Challenge 3.11: "YOU ARE MY INDWELLER? THEN, PROVE IT"

From the Bhakti List Archives

• October 21, 1999


SwAmi VEdAnta DEsika's "NaichyAnusanthAnam" and 
"SAtvika AhamkAram "
(As gleaned from his StOtras.) - 
Part 3 - SWAMI CHALLENGES!
=============================================================Dear Bhagavatas
Kindly refer to "Part 3 - SWAMI CHALLENGES! An Introductory Note" - posted on 
10th October 99. I am leaving out this to avoid repetition You may read that 
to appreciate this posting in the proper perspective. 
Dasoham
Anbil Ramaswamy
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Challenge 3.11: "IF YOU ARE MY INDWELLER? THEN, PROVE IT"
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Iththam tvadEka saraNair anaghair avApyE
tvat kinkaratva vibhavE spruhayAparAdhAn /
AathmA mAmEthi bhagavAn bhavathaiva geethAh:
VAchO nireekshya bharaNeeya iha tvayA aham //

Meaning

"Oh! ViLakkoLi perumAnE!
How does one get to enjoy kainkaryam in SrivaikunTam? Is it easily attainable?
It is only for those Mahans who become totally faultless and after performing 
SaraNAgathi at your feet that this seems possible.

This being so, how this unworthy self can ever entertain such an ambition?
Even to unabashedly entertain such a desire with so much of disqualification 
is an offence.

But, may be, NOT!

Do you remember what you said in your Bhagavad-Gita?
You yourself declared in no unmistakable terms that you are the Indweller 
(antharyAmi) of your Bhaktas. Just think of that!

As I have performed SaraNAgathi at your feet, I am also your devotee and you 
are my Indweller too!

Now, therefore,  you have a duty enjoined on you by your own admission to 
protect me.

Please prove that you are my Indweller!"

Comment:

As stated by AlavandAr, (and SwAmi himself elsewhere) -
"pithAmaham Nathamunim vilOkhya praseeda madh vrittham achinthayitvA 
RamAnujAngri SaraNOsmi sOpi devyAdAsa sarvEthi varadAsmithavEksh neyyahthad 
anubhandhimadhA valipsE nityam praseeda bhagavAn mayi RanganAtha"

meaning-

On the ground that I have the 'Sambandham' of the ThiruvaDi of BhAshyakArar 
and other AchAryas, at least for their sake, ignore my faults and accept me" 
says SwAmi.

In Bhagavad Gita, Lord KrishNa declared-
"gnAnee tu Aathmaiva mE matham"

SwAmi seems to ask, "Am I not the 'Aathmeeya' of these AchAryas? 
If they are GnAnis, then by their 'Sambandham', I am entitled to your 
protection"
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To Continue: Challenge 3.12: 
"IF MOBILE AND IMMOBILE COULD GO TO HEAVEN, WHY NOT ME?"
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