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SamAshrayanam - part 7

From the Bhakti List Archives

Anand K Karalapakkam • January 19, 1998 


                                  Sri :
          
             Srimate  Sri Lakshmi Nrusimha Para Brahmane Namaha
  
             Srimate Sri Lakshmi - Nrusimha Divya PAdukA Sevaka - 
         Srivan  Shatagopa  Sri NArAyana Yateendra MahAdesikAya Namaha      
             
                  Srimate NigamAntha MahAdesikAya Namaha 
                  Srimate  Bhagavad   RAmAnujAya  Namaha      
                 
                    Sriyai Namaha ; SridharAya  Namaha


     Dear  Bhakti Group Members,
    
     Namo NArAyanA . kindly accept adiyens pranAmams. 

    This is the last posting on the samAshrayanam series. Those who
haven't undergone samAshrayanam , please take the earliest oppurtunity to
get the blessings of the AchAryA corresponding to your sampradAyam  and
humbly request him to perform Pancha SamskAram. Please do help others also
to know about Pancha SamskAram and bring great fortune to their lives too.


                      LIFE AFTER SAMASHRAYANAM :
                    -----------------------------      
      
         SamAshrayanam marks a great turning point in the journey of 
jIvAtmA through the cycle of repeated birth and death. The Pancha
SamskAram performed is invaluable. But , one has to keep up the samskAram
by his regular devotional activities. The samskArams done loses its
significance when one starts indulging in more  materialistic activities ,
without caring about Sriman NArAyanA . The whole purpose is to make a
person ( jIvAtmA ) get involved in the sanAtana dharmA ( eternal dharmA) .
Surrender and love towards the Supreme Lord Sriman NArAyanA is the only
purpose of human life . SamAshrayanam helps in a great way to make a
person progress towards achieving this goal.  


             The disciple should be highly thankful to the AchAryA for his
great compassion. He should take deep interest in the SampradAyam & gain
the true knowledge from kAlakshepams (Discourses) either under the lotus
feet of his achAryA  or under other SriVaishnava achAryAs his achAryA
directs him to do so.In the worst case ,he should atleast learn from
cassettes , books etc of our AchAryAs. He should learn the recitation &
meanings of the most nectarian , unparalleled  divine songs of the Tamil
VedA(Divya Prabandham) , which is embedded with soul stirring devotional
pAsurams.He should carry out the duties ( like SandhyAvandanam , Bhagavad
ArAdhanam etc ) without fail , according to the VarnA and AshramA . The
taniyan of the AchAryA must neccessarily be recited daily atleast after
adorning the dvAdasa OOrdhvapundram.   


    He should perform various services to the AchAryA and Sriman NArAyanA
daily. Then, jn~AnA ( knowledge) , vairAgyA (detatchment from
materialistic things ; sense control) and bhakti  is automatically gained
by the devotee due to blessings of the AchAryA . By performing prapatti ,
the devotee should lead a life of prapannA ever immersed in devotional
kainkaryams ( services) .Eventhough he is in the midst of the society , he
can earn through dharmA as a service to Sriman NArAyanA . The money so
earned should be spent  for various devotional services and not for
materialistic pleasures.

  Swami Desikan says in his NyAsa vimsati that ,

 "The disciple too must fulfil certain requisite qualifications. He should 
  have

1)	A Good sense
2)	A friendly approach towards sAdhus.
3)	A good character.
4)	An earnest desire to understand the tenets of the sampradAyA.
5)	A loving mind to render service to the AchAryA
6)	No self-esteem or self conceit.
7)	Abject obedience to the AchAryA, this being a SUPREME DUTY.
8)	A tendency of waiting and readiness for the correct oppurtunity 
	to get clarification of our doubts from AchAryA.
9)	A complete restraint over the external senses.
10)	A mental discipline
11)	A mind of surrendering to the AchAryA without any jealosy
12)	An implicit faith in what the SAstrAs say.
13)	The ability to pass all the tests the AchAryA admininsters.
14)	Supreme graditude to the AchAryA for the great help.

	Only such a disciple is eligible to be inducted into the 
philosophical training." Nyasa Vimsati(3).


     In his glorious 'pallAndu' to Sriman NArAyanA , PeriAzhvAr (Sri  
Vishnu chittar) glorifies  samAshrayanam and instructs us the way one
should lead the life after samAshrayanam : "Bearing  (on our upper-arms)
the imprint of Holy ChakrA ,caused by the special consecrated instrument
with the red - hot  wheel-emblem which is blazing more fiercely than fire
, we have been at the service of Lord Sriman NArAyanA , generation after 
generation". 

        
     Kindly follow the instructions of our dearmost AzhvArs and AchAryAs
and lead a life of a true Sri VaishnavA by their divine blessings.


   Namo NArAyanA

   Adiyen

   Anantha PadmanAbha dAsan  


                      Sarvam  Sri KrishnArpanamastu