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srI:
SrI sAra sAram â I (61)
--
I â ThirumantrAdhikAram
--
The Meaning of the Thirumanthiram as a Whole
---
SwAmi Desikan now lists the benefits one obtains as a result of a clear
understanding of the significance of the Thirmanthiram:
âim mantra-nishThan rakshakAntara-anvEshaNam, dEvatantarAdi-sparSam
kEvala-dEhArtha-vyApAram, kshEtrAdi-sangam, nirapEksha-kartrutva-abhimAnam,
bhAgavata-aparAdham, Atma-nASAdi-bhayam, prayOjAnathararuci muthalAna
anartha-hEthukkaLil AzhangkAR-paDAn.â-
A person who stands firmly rooted in the knowledge gained from the
study of the Thirumanthirm will not indulge in any evil activity. How will he
behave? Swami Desikan lists his behaviour on various counts:
1) ârakshakAntara-anvEshaNamâ â He will not seek any one else other than
the Lord for his protection;
2) âdEvatantarAdi-sparSamâ â He will not have contact with other gods;
3) âkEvala-dEhArtha-vyApAramâ â He will not strive for mere physical
enjoyment;
4) âkshEtrAdi-sangamâ â He will not be attached to land, house and other
material properties;
5) ânirapEksha-kartrutva-abhimAnamâ â He will not presume that he acts
independently of the Lord;
6) âbhAgavata-aparAdhamâ â He will not harm the devotees of the Lord;
7) âAtma-nASAdi-bhayamâ â He will not fear destruction to his atma;
8) âprayOjAnathararuciâ â He will not have desire for anything other than
mOksha.
âmuthalAna anartha-hEthukkaLil AzhangkAR-paDAnâ â He will not drown
himself in such thoughts that may cause harm.
SwAmi Desikan describes the person who does not behave like this:
âbahusrutanEyAkilum iththeLivu illAthavan vikalan.â â However educated
one may be, if he does not have such clarity of mind and conduct, he will not
be considered wise.
On the other hand, a less educated person endowed with good conduct as
stated above will be considered a perfect being:
âalpaSrutanE yAkilum sadAchArya-prasAdaththale inthath theLivu piRnathavan
sampoorNan.â --
One may not have been highly educated in spiritual matters. But, because of the
grace of good AchAryas, if he is convinced of the benefits of good conduct laid
down above and accordingly conduct himself, he will be considered a perfect
being and an evolved person.
SwAmi Desikan points out that even scriptures hold such a person in
high esteem:
âivanai, âpragnAprasAdamaruhyaâ enRu praSamsikkirathu.â â
The above quote is from a SlOka of the MahAbhArata:
âprajnAprasAdamAruhya hyaSOcyah SOcathO janAn /
bhoomishThAniva SailasyO hyajnAn prAjnah prapaSyati //â (SAnti Parva,
150-11)
Meaning:
The person, who has understood well the significance of the Thirumanthiram and
is free from all anxieties about himself, is akin to a person who has mounted
the top of a mountain. From there, he looks down upon people who appear to him
as very tiny creatures. Similarly, the wise man who has mastered the knowledge
of this mantra sees the people who have not done so as ignorant, suffering due
to lack of such knowledge.
One who has gained a clear knowledge of the Thirumanthiram, cannot be
shaken by those outside the pale of Vedanta and by heretics. To him they will
appear insignificant.
(To continue)
dAsan
anbil S. SrInivAsan
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