Relishing the Venkatesha Vaibhavam Series
Celebrating the arrival of Sri Aishwarya Srinivasa Perumal in Houston, Sri Ramanujamji, disciple of Sri Swamiji, is taking us on a journey to His divine abode by reminiscing the greatness of Lord Srinivasa and Venkatachalam, based on the divine work – ‘Divyadesa Vaibhavam’ by Paranur Mahatma Sri Sri Krishnapremi Maharaj. This is an ongoing series filled with immense rasa.
This series is available to listen on our Namadwaar E-Satsang YouTube channel at this playlist:https://https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLf2GTja1Pr3P0Yr_AsYTOi9KnzUBlI1sE
We shall now enjoy a few divine droplets from the twelfth episode of this series.
Story of Vrishabhadri Part 2
Truly by the immense fortune and grace of Bhagavan alone one is blessed to set foot in holy kshetras like Tirumala. And we are indeed grateful to undertake this pilgrimage to the seven sacred hills through Paranur Mahatma, Sri Sri Krishna Premi Swamigal’s work – Sri Venkatachala Mahatmyam chapter of Divyadesa Vaibhavam. Journey through the grand hills of Tirumala reveals the various divine accounts associated with each of them which further exemplifies the causeless mercy and compassion Bhagavan has towards His devotees. The story of Vrishabhasura and his stuti is one such example which glorifies Srinivasa Perumal’s love for him, and the tender bhakti-laden heart of the asura who despite being vanquished by Srinivasa Perumal extols His grace.
Vrishabhasura in his stuti addresses Bhagavan as ‘Jagatpate’ – the Lord of the entire universe including all forms of life. He says Bhagavan’s descent is to bestow the noble ones with His grace ( anugrahArtam satAm munInAm) and punish the demonic.
One may ask, why not transform the wicked ones and purify them? Our ignorance attaches us to the body, but the body is just akin to a clothing that we wear to protect the skin. In reality, the soul discards several bodies before it reaches the state of liberation. The latent impressions or vasanas of the unrighteous are so strong that Bhagavan decides to discard their body but protects the soul. So, though Bhagavan punishes, He still brings auspiciousness (badram dadAti) and bestows His grace to the devas and the asuras because He is the Lord to both the virtuous and the vicious.
Vrishabhasura further declares that receiving a blow from Bhagavan (‘nigrham’) is indeed a great blessing (‘anugraham’). In one blow, Vrishabasura, slayed by Bhagavan’s own hands (tavaiva hastE) is relieved from the burden of his past sins and completely surrenders to Bhagavan. Vrishabhasura realizes that Bhagavan is His Lord and this punishment is indeed Bhagavan’s benediction on Him.
A doctor very carefully administers a surgery or prescribes bitter medicines or lays strict dietary restrictions on the patient during the course of a medical treatment. However unbearable or difficult it is, the patient realizes that it is the need of the hour and accepts it. Similarly, a true devotee sees every incident in one’s life as Bhagavan’s infinite grace – be it sour, bitter or sweet!
In Vamana Avatharam, King Mahabali lost all his possessions to Bhagavan but was bestowed with the highest benediction of becoming Bhagavan’s possession. Bhagavan made him His own! Mahabali, humbled, understood this and was ever grateful for this unparalleled grace showered on him.
The whole edifice of devotion lies on this foundation of faith which is the principle for every devotee to embrace. A very lovely quote of Sri Yogiramsurathkumar in this context which Sri Swamiji is fond of is – “Not only should one accept everything that happens in one’s life but we ought to also feel grateful for the same, because these experiences at that very point of time is certainly for one’s own growth, refinement and spiritual elevation.” It is this perspective in life that would strengthen, transform and help the devotee break the glass ceiling of mundane living. The outer world sees success and prosperity only through the lens of worldly positions, name, fame etc.
Sri Swamiji in the madhurageetham, ‘un karuNai enbadennavO kaNNA’ sings,
nidhiyum padhaviyum sukha bOga vAzhkkaiyum
un karuNai enDriDuvar aRivillA mUDar
mINDum mINDum piRavip piNiyil thaLLum
ivai eppaDi unthan karuNaiyAgum
He says that those who lack wisdom claim that worldly attributes like opulence, power, prestige and luxury in life is Bhagavan’s grace but in truth these are the ones that actually drag us into the vicious cycle of transmigration. Further in the song Sri Swamiji concludes that the real grace of Bhagavan is when one is blessed with a life of steadfast devotion at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan while remaining unattached in this world.
Vrishabhasura further continues,
“mAthur yatA sikshaNam arbakAnAm kshEmAya vaideva tatA surAnAm”
A mother, father or a Utama Guru at times chastises the child or the disciple only for their own welfare. Sant Kabir Das in his doha says,
“My guru started to hunt his disciples, the fortunate were hit and the unfortunate missed.”
Therefore, being chastised by the Guru is the supreme blessing for a disciple. The Guru or a Mahatma only reprimands sincere ardent disciples who are serious in their spiritual seeking. Out of tremendous love, He punishes and tries to mend the disciple. The disciple however, like a disobedient child might start playing sick mental tricks with the Guru but the Guru never gives up – very patiently, like a loving mother, he transforms the disciple into a fully bloomed beautiful fragrant flower and offers him at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan.
Vrishabhasura in his praise thus concludes that the punishment meted out to the asuras is for their good and auspiciousness.
Bhagavan tells Vrishabhasura that it is verily the sanctity and divinity of this hill that he resides has enabled him to flower in wisdom and attain His vision effortlessly in this very birth despite being an asura. The merciful Lord named the hill after this asura which has the power to bestow the vision of Bhagavan’s divine form to one who is at the brink of death. Hence this hill was named ‘Vrishabhadri’.
This is the very first hill which we would step foot on when we climb the holy Tirumala. And so every time we embark on this pilgrimage, let us remember the story of Vrishabhasura, his beautiful stuti soaked in bhakti, jnana and vairagya and Bhagavan’s compassion as He out of His own accord reveals His divine form to this asura.
Based on Sri Ramanujamji’s Venkatesha Vaibhavam Series of Discourses
To listen and enjoy the complete episode 12 of Venkatesha Vaibhavam series, please click here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld2o_tM0iU0&list=PLf2GTja1Pr3P0Yr_AsYTOi9KnzUBlI1sE&index=6
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https://godivinity.org/newsletters/nama-dwaar-newsletter-may-2023/
