PramAnas for Brahman as being different from its Body
From the Bhakti List Archives
• April 28, 2000
SrI: SrI Lakshminrusimha ParabrahmaNE namaha SrI Lakshminrusimha divya pAdukA sEvaka SrIvaN SatakOpa - SrI nArAyaNa yateendra mahAdESIkAya namaha Dear devotees, namO nArAyaNa. In the book "Philosophy and Theistic Mysticism of Alvars" by SrI SMS Chari, he quotes two pramAnas to the effect that Brahman as a metaphysical entity is different from its divine body (pg 90, on Divine Personality, in the Doctrine of God). They are reproduced here. Saatvata Samhita, Poushkara Samhita and JayAkya Samhita are regarded as the "Ratna Traya" (Three Jewels) in pAncAratra. Saatvata Samhita (2.69-70) states " SAntaha samvit-svarUpastu bhaktAnugraha-kAmyayA anaupamyEna vapushAhy-amUrtO mUrtatAm gataha " ie. " The Ultimate Reality is devoid of a form (amUrta), but it assumes a limited form (mUrtatA) for the sake of devotees and this limited form is incomparable (anupama) ". This implies that the divyAtma svaroopa (ds) of Brahman is not made up of a form, similar to how a jIvAtma's svaroopa doesn't have any form. But, Brahman takes a form for the pleasure of His devotees. Also, the divine body assumed by SrIman nArAyaNa at SrI VaikUNTham is eternal and anAdi. Hence Brahman certainly has a divine body eternally. Another quote is from the JitantE Stotram, a khila sUkta of Rg vEda : " na tE rUpam na ca aakArO na-aayudhAni na ca-aaspadam | tathApi purusha-AkArO bhaktAnAm tvam prakASasE || " " Youdonot have any physical qualities such as white or black (rUpa) ; You do not possess any physical organs such as head or legs (aakAra) ; nor are there any weapons or ornaments on You < in ds> (aayudha) ; nor do You have an abode ; Neverthless out of Your infinite compassion towards devotees , You manifest Yourself with a lusturous bodily form bedecked with ornaments and weapons in an abode of Yours < Be it arcAvatAra, vibhava avatAra etc>". note : This has been explained very well by SrI PuttankOttakam SrInivAsAchArya swAmi ( a great scholar of the last century and well known contemporary of 42nd HH Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt viz. SrImad InjimEttu Azhagiyasingar ), in his commentary. SrI SMS Chari has followed his explanations. There are many more pramAnas in pAncarAtra on this issue. I will later quote the section from SrI VishNu purANam which explains as to how the bhakti yOgi (upAsaka) in his matured final stages of upAsana is able to meditate on the divyAtma swaroopam of Brahman, with its characteristics as Satyatvam, jn~yAnatvam etc, without the divine body. For time being, please also refer to SrI BhAshyam on adhikaraNAs like AntaradhikaraNa (1.1.21),SarvatraprasiddhyadhikaraNa (1.2.7), AdruSyatvadhikaraNa (1.2.23-24), VaishwAnara-adhikaraNa (1.2.30-31), Dahara-adhikaraNa (1.3.20), PramitadhikaraNa (1.3.24), ........and Ubhayalinga adhikaraNa (3.2.11+). This will give a good picture on the distinction between Brahman and its form, the need of the form taken by Brahman being for the purpose of meditation by bhakti yOgis (upAsakas) etc. --------------------- I will soon post couple of verses from HarivamSa regarding the VishNu/KrishNa issue. I will come back to these issues after few months. I will switch over to other priorities for now esp. the UttamUr SwAmi's Books Publication project. Thanks for your understanding. adiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan, anantapadmanAbhan, KrishNArpaNam. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Get paid for the stuff you know! Get answers for the stuff you donÂ’t. And get $10 to spend on the site! http://click.egroups.com/1/2200/2/_/716111/_/956950648/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------- - SrImate rAmAnujAya namaH - To Post a message, send it to: bhakti-list@eGroups.com Visit http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/ for more information
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