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Re: Dharma and prapatti

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Thirumalai Anandanpillai • October 1, 1996 


Mohan Writes: 

----Begin quote_________

Sutram 197 (Manavalamamunigal's commentary): a Dharma is something 
which possesses an authoritative injunction which directs one to do 
it.  Thus the aforementioned dharmas refer to all the upayas which 
              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
have been enjoined on the authority of Sruti and Smriti and which 
have the form of such things as daily and occassional duties.

Sutram 198 (Manavalamamunigal's commentary): These things ought to be 
referred to as "adharma" because they are contrary to the soul's aim, 
extreme dependence on the Lord....

--------end quote

I just wanted to elaborate on the 'aforementioned dharmaas' and relinquishing
them.

Mumukshupaddi 194-196 enumerates what the 'aforementioned dharmaas' are:

--

mmp 194:
 
 'avaidhaan - srutismriti vihithangaLaay palavaay irukkayaalE 
  bahuvachanaprayOham paNNukiRathu'

  the bahuvachanam (dharmaan) is used here because there are 
  lots of things that are enjoined by the srutis & smritis to be
  saadhanaas to the attainment of mOksha (mOkshapalasaadhanaas).


mmp 195:
'avaiyaavana - karmagnaana bhaktiyOgangaLum, avataara rahasyagnaanamum,
 purushOttama vidyai, dhEsvaasam, thirunaamasankeerthanam, thiruviLakkerikkai,
 thirumaalayedukkai thodakkamaana upaayabudhdhyaa seyyumavaiyum'

 They (i.e. the mOkshapalasaadhanaas as stated by the srutis & smritis) are :

 KarmayOga (Sri Geetai 3-19), gnaanayOga (Sri Geetai 4-33,4-37)
 bhaktiyOga (Sri Geetai 11-54, 9-34), avataararahasya gnaanam (Sri Geetai 4-9),
 purushOttama vidya (Sri Geetai 15-20), dhEsvaasam - puNyakshEtra vaasam,
 thirunaama sankeerthanam  and lighting of the holy lamp (narasimhapuraanam
 33-27) 


 mmp 196:

 'sarva sabdhaththaalE avvavasaadhana vishEshanGaLai anushtikkum idaththil
  avaRRukku yOgyadhaapaadhakaNGaLaana nityakarmaNGaLai sollukiRadhu'

 the sarva word also includes the nityakarmaas like saNdhyaavandhanam and
 panchamahaayagnyam that qualifies one to perform the mOkshapalasaadhanaas.
 (dhakshasmriti 1-12 says - 'one who does not perform sandhyaavandhanam is
  impure and is unworthy of performing any karma)

 ---
 
 mmp 200 elaborates on 'giving up' the above:

 mmp 200:
 thyaagamaavadhu - ukthOpaayanGaLai anusandhiththu 'shookthikayilE rajathabudhdhi
 paNNuvaaraippOlEyum, vipareedhadhishaa gamanam paNNuvaaraippOlEyum, 
 anupaayaNGaLiLE upaayabudhdhi paNNinOm' enkirRa budhdhivishEshaththOdE 
 thyajikkai

  the thyaagam does not mean just 'giving up' -
  One should realise that one was performing karmaas that are not the upaaya
  (like those who think that the mother of pearl is silver & those who wanted
  to follow a particular direction, but followed a different one) and 
  *then* relinquish them.



i.e. even the performance of nityakarmaas as mOkshapalasaadhanaas takes us
 away from the upaya (i.e. Sriman NaarayaNa) and hence should be relinquished.


Daasaanu daasan,
Varadhan