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From: Madhavakkannan V (srivaishnavan_at_hotmail.com)
Date: Tue Mar 27 2001 - 04:53:33 PST
SrI:
SrImathE Gopaladesika Mahadesikaya Namah:
Dearest Srivaishnavas,
I wish to share with you another article written by His Holiness Srimad
Andavan Sri PaRavakkOttai Gopaladesika Mahadesikan on meditation (dhyAnam).
All errors and faults are only mine; May AchAryan and BhAgawathas forgive me
for the same.
When uttering manthram, it would be nicer and more enjoyable if one knows
the meaning of the manthram. Out of all manthRas, the three manthrAs,
namely, ashtAksharam, VasudEvadwAdasAksharam, VishNushaTaksharam, are most
important. In those manthrAs, the words Narayana, Vasudeva, VishNu mean that
Emperumaan (the Lord) is everywhere; there is no place at all where He does
not exist. He is the Lord Of Shree Lakshmi, Bhoomi and Neela Devi.
Sriman Narayanan is the Supreme soul of all chit and achit tatvas, having
all chit and achit tatvas as his body, controlling everything, the only
material and instrumental cause of the universe, present inside and outside
everything. “antharbahischathassarvam vyApya nArAyaNasthitha: “ Out of His
five forms, Pararoopam is the first.
In Bhagavath vibhUthi, three parts are above virajA nadhI, which is Sri
VaikuNta lOkam called aprAkritha lOkam – thripAdh vibhUthi and the remaining
one quarter is prAkritha lOkam, consisting of the universes, worlds where we
live in.
SrIvaikuNta Divya nagar is the city or capital of Sri vaikuNta lOkam. It is
well guarded by Kumudhan, KumudhAkshan, PuNdareekan, vAmanan, Shanka karNan,
SarpanEthran, Sumukhan and SuprathishTan. There are four entrances with
tall gopurams (towers) on all four sides. At the center is the tall grand,
greatest palatial building. ChaNdan, PrachaNdan, Badran, Subadran, Jayan,
Vijayan, dhaatra, vidhatra are the ones at the gates safeguarding this
palace.
Inside the palace, is the most exquisitely beautiful ThirumAmaNi maNdapam.
At its center, is the most gorgeous – athisundhara SimhAsanam. There are
eight legs for this simhAsanam called, “Dharmam (justice), jnAnam
(knowledge), VairAgyam(renunciation), aishwaryam (wealth),
adharmam(injustice), anjnAnam (lack of knowledge or ignorance), avairAgyam
(non-renunciation), and anaishwaryam (poverty). There is a bed (or seat) of
AdhisEshan on that simhAsanam. There are nine damsels namely, Vimala,
UtakarshiNI, jnAnA, kriyA, yogA, prahvI, SathyA, IsAnA, and anugrahA who
serve Sriman Narayanan, moving gently the veNchAmaram ( a bushy type fan).
In the front of Sriya: Pathi Sriman Narayana, all AchAryAs are seated most
gracefully and on the right, SridEvi; on the left BhUdEvi and nIlAdEvi; and
other dhivya mahishIs surround EmperumAn.
The most beautiful shining crown on His Head; mukthAhAram (pearl necklace)
around His neck; SrIvathsam; Kausthubham; Vaijayanthi vanamAlA- are brightly
adorning His Divine Chest. The PeethAmbaram at His Hip; The dress and
ornaments worn by the Lord such as silk apparel, crown, ear rings, arm
rings, waist belt (Around the waist the ottiyANam); Holding in His most
resplendent Hands are the Divine weapons such as Conch and ChakrA, mace,
bow, sword and lotus (padmam).
Anantha, Garuda, VishvaksEnar and others recite SaamagAnam;
Vishvakenar (the commander-in-chief) along with GajAnanan (the elephant
faced NithyasUri), JayathsEnan, Harivakthran, and Kaalaprakruthi pay
military honor to EmperumAn;
akilahEyaprathyanIkan (having no faults and no blemishes absolutely at all
times and under all circumstances in all forms and in all avatars),
ananthakalyANaguNakaran (having anantha kalyAna guNas of jnAnam, Shakthi,
Balam, aishvaryam, vIryam, Shakthi, thEjas etc.)
The One who is also addressed as ParavAsudEvan, Parabrahmam is Sriman
narayanan. He is Iswaran- the Lord.
All names identify him as He is the soul of all and everything. He is
infinite Absolute Bliss (Ananda), infinite knowledge self, knowing
everything (jnAnam). He is the creator; sustainer and destroyer of
everything. He is Pristinely purest (akilahEyaprathyanIkan) -
untouched by impurities; He has infinite (kalyANa guNAs) most auspicious ,
divine qualities unique to Only Himself. (ananthakalyANaguNakaran)
He is the Lord Of Shree Lakshmi, Bhoomi and Neela Devi.
He has all and everything (both Chith and achith tatvas) as his body. Sriman
Narayanan alone is Parathvam.
At least for ten minutes, everyday, we need to cultivate our minds to
meditate on (think of) Him; This mind is so fickle; like a monkey. But it is
KaNNan (GeethAchAryan’s upadEsam that with practice, and vairAgyam
(determination) one can concentrate slowly and develop. Without thinking of
anything else, if we keep trying to think and meditate on Paraman, we can do
it…
Narayana Narayana
Let us salute Sriya: Pathi Sriman Narayana with all His paraphernalia.
adiyEn Narayana Dasan madhavakkannan
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