Search:
Bhakti List Archives

Sri Ramayana Tatthva Deepika - Ba:la Ka:nda (4)

From the Bhakti List Archives

Ramanujamma Mudumbai • March 12, 2002 


Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha!
Sri Jeeyar Thiruvadigale Saranam!

'Thapas' is nothing but to ponder over these
things (pl.refer previous post). We need the
body to do the ‘thapas’. We need to take
care of the body for doing thapas and not for
enjoying the worldly pleasures. A 'thapasvi'
realizes this and puts in all his effort, mind
and heart on these subjects and that is true
penance (thapas).

Na:rada did such a penance and he was a
'Na:ra:yana Para:yana'. He learnt Vedas from
his father Brahma and kept memorizing them
while his attention was always on the God.
That is called ‘thapasswathyaya nirathi’.

The purpose of Na:radaÂ’s visit to Bhuloka was
to let Va:lmi:ki know Ramayana, which meant
explaining the meaning of Veda which is nothing
but the 'Brahma' and the 'Dharma'. Brahma and
Dharma were moving in a single form and with a
single name. That is 'Rama'. SriRama is a human
being. He had the knowledge of Brahma and practised
Dharma. This secret can be known by only
'vedavettas'; Na:rada is a vedavetta. ThatÂ’s
why he is 'vagvidamvara'.

'Vakku' means Vedam. 'Vid' means 'one who knows'.
'Vagvid' means a 'brahma-vettha' and, a
'veda-vetthaÂ’. One who is great among them is a
'vagvidamvara'. Some may be knowing 'veda',
and may be practicing what is ordained by it
too but it is very difficult to recognize the
Lord if He comes as an ordinary man. Many a
time mankind missed Him and hence we are here.

When 'Bhagavan' came as SriKrishna many
vedavetthas and karmanishta:s failed to know
Him and were doomed. But Na:rada was a vedavid
and a vagvidamvara. He had the rare capacity
to make even others realize and experience the
Lord here and now. Rama had come as an ordinary
man. Though Va:lmi:ki knew SriRama he was not
able to witness His Godliness (parathva) due
to His immense accessibility (soulabhya). That
was the reason why he was in a very depressed
mood. So he was a 'thapasvi', whereas, Na:rada
was a 'munipungava' who experienced Lord in
which ever form He was; meditated on Him all
the time and possessed the caliber to preach
others too!

In this sloka the qualities of an acharya and
a disciple are delineated. Na:rada is mentioned
as the ‘a:charya’ and Va:lmiki as the 'sishya'
(disciple). We can understand the word 'Na:rada'
in two ways. ’Na:ram’ means ‘jnana’(knowledge)
and 'da' means 'giver'. 'Nara' is a name for
Lord. So Na:rada means He who enables people to
attain Him. He is the goal and He is also the
means. So He is called ‘Na:rada’. 'Na:ram'
belongs to 'Nara' and who gives this is 'Na:rada'.
He explains to us about the LordÂ’s Divine form,
His attributes and His kalyana gunas (swarupa,
rupa and guna).

To be continued...

Jai Srimannarayana!
Ramanujamma Mudumbai


=============
ramanuja dasi
=============


_________________________________________________________________
Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com



--------------------------------------------------------------
           - SrImate rAmAnujAya namaH -
To Post a message, send it to:   bhakti-list@yahoogroups.com
Archives: http://ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/
 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/