SrI: SrImathE Gopaladesika mahadesikaya namah: Dearest Srivaishnavas,This concept prapatti- has been widely discussed again and again. As Sri Krishna Kalale mentioned we need to follow in accordance with what our AchArya has said. The difference is in our (lack of ) understanding of Sri Pillai lokacharyar and Swamy Desikan on this subject. I would like to mention what Sri Velukkudi Krishnan Swamy spoke in his upanyasam to compare these two AchAryAs views and how they did not differ but only supplemented each other.
Thenkalai¡¦s view: No need to perform any prapatti as EmperumAn¡¦s vAthsalyam is not dependent on any of opur Actions. All compassionate, omnipotent Lord Sriman Narayanan should have His grace flown freely towards the devotees without expecting an effort on their part. It is He who grants mOksham (as siddhOpAyam). This unconditioned compassion is called nirhEthuka krupA, as compared to the sahEthuka krupA or showing compassion in response to some good act done by the devotee.
Vadakalai view: Prapatti (act of self surrender) is to be performed to please the Lord for His granting mOksham as it is He who mentioned.
PerumAL Himself categorically declares : bhaktyA paramayA vA-pi prapattyA vA mahAmathe prApyoham na anyathA prApyO mama kainkarya lipsubhihi"PerumAL declares that bhakti yOgam and prapatti are the only means (sAdhyOpAyam, to be adopted by a jIvAtma) for which He will grant moksham (kainkaryam at Sri vaikuNTham) and for ¡§no other means¡¨ adopted by the jIvAtmA, will He grant moksham.
Now: Sri Krishnan Swamy explained as to how these two are just the same concept and there is no difference. He gave an example.
Bhakti yOgam- a very difficult task that can be performed only by few who have the strength and qualifications and should be done till last breath. And prapatti an act of self surrender also can grant Moksham.
To go to 12th floor, there are two ways:1. Climb the steps one by one till 12th floor and for this, you need to be able, strong and have determination to complete the full course (not stop in between). If you stop, never mind. Next birth again start from there to reach 12th floor.
2. Other way is to take a lift. For this, we need to make NO EFFORTS.The lift automatically takes you to 12th floor. No efforts needed. Is it wrong ? No. ¡V This is thenkalai view.
You need not have to feel bad, that you can not climb because you are not qualified and strong. All that you need to do is to simply step inside press the button ¡§12¡¨ It takes you straight. No worries. Have complete faith that the lift will take you there where you wish to go. Is there anything wrong? No. ¡V This is vadakalai¡¦s view.
Is there any difference ion the two above paragraphs? No. It is our lack of understanding Both these AchAryas have said that prapatti is required. The pressing of button does not lead us to 12th floor. It is the Lift. But it requires a small act of entering inside and press.
As Swami Sri Pillai Lokacharya so eloquently puts it, "The Lord's thoughts [of our welfare] are always with us." (adu dAn eppOdum uNDu -- SrI vacana bhUshaNam / svb 67). But his desire to give the jIva liberation from ajnAna can only bear fruit if the jIva changes its way of thinking -- (adu phalippadu ivan ninaivu mArinAl -- svb 68). For forcing a gift upon someone, when that person does not desire it, or is not ready to receive it, is no gift at all.
The main point here is: the denial of human effort as a requisite condition of redmpetion would amount to arbitrariness on the part of Sriman Narayanan. In other words, if the Lord were to release an individual from bondage without any endeavour on his part, the latter should have become free of all these births long ago. If it be said that the release takes place later at a particular point of time due to the mere krupA of the Lord and the mere pleasure of the Lord, He would be inevitably subject to large amount of arbitrariness and cruelty. He should have taken the entire beings to the Paramapadham at one stroke. Or He is cruel and partial; biased.
In order to avoid this embarrassment and criticism, God showers His grace only on those who become qualified for it by observing the prescribed sadhana sanctioned by ssasthrAs. It does not flow automatically to one who is inactive and paasive.
The bhakti Yopgam or prapatti to be observed by the aspirant of mOksham is only a vyAja (excuse) or pretext for God to shower his grace. He is ever willing and ready. Even such opportunities to do prapatti and obsrve a spiritual discipline to earn God¡¦s grace are actually provided by the Lord Himself. They are not granted arbitrarily to few, but on the contrary they are given to those in response to some smallest deed (sukrutham) or good act performed even unintentionally either in the previous births or in the current life.
As a universal principle, God¡¦s grace comes forth necessarily in response to one¡¦s karma, or else, He (the Lord) would be subject to the charge of discrimination).
Also, The jIvan being dependent on the Lord (and the jnAnam of the same) as a tool in the hands of God is also mentioned here for non -performance of prapatti. It looks inappropriate that an individual should plead before God for protection and adopt for this purpose an act (Sadhana) as if rendering some service in return for a reward. As a subservient being, one has no right to make an effort is the argument against performance of prapatti.
This is based on the misconception of the dependence of the jiVA (paarathanthrya). The jivan though is dependent on the Lord is also being blessed by the Lord with karthruthvam (doer ship), bhOgthruthvam (enjoyership) and jnAthruthvam (knowership). He is an agent for action (kartA). As an agent, he has freedom to function. That is the very purpose of having us as jIva. Else, the commands of sacred text would be meaningless. Thus, the act of self surrender done in accordance with saasthrAs, is not inappropriate. Though the Supreme Lord regards the jIvA as His own and knows its needs (like a mother towards the infant), He has to look forward to some excuse for taking a special route for this darling child of His (i.e us?º This is only not to have Him exposed to arbitrariness in front of our siblings?º Seshathva or dependence of an individual on God truly implies that he would have been a non entity but for the Lord, that he possesses nothing of His own other than what has been endowed to him by God and that he does nothing for himself except for the pleasure of the Lord Sriya: Pathi sriman Narayanan.
Swamy desikan says in nyAsa dasakam: swAmin svasEsham svavasam svabharathvEna nirbharam; svadattha svadhiyaa svaartham svasmin nyasyasi maam svayamOh Lord.. I am your dependent (sva sEsha); I am controlled by You (sva vasam); You have endowed with the capacity to think; You have enabled me to know Your nature; You YOUSELF have made me surrender to You for Your own pleasure with the responsibility of protecting it and getting rid of that burden from me. ¡§.
What a beautiful verse that coveys all that needs to be conveyed!Please forgive me for any errors and mistakes. They are due to adiyEn¡¦s lack of understanding. Anything good the credit goes to Acharyas¡¦ works and articles /books by scholars.
AchAryan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam Regards Namo Narayana aDiyEn _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp.
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