Search:
Bhakti List Archives

SanatkumAra

From the Bhakti List Archives

R. Skrintha • September 9, 1998 


Dear Bhaagavataas,

Sri Sadagopan and others have recently written in depth about SanakAdi
brothers and the Jaya-Vijaya episode. In this connexion (albeit not a very
direct connexion!) here's something I read about Sri SanatkumAra in a book
published by Sri RamanAsramamam of ThiruvaNNAmalai. Pardon me if these
points have already been mentioned!

He was one of the 4 SanakAdi brothers begotten by Sri BrahmA's will. But
to the surprise of Sri BrahmA, these people were possessed even at birth
of the highest knowledge and vairAgya. For this reason they did
not wish to undertake the agenda of sRshTi that Brahmadev desired of them.

Once, when SanatkumAra was immersed in deep meditation on the Formless
Parabrahman, Lord Shiva, pleased with his austerity appreared before him,
requested him to ask for a boon. To which SanatkumAra replied that he had
no desires to fulfilled. He maintained this position inspite Lord Shiva's
repeated entreaties! Finally, Lord Shiva is said to asked the other if
*He* could seek a boon from SanatkumAra, to which the latter gladly
acceded. Lord Shiva expressed the desire that SanatkumAra shd be born as
His son (in anticipation of the future advent of Asuras)! SanatkumAra
agreed, provided he wasn't to be born of a lady since he felt that the
process of involution of a jiiva into an embryo and subsequent
physical birth was very painful (what an important lesson!). For this
reason, when eventually SanatkumAra was born as Skandar (Murugar), He was
born of divine sparks from Shiva's forehead directly, thereby
circumventing the usual physical process of birth.

It is believed by many devotees of Sri Ramanar of Arunachala that
Ramana was an avataara of Skandar (e.g, like SanatkumAra and Skanda,
Ramana, unusually even for Sanyaasis, wore a loin cloth (kaupiinam) over
his waist) tho Ramana was by nature very averse to queries that try to
trace out past births etc. (since they are not central to the attainment
of spiritual perfection). 

As a note on Ramana's practical bent of mind, I might add an insightful
incident that took place. A great Shavaite scholar once asked Ramana how
one was to reconcile the monism of the Vedanta with the dualism of
Siddhaanta tattva. To which, in his characteristic style Ramanar replied:
"Vedaantam-um illai Siddhaantam-um illai, anubhavam ayyA, anubhavam". A
rough translation: "Sir, [these truths are to grasped] not [simply] thru
[the study of] Vedaanta and/or Siddhaanta, but thru direct experience".

Please excuse me if u don't find a direct connexion to Lord Hari in the
above account! 

Hari Om,
Srikanth