sri:
SriVaishnava Qualities to Cultivate - From Sri Thirumalai Ananthazhvan
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Sri Parasa Bhattar (a disciple of Sri Ramanuja) once told one of His followers
Nambi to go and learn SriVaishnava qualities from another disciple of Sri
Ramanuja called Thirumalai Ananthazhvan. Nambi obeyed implicitly without any
questions (like why me) and went to Ananthazhvan?s house, where the host was
busy with thadhiaradhana (offering food) to a guest at his house. Nambi was
made to wait for quite a while, but he did so patiently and happily (as he was
doing what his Acharya bid him to do).
After the guest departed Sri Ananthazhvan was very apologetic to Nambi and
asked him for the purpose of his visit. Nambi stated the reason for his
unannounced arrival and requested that he be taught SriVaishnava qualities.
Without hesitation Sri Ananthazvan replied:
? It would be like a Crane
It would be like a Hen
It would be like Salt
It would be like YOU?
Then he went on to elaborate on this qualities-
?Why to be like a Crane?-This bird stands at the banks of a river or a brook
waiting patiently for a big fish to come, while letting go of smaller fishes.
Just like that SriVaishnava learns ordinary day-to-day things patiently, but
should learn esoteric meanings deeply with involvement.
?Why like a Hen?-It constantly goes through dirt and dust and spoils, but picks
out only grains to eat. Just like that an SriVaishnava should leave out
unnecessary involvements and only pick and practice divine qualities.
?Why like Salt?- When salt is added to food it dissolves and blends in without
showing off and being prominent. We can eat food without any flavor except
salt. So should a SriVaishnava blend in a crowd but not be loud.
?Why like Nambi?-He showed extreme patience without ego and obeyed his
Acharya?s command without questioning. He did not feel slighted at his Host
for having made him wait for a long time or leave with anger.
NOW HOW CAN WE APPLY THIS TO OUR LIVES:
>From childhood we go to school to learn a lot of lessons, English,
>Mathematics, Science, Geography, History, Computer etc. This happens year
>after year which we do persistently to succeed in life. So also when we go to
>lectures by Acharyas on Srimad Bhagawad Gita, Ramayana, Vedas, and
>Divyaprabhandam these are the fish we should grasp and hold on to.
In our day today life we see, hear, speak and learn a lot. But the thing that
has to be heard and remembered is Bhagavath Nama, and when we speak use only
kind gentle words pleasant to other?s ears, learn what you can but remember the
Almighty, because these are the chosen qualities to be practiced.
Like Salt, when in a crowd or in front of our Acharyas, God etc., we should
show our humility, humbleness and not be loud or pushy. As in the case of
salt, if not enough we miss it, if too much we avoid it. So should we-in
gatherings, elders should seek us out and miss us if we are not there, at the
same time by rude or crude behavior we should not be shunned. (Like salt).
A SriVaishnava waits patiently for either God or His Acharya to salvage him,
instead of trying to prove that one is one?s own savior. Nambi showed this
virtue of patience by waiting patiently to learn good qualities and he was the
chosen one by his Acharya as he had this virtue abundantly.
Let us pray to Srimannarayana and our Acharyas to bless us to develop,
cultivate and propagate these sterling qualities.
Jai Srimannarayana
Ramapriya Ramanuja Dasee
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