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Ramanuja List Archive: Message 00004 Sep 2003

 
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Sri:
Srimathe Ramanujaya Nama:

During Bhattar's upanyasams in Srirangam, an elderly 
Srivaishnava who was not a scholarly person would come
by and Bhattar would ask his disciples to treat him 
with great respect. A scholar would also come by to
Bhattar's upanyasams and Bhattar would ask his 
disciples to give him some sambhavana and send him on
his way.

The disciples puzzled by this asked Bhattar for the
reason behind his actions. Bhattar told them to wait
till the next day.

Next day when the scholar came by, Bhattar met him and
seated him. He then asked the scholar "Please explain
to us the principle (tattva)". The scholar replied 
"This is not easily determined. The Vedas and 
Upansihads can be interpreted in many ways such as 
dvaita, advaita, etc."

Bhattar then asked him "Please explain the means 
(hita)". The scholar replied "Here too things are not
clear, as there were many means such as bhakti, njAna,
prapatti, etc."

Bhattar finally asked him "Please explain the goal 
(prApya)." The scholar again was unsure saying "There 
are many goals such as aisvaryam, kaivalyam, bhagavat 
kainkaryam, and so on."

Bhattar then thanked the scholar and sent him on his 
way.

Next the elderly Srivaishnava came and Bhattar asked 
him also about tattva, hita and purusharttha. The 
elderly person slapped his palm against his forehead
and exclaimed "adiyEn thought that in Bhattar's ghosti 
everyone would have conviction in these things. Sriman 
Narayana is the tattvam, His divine feet are the hitam
and bhagavat kainkaryam is the purusharttham. If people
here are not even sure of this much, then adiyEn will
not come to this kAlakshepam any more".

Bhattar smiled and told his disciples "Now you know
why I treated these two differently".

That is, no matter how well read or well recognized a
person is, if they don't have the right convictions,
then there is no purpose in their life. Only with 
conviction in the sampradhayam can one lead a true 
life.

Azhvar Emberumanar Jeeyar Thiruvadigale Sharanam




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