Sri: Srimathe Ramanujaya Nama: Dear BhAgavatas, These are interesting and important points. The word dhUrastan, I think, clearly is meant for the mind and not the physical aspect (at least in these times). The fact is that Sriman Narayana is sarva vyApakan. Recall that earlier sUtras defined the manthras into two categories and the Narayana mantra is a vyApaka mantra. So, it is tough to say that He is physically a dhUrastan. After all, He is the antharyami of everything. But there are times when He becomes difficult to reach either due to the jIva's nature or due to His leela and His svatantrya guNa. In the examples used, note that Draupadi's initial status was that she could save herself. Only after going through a series of methods does she moves to complete surrender. So, mentally she was not close to Him initially. In the end, all she did was surrender and cry out His Govinda nama. In the case of Sri Hanuman crossing the ocean, he was not physically close to Sri Rama. But even if he was, we have to remember that Sri Rama chose the role of the ideal man for this avatar and as such would play the part to its fullest extent. So, He would not have done anything that would have revealed His parathvam. This would also be the reason why He would build a bridge, why He would fight a regular war, and so on. The case of Ajamilan is a perfect example. In fact, in the upcoming sutras, Sri Pillai Lokacharyar goes on to explain how His nama will help even when uttered without the proper bhAva. One thing I was wondering as I was typing this sutra about His being distant was the possibility that it might be misconstrued as the translation is severely limited by my poor abilities and even poorer knowledge. The more I read and translate the Mumukshuppadi the more I fear that I may be doing a disservice, as this is truly a rahasya grantha and as such is best understood when taught by an acharya. I am even wondering if I should stop these posts. I look forward to your advice on this matter. adiyEn TCA Venkatesan --- sampath kumar <sampathkumar_2000@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Dear SrimAn VTCA, > > May I pose an interesting thought, just for the sake of > enjoyment of > the 'rasa' of the above 'sutra'? > > The word "dhUrasthan" connotes physical distance and may > commonly > taken to mean a devotee who is physically distant from > God. Draupadi > was very distant ("dhurastan") from Krishna when she was > being > disrobed in the court of DhritarAshtra. Hanuman was very > distant > ("dhurastan") from Rama while crossing the ocean to > Lanka. > > The word "dhurastan" also has a much profounder meaning. > Someone like > Ajamilan was also a "dhurastan" in the sense that in his > lifetime he > lived irreligiously... he disregarded God and God's > commandments. He > who is not God-fearing is also said to be a "dhurastan" > ... > > However, even a "dhurastan" like Ajamilan, the "purAnA" > tells us, > obtained redemption thanks to the sacred mantra, the > "tiruvashtAksharam". In his opening decad in the Periya > TirumOzhi, > Tirumangai-AzhwAr says the same thing. He bemoans the > days he > frittered away in life in pursuit of un-Godly things, of > how distant > or "far away" he was from the presence of God... as an > unfortunate > "dhurastan"... And yet the AzhwAr was in the end, thanks > solely to > the Grace bestowed upon him by the mantra, ("nArayaNa > enra > tirunAmam", to use his phrase) ... able to discover the > Glory and > Bliss of God. > > If a "dhurastan" like Ajamilan won redemption through > this 'mantra', > it gives us ordinary mortals great hope, doesn't it? > > Adiyane would therefore ask, "Isn't it more meaningful to > regard the > word "dhurastan" as fitting epithet for someone like > Ajamilan rather > than someone like Hanuman?" > > Regards, > > dAsan, > Sudarshan __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com
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