Brahmma, Shiva
and other Celestial Gods are mere coins in the game of Chess played by the
Divine Couple
Like the Sacred Cow Kamadhenu:, Sri provides EVERYTHING that her devotees sincerely prays for
(Part
2 - Concluding Part)
A Game of Chess
Praising
her as the beloved of the Lord, Vedanta Desika says that she is happily
engaging in a game of chess with the Lord and compares her duties to a simple
game like Chess.
மத்யேக்ருத்ய த்ரிகுண பலகம் நிர்மித ஸ்தாந பேதம்
Specifically in this
verse, Vedanta Desika refers to her duties as one of creation, sustenance and
destruction. Interestingly ( or may be shockingly), Vedanta Desika goes to the
extent of saying that this game involves coins referring to Brahma, Siva and
others Celestial Gods as merely carrying out their role as part of this game as
directed by Him. He says that the celestial girls and nityasoories are also
quietly watching the game.
Vedanta
Desika calls Sri as the Supreme Authority
while referring to the Lord as the Supreme Force of Authority. She has joined the Lord who Vedanta Desika
admits as being the grantor of moksha.
Simply recite her names and be liberated from Life Cycle
லக்ஷ்மீ: பத்மா ஜலதிதநயா விஷ்ணுபத்நீந்திரேதி
He
refers to her different names: Lakshmi Padma, Vishnu Patnee, Indira and Daughter
of Milk Ocean and calls these holy names. Those who constantly think of or
recite these names do not return to this world. He calls this world as one that
is full of sins, not just simple sins but ones that blow fast and furious like
a hurricane. Vedanta Desika says
that those who follow this path of reciting her names will not have to go
through the pangs of life cycle of births and deaths. Even simply chanting her
different names has such purifying effect giving us an indication of the power of
reciting her. It is for this very reason that even the sacred Vedas have
cherished recounting her names.
He discharges his duty only with
HER approval
In
the 9th verse, Vedanta Desika for the first time refers to the
difference of opinions in this world on the supreme power - some say it is you,
others point to the Lord giving rise to a lot of confusion. Vedanta Desika says
that Vedas present Lord as engaging in a sport just to please Sri. The entire
activity relating to the Universe is discharged by him only with her approval.
He turns affirmative in this verse.
He says the Divine Couple is everything in
terms of power. Every other view is to be discarded.
யுவாம் தம்பதீ தைவதம் ந:
Every Avatara is a Co-
incarnation
Vedanta
Desika goes on. The Lord is the
milk, while Sri is the sweetness in the milk. In every incarnation of his, Sri
has taken a form to be a strong pillar of support to him. She is always with
him. In fact he calls it co-incarnation. Vedanta Desika compares this
co-incarnation to the drops of milky ocean where the waves are scattered over a
long distance but the sweetness remains undiluted.
They are Inseparable
This
is a verse where he praises with authority that Sri is inseparable from him.
Just like how a word and its meaning always go together similarly the two of
them go together. He stresses that her presence is a MUST and clarifies that it
is not just for recommendation to the Lord but because it cannot be any other
way. He just cannot be without her.
Her presence enhances the look of
the emerald green charm of the Lord. Vedanta Desika describes the physical
features of Sri as seen in Sri Vaikunta. Her form is an ocean of Gnana and Joy.
Whenever she desires, she allows this wave from the ocean to rise and get into
different form - Vyooha, Vibhuva, Antaryami and Archa.
Saraswathi, Parvathi and Indrani
are happy thanks to SRI
Vedanta
Desika praises her even more aggressively in the next verse. He says that if
Saraswathi won over Brahma, Parvathi won the hands of Shiva and Indrani held
Indra’s hand, it was solely on the basis of the grace and the glance of Sri.
He
describes the event of churning the ocean where she was seated on a throne of
Lotus. When she was thus seated, clouds - Pushkala and Avartaka came for the
coronation with a torrential outpour (of flowers) that was so dense that it
seemed to cover the entire universe.
This
was followed by the celestial elephants Airavata and Pundarika that poured
water from gold pitcher. Such was the grand scale with which your coronation,
as the Queen, was conducted.
Indra regains power because of
Sri
Indra
who had lost all his powers after being cursed by Druvasa attributes his
regaining of powers to the grace of Sri. If he is still able to retain the powers it is
only because of her. Thus showcasing her power, Vedanta Desika asks as to what
is not possible if she decides to shower her blessings.
Having
seen the qualities of Sri, Vedanta Desika looks over a set of 5 verses her
response to different classes of devotees starting with the revival of lost
wealth of a devotee.
Words not required just her
Glance will do
She
need not utter a word. Just her glance will do. And even the farther most
located devotee will be blessed. He cites the example of her answering Devas’
prayers and then transforming the three worlds into a rich sacred one from what
it was earlier – one devoid of good.
If
they invoke her blessings with single minded devotion, she is likely to shower
wealth on him through Kubera so much so that it might become difficult to stop
the inflow. Those who seek her blessings and to whom she places her twin feet
on their head are the most cherished ones for they then are likely to ride on
big elephants in royal processions with decorated umbrella over them and Chamaras
on either side. Blessed by Sri, they sit like a prince with garlands all over
them.
Vedanta
Desika refers to the importance of winning over two perennial enemies that
reside all the time in us – Desire and Anger. We should also conquer our
ignorance of confusing body and soul and mistaking one for the other. If we
ignore that our Atma is different from our physical body, we are destined to be
doomed. The pure souls would be able to differentiate the good from the bad. All
this is thanks to her. Such enlightened souls will cling to the truth path and
attain moksha. He stresses that the only path out to take one to eternal bliss
is her Daya path.
Divine Couple
Those
with a clear heart and single minded devotion to Sri and the Lord are indeed
blessed. Those that are thus blessed with knowledge would treat mundane things
like reward, money, property and fame as just grass. Since these are earthly
things these will not mean anything to them. The only goal of such people will
be to please the Divine Couple by living a life as directed in the scriptures
without wavering from the dharmic path. Not only do they follow it, but they
will take steps to protect dharma and they see this as their duty. Others who
look at them will follow them as well and will also develop similar mind set.
Vedanta Desika says that we should become such role models.
Importance of Surrender
Surrender
is not a superfluous act. It is an essential necessity. It does not mean just
salutation but implies regular surrender. Vedanta Desika says he surrenders at
her feet around which celestial goddess gather around with their heads on the
Padma Peedam almost like a garland. He praises her feet as the fountain head of
all prosperity. Blessed are those who walk with a slight bend of the head before
her lotus feet as a mark of surrender. Such people are destined to attain
moksham and stay in the abode of Vasu Deva and offer services to him there.
Vedanta
Desika explains the current state of life and compares it with the Summer heat.
There is grief. Samsara is hot and is like the unbearable sweating weather and
one is constantly burnt by that heat and many times feel totally exhausted and
does not know how to survive that. He asks her to sympathise and support and
drench him in the cool shower (autumn rains) of grace by just her glance.
What else can you ask her and
What more do you need from her
She
is present next to the Lord and has created all the right and noble thoughts in
me. What else can I ask you? Please continue to stay and bless me in this cool
fashion says Vedanta Desika.
She
is the mother. Vasu Deva is the father. Vedanta Desika says that he has been
their child especially because of her Daya. He has also been blessed by Acharyas
to be their disciple. He says that when she looks at him, she seems to be
saying what else do you need other than the above.
Kamadhenu:
கல்யாணாநாம் அவிகலநிதி: காபி காருண்யாஸீமா
நித்யா மோதா நிகம வசஸாம் மௌளி மன்தார மாலா
சம்பத் திவ்யா மதுவிஜயிந: ஸந்நிதத்தாம் ஸதா மே
ஸைஷா தேவீ ஸகல புவந ப்ரார்த்தநா காமதேநு:
Sri
represents the perfect Kalyana Characteristics and blemish- less qualities. She
is compassionate. She is the garland of the Vedas. She is the Sri of the Lord.
She is the giver of everything for true devotees. For them, just like the
sacred cow Kamadhenu, she never says no. He asks her to reside permanently in
her and to protect her.
Those
who recite this Sri Stuti and offer their sincere prayers to her will forever
be blessed by her and will be seated with a crowning glory.
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