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Re: Remembering our Lord during final moments..

From the Bhakti List Archives

Mani Varadarajan • August 14, 2001 


In this regard we may also remember the poignant nal-vArttai 
of Nanjiyar, recorded in Sri Pillai Lokacharya's 
'SrI vacana bhUshaNa':

  Once Nanjiyar paid a visit upon an ailing disciple of his.
  Seeing his acharya, the disciple asked, "In such a condition
  as this, what is our refuge?" 

  Nanjiyar graciously replied, "The refuge in one's final moments
  is to give up the thought, 'What is our refuge?'"

  [ "`antima-kAlattukku tancam ippOdu tancam en'
     engira ninauvu kulaikai," enRu jIyar aruLicceyvar. -- svb 69 ]

The idea is that one should forever rest content with the 
knowledge that the grace of the Lord is with you and will 
always protect.  

'antima-smRti' or remembrance of the Lord at the time of death 
is vital only for the bhakti-yogi, for whom this comes naturally 
as the fruition of his or her spiritual practice.  

Incidentally, this opinion is shared by all acharyas,
Vadagalai or Thengalai. There is no difference of opinion
in this matter.  This should be obvious from the citations 
of Swami Desika by Sri Madhavakkannan and others. 

rAmAnuja dAsan,
Mani


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