12. AVATARA- RAMA

WITH  THE  GREAT

The 10 Avatars of Vishnu.19th century Jaipur painting. Now in Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

12. AVATARA

Popular Hinduism is centered round the Avatars of Rama and Krishna. Even Vedic rites have incorporated aspects of the worship of Rama and Krishna. Every ritual starts with chanting the twelve names of Vishnu-Krishna.

Apavitra: pavitrova sarvavastaan gathobiva
 Ya:smaraeth pundarikaksham sabaahya abyantara: suchi
Maanasam vachikam papam karmana samupaarjitham
Sri Rama smaraenaiva vyapohai na samsaya:

Sri Rama Rama Rama Rama thithir Vishnu:
Tathaa vaaro nakshatram Vishnuraevacha
Yogascha karanam chaiva
Sarvam Vishnu mayam jagat.

Sri Govinda Govinda Govinda.

Sankha chakra gadaa paane 
Dwaraka nilayaachyuta
Govinda pundarikaksha 
Rakshamam Saranaagatam
Aakaasaat patitam toyamYatha gachchati saagaram
Sarvadeva namskara: Keshavam pratigachchati.

This is what  Vaidic Hindus recite at the commencement and conclusion of their rites.Of course the meaning of Keshava is far wider than what the sectarian followers would have. Thus, even Vedic religion today is dependent on Rama-Krishna!

Bhagavad Gita provides us the clearest statement of the function and purpose of Avatara. It does not indulge in theories but makes the sharpest statement and leaves it there. It makes it clear that it is Brahman which comes as Avatar, as Bhagavan. On the one hand, the Avatar destroys evildoers (without which evil would not go) and reestablishes Dharma. In the process, the pious seekers get protection. 

https://plus.google.com+NiranjanaRK.

More than that, the Avatar becomes the object of personal devotion, which is the sure means to Liberation. It is this which is the final message of the Gita. Bhagavan asks us to surrender to him with all our faculties.(Tamaeva saranam gachcha sarva bhavaena, Maam ekam saranam vraja).

“man-mana bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yaji mam namaskuru
mam evaisyasi satyam te
pratijane priyo 'si me

“’Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.’ (Bhagavad-gita, 18.65)

Tamil poet Kamban too says that whatever may be one's learning. one ultimately has to find refuge at the Feet of the Lord.

ஆதி அந்தம் அரி என யாவையும்

ஓதினார் அலகு இல்லன உள்ளன

வேதம் என்பன மெய் நெறி                     நன்மையன்

பாதம் அல்லது பற்றலர் பற்று இலார்.

Man may argue that God is Unlimited, Unmanifested, without Form, etc. But in practice, no one can pursue such a path- no one does. Even Christianity and Islam which advocate the formless, finally have to show one Son of God or Prophet for veneration. In fact, in the absence of Form, an inanimate building like a mosque or church becomes the object of veneration! Bhagavan answered this question in the 12th chapter of the Gita.

14th century Chola beauty!

Yet there are sects in India (eg. Shaivite) which say  their God did not incarnate as Avatar. What they mean is that their God might have come to earth in many forms for Leela, but was not "born" as human being. They probably feel it is below the dignity of God to assume a human form! Bhagavan has answered this question also in the Gita. Bhagavan comes in a human form, but his birth and activities are still divine. (Janma karma cha mae divyam) People do not understand this and consider the Avatar as merely human, and even ridicule him!

In the 19th century, Sri Ramakrishna taught us the importance of the Avatar. In the 20th, Sri Aurobindo pointed out that the Avatar came as a phenomenon in evolution, to raise our consciousness to a new level.He also spoke of the  manifestations called Vibhutis who come to effect the lesser transitions. We can see the tremendous significance of the Avatars of Rama and Krishna in this new light.

Sri Arunagirinatha has sung of the Avatars exuberantly. Others may mention, but he celebrates! He sings of Muruga as அவிரோதம் நிகழ்தரும் ப்ரபாகர =  one who promotes 'avirodham' ie absence of enmity. ( நிகரில் பஞ்ச  பூதமும்) Though a staunch devotee of Subrahmanya, he has not only no enmity towards any other Deity, but he positively adores them!

Rama walks and saves!
Glory of Feet: கால் வண்ணம் இங்கு கண்டேன்!

Tirujnanasambandha mentions Ravana in every eighth hymn of his as one having received the blessing of Shiva.Of course he is a  bad Rakshasa , one who tried to shake the Kailas mountain, தொல்லை மலையெடுத்த அரக்கன்  but it is the aspect of Shiva's grace even to him that is celebrated. ஒல்லை அருள்புரிந்தான்..But Arunagirinatha consistently sings of Rama's glory alone.

கல்லி லேபொற் றாள்பட வேயது
   நல்ல ரூபத் தேவர கானிடை
      கெளவை தீரப் போகுமி ராகவன் 

(kollai aasai)

Raghavan's golden feet touched the stone and it assumed the form of a beautiful girl. Thus he walked in the forest removing her suffering!

கலின் வடிவ மான அகலிகை பெணான கமல பத மாயன் 

(குலைய மயிரோதி)

Vishnu, with the lotus feet, who gave the form of woman to Ahalya who was remaining as stone.

From: yousigma.com.

We have to remember one thing here. 

Valmiki, the Adi kavi does not say that Ahalya was in the form of stone. It is our Kambar who states that. And Arunagirinatha is clearly following Kambar!

This fact is significant. Valmiki sang of Rama as a perfect man living on earth then. This is what he wanted Narada to tell him about.



Kaun vasmin saampradam loke
 gunavaankascha veeryavaan
Dharmajnascha  krutajnascha
 satyavaakyo drudavrata:                     1.2

 Maharshe  tvam samartosi 
Jnatum aevam vidam NARAM              1.5


Ayodhya kandam. sargam1.

 But for Kambar, Rama is Avatar. He named his epic "Ramavataram" .

Thus by following Kambar, Arunagiri is accepting the Avatara tatva and the fact that Rama is Avatara!

Kambar celebrates this event . He records that after Ahalya resumed the human form, Rama said:

அஞ்சன வண்ணத்தான் தன் அடித்துகள் கதுவா முன்னம்
வஞ்சி போல் இடையாள் முன்னை வண்ணத்தான் ஆகி நின்றாள்
நெஞ்சினால் பிழைப்பிலாளை  நீ அழைத்திடுக என்னக்
கஞ்சமாமலரோன் அன்ன முனிவனும் கருத்துள் கொண்டான்.

 Ahalya resumed her former form and stood before them. Rama then said: "she had not sinned with her mind/heart. Please accept  her". The Muni with the  face like the beautiful lotus  (Gautama) accepted that.

Later, Vishvamitra exclaims in wonder:


கோதமன் தன் பன்னிக்கு முன்னை யுரு கொடுத்ததிவன்
போது நின்ற தெனப் பொலிந்த பொலன் கழற்கால் பொடி கண்டாய்

 See the wonder! It is the dust on his  lotus like feet that gave the former form to the patni of Rishi Gautama!

Thus, if we study carefully, Arunagiri brings out the real significance of the events he is singing about!

Ahalya offering fruits to Rama! 5th century sculpture form Deogah, Now in the National Museum,New Delhi.


Ravana's heads thrown far away!

செம்முகஇ ராவ ணன்தலை
     விண்ணுறவில் வாளி யுந்தொடு
          தெய்விகபொ னாழி வண்கையன் 

(minnidai kalaapa)

chemmukha Raavanan    :  Ravana's face become red with blood
Vinnura     :     blown away to the sky
vil vaaliyum todu   : released the arrow from the sky
deivika::  of divine nature
Pon aazhi van kaiyan : Vishnu, with the handsome arms, bearing the golden Chakra.

Arunagiri makes no distinction  between Rama and Vishnu. He does not simply say that he sent the arrow. He describes the arm, the Chakra! And he does not say the heads of Ravana fell. He says that they were thrown away far into the sky. Such was the force and power. And he says this repeatedly. (Some other instances we saw in a previous post.) And he makes it clear that the one who released the arrow was 'divine'. 

Rama from Madurantakam. He saved the lake.
Thanks: anudinam.

THE GREATEST THING ON EARTH-1

WITH THE GREAT

Chidambaram temple tower and sacred tank, around 1870.

1. THE GREATEST THING ON EARTH-1

What is the greatest thing on earth?

We sure have our answers, depending upon our interests.

 The Tamils have a story relating to poet-saint Avvaiyar. Once, Lord Subrahmanya appeared before her as a shepherd boy, and  just to tease her, asked her four questions, relating to what is the hardest thing ( most difficult to bear) in the world, rare  in the world,sweetest, etc.. At the end, He asked her: Grandma, what is the greatest thing on earth? And she replied: The greatest thing is the greatness of the saints, for they have the Lord in their heart.

Periyadhu kaetkin eri  thavazh vaeloi

Peridhu peridhu bhuvanam peridhu

Bhuvanamo naan mugan padaippu

Naan mugan kariya maal undhiyil vandhon

Kariya maalo alaikadal thuyindron

Alai kadalo kurumuni yangaiyil adakkam

Kurumuniyo kalasatthir pirandhon

Kalasamo puviyir chiruman

Puviyo araviniku  oru thalaip paaram

Aravo umaiyaal siru viral modhiram

Umaiyo iraivar baagat odukkam

Iraivano thondar ullatthodukkam

Thondar tham perumai sollavum

Peridhae....

( There are several versions of this on the Net, but they are not accurate. For the correct version, see 'Thani Paadal Tirattu' edited by K.S.Pillai.)

O Lord, with the blazing spear! If you ask me what is the greatest-

This Universe is great.

But it is created by Brahma.

Brahma rose from the nabhi-lotus of the blue-complexioned Vishnu.

Vishnu rests on the milky ocean.

Sage Agastya contained the whole ocean in his palm.

Agastya was himself born in a kumbha.

Kumbha is made of a small amount of clay from the earth.

This earth is borne on but one of his (thousand) heads by Adisesha.

But Uma (Parvati) wears Adisesha as a ring in her little  finger.

Uma is but part of Lord Shiva.

But Lord Shiva is contained in the hearts of the devotee.

O Lord! The greatness of the humble saints is great beyond all expression!

This is how usually the encounter between Lord Subrahmanya as shepherd boy and Avvaiyar is depicted!

Picture taken from: www.svtemplanc.org. Thanks.

The saints may have the Lord in their hearts, but     seeking to set an example to the world, they seek 
the feet of the Lord all the time.

In the Indian tradition, the Name of Bhagavan and His Feet take precedence over everything else.The cow gives milk- the whole cow contributes to its making. But we get it only from the udder.We have many forms for our deities, but in each the Feet are invariably shown. It is to the Feet that we resort as the ultimate refuge.

Saint Arunagirinatha says:

கோழிக் கொடிய னடிபணி யாமற் குவலத்தே
   வாழக் கருது மதியிலி காளுங்கள் வல்வினைநோய்
      ஊழிற் பெருவலி யுண்ணவொட்டாது உங்களத்தமெல்லாம்
         ஆழப் புதைத்துவைத் தால்வருமோ நும் மடிப்பிறகே.   ...   

ஆவிக்கு மோசம் வருமா றறிந்துன் னருட்பதங்கள்
   சேவிக்க என்று நினைக்கின்றி லேன்வினை தீர்த்தருளாய்

O ye senseless folks who seek to spend your days on this earth without bowing to the Feet of the Lord with the cock-flag! Your powerful destiny in the form of illnesses will not let you enjoy your wealth. All this wealth that you keep buried for safety, will it accompany you when you die?

O Lord!  Even knowing that this breath will one day cease, I do not think of worshipping  Your feet! Please bless me and end my karma!

The saints thus always think of the Feet of Bhagavan as the last resort. In fact, it is the only resort for them!

Picture from Murugan .org Thanks.

 One of the ancient Tamil classics, Paripadal, says it clearly:

Lord, your Feet are greater than You! (Ninnir siranda nin taal inaiyavai.)

ஏமுறு நெஞ்சத்தேம் பரவுதும்-

வாய்மொழிப் புலவ! நின் தாள்-நிழல் தொழுதே  1.;68

நின் அடி
தலை உற வணங்கினேம், பல் மாண் யாமும்; 2.

நின்னின் சிறந்த நின் தாள் இணையவை; நின்னில் சிறந்த நிறை கடவுளவை;

3.65

These are taken from three of the 22 poems now available in Paripadal, sung by three different poets.

The first says that the poet will utter praises and worship the Lord's feet.

The second says that the poet will pay obeisance to the Feet repeatedly.

The third says that the Feet are greater than the Lord..

Tiruvalluvar, begins his celebrated Tirukkural with prayer to God and in the first ten couplets, refers to the Feet alone in seven:

கற்றதனால் ஆய பயனென்கொல் வாலறிவன் 

நற்றாள் தொழாஅர் எனின்.

Of what use is all your learning if it does not lead to the Feet of Him who is Intelligence Infinite?

மலர்மிசை ஏகினான் மாணடி சேர்ந்தார் 

நிலமிசை நீடுவாழ் வார்.

He who takes refuge in the sacred Feet of Him who is seated on the flower (of the heart)- he will live long.

வேண்டுதல்வேண் டாமை இலானடி சேர்ந்தார்க்கு 

யாண்டும் இடும்பை இல 
Those who cleave to the Feet of Him who has no likes and dislikes- the ills of life do not touch them.

தனக்குவமை இல்லாதான் தாள்சேர்ந்தார்க் கல்லால் 
மனக்கவலை மாற்றல் அரிது.

They alone escape from sorrow who take refuge in the feet
 of Him who has no equal.

அறவாழி அந்தணன் தாள்சேர்ந்தார்க் கல்லால் 
பிறவாழி நீந்தல் அரிது.

The ocean of samsara cannot be crossed except by those who cling to the Feet of the Sage who is the ocean of righteousness.

கோளில் பொறியின் குணமிலவே எண்குணத்தான் 
தாளை வணங்காத் தலை.

The head which does not bow to the Feet of Him who is

 endowed with the eight attributes- it is indeed worthless like

 the organs of sense which do not perceive.

பிறவிப் பெருங்கடல் நீந்துவர் நீந்தார் 

இறைவன் அடிசேரா தார்.

They alone cross the ocean of births and deaths who take refuge in the Feet of the Lord. The others do not.

The reverence to the feet of Bhagavan is deeply entrenched in all aspects of Indian religious and spiritual life, and reflected in every aspect of practice- in worship,iconography, literature, etc. Every Indian saint of every tradition has extolled the Feet. 

Saint Manikkavachaka, reckoned as one of the pillars of the Shaiva Siddhanta begins his famous and authoritative treatise Tiruvachakam with obeisance to the Feet.

நமச்சிவாய வாஅழ்க நாதன் தாள் வாழ்க 
இமைப்பொழுதும் என் நெஞ்சில் நீங்காதான் தாள் வாழ்க 
கோகழி ஆண்ட குருமணிதன் தாள் வாழ்க 
ஆகமம் ஆகிநின்று அண்ணிப்பான் தாள் வாழ்க 
ஏகன் அநேகன் இறைவன் அடிவாழ்க 5 

வேகம் கெடுத்தாண்ட வேந்தன் அடிவெல்க 
பிறப்பறுக்கும் பிஞ்ஞகன்தன் பெய்கழல்கள் வெல்க 
புறந்தார்க்குச் சேயோன் தன் பூங்கழல்கள் வெல்க 
கரங்குவிவார் உள்மகிழும் கோன்கழல்கள் வெல்க 
சிரம்குவிவார் ஓங்குவிக்கும் சீரோன் கழல் வெல்க 10 

ஈசன் அடிபோற்றி எந்தை அடிபோற்றி 
தேசன் அடிபோற்றி சிவன் சேவடி போற்றி 
நேயத்தே நின்ற நிமலன் அடி போற்றி 
மாயப் பிறப்பு அறுக்கும் மன்னன் அடி போற்றி 
சீரார் பெருந்துறை நம் தேவன் அடி போற்றி 15 

ஆராத இன்பம் அருளும் மலை போற்றி 
சிவன் அவன் என்சிந்தையுள் நின்ற அதனால் 
அவன் அருளாலே அவன் தாள் வணங்கி......

In the first fifteen lines, he pays obeisance to the feet. It is impossible to convey the rich allegorical and puranic implications in translation, that also conveys the full emotional fervour..  In the sixteenth line, he mentions the state of bliss that has been conferred upon him.  In the seventeenth, he states that the Lord has occupied his deeper consciousness. In the seventeenth, he says that he bows to His feet only by His grace!

Later, he composed Tiruvembavai- twenty verses that seek to awaken the sleeping spirit of devotees, making use for the purpose a practice then prevalent among the devout young. In the month of Margasirsha (mid-Dec to mid January, the young maidens used to observe a vrata in honour of Goddess, seeking worthy husbands. The girls would visit  and awaken each other, and together they would go to the river for a ceremonial bath and observances. Manikkavachaka uses this to remind us that we are all asleep in our consciousness ( we have no awareness of God)and that we should wake up- a call given in the Upanishad too: Uttishtatha, Jagratha. While concluding this section, Manikkavachaka again remembers the Holy Feet:

போற்றி அருளுக நின் ஆதியாம் பாதமலர் 
போற்றி அருளுக நின் அந்தமாம் செந்தளிர்கள் 
போற்றி எல்லா உயிர்க்கும் தோற்றமாம் பொற்பாதம் 
போற்றி எல்லா உயிர்க்கும் போகமாம் பூங்கழல்கள் 
போற்றி எல்லா உயிர்க்கும் ஈறாம் இணையடிகள் 
போற்றி மால் நான்முகனும் காணாத புண்டரிகம் 
போற்றியாம் உய்யஆட் கொண்டருளும் பொன்மலர்கள் 
போற்றியாம் மார்கழிநீர் ஆடேலோர் எம்பாவாய். 174 

Hail to your Lotus Feet, which is the Origin of everything!

Hail to your glorious Feet in which everything finally rests!

Hail to your golden Feet from which have arisen all life forms!

Hail to your flowery Feet which is the real enjoyment for all forms of life!

Hail to your holy Feet which is the final resting place for all forms of life!

Hail to your Lotus  Feet which could not be beheld even by Vishnu and Brahma!

Hail to your golden Feet which confer grace and save us!

Thus hailing the Lord, come let us bathe!

This worship of Goddess or Shakti was common. So, Saint Andal, who composed thirty verses on the same theme also refers to the Feet of Lord Krishna/Vishnu, recalling His various deeds. And though she recalls many glorious episodes from the Life of Krishna in his cowherd days, when she seeks His blessings, she refers only to His Feet.

Picture from Srimad Andavan Ashramam. Grateful thanks.

சிற்றஞ் சிறு காலே வந்துன்னைச் சேவித்து உன்
     பொற்றாமரை அடியே போற்றும் பொருள் கேளாய்!
பெற்றம் மேய்த்து உண்ணும் குலத்தில் பிறந்து நீ
     குற்றேவல் எங்களை கொள்ளாமல் போகாது
இற்றைப் பறை கொள்வான் அன்று காண் கோவிந்தா!
     எற்றைக்கும் ஏழேழ் பிறவிக்கும் உன்தன்னோடு
உற்றோமே யாவோம் உனக்கே நாம் ஆட்செய்வோம்

     மற்றை நம் காமங்கள் மாற்று ஏல் ஓர் எம்பாவாய்                   

O Lord! We have all come for your darshan so early in the morning . We hail your lotus feet! Lord Govinda! Please listen to our prayer. You are born among the cowherds How can you refuse to take our services? (We are also cowherds.) Lord, give us refuge. We are bound to you for all the births-seven times seven. We will only serve you. Please remove all our other desires.  Thus all saints of all traditions only resort to the holy Feet. We have an interesting episode in the Mahabharata. Once the war becomes unavoidable, both sides seek to enlist the  support of Krishna. Duryodhana reaches Krishna's place first. Krishna is in his bed chambers. Duryodhana goes there,  and  seeing him at nap, goes and sits near  the head.  A little later, Arjuna also arrives, and sits at the feet of Krishna. When Krishna opens his eyes, he sees Arjuna first. Then he  notices Duryodhana too. Learning their purpose, he says  he is available, and his army too could be spared. But he  would not touch any weapon and enter active combat.  He says they could choose what they want, first chance  would go to Arjuna as he was seen first on opening his eyes. (Also, he was younger of the two). Arjuna chose Krishna,  sans his weapons and his army! Duryodhana who was upset because he did not get the first chance, was relieved and  happy, because he got what he desired- the army! We may say Arjuna got Krishna and victory because he chose to sit at the Feet. The lesson is that for those who choose the Lord,  the Lord gives Himself! Thus we may say the glorious Feet of the Lord are the  greatest thing  on earth! Bengal Terracotta, depicting the scene of Arjuna and  Duryodhana  with Krishna! Gopinath temple, Dasghara. Taken from: https://rangandatta.com.
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