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Experiencing Swamy Desika -- #58


SrI:
Shrimate Shri Lakshmi Nrusimha Parabrahmane Namaha:
Shrimate Shri Seetha Ramachandra Parabrahmane Namaha:
Shrimate Shri Ramanujaya Namaha:
Shrimate Nigamantha Maha Desikaya Namaha:
Shrimate Shrivan Satagopa Shri Narayana Yateendra Mahadesikaya Namaha:

"SrimAn VenaktanAthArya: kavithArkika kEsarI!
VedAnthAchArya varyO mE sannidhatthAM sadhA hrudhi"!!

'sama:' is the next Kalyana guna of our Lord as
described by Shri Alavandar.

A person who does not see discrimination can be
viewed as 'Sama:'.

Our Lord is like a mirror. It is our 'bAvam' that
gets reflected by the Lord. Once we surrender to
our Lord we become a recipient of our Lord's over
whelming Love. Our Lord protected even an elephant
for the saranAgathy made by it. So, all Prapannas
are the same to our Lord. Our Lord does not
discriminate a Prapanna based on wealth or poverty,
learning or ignorance - 'sama:' !!

The following are a few points taught by Lord Krishna
to Arjuna, in the ninth chapter of Bhagavad Gita which
explains very clearly that all his devotees are the same
for our Lord and should be highly respected -

"But the worship of Me leads to eternal bliss; and
it is not so difficult. After all, a leaf (Tulasi), a
flower, a fruit or even a drop of water offered to me
in true sincerity satisfies me. He who dedicates every
act of his to Me, when he eats, sleeps or does any act
of sacrificial character, has all his sins burnt up,
and he attains me." (9th chapter 26-28)

"Such a person may be anybody, or belong to any caste.
I am equally well disposed to them, who worship Me with
sincere Bhakti. Even if such a Bhakta swerves from correct
performance of daily conduct, he is really a virtuous man
and be respected for his firm devotion. He will duly
improve or correct his conduct and immediately reach the
true path. Therefore proclaim, Oh! Arjuna! that my
devotees never perish." (26-31)

Our Swami had the same trait. Swami Desika treats
every body equally. But now the question is how are we
to say that Swami treated every one as equals when all of
us are aware that Swami condemned the theories of
opponents? Here, when we say 'all', it means 'all Prapannas.
All those who have surrendered to our Lord are the same
in Swami Desika's eyes.

Swami Desika's compassion towards us knows no bounds.
Swami has given us so much of details anticipating
the questions that would arise in our minds.
By giving us clarity of thought our Swami makes us do
what the Lord commanded us to do 'sharanam vraja'.

Swami himself, explained in the gadyavyAkyAnam thus:
"jAdi guna vruttAdi nimnOnda tatvAnAdarENa sarsama:
AcraNIyatvam samatvam".

There is no discrimination among those who take refuge
(in Sriya:Pathi).

In this context Adiyal would like to share an interesting
incident mentioned by Shri D. Ramaswami Aiyangar
that took place a few years ago.

An AchArya was performing Prapatti for a number of
disciples. Among them was a great Pandit and scholar
and also a few ladies who had lost their husbands.
The Pandit felt that it was demeaning for him to be
granted moksham along with those ladies and shouted
"what? the same moksha for me and them" The Acharya
coolly replied "You are right. They will obtain
moksha; you will not. So, no Prapatti for you." The
Pandit was learned, but he had not learnt the nature of
Lord-His easy accessibility to one and all with out
difference.

A lot of pramAnas have been quoted by Swami Desika
to show that a Vaishnava should be adored
irrespective of his caste. Swami Desika adored the
devotees irrespective of their birth - 'sama:' !!

"Kavi Taarkika Simhaaya Kalyaana guna SaalinE!
SrimatE VenkateshAya VedAnta Gurave nama !!"

...To be continued!

dEsikan tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

Praveena nAmni Ramanuja dasi