beholden in him and dependent” , ,……..
this jiva ……………….is infatuated with material pursuits which makes him ignore the subtle truth .
Due to sheer ignorance and blinded by the three gunas he oversees the truth .
And, due to his arrogance, boasts about his independence , thus suffers succession of sorrows.
The all compassionate Lord feels sad for him ( jiva ) and says
Tvamme..
YOU ARE MINE … and YOU ARE MY FAVORITE…
If you recognise this truth …I WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU …
The arrogant Jiva replies …
How can I be yours ?
I cannot be yours and
I cannot be dependent on you and……………………….
at NO TIME ..I can be your servant ..
I AM TOTALLY INDEPENDENT ……………………
Lord out of abundant love smiles and asks ………. Kutastat ?
How is that ?
and ...how did you arrive at that conclusion ?
The Jiva due to his unlimited arrogance replies ..
OK…………………….. Fine ..then ……
Now how would you answer the same question if it was from me ?
that you are my Lord and I am yours ..???
The Ocean of Mercy LORD smiles and replies
...Yes ………..My child …
For my statement the vedas are the authority ..
pathim visvasyaa…daasa bhootah svaiah sarve…
The Jiva argues againĀ without understanding the subtle truth …
From Time immemorial I lived as an INDEPENDENT PERSON …
and I continue to live and thus quoting vedas written in old palm leaves manuscripts are no longer valid for me to be convinced ….
Tarhi saakroshayeva …
Once again LORD out of abundant compassion replies …….
My dear child …..
Are you advancing with false arguments , though you do not have proper knowledge ?
I have always taken care of you ….
I have always been there ……..and objected independence for your own good …..
my dear ……
kvaa krosah kasya ..
The jiva with no remorse once again out of pride replies
NO ONE HAS RAISED ANY OBJECTION AT ANY PLACE ABOUT MY FREE WILL AND INDEPENDENCE
..(including the court) ..
Gitaadishu mama viditah ..
Lord smiles at the ignorant jiva and …replies patiently ..
My dear child ..
In this world there are two kinds of sentient beings ..
Atma quality-less and attribute-less gets combined with this prakruti, and forms different senses (both subtle and gross) and thus gets different material natures.
This combination of atma and qualities arising from prakruti is you the jivatma…..
apareyam itas tv anyÄį¹ prakį¹tiį¹ viddhi me parÄm
jÄ«va-bhÅ«tÄį¹ mahÄ-bÄho yayedaį¹ dhÄryate jagat BG – 7.5
mamaivÄį¹Åo jÄ«va-loke jÄ«va-bhÅ«taįø„ sanÄtanaįø„
manaįø„-į¹£aį¹£į¹hÄnÄ«ndriyÄį¹i prakį¹ti-sthÄni karį¹£ati BG – 15.7
and all the living entities in this conditioned world are my eternal fragmentation parts.
Due to conditioned life, the struggle is felt .
Besides the (insentient matter), O mighty-armed Arjuna, there is another, superior energy of Mine, which comprises the living entities who are exploiting the resources of this material, inferior nature.
Unperturbed , with a casual approach the jiva demands proof and objects the statements of LORD ….
The jiva seeks for witness to claim his argument ..
Sudheeh syaat …
Paramatma once again replies stating everyone who read Srimad Bhagavad Gita are his witness
Hasta tvatpakshapaate sah ….
The Jiva replies that
It cannot accept the witness as the so called readers of Srimad Bhagavad Gita ,would just go around seeking livelihood by mentioning your name only ?
The argument goes to no end due to the jiva’s arrogance and false illusion …
The all compassionate LORD thinks that there can be only one alternative left for him …
Generally in this material world .. when arguments and counter arguments go on between two persons , one of the person to prove his statements , indicates he would wear a wet cloth and stand before a tree and take an oath stating that he was speaking ONLY truth
Lord thought that as there was no other alternative to convince his children …
.takes the ultimate step to be in wet clothes ….
Mrugyamadyasthharat tvam ….
Acharyars in his deep musings with tears looking at LORD in wet clothes submits ..
Oh ! Supreme Lord !! Not able to convince obstinate people with your explanations …
My LORD ..Are you adoring yourself with wet clothes to convince this fallen jiva ….
Mruya madhyastha ……..
and thus Acharyar shares his emotional musings …..
which enlighten their opinion ..
The vedantin approaches the Acharyar and humbly submits ….
Swamin ..Just give me a gist of the summary ….
Acharyar replies ……
Swamin ….It is not really essential for a person to take a dip in the Holy rivers like ganges and visiting pilgrim centers .. …
It is enough if one doesn’t doubt the LORD who is the in dweller in the heart and functions in a manner of being beholden to him ..
When knowledge of self arises in one , like the rising sun , the arguments which one advances due to ignorance would abrade..
The innumerable references to the interpretations Swamy Parasara Bhattar to azhwarās hymns and his wonderful repartee to his disciple Nanjiyarās questions are source of immense delight to all devotees ……
Another divine musings about his pangs of separation with LORD is appended in the below mentioned url post …where he mentions …
He was explaining the three stages of love to LORD ā¦
Recollection , Trance and Rallying ā¦
Recollection is recollection of all the past ravishments of soul ..vouchsafed by LORD
Trance or Fainting is consequent on desolation at this recollection not yielding to the present enjoyment
Rallying is the sudden lucidity whilst in this state of trance which is considered as a extreme advanced state in devotion which our Azhwarās possessed..
Adiyen Ramanuja dasan
Pics : Credits Google images
Adapted from a discourse from an advanced devotee
