Sunday, January 4, 2009

KSHETRA FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY 2009

SRI RANGAM-PART II

SriRanganatha is in Yogashayanam. What does Yogashyanam refer and why the Lord chose this posture? Why should He sleep on a serpant afterall?

There are three states for a human:

1) jagrath- awaking stature

2) Swapna- Dream

3) sushupthi- Slumber

yoga nidra denotes none of the above states. It is beyond the three mentioned above. It is nothing but Samadhi. The Brahmaswarupa in Samadhi state.

1) The Serpant Adisesha denotes Maya ( Prakruthi- nature). The Lord sleeps on Maya, which is under Him ( under His control).

2) The shanka- conch in His hand is Nadabrahmam- zhnanswarupa

3) Kalachakra running the entire world is Chakra in his hand

4) 5 coloured Vaijayanthi mala on His chest is the panchabuthas.

5) Srivathsa is nothing but the inseparable shakthi of the Lord

6) Jeevathmaswaroopa is the Kousthubhamani

7) Ignorance is His Knife cover

8) Knowledge is His knife

9) His Mind denoted by sharngam the Bow

10) The Thoughts rising in the mind are His arrows

11) Garuda is the Vedas with karma kanda and Gnana Kanda as the two wings

12) Astamahasidhis are the astalakshmis

13) Akandaswaroopa is the Vaikunta

14) 7 avaranas ( fire, water, air, space, land, mahath, ahankaram) are the 7 prakaras

Crossing the sapthaprakaras ( the saptha avaranas) the we can attain the Lord. Thus SriRanganatha’s form is Upanishad Thathva.

Agni Purana and several other puranas extol Lord SriRanganathar.

Lord Brahma wanted the world to live in peace and prosperity. He along with the Devas prayed to the Lord at ksheerabdi. The Lord responded and declared “ I will take the form of archa ( Vigraha swarupa). Those who see Me, think of Me and sing My praises will be freed from the misery of samsara.” As he said thus there was the effulgence of a thousand suns. At the banks of ksheerabdi A beautiful pranavakara Vimana ( OmKara) appeared. Along with the Ranga Vimana a beautiful form of the Lord incarnated. The Lord lay on Adishesha, with one hand as a pillow, the other stretching towards his knees. A broad chest adorned with a garland, a sharp nose, smiling face. The Lord’s form was bewitching. He appeared along with a uthsava murthy with 4 hands holding the shanka, chakra, gada giving Abhaya to the whole world. Along with Him His 2 consorts, Vishwaksena, Yazhna Varaha, Garuda, jaya Vijaya ,Dwarapalakas appeared. 24 pillars denoting the 24 aksharas of the Gaytrhri mantra appeared as the Gayathri mandapam. After which came a mandapa with 2 pillars – denoting the Dvayam- sharanagathi mantra. Crossing these mandapas one could see the Exquiste form of the lord. The Lord began speaking to Brahma.

( to Be continued)

No comments: