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Experiencing Swami Desika - 9

From the Bhakti List Archives

Praveena • June 14, 1999 


SrI:
Shrimate Shri Lakshmi Nrusimha Parabrahmane Namaha:
Shrimate Shri Seetha Ramachandra Parabrahmane Namaha:
Shrimate Shri Ramanujaya Namaha:
Shrimate Nigamantha Maha Desikaya Namaha:
Shrimate Shrivan Satagopa Shri Narayana Yateendra Mahadesikaya Namaha:

Swami Desika now salutes to Goddess Lakshmi who is
the next in our Guruparampara.

Sahadharmacarim saureh Sammantrita jagadd-hitam!
Anugrahamayim vande Nithyam ajnatanigraham!!

Swami Desika prostrates at the lotus feet of
Goddess Mahalakshmi the inseparable consort
of Lord Vishnu. She is an embodiment of mercy.
She does not know to punish any one. She
converses with the Lord for the well being of
the whole world. When the lord wants to establish
Dharma like protecting his devotees she accompanies
him to ensure the proper execution of the same.

The Divine couple is inseparable. They are not
separated even when they manifest as avatar's.
This is explained in the Vishnu Puranam thus:

Raghavatway-abavat Sita, Rukmini Krishna janmani !
Anyeshu chavatareshu Visho-resha-yanapayinee !!
Devatvey Deva-deheyam, Manushyatvey cha manushee !
Vishnor dehanu-roopam vai karoth yesha-yatmani tanum!!

-- Vishnu Purana, 1 -9-144&145

Goddess Lakshmi is forever united with the Lord
Vishnu. So, when our Lord becomes Rama, Sri becomes
Sita, when He is Krishna, she is Rukmini. Not just
this, even when the Lord takes the form of a Deva,
or for that matter a human being, Goddess Lakshmi
also takes a suitable form of a Devi or a human being.
Goddess Lakshmi thus adjusts herself according
to the embodiments of Lord Vishnu.

This is reflected by Nammalwar in
Thiruvaimozhi (6.10.10):

ahalahillen iraiyumenru alarmel mangai urai maarba

Goddess Alarmel mangai sits on the chest of our Lord
Srinivasa because she cannot bear to be without our
Lord even for a fraction of a second!

In our tradition the word "Sri" points to the exclusive
position of our mother
She is ---
our Lords consort
the mother of the entire universe
mediatrix between God and the humanity
and of course an Acharya in our tradition!

Sri stands for
Srunaati;
Sriiyate;
Srunoti;
Sraavayati;
Sriinaati;

meaning

she removes all sins,
is resorted to by all for ever,
hears the petitions,
makes the lord hear (the petitions)
nourishes the world by her virtues,

Our mother, the mother of the whole world - Akhila
jaganmata, does not know to punish any one.

What can we speak of our Thayar's innumerable
auspicious qualities? She is an ocean of mercy.
She is an embodiment of Karuna.

She has a kind heart even for the evil ones.

When Goddess Lakshmi manifested as Sita, and was
in Lanka, the rakshashi's harassed her.

The repeated torture from the rakshashi's did not provoke
our mother. She could have reduced them to ashes, with
out any efforts . In addition to resisting herself from punishing
them, our eternal amma full of daya, pleaded Anjeneya on
their behalf  when he wanted to kill them,  and thus saved them.

Goddess Sita by way of pointing out to Shri Anjaneya,
teaches us the importance of mercy and magnanimity
in forgiving the erring individuals.

...To be continued!

dEsikan tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

Praveena nAmni Ramanuja dasi
14th Jun 1999