Mukkoor Azhagiyasingar's RAmAnuja SiddhAntam - 2
From the Bhakti List Archives
• August 24, 1998
SRI RAMANUJA SIDDHANTAM BY SRIMAD MUKKUR AZHAGIYA SINGAR < Translated by Sriman Jaganath Bharadwaj > --- cont--- Prakruti exists below Suddha sattvam. It covers all the area below Suddha sattvam & Suddha Sattvam exists above Prakruti. Of the three types of jIvaatmAs, nityAs and muktAs are eternally worshipping Sriman nArAyaNA in Sri VaikuNTam and are eternally experiencing bliss. They will never be confined to a material body and be forced to experience suffering like birth and death, like the people of this world. MuktAs used to be baddha jIvaatmAs like us. They surrendered to Sriman nArAyaNA, got rid of their sins and are now experiencing bliss in Sri VaikuNTam alongwith nityasUris and other mukta jIvaatmAs in the service of Sriman nArAyaNA. Among the baddha jIvaatmAs, one after many tens of millions of years of prayers (ArAdhanam), will attain the post of BrahmA. He proceeds with the process of creation within his territory or BrahmaandA. He works according to the orders given by Bhagavaan. Another jIvaatmA performs many kinds of sacrifices (yaj~nAs) and attains a post called devadevA. He proceeds with the process of destruction under the orders of Sriman nArAyaNA. He is the one commonly referred to in this world as ShivA. Another jIvaatmA performs 100 horse sacrifices (Aswamedha yAgA) and attains the post of IndrA. He is the superintendent of the three worlds (Bhu, Bhuvar and Suvar). Some baddha jIvaatmAs accrue substantial punya karmA and take births in the world of IndrA, BrahmA & the like. Others perform sacrifices (yaj~nAs) in this world and proceed to SvargA for a short time where they experience some pleasure. Once this punya karmA is exhausted, they come back to suffer consequences of their remaining combination of sins and merit . Yet others keep performing terrible austerities. They are called Rishis, for e.g. VashistA, ParAsarA, VyAsA and SukA. Some are practicing the process of Bhakti Yoga to attain liberation. Yet others surrender (prapatti) to Sriman naaraayaNA to attain the same goal and are waiting for their liberation. Yet others show total disregard for the scriptures, gods, those who lead a life in strict accordance to scriptures, commit atrocities and at the end of this life proceed to Yamaloka to experience hell. Yet others, in spite of having committed sins, had the good fortune of being corrected by great souls, perform necessary repentance for their past sins, and live a life without committing further sins. Yet others may have led an inappropriate life in their younger days. But they have seen other people around them die. They wondered about the consequences of their actions in a future life and have since mended their ways and are practicing rites like SandhyAvandanam ordained by the scriptures. Some baddha jIvaatmAs think that it is possible that there is truth in the scriptures, and that liberation is also similarly possible. They perform Saranaagathi in the belief that there is nothing they can lose in the process. Yet other baddha jIvaatmAs have seen how mantrAs work miraculously to cure snake bites and scorpion stings. They ask to themselves, if these mantras can work for removing the venom of these animals then why will Saranaagati not work for removing the venom called sin? They are thus totally convinced about the efficacy of this process and come and surrender to the Feet of Lakshmi Nrusimha. Yet others surrender to the Feet of Sri Ranganatha, or Sri Devapiraan, or Sri Srinivasar and live an ideal life under the directions of their respective AcharyAs. For those who surrenders with total faith, Sriman nArayaNA bestows liberation at the end of this life itself and blesses them with bliss. For those who surrender without total faith, Sriman Narayana will, if not in this life, at some time in the future make this person surrender with total faith and attain liberation. It will not go waste. The 3 types of jIvaatmAs, prakruti, Suddha sattvam, time etc., all these elements are pervaded internally and externally by nArAyaNA (antar bahischa tat sarvam vyApya nArAyaNa sthitaha ). In this way He controls them in addition to protecting them. This is why everything is considered to be the body of God by the VedAntA ( Upanishads : "yasya Atma sarIram " , "yasya pruthivi sarIram"). Lakshmi and Narayana are the ParamaatmAs. There are unlimited number of baddha, mukta and nitya jIvaatmAs. Prakruti gets divided into 24 elements to form the various bodies of baddha jIvaatmAs. Suddha sattvam goes on to form the bodies of Lakshmi, Narayana, nityasUris & mukta jIvaatmAs, and are as well as present in the form of palaces, gopurams, Viraja river and every source of happiness in Sri VaikuNTA. "Time" (kAlA) which is eternal & indestructible, determines when it is appropriate to perform sacrifices (yaj~nAs) , perform nitya karmAnushtAnAs (like SandhyAvandanA) ordained in the scriptures, experience the fruits of past karma, perform the worship of God ( Bhagavad ArAdhanA) & as well as to perform various other activities. JIvaatmA, ParamaatmA, Prakruti, time, Suddha sattvam are the primordial elements that are never subject to destruction. The Knowledge (dharmabhoota jn~Anam) of a jIvaatmA is also an entity. All other substances that have a name and a form are subject to creation and destruction. Darkness and smoke are subtle forms of earth, because of the smell associated with smoke and the dark blue color associated with the darkness called tamas. It therefore behooves us to perform Saranaagati to Sriman nArAyaNA, thereby giving Him an opportunity to cut loose these shackles of conditioned life , out of His mercy. We can then reach Sri VaikuNTam and mix with nityasUris and mukta jIvaatmAs, perform devotional service to Sriman nArAyaNA and attain unlimited bliss. Bhagavaan in Sri VaikuNTam inorder to protect those who have sought refuge under Him , makes various incarnations like RAmA , KrishnA & the like , as stated by Him in "yadaa yadaa hi dharmasya, glaanir bhavati" . The prime purpose of such incarnations is to protect the great devotees (sAdhUs). Also, for the sole benifit of those of us who did not take birth during the time of His incarnations, He takes various archAvatAram as in Srirangam and other holy places. Our Lakshmi Nrusimhan is so merciful that one needn't go in search for various Divya Desams, since He Himself comes to the residences of His devotees. It therefore behooves us to take shelter of His holy Feet and attain unlimited bliss. Srimate Srivan Shatakopa Sri VedAnta Desika Yateendra mahAdesikAya namaha -------------------
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