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[sv-rituals] Thiru Adhyayana Uthsam: Part IV --> Swamy NammAzhwAr Moksham Day at Pomona Temple for Lord RanganAthan

From the Bhakti List Archives

Sadagopan • Sun Dec 29 2002 - 06:58:45 PST 


SrI:

Dear BhakthAs: 

Yesterday was a grand day at SrI Ranganatha Temple here in New York
and many devotees from the different corners of USA assembled to 
celebrate Swamy NammAzhwAr's Moksham in the time honored tradition
of the celebrations of SrIrangam Temple .

It was a grand , eye filling , "ear filing " nectarine experience. 
After the visEsha Dhanur Maasa AarAdhanam , Lord RanganAtha arrived 
at His darbar in front of the 12 AzhwArs to listen to the concluding 
section of ThiruvAimozhi.

For the past three days, up to 800 Thiruvaimozhi Paaurams 
had been recited.They consisted of the first 98 decads that 
deal with the Para Bhakthi generated anubhavam of Swamy 
NammAzhwAr . In the 99th decad (Soozhe visum paNi decad) ,
Swamy NammAzhwAr's Para Bhakthi transformed in to 
Para Jn~Nam stage .In the 100th and concluding decad 
( MuniyE ! NaanmuhanE! MukaNNappA !),ThirukkuruhUr 
MaaRan SaThakOpan's mind becomes indundated with Parama
Bhakthi and He prays for union with the Lord in Parama Padham 
and the Lord granted His dear devotee (VishvaksEnAmsar avathAram) 
the longed for boon of Moksham . 

Earlier on SrI Vaikunta Ekadasi day , Lord RanganAtha Himself enacted
the role of Mumukshu ( One who desires Moksham ) and entered the northern
gate of SrI Vaikunta RaajadhAni followed by all blessed souls. Yesterday,
it was Swamy NammAzhwAr's turn to first visualize the traffic of
liberated souls traveling by the path of light (archirAdhi Maargam)
and recieving all honors (maryAdhais ) described in the first chapter of
KaushithAki Upanishad (I-19 to 34)as translated by Dr.N.S.AnanatharangAcchAr
Swamy in his recently released book on major upanishads :

"( The liberated self , who has to proceed to the celestial abode of 
ParamAtman through ArchirAdhi maargam says thus to the rithus or seasons):
Oh Rithus! Pease do not offer me to Mruthyu , which is of the form
of birth and death( TanmA RuthavO marthyava aabharadhvam ). I am of 
the form of Rithu of the characterstric of month .Season , Year and 
Yuga ,that is of the characterstric of time being blessed by that 
Paramathman , who was pleased on account of Tapas of the form of 
SELF-SURRENDER ( PRAPATTHI/BHARA NYAASAM).I am Ka: ------- 
The Moon permits one , who replies thus to proceed on 
the path of ArchirAdi , knowing that he is fit for it (that travel).

The knower of Brahman comes upon the path of DeavyAna (ArchirAdhi maargam ,
the path of light ) and reaches the world of Fire (Agni) , there upon 
the world of Vaayu and there upon the world of VaruNa , then the world of
Aditya , then IndralOka , then PrajApathi loka and finally Brahma lOka.

Near the BrahamalOka , there is the lake named "ARA". Near by there are 
people with sticks in their hand called by the name " MUhUrthAs" 
(They drive away the abrahmaviths/one who do not know Brahman).

There is the river VirajA , which is opposed to JARA-RAJAS.

Near by , there is a tree named Tilya.

There is a celebrated place named "Salajya". There is an abode 
called "AparAjithA". 

There are gate keepers called by the names of Indra and
PrajApathi , there is a hall of gold , there is a very spacious
throne of Dharma known as Vichakshana. There is a Yoga shayana 
called by the name of Amithoujah ; two ladies (goddesses) by
the name--Priya , presiding deity over mind and another named
Prathiroopa , the presiding deity over the eye , areengaged in 
plucking flowers.

Just like the divine ladies PriyA and others , other ladies 
also the Apsaras --damsels who are the Mothers of all the Universe 
and other Apsaras , who are their amsAs are there jubilant with
great delight along with the foremost Mother.

A knower of Brahman of this nature arrives at the BrahmalOka of
this kind . 

The SUPREME BRAHAMAN  says to the Apsaras "Go towards that Brahmavith
to recieve him .He has come near river viraja on account of MY GRACE .
Hereafter he will come to Viraja ( Tamm BrahmAha: abidhAvatha mama 
yasasaa virajAm vaayam nadhIm prApath . na vaayam jigIshayathIthi). 

Five hundred of those Apsaras damsels run towards him , a hundred of
them holding garlands , a hundred holding unjuncts , a hundred with
fragrant flowers , a hundred of them holding garments , a hundred 
holding ornaments , they are going to decorate him with the decoration of
Brahman ( BrahmAlankAram) , (now) the realizer of Brahaman proceeds
towards Brahman ".
Thus ends the passage from Kaushitaki Upanishad .

ChAndhOygyam (UpakOsala and PanchAgni Vidhyais)and BruhadAraNya 
Upanishad ( VaakjasanEyam) also discuss the ArchirAdhi Maargam 
with some varaitions in the hierarchy of gods (aadhivAhikAs) , 
who offer their honors during the travel of the liberated Soul 
through this path of light .They all emphasize however the travel
via ArchirAdhi Maargam as the only route to reach Brahman 
at His Supreme Abode (Parama Padha NaaTan at SrI Viakuntam).
The liberated soul thus attains the Supreme Light (Param JyOthi) 
and it (the individual soul) becomes manifest in his own true nature .
It enjoys the infinite bliss of BrahmAnandham. "Rasam hi eva ayama 
labdhvA aanandee bhavathi" --TatirIya AarNaykam:8.4
( Having  attianed that Brahman , the MukthA is in the enjoyment of
Supreme Bliss). The liberated soul manifests his knowledge in its
fullest form (Until now, it was in a contracted form). "svEna RoopEna
abhinishpadhyathE " --ChAndhOgyam:8.12.3 ( He (the liberated Soul
becomes manifest in his own nature). Now ,the Muktha Jeevan enjoys 
the Supreme Brahman (SrI VaikuntanAthan/ThiruviNNagarappan) 
without separation form Him .

Mundaka Upanishad (3.13) describes the blissful and blemishless 
state of Brahman this way:

YadhA pasya: pasyatE Rukma-varNam
  kartAram Eesam Purusham Brahma Yonim
TadhA vidvAn puNya-pApE vdihUya
  niranjana: paramam samyam upaithi

" When the all-seeing JivA realizes VaasudEvA , who has a refulgent
body , who is the Creator and Master of the Universe , and who is 
also the cause of Prakruthi and who is signified by the term PurushA ,
then , the Jivan annihilates all the PuNya and Paapa  karmAs , becomes
free from their subtle impressions and so blemishless , he becomes 
endowed with the eight qualities of Para Brahman , beginning with
freedom from sin and attains the highest degree of likeness
(sameness of nature) with the Brahman". The liberated soul 
enjoying this Bliss does not become identical with Brahman ;
the liberated soul at Prama Padham enjoys all the powers that
are possessed by the ParamAthmA except the activity relating to
creation ( jagath VyApAra varja adhikaraNam : Brahma Soothram;4.4.6).
There is likeness between Brahman and the Mukthan in enjoyment only
( Braham Soothram: 4.4.21).Thus the mukthan has all the powers and
glories of the Lord except those activities relating to the world.
The muktha jeevan never returns to the world of KarmAs unless
ordered by the Lord Himself to fulfill some duties . Our Lord 
loves the Muktha Jeevan so much that He does not want to be 
separated from him (na cha punarAvarthatE--ChAndhOgyam 8.15.1).
Those who have attained Him will not experience rebirth again . 
Although ,the Lord is independent , he does not send a muktha
jeevan back to the karma bhUmi , once He got him. 

Swamy  NammAzhwAr attained Parama Padham and was engaged in
performing VisEsha AaarAdhanam to his Lord. Then came this 
resounding plea from the karma bhUmi to the Lord that Swamy
NammAzhwAr ,the Prapanna SanthAana Jana Kootasthar be returned 
to earth to help the bound souls ( Bhaddha Jeevans ) through 
his upadEsams on Prapatthi Maargam to gain release from 
their bondages (samsAric afflictions). Lord RanganAtha 
heard this heart-rending plea at SrI Vaikuntam for the return of 
His dear devotee and decided reluctantly to send Swamy NammazhwAr 
back to be with us all to help the suffering Bhaddha jeevans 
to seek SaraNAgathi at the sacred feet of the Lord to gain
MokshAnugraham.

Thus ended a magnificent celebration at Lord RanganAthA's
sannidhi. Many volunteers contributed to the success of
this Uthsavam and were well coordinated by SrI Sampath
RengarAjan of Thirukkudanthai. 

Today is the last day of Thiruadhyayana Uthsavam and
approximately 1,000 Paasurams will be recited during
this day from following Prabhandhams:

1) Mudhal ThiruvandhAthi of Poygai AazhwAr
2) Second ThiruvandhAdhi of BhUthatthAzhwAr
3) Third ThiruvandhAthi  of pEy AzhwAr
4) Naanmukhan ThiruvandhAthi of Thirumazhisai AzhwAr
5) Thiruviruttham of Swamy  NammazhwAr
6) ThiruvAsiriyam of Swamy  NammAzhwAr
7) Periya ThiruvandhAthi of Swamy  nammAzhwAr
8) ThiruvEzhu kURRirukkai of Thirumangai AzhwAr
9) SiRiya Thirumadal of Thirumangai AzhwAr
10)Periya Thirumadal of Thirumangai
11) RaamAnuja NooRRandhAthi

With the recitations of this day , THiru Adhyayana
Uthsavam of ChithrabhAnu Samvathsaram will come 
to a joyous conclusion .

SrI RanganAthO Jayathi,        
Swamy NammAzhwAr ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam ,
SrI RanganAtha PaadhukE ! Thubhyam Nama:
Daasan, Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri SaThakOpan 



-- SrImatE rAmAnujAya namaH --

 

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