We know that Shri Parasara Bhattar, son of Shri Kurathazhvan did not
suffer fools lightly. He was famous for his repartees which were most
often questions directed at the questioner. Such men must needs have
a well defined sense of humour. We come across such an example when
Shri Bhattar is explaining the import of the 65th name Isaanah in his
magnum opus the inimitable Bhagvad Guna Darpana a commentary on
Sahasranama.
This is what we see in the English translation of Prof. A.Srinivasa
Raghavan:
"Therefore to those who prattle that the Supreme Being is under the
influence of illusion,or of limiting adjuncts, or under-goes
transmutations, or His over?lordship omniscience and other qualities
are adventitious, thrice do I offer the oblation of handful of water
mixed with seasames (i.e. I shall consider them as non-existent and
shall have nothing to do with them)."
This is obviously aimed at the Mayavadins and other dysinterpreters
of the vedas. He sarcastically elevates them to the station of the
manes, pithrus. The good professor interprets thus: Bhattar does not
acknowledges their very existence. They are extinct so Bhattar offers
them til and jalam (sesame and water).
This brings up a reasonable query.Actually many questions.
Are the pithrus existent or not?
If they aren't, to whom do we offer tharpana monthly?
If they exist do they have form or are they "aravam" formless?
Are these forms sukshma (latent) or sthoola (patent)?
If they have forms do they have jeevathma and antharyami?
Where does the jeevathma,if present, come from?
At death the indwelling soul leaves the body and as per its karma it
either goes on to the path of darkness or on to the path of light.
Where do the pithrus come in?
Where is the pithruloka, on the dhoomadimarga or archiradi marga?
How long does the peripatetic soul stay as pithru?
can a mumukshu who attains nithyavibhuti be considered a typical
pithru?
How long does it take for the jeevathma to reach nithya vibuthi or
the lesser lokas?
What does it do in the interregnum?
Once a person dies, except for the remnant effluvium of the past
karmas, karma vasanas, the jeevathma forgets its previous birth and
the attached gothra,kula,nama etc. So why do we offer tharpana with
the full abivadhana to some thing that no longer exists?
How can the pithrus harm or benefit the living relations when the
soul itself forgets everything connected with the previous birth as
told by the Geethacharyan to Partha?
Once the jeevathma dons a new sharira, body, will it acknowledge its
past bodily relations when it forgets everything else?
Or is this whole exercise, charade is too strong a word, just an
instrument for not forgetting our ancestors?
Can some knowlegeable bhagavtha enlighten this dim witted e-mailer.
This is not kudarka, dasan is interested in comprehending the whole
concept so that the real doubters can be given a fitting reply.
Dr.S.Sundar Rajan, Trichy, 16-11-2007.
Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan
http://www.sadagopan.org
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Oppiliappan/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Oppiliappan/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:Oppiliappan-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
mailto:Oppiliappan-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
Oppiliappan-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
|
Home Page
http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia |
oppiliappan-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To subscribe to the list |