Vaikuntha Varnan

"gandhdwaramduradharshaam nityapushtaam karishinim |ishwarim sarvabhutaanam tamihophavahyeshriyam||"

 

Saint Vadiraaj has written Vaikuntha varnane in four chapters 1.moksha sandhi  2.laya 3 srishti and 4 stithi sandhi .

This is directive lesson in the journey towards Moksha for a aspirant .It highlights the philosophy of Poornapragnya acharya in very lucid manner .

In the first sandhi after the mangalacharan Vadiraaj elucidates the three avataras of Vayu namely Hanuman , Bheema and Madhvacharya .Srimadananda teertha has brightened the lamp of true knowledge of Lord Vedavyasa  .

He has upheld that , the world in which we are living , the world which we are  experiencing and is witnessing with all the senses and more importantly breathing in the air of the world, such a world is REAL.

Those who claim that everything is FALSE [ MAYA ] , then very tongue with which they are claiming this also becomes FALSE .

How can a false tongue convey anything ? Then speechless such persons cannot argue further !

Thus stressing this logic Vadiraaj quotes the verse " dwasuparna sayujasakhay ........." from vedas [shruti] to bring out the point that ,

Jeeva and Isha are two different birds embracing the tree namely human body .

If a person teases the other in presence of others as " one without qualities " it is seen in the world  tempers rise with fury of anger . Then if such words are attributed to Lord Srinivas  how can they be accepted .

According to Vadiraaj swamy , this chapter is intended to give bhakti to the good and ethical people and increase hate among the uneligibles . Lord Vishnu has been declared  as the greatest in the inquiry made by rishis through Sage Bhrigu .

Such a lord's story [ harikatha] , if not heard ever by those  evil people ,such people's breathing is a mere exercise akin to the blacksmith's equipment . Such people [ who have no bhakti in Lord ], their mundane activities are also akin to the sporting pigs and dogs  at the enterance of city gates .

Their ears [ which have never heard a harikatha ] are akin to the  rat pits . Their eyes which have not rejoiced at the sight of Lord 's Idol are akin to owl . The tongue which has not sung the hymns of Narhari are akin to squeaking frogs .

• Did Parikshit not attain Vaikuntha ,listening to harikatha in seven days ?
• Did Khatvang King not attain the Moksha in just 48 minutes ?

Bhakti is paramount in Moksha sadhana . With Nirmal [ unadulterated ] bhakti ,whence one remembers Narayana continuously , souls reach Vaikuntha .

• Reaching the abode namely Vaikuntha [where Lord Narayana is ever visible to the souls ] is what is known as MOKSHA .
• The place that never perishes is known as Vaikuntha
• Vaikuntha is the only true dwelling [ everlasting stay].
• There Lord Narayana is visible always uninterruptedly in his complete full glory .
• Those who have attained mukti are known as MUKTA .
• Vaikuntha is the place where Mukta live ,without fear of return to mortal world ever .
• ONce entered in this world .one never comes back into the sansaar .
• once entered in Vaikuntha one is relieved from cycle of birth and death .
• Vaikuntha has no miseries
• Vaikuntha has no incompleteness .
• Muktas are always complete and happy in everyway .
• SriMahalaxmi with infinite forms serves Lord Narayana in Vaikuntha and also illuminates the Vaikuntha with her radiance akin to hundred crores of Suns put together , in all the 10 directions of Vaikuntha.
• Vaikuntha of Bhagavan Vishnu is above the satyaloka of Brahma .
• Untouched by miseries ,sidhdhas and sadhyas are enjoying in infinite ways  each and every moment uniterruptedly ,without end .
• All these experiences of happiness in the Vaikuntha is the result of service to the Lord Krishna's lotus feet .
• The bestower of such happiness of Moksha ie Lord Krishna's feet and enjoyer of the happiness ie Jeeva are different and in hierarchy . ie Lord is aiways different and  greater [ infinitely] than jeeva during sansaar , after sansaar ie  Moksha , and also during Moksha , such difference exists and conyinues , among Lord and jeeva and also among Jeevas .
• Such a difference is truth
• Such a  heirarchy is Also the TRUTH.

krishnarpanamastu

note : this is avery elaborate grantha and over next few weeks the translation of VAIKUNTHA VARNANE will continue .

Sarva Samarpana Gadyam- 10

" chaturgunadyupasan jignyasadyupasadibhi: swabimbaparoksha gnyanotpadaken manushyottamanaarabhya chaturmukhparyantanam panchvidh muktiyogyanam ch swabimbopaseenalingaapagame swaroopanandavirbhavvaichitrryanandapradagnyanena tvayi samarpiten tvatpoojaivaastu "

Lord Narayana has  to be meditated by manushyas as satya, gnyan , anand atma[ paripoorna] ;the four qualities , by devatas as many as qualities and by bramha infinitely through jignyasa through  shravan manan dhyana . By paroksha dhyan upasana , Lord blesses with  aparoksha .

Muktiyogya [ those eligible for moksha ] fall into five categories :

1. Devatas
2. rishis
3. pitrus
4. chakravartis[ kings]
5. manushyottam [ superior among men]

When these souls continuously meditate the bimba , such upasana results into disintegration of lingadeha from swaroop deha just as skin of the grain comes off the grain , rsulting in the manifesttion of swaroop ananda[ happiness inherent]

As each soul is unique and different and full of happiness , a vichitra happiness is manifested by the grace of God Narayana , this knowledge I attribute to the LORD [ samarpan ]

Linga deha has 16 kala [ dashendriya 10 , panchtanmatra 5,manas 1] ,anulingasharira , thereafter mahatatva sharira . This is covered by ahankaratmak anirudhdha sharira . Such a linga deha is beginingless . Jeeva has seven layers ;

1. Ishvar ichcha
2. jeevaichchadika
3. paramachchadika
4. linga deha
5. avidya
6. kaam
7. karma

These seven forces in transition to become a sthula deha [ outer body].

Anirudhdha deha is made up of ahankar and has presence of daitya[demons] in it to inspire the sins in us . These demons' activities do not reach mahatatva and linga deha and for this it is always protected by Lord Narayana in the form "Trivrat" till the disintegration of linga deha .

" Trittatha madiye shubhashubhkarmanormadhye ashubh karmanusarena tatprerit mukhyapranena tatvabhimani asuramaarabhya kaliparyantanam tamoyogyanam tamo duhkhanumane swaroopbhutduhkhatishay pradateti gnyanen tvayi samarpitena tvatpoojaivastu "

• I am performing both good and bad deeds .
• Owing to the sins and ashubh karma done in previous births , to reap those fruits of ashubh karma , demons [asur] inspire to sin .
• At that time , prayed by me in anguish , You inspire Mukhyaprana to punish those starting from tatvabhimani asuras till Kali [all tamoyogyas , one befitting hell]
• Then Mukhyaprana with his gada ,hits them to experience the miseries inherent in their swaroop deha of kali etc in the hell named mahatamas ,such endless miseries these souls are ordained by You as the LORD of Mukhyaprana .
• This knowledge of mine be your prayer
• I attribute it to you [ samarpana]
• Oh SriMoolRamachandra , I bow before you [namskaar]

||Iti Shri Raghavendrateertha gurusarvabhauma pranitam sarvasamarpana gadyam sampoornam||

Krishnarpanamastu

Bhagavat Purana

A seed is sown in the soil and watered ,it springs into a tree with a strong stem ,branches ,leaves and Flowers . It will be laden with Fruits . Ripe sweet Fruits are the essence of the Tree in toto . The Fruit which has been bit [tasted]by  a Parrot is particularly [assuredly] very  sweet. Tasting such sweet fruit brings sense of pleasure and immense bliss.This is what is known in the world about the trees to us.

In philosophical world [vedic vangmaya] there is a Kalpavriksha tree which grows :

When seed of gnyana is sown in the soil[field of mind] and nourished with Bhakthi [devotion] , trunk named Vedas spring up ,with barks as upanishats and branches as rig, yajus ,sama ,atharva and many shakhas , upavedas and leaves of innumerable shastras [ when taken shelter under it, it gives cool shade and solace ] ,It has fragrant flowers of many Vidyas  and puranas as Fruits ,which contain the entire essence of Vedas . Of these various puranas , some are very ripe, And that which has been bit[tasted] by the Parrot named Shukamuni is assuredly very sweet ,It is Bhagavata Purana because it gives immense bliss named MOKSHA.

Note : Shukacharya ,son of Vedavyasa had a face of that of parrot , He was the first to learn Bhagavat and first to give discourse on it to Parikshit Grandson of Arjun , WHo after listening to it in seven days attained Moksha.

Krishnarpanamastu

Karma & Gnyana

Shri krishna stresses importance of gnyana in Bhagavadgeeta .Arjun asks " if gnyana is so shreshtha [great] then why do you insist on doing Karma[ a bhayankar one at that ,namely war]waging a war towards kith and kin.
Here Arjuna is insisting he is not interested in War , he is more interested in knowledge that would ensure Moksha. But Shri Krishna says that leaving battlefield even for the sake of Knowledge and MOksha would lead him To hell , for a Kshatriya a war is most sacred than retiring to Forests.

Note : Most people keep claiming caste is not by birth but by qualities , anyone exhibiting qualities can take on the duties of the caste! ! !
For all such people ShriKrishna is sending a message that what is ordained has to be carried out.
Arjuna here felt strong desire for Gaining Knowledge and distaste for violence[ that too in the middle of battlefield]. Here he was exhibiting Bramhin like qualities of ahimsa and gyanarjan . He could have been ordained bramhinic status on account of his qualities and allowed to practise Tapa ,but Shri Krishna says You are Kshatriya and such thoughts do not suit you , you would get disgrace, ill fame on account of such act and would be labelled coward. WHY?
because a bramhin is a one who is born to both bramhin mother and bramhin father and also should have samskara of Bramhin , both are neccessary conditions and one in isolation does not qualify one to be a bramhin.

So Arjuna being born as Kshatriya Himsa was his dharma and war was his karma [vihit karma]
The beauty in the Bhagavadgeeta is that
what has been ordained as KarmaYOGA is actually accumulation of Gnyana !
What is Gnyana Yoga is actually carrying out duties as Karma with full accurate Knowledge.

So this sets pretext to the concepts of Karma Akarma and vikarma
Vikarma should not be resorted to !
Akarma is not possible at all
Karma [as per varna and ashrama dharma]should only be performed
This karma has to be a Nishkaam Karma
Nishkaam Karma leads to yathartha Gnyana.
Yathartha Gnyana leads to Paroksha Gnyana
Paroksha Gnyani after blessings of the Vayu and recommendation of SriMahalakshmi attains Aparoksha .
Aparoksha assure Moksha.

For all this Narayana's own will and grace is responsible and this is not got by any efforts of the Soul.
Once God decides " Yen Mochayami" I am going to grant Moksha to this soul , his spiritual journey starts.
So one gets MOksha only by the GRACE of the LORD NARAYANA .
krishnarpana

Vaali Sugreeva

Vaali sugreeva were brothers . Vaali was incarnation of Indra , Sugreeva ,of Surya. Sugreeva sought help of Rama to finish Vaali. After tests by Sugreeva ,Rama sent Sugreeva to Fight Vaali.

• Fisrt time HE did not kill Vaali.
• Sugreeva came back .
• Rama assured to kill ,put a garland to him.
• Vali was killed from behind by Rama.

Philosophy.

1. why did Rama not kill him first time ?

Rama is God ,therefore thinking he did not recognise Vaali ,is untenable. When two brothers are at loggerheads ,they usually go to any extent in fight. But once revenge is over , There is sudden surge of brotherhood . and subsequent repentance[this is the nature of blood relation].Thus one must never interfere in a brotherly squabble.Chances are they unite and treat you as an outsider and even abuse you for instigating enmity.One must always give a chance to such reversal of mindset.

Rama spared Vali for the first time to bring such reversal of mindset towards his brother.

2. Why did he kill Vaali?

Vali had taken away wealth ,wife and belongings of his brother without any fault of his. So he was liable for punishment. Ram was a Kshatriya Chakravarti King and he had moral right [as a duty] to end Vaali's life .

3. Why did he kill from behind and not in a straight war.

what Vali had done ,renders him into the category of Mrugas[animals] , Kings don't wage war against animals , they hunt them or kill them as a disturbance for forest life.

Tatva:

Vali was Indra , he had natural Bhakti towards Rama ,  more than Sugreeva. Had Rama befronted him, he would have immediately asked forgivance and Rama would be compelled to leave him alive.

But crime of Vali was he had taken birth to serve Rama and in the flow of arrogance of power and might due to boons and strength , he forgot his duty [purpose of Birth] and befriended Ravana. Also he hurt Sugreeva [a devotee] , More importantly He was standing in a camp against Hanuman. Sugreeva on the contrary had befriended Hanuman and was under his guidance.

God only sides with the one who sides with Hanuman[Vayu]. HE does not prefer to see the face of those who go against Hanuman, even if they are his devotees]. [thus he kills  Vali from behind to show going against Hanuman is unpardonable ].

[same Vali becomes Arjuna and sides with Bheema , Sugreeva becomes Karna goes against Bheema] Krishna ignores Karna and takes Arjuna very close.

Those who pray Lord Vishnu without Praying Vayu [hanuman] , God does not give any fruits ,however hard and devotionally one prays ,its of no use . God does not appear before them [like vali] and finishes them off from behind.

If you Pray Hanuman along with Vishnu only then you get your wishes fulfilled like Sugreeva and Arjuna].

Lord's arrows are nothing but Vayu himself. When Arrows pierce heart of Vali[ Vayu enters his heart] , he gets knowledge  , asks forgiveness to lord and Rama offers to give him back his life. But Vali refuses because he does not want to let go the chance of dying in the hands of Rama [which ensures Moksha].

Thus Vaali surrenders all his beloved things to the lords' feet according to the dictum " daraan sutaan priyaan ....nivedayet...."

This is what is known as Srikrishnarpanamastu .

Sama Dukha Sukham Dheeram

One must be equanimous to both unhappiness and happiness. One who attains this is [Purusha: Bramhajnani in jagruta avastha] that braveheart will not be affected by the causes and effects [as a result of interaction between indriyas and its subject/objects] ,and thus will be entitled to Moksha.

These are verses by Shri Krishna in Geeta [chapter 2 shloka 15].consoling weeping Arjuna;

When Arjuna seemingly speaks wise verses of abandoning war ,as a result of acquiring sin by killing preceptors .Arjuna raises question of what happiness are we going to get by waging war. A man lives to be happy among his kith and kin. without them no happiness would be full. attaining a all the wealth and material happiness in absence of kith and kin to share them ,is something no one wishes for.

Killing preceptors[Bheeshma ,Drona etc] and enjoying their wealth sitting on their seats  , this is akin to enjoying pleasures smeared with their flesh and blood. It is better to beg and live rather than commit this act. Even if they kill me unarmed as I am , I would not be bothered or bear any ill will towards them .

Arjuna is speaking about waging a war to get personal happiness[ enjoying kingdom of world etc] and killing the Kauravas as a loss of near and dear and hence personal unhappiness.

Krishna  elaborates the definition of Dukha and Sukha. He calls them as chitta kshobha .[disturbance of mind on account of interplay of senses].

• Krishna asks Dukha on account of what?
• loss of life to the greats
• or absence of these on account of death
• or complete destruction of their self {soul}

But as these were present earlier also , they are present now and will be present hereafter also . People lose lives and gain it back again and again , gyani does not regret these.

Absence of these should not be mourned as they are ever present as souls , death of the body is not going to put an end to their existence. opposites of warmth/cold , happiness /unhappiness victory/loss all are not permanent , they keep coming and going[occurring] in ones life,gyani does not bother about these .

Soul is never destroyed , it exists , death of the body [destruction of body is not destruction of soul] also clears its memory , soul after acquiring new body does not acquire old memories.  Thus body is soul , had it been so , then memories to each body should have been known to the soul everytime.

Thus one who is undisturbed by the activities of senses and yet performs his karma is known as Dheera [ eligible for Moksha].

Killing in the war is not for gaining happiness or Rajya ,  but it is for fighting against the God haters[tamoyogya] as clear battle line has been drawn between those who are ,for and against Krishna the Supreme.

krishnarpana

NaAham Kartha Hari: Kartha

• Hari is only independent , rest all souls /jeeva are dependent on God .
• Had jeeva been independent , we all would have built a happy future ourselves. But this is not to be seen anywhere .
• Everywhere there is wanting and desires unfulfilled , and longing for some kind or the other among the souls.
• We cannot get our desires fulfilled independently , some force always obstructs us , we feel helpless in getting things as planned.
• All this points to the fact that we are incomplete and dependent.
• Finally after a prolonged grind in the life(samsara) We feel everything around us was predestined , and someone else is actually driving my cart named life.
• This driver (sarathi is Lord Krishna).
• Jeeva is pratibimba (reflection) of the Paramatma.
• In a mirror , reflections replay the action as carried out by the \bimba .Standing before a mirror , your reflections do not make movements all by itself. \it moves as you move.
• Similarly God is present in all jeevas as \bimba and as he acts so does \jeeva.
• Primarily Bimba acts and subsequently reflections(jeeva) act.
• He makes us happy and unhappy
• He is the real doer ,he is the cause ,he is the action, and he himself is the enjoyer of the fruit .(Karanam Karnam \Karta vikarta -------Vishnu sahsranam)

Let me elaborate the last point.

• Jeeva is different from the body.
• Paramatma is also different from the body.
• Jeeva dwells in the  body in the heart at the feet of mukhyaprana , who is himself at the feet of Lord Narsimha (bimbamurthy).
• Whole body has the presence of various tattva devatas like, eyes are controlled by sun ,mind by rudra ,buddhi by Uma,ears by ganesh,etc. We can see only by the grace of Aditya (God as present in Mukhyaprana in Sun).
• If he chooses to show, we see , else we cannot see even if we have two eyes. Thus all our actions are governed by God as Present in tattva devatas.
• The proof of the above sentence is a paralytic man though he has all the limbs intact he cannot move it on his will , because tattva devatas have refused to cooperate.
• To move a simple thumb , a jeeva requires assistance of 18000 dieities.
• Jeeva merely wishes for an action, it is actually carried out by tattva devatas and karmaja devatas.
• Because these actions are carried out by Devatas( God as present in Devatas) , instantaneously , Jeeva out of ahankara feels he has done the karma.
• He attributes the ownership of karma to himself ."Aham karta"
• So the karma attaches to him (karmalepa) ,and he takes births and deaths to reap fruits of the action.
• Tattva devatas act only according to the Karma ( prarabdha) of the jeeva (without raga dwesha).
• Jeeva is inspired by his past karma ( and knowledge) and his desires ignite.
• All actions vis a vis karma and desire are carried out by mukhyaprana .
• Almost all the jeevas base their actions on some kind of desire for fruits of the action.
• When jeeva acts without desire for fruits , but with the realization that it is God as present in tatva devatas in his body ,He becomes (nirlipta) with the fruits of Karma.
• This nishkama Karma gives rise to Yathartha Gyana.
• Finally such repeated nishkaam karma with full realization of Naham kartha Hari: Kartha  leads to aparoksha gyana.

But on the Whole It is only the Narayana who does all the action for the benefit of Jeeva , being inside and outside jeeva (body,and bramhanda) and gives him immense bliss as MOKSHA.

So what does the jeeva do ? if he is not the doer then why is he made to suffer the consequences of karma ? Finally does jeeva do anything apart from being mere spectator?

All this in the next post JeevKartrutva Vichara.

Krishnarpana

Gayatri

Gayatri is mother of vedas.............. Mahanarayanopanishat|

Gayatri purifies dwija, offers longevity,strength,wealth and fame to the upasaka ........................................Atharvaveda|

just as nectar is the essence of flowers,butter is the essence of milk,water is essence of all rasas, so is gayatri the essence of vedas.......................................Vyas|

10000 gayatri japa completely cleanses the body ..............................................................Atri Samhita|

Gayatri japa upasana leads  to surya loka and then to Moksha..................................................PadmaPurana|

The meaning of gayatri is Bramhasutra, its nirnaya is Mahabharath,its essence is vedas............................................matsya purana|

Gayatri japa obsolves of all sins .......................Bhavishya Purana|

yudhisthir ,gayatri japa gives relief from all pain...Mahabharath|

krishnarpana

AmalaBhakti

God is embodiment of only auspicious qualities. His body is made of joy and knowledge (gnyanandmaya deha). When someone hates him ,he begets unhappiness.[you hate happiness so,you must be unhappy]. There are nine types hate that a soul undertakes

1. thinking unity among god and soul
2. thinking God as incomplete and with defects (like helplessness)
3. thinking God as nirguna
4. thinking about self as eqal and greater than God
5. Thinking about avatar as having human bodies
6. doubting on avataras about their truth.
7. thinking avataras as different from God vishnu
8. hating vedas (not accepting them)
9. hating vishnu bhaktas

any bhakti mixed with these above feelings does not bring results.When such hate is absent completely , it is called Amalabhakti. Devatas have by nature amala bhakti. Amalabhakti leads to aparoksha gyana.

krishnarpana

Narayana and His Avataras are one and same!

There is no difference between Rama , Krishna and Parshurama and other incarnation of the Narayana. All of them have same capacity and qualities as moolaroopa. There is no difference between Narayana and his avayavas(attributes/limbs). There is no organic difference in God and body. His nail is as powerful as his arms. Both can exhibit similar qualities equivalent to moolarupa. Krishna though is krishna keshi(shakti) of Narayana it is still Narayana roop only. All avataras are poorna as much as Narayana.Thinking Rama krishna,Parshurama,other avataras as different leads to Hell . Thinking avataras as full and some incomplete also leads to hell. Thinking defects in God leads to hell. Thinking about incapacity in God leads to hell. Imagining limitation in God leads to hell. Mentioning qualities of arrogance, partiality,anger,sorrow in God leads to complete hell. Men should refrain from all these acts to gain grace of the GOD.

Bhagavan

Bhagavan means one who has six qualities of Srishti Stithi Laya Niyaman, Bandha Moksha.Srishti to create,stithi,to protect,laya,to destroy,niyaman,to maintain,Bandha,to bind people in samsara.Moksha to give salvation. These exists only in Krishna.We all take birth and die. Both of which are caused by God. God also kills demons,what is the difference in these two killings. He kills us as kala (the time) and He kills demon physically. So what is the purpose of killing demons and what benefit does it give to society?

God kills demon but this killing sends demons to nityanarak from where they dont return. our killing on account of age  grinds us back into samsara. Nobody can be happy on this earth. It is full of miseries of death,separation,old age and diseases. Nothing here is permanent.Everything has to end. Everyone wants permanent happiness. This permanency is what known as Moksha. Moksha is grace of  Mukunda.

krishnarpana

Krishna and 16108 wives

God has only auspicious qualities. So if Rama exhibited quality of Ekpatnivrata so was this quality absent inKrishna .No. Then how did Krishna have 16108 wives , and how despite that He is still having same qualities as Rama.

God is swarata ie he does not require  anyone help or assistance to enjoy. HE is both male and female .His female form is Narayani. which is always present in Laxmidevi. HE enjoys his own NArayani rupa and gives enjoyment to Laxmi devi as well . Laxmi is dependant on him for her joys. Hence to reiterate this Narayana Procreates Bramha from his Navel not from Laxmi .

Also God touches only those females who have vishesha Laxmi Sannidhi else not. There 16100 Agniputra(son of Agni) who once wished to be extreme close company of God. They took very severe penace God asked them to be born as women so that they can embrace him and it would look proper too. Hence these 16100 rishis took birth as girls and married Krishna. They all had vishesha Laxmi sannidhi.

Hence Krishna always accompanied Laxmi only.Hence there is no difference in qualities between Ram and Krihsna.

krishnarpana

Flowers most dear to God

Ahimsa prathamam pushpam :- Flower named Nonviolence

pushpamindriyanigraha             :- flower namely control of senses

sarvabhutadaya pushpam          :-flower of treating all as thyself

satyampushpam visheshtah       :-Flower of truth

gnyananthi pushpam                      :- flower of peace

tapah pushpam                                  :-flower of penace

Kriya pushpam                                   :-flower of forgiveness

Dhyanameastamam pushpam       :-flower of meditation ,the eigth

vishnupriyakarah Bhavet                :-these when offered to God  becomes highest pooja according to Vedas to get Vishnu's grace .

Bhaktavatsala

Technorati Tags: ajameedha,ahalya,dhritarashtra,dhruva,prahalad,dhrishtadhyumna

Vishnu is very kind towards his devotees. Atyantdayalu. He forgives all the sins of the devotee and helps him reach moksha. Purana are full of incidents which reaffirm his quality of forgivingness. Bhagavata shows :

1. even though Prahalada was  a Rakshasa  , a race known for misdeeds,terror,and antiGod activities, Yet Lord mercifully bestowed him with boons and immense grace.
2. Dhruva was  a small boy of five years ,ventures into jungle , should have been consumed by lions or wild animals but Lord Vasudeva full of mercy protects him , accepts his prayers and grants him stardom and immense fortune. All he wanted was to sit on the lap of his father , God made him sit on the lap of universe as pole star for eternity.
3. Draupadi went against her husband in coming to sabha of kauravas , yet Krishna showed mercy on her ,saved her from insult ,granting her yards of saree as protection .
4. With all his mercy Lord Rama brought Ahalya back to human form from a stone and united her with her husband Gautam.Rama made Gautam love his wife even more than before , at the request of Indra.
5. Dhrstadhyumna Killed his Guru ,a Bramhin Dronacharya , yet attained heaven by the grace of Krishna.
6. Dhritarashtra ( His position was critical , His father was Lord Vedavyasa God himself, and son was the evil satan kali,-It was God's mercy that he was blind else it would have been difficult to cope with his position.) for all his sidings with Suyodhana , the most evil , yet attained heaven.
7. Ajamidha , a bramhin leads life full of sins , what a mercy even He attained Moksha by the grace of God

oh lord it seems you are tolerant of all these , then why make an exception of me , Please oh Bhaktavatsala, pardon all my sins done uptill now, and protect me through sins to be done in future . Kindly take care of me as a Father would do to his Child , like how you took care of Dhritrashtra ,let me not be any exception irrespective of my actions.

||nanena madedano, rangayaranga  nee enna kayabeko.||

krishnarpana

Bhakti of Prahalad

Prahalad was a devotee of Vishnu. He is Bhaktouttama.His bhakti was exemplary because it did not seek any favours from God. Prahalad was born to Hiranyakashyap , a  rakshas . Yet his son was a great devotee . Rakshasa become as adult as 18 years of age ,as soon as they take birth. No childhood for them relieving their mothers from nursing them( a quality not found in Rakshas women).When lord appeared from a pillar and killed Hiranyakashyap , It was a highly fearsome scene enacted by Lord Narsimha, every being celestial and others were afraid of approaching this half lion and half human form of God ,highly ferocious and roaring with anger. so Bramha asked Prahlada to approach the lord and ask him to glance on others present.As prahlad approached Lord Narsimha licking him alike a usual lion , asked Prahlad to ask for a boon.Prahalad refuses to ask one. Lord insists , prahalad again refuses to ask any boons, God says all pray me to attain the Moksha , i shall grant you Moksha. Prahalad says "oh Lord there are many a soul who do not even Know how to reach you , I need to educate them , so I don't need Moksha now, as that would be selfish of me. Lord says " oh Prahalad , let there be Moksha to you undoubtedly and let there be moksha to all those whom you bring along". Prahalad says " oh lord difficult is in this world to reach you , facing many difficulties and distractions, yet studying the shastras to reach you. I shall brig my followers in a unique manner without difficulties and escaping the grind of samsara ( and its tapatraya) , please be kind enough accept this" Lord affirms " you can devise your own simplistic ways i shall oblige, but this is all for others , i want to give you something why dont' you ask a boon for yourself". Prahalad replies," this whole world is under your control. vene I am under your control, Externally you are urging me for a boon, internally you refusing one, such anamalous behaviour only you can enact and none-else ,since you insist I shall ask you thus ' You have killed my Father ,let him earn a place in your heart. Hence forth none in my lineage be killed by you. You can tolerate all the sins of a human but not a insult to Bramhins, hence let my progeny never involve in insult of Bramhins. let all the merits of my good deeds be enjoyed by my followers and let every enjoyments lead to your divine knowledge and finally when I come along with these in whatever no and form , please accept them fit for Moksha".

Even in this boon Prahalad has thought all others and not himself. His bhakti was pure and unselfish , all we need to do is ask this great souls' blessings , so he can lead us to MOKSHA.

" Oh Shri Prahalad , consider me as a child , when a child cries , one gives a sweet condiment(chocolate) to quiten him and then tech him good things, like wise with little boons showered on me please teach me about the Lord , I like a child , would like to catch hold of your little finger , please lead me to your place , Place of Shri Narsimha." (MOKSHA)

Krishnarpanamastu

Nav vidh Bhakti -Types of Devotion

what is devotion? is blind faith devotion? can ecstatic trans like hsyteric activities be termed as devotion?

NO!

Shastra has clearly laid down the definition of Bhakti. Bhakti is of nine types.

1 shravanam kirtanam vishnuh smaranam vandanam

archanam padasevanam dasyam sakhyam atmarpanam

shravanam - listening to shastras which tell the glory of the Lord from a relevant Guru.

kirtanam - chanting lord's name ,naming children by Lord's name.

vishnu's smaranam - remembering Lord in every aspects of Life.

vandanam - paying respects to images of Lord through namaskar. here animate inanimate things represent a particular image of God. knowing and behaving thus need knowledge.

archanam - Doing Pooja of Lords' vigraha in a vedic way as prescribed to pefection.

padasevanam - doing dhyana of lord's feet in the solar chakra or sahasrar.

dasyam - declaring oneself as servant/slave of God and acting thus as though completely serving him in every form HE exists befittingly as liked by HIM .(again point of thorough knowledge)

sakhyam - treating Lord as one our close associates like Friend, Brother,Father,Child,Lover etc.(Not all are eligible for this kind of devotion).

Atmarpanam - completely devoting oneself to the servitude of Lord , with even daily chores also to be taken care by Lord himself .Such should be the conviction that everything about self is giverned by Lord. it is upto him to look after you.(Again a case of extreme knowledge , not eligible for every one);

So it is clearly seen that devotion is a clear knowledgeable affair and not one of histrionics. You cannot neglect studies and say i am devoted and God will take care. You cannot say i am more devoted alhough less knowledgeable and hence i will not abide by learned.Knowledge increases devotion , devotion increases knowledge. Gnyanmay Bhakti (Devotion coupled with knowledge) is what appeals to GOD.

Say you love your Father. why ? if you say" i dont know, i just love him. " you are lying or you dont completely love your Father . But when you understand that your father had taken lots of pain in protecting you all through your childhood , in raisng you, in giving you education etc.Finally when you understand that he is chief instrument to have brought you into this world to carry forward your sadhana . Your love towards your Father increases manyfold. Your love (increased ) leads you to follow your Father in many more ways , with each success of Father you finally decide , i would become like my father ,then i cannot be as great as him . But definitely i shall emulate him to the extent He shall appreciate me.
Similarly when you are more knowledgeable about GOD you start loving him with devotion. When you listen to Bhagavat , you understan how lord protects his devotees through stories of Prahlad, dhruva, ajamidha,madhava,arjuna etc you develop faith in HIM. also your own experiences consolidate above faith. Finally you understand it is GOD alone who is pervading all over ,with entire universe at HIS command yet he exclusively takes vare about you . You lose interest in everything other than HIM . because every other thing is only because of HIM .You start seeing HIM everywhere in every being. (Aprokshagnyana). You yearn nothing but his presence and His grace, like a Father mad about bringing his wayward son into his FOLD , like a lovestruck man helplessly longing for a loving glance of a beloved,like a miser ever looking after his wealth ; One seeks GOD everywhere successfully traeting Gold and mortar equally , unaffected by sorrows and pleasure , heat and cold, onepointed towards LORD .Lord takes him to his abode granting him mukti of four types sayujya ,samipya ,salokya and sarupya in VAIKUNTHA.

srikrishnarpanamastu

To Create is the very nature of the God

Upanishads say God creates ,
just as spider spins its web . Just like a child plays by the sea with the mounds of sand .
its natural of God to create ie. it is in his nature . svabhava. Like we all have some unique(repetitive) characteristics defining us. and people confronting us says," oh well, that's his nature". similarly it is the nature of God to create. And to create again and again and again.
Just as web springs out of the spider , this world springs out of HIM.(Kamalanabh)
Like a child He creates and at the end of the day destroys it all.
He does not exert himself due to creation. There is no exhaustion. He does it playfully.
He has no purpose of his accomplished by creation . ie. there is no swartha. He is not achieving any selfish motto in creating this world. He creates this world to uplift the souls ,which are in deep slumber ,to achieve infinite bliss. His creation is varied and not monotonous.He is highly imaginative and beyond comprehension with his Creations. He creates to give immense pleasure, of having a great family, to his wife LaxmiDevi. She time and again feels proud about her Husband's abilities. Sometimes as maya she poses many difficult puzzles with humans /souls as subject , which Lord solves, showing his many marvelous auspicious qualities hitherto unknown , without breaking the laws set upon by himself. It is HIS achintya adbhut shakti that brings more dynamism into creation, much to surprise of Brahma ,shiva ,shakra, who rejoice in a meditative mood over these incidents.
God is not dependent on anybody for his pleasures. He is both Male as well as female. His female form Narayani is always present in Laxmi Devi. She is always under his Control.He creates only to pleasure others. Others rejoice in HIM. Souls achieve salvation by HIS grace .Salvation is realization of self for a soul. Self means souls own attributes(different from GOD) consisting of happiness and infinite bliss . This self ,a soul is ignorant of . God through his creation and by putting a soul in a series of birth and death cycles; and in the process, makes Atman realize his own qualities and bliss (whuch is always covered by MAYA (linga deha)). This self realization W is resisted ,obstructed,blocked by the SHRI BHU DURGA forms of LAxmi Devi.This is a cosmic game played by the Celestial Couple. And the reward is infinite bliss (MOKSHA -Unending happiness)for being part of this game , for a soul.
Bliss is obtained by the grace of the LORD . hence he is known as MUKUNDA.( one who grants moksha by HIS Grace). Grace can be obtained by pure devotion. Devotion comes by Knowledge and knowledge increases due to Devotion.Knowledge can be obtained by listening to shastras from a GURU and contemplating on it with deep devotion to GOD.
in the next post we shall see what is DEVOTION.

Srikrishnarpanamastu