You are here: SriPedia - SriRangaSri - Archives - Jan 2004

SriRangaSri List Archive: Message 00030 Jan 2004

 
Jan 2004 Indexes ( Date | Thread | Author )
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]


Dear friends,

(22) In Stanza 22 of the TiruppAvai there is an
explicit reference to "satsangh" in the expression:

"angan mAlatth-arasar ?un paLLi-kattil keezhE sangam
irruppAr?"
        
The phrase "sangam irrupAr" refers to the "mightiest
kings of the worlds" ("arasar") who gather in strength
in a royal 'satsangh' as it were (i.e. 'sangam
irrupAr') to line up with folded arms and humbly
supplicate at not the Almighty's feet (!) but at the
feet of His bedstead ("palli-kattil keezhE")!         
 

Even the mightiest of powers of the worlds like "kings
and 'dEvas' (gods) when they need to petition God have
no choice but to go to Him in humble 'satsangh'. Such
is the meaning of this expression, "sangam iruppAr.."

The Ramayana speaks of how otherwise very powerful
'devAs' went as a group to Sriman Narayana in humble
prayer for protection against the tyranny of Ravana.
It was in response indeed to the prayer of the
'satsangh' of 'dEvas' -- "arasar sangam iruppAr"
--that the avatar of Rama was undertaken.

            ******************

There is another expression here in this stanza which
though not quite as explicit as "sangam irrupAr" is
however quite rich in its suggestive implication of
the 'satsangh' theme. It is this:

"enggaL mEl nOkkudhiyEl, enggal mEr sApamm-eezhndhu?"

The expression in this stanza beginning with (the
first-person-plural "enggaL..") literally means:

"Cast Thine eyes upon us that we may be rid of the
curse our sins have wrought upon us!"

Sometimes there is no need for the whole 'satsangh' to
go in one large body to the Almighty --- like the
delegation of 'angan mAlatthu arasar-s". It is
sometimes enough if just one member from a "satsangh"
goes as representative for the rest. The
representative becomes the recipient of divine grace
("nOkkudhal") and, by virtue of it, those whom he
represents get rid of all sins and trespasses
("sApamm-eezhndhu"). 

The story of Sudama from the Srimadh Bhagavatham comes
to mind immediately and although it is well known to
everyone it is worth recounting it here.

Sudama and Krishna were schoolmates who strolled
together everyday all the way from Gokulam to the
village of their master Maharishi Sandipini to learn
lessons. One day after class the two lads were
returning home when it began to rain torrentially. The
two quickly climbed a large tree and took shelter
under its great branches. The rain poured
unrelentingly for hours and darkness descended. The
boys became extremely hungry. 

Sudama took out his little cloth-bag and untied a
lunch-box full of delicious snacks his mother had
packed for him that morning on his way to school.
"Sudama, I've packed enough lunch for both you and
Krishna", he remembered his mother telling him, "Make
sure you give Krishna his share and both of you can
enjoy the meal together".

Sudama being very hungry, however, was overtaken by
childish greed. He silently gobbled the whole meal
himself not sparing a morsel even for his mate.
Krishna however acted as if he was was entirely
unaware of his friend's deed of selfishness.

Sudama's committed three acts of sin that day. The
first was breach of his mother's trust. The second,
was deceit and thievery -- he quietly deprived Krishna
of his rightful share of the meal. Thirdly, in
appropriating the meal all to himself knowing fully
well that his friend was as hungry as he, Sudama
committed a grievously selfish deed. Sudama was
accursed to lead a life of acute poverty and adversity
from that very moment onwards. 

For years thereafter Sudama lived a life of misery in
grinding poverty. He had a very loving and devoted
wife and he had twenty-seven affectionate children!
They lived in fact a simple but virtuous life as good
brahmins. They were God-fearing, living constantly in
contemplation of their old friend, the Almighty
Vasudeva. Sudama's was as good a household 'satsangh'
as could be found anywhere. But the curse of Sudama's
sins was upon the family 'satsangh' and it brought
them untold hardship in the form of deprivation.

After years of misery, one day on the urging of his
good wife, Sudama finally swallowed his brahminical
pride ("abimAna bangamaay vandhu") and traveled to
Dwaraka to seek the help of his friend of old times,
Sri Krishna, and beseech him for a way out of the dire
straits. 

Krishna received Sudama and showered him with all the
affection and hospitality that is due to an old
friend. They talked of old times and of this and
that... but Sudama could not however bring up the
subject of his family's dire condition. So overwhelmed
was Sudama by Krishna's warmth, graciousness and
kindness that he was ashamed to reveal the true
purpose of his visit.  But he was content, why more
than content and immensely happy to merely spend
precious moments in the company of Krishna?happy to
have once again set eyes upon that handsome face,
those luminous eyes and those playful lips of his old
friend of yore? 

When he finally took leave of Krishna that day, Sudama
left with absolutely nothing to show of Krishna's
largesse for which principally the visit to Dwaraka
was undertaken. He left with nothing to take back home
to his destitute wife and children except fond
memories of Krishna's own delightful presence?
memories he hoped would linger in the mind for long?
Sudama left with nothing but God's 'darshan" -- or as
the TiruppAvai phrase has it, the Almighty's
"nOkkudhiyEl"?

Before he left, Sudama felt however that for the sake
of old times he must give Krishna at least a token of
affection. Alas, the poor brahmin had nothing of any
value whatsoever to gift to Krishna? except a little
bag of rice-bran -- bran that Sudama remembered used
to be a favorite snack of Krishna back in the good old
school days. "I have nothing to give thee, Krishna,
except this handful of grain I brought with me from
home as my humble gift to you", said Sudama
shamefaced.

"Sudama, how kind of you to remember", said the
Almighty graciously, "give it to me for it's still my
favorite snack!"

             *******************

The story of Sudama is one of the finest
'human-interest stories' in the Srimadh Bhavagavatam.
It relates how in the very moment Sudama gifted a
handful of rice-bran to Krishna, the sins accrued by
the poor brahmin in a distant past were immediately
expiated and atoned for! And the terrible curse of
those sins, hanging like millstone around Sudama's
neck all the years, was at once rid completely! The
curse lifted ("sApamm-eezhndhu") not only off Sudama's
soul but off his entire family too --- his entire
household 'satsangh', so to say. As if by some
wonderful magic, the Bhagavatam tells us, their poor
hovel turned into a large luxurious mansion, with
liveried servants and with granary loads of food and
wardrobes full of riches and finery! 

Sudama and his little family 'satsangh' lived happily
ever after. No other 'satsangh' in the world of
"purAna" or "itihAsa" would probably have better
realized the true significance of the TiruppAvai line
--- "enggaL mEl nOkkudhiyEl, enggal mEr
sApamm-eezhndhu?"

              ****************

Whether it be the mighty or the low --- whether kings
and gods ("angan mAllathu arasar") or poor men like
Sudama with his hapless family -- the rule is the
same: everyone must approach the Almighty for succor
and solace through 'satsangh'. Such is the
significance we may derive from AndAl's beautiful
phrase in the TiruppAvai, "sangam iruppAr?".

               (to be continued)
Regards,

dAsan,
Sudarshan





________________________________________________________________________
Yahoo! India Mobile: Download the latest polyphonic ringtones.
Go to http://in.mobile.yahoo.com


 

Yahoo! Groups Links

To visit your group on the web, go to:
 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SriRangaSri/

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
 SriRangaSri-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
 http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 



[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next] [Date Index ] [Thread Index ] [Author Index ]
Home Page
http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia
srirangasri-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe to the list