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Sri Hari
GURUJI SRI MURALIDHARA SWAMIGAL MISSION |
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Sri Hari
GURUJI SRI MURALIDHARA SWAMIGAL MISSION |
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‘Chitrakoot’ Mandap, Bhadrachala Sri Rama Temple
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Sri Swamigal has been rendering ‘Upanyãsam’ (discourses), in Tamizh. This is being brought to you here. There may appear to be variations in the ‘tense’ of the language. This is due to the fact that great effort has been taken to maintain the original style of the ‘Upanyãsam’. Therefore, we request you to keep this in mind while reading the translated ‘words’ of Sri Swamigal.
Sri Swamigal,
" In Bhadrachalam lives this great Lord Rama! Bhadrachalam is on the banks of Godavari which is one of the important sacred rivers. The water of Godavari is very sacred, indeed! The Sthala Purana (history of the Holy Place) narrates that there once lived a man by name Kãlakãlan who desired his Guru’s wife. He was cursed by his Guru and was inflicted with the dreaded disease of leprosy. He was thrown out by his own kith and kin. With no place to live and none to support him he wandered here and there suffering from pangs of hunger. On learning that everyone, even the worst sinner, was offered food (‘anna dãna’) in Bhadrachalam on the day of Sri Rama Navami festival he decided to go to Bhadrachalam somehow. He managed to reach the Holy Place. However, utterly exhausted due to the long period of starvation he fell down dead but not before having had a glimpse of the Temple Tower. The agents of the Yama (the God of death) came to take him away. But Lord Rama here in this Temple sent His great Bhakta Hanuman to bring him to His own place. The Lord said, “He who has come into the precincts of Bhadrachalam that is my territory becomes mine and is cleansed of all his sins, however grievous they be. He belongs to none else but me and has no right to be taken elsewhere but to my Kingdom. Let him be brought to me!” Thus he was blessed with a place in Lord Rama’s Lotus Feet. Bhadrachalam Kshetra is of such great fame. In Srimad Bhagavatam we get to see how Bhagavan comes rushing to the dying Ajãmila even though he was calling out to only his own son who had been named after the Lord!
Since long I have cherished the desire to visit Bhadrachalam. I have been wondering when would the time come when I could have darshan of Sri Rama here. Even if I have been nurturing this thought deeply unless Lord Rama here Willed it how could I come here? So, at last I have made it yesterday. Bhadrachala Nivasa! Rama! Even as I sat here in the Temple precincts last night I wondered how Vasudeva Thatha would have cried on seeing Bhadrachala Nivasa! Should not one weep and suffer such throngs of pain out of anguish in not having been able to make it to this place? The Ãzhwãr visits Thirukurungudi and writhes in pain in being separated from the Lord. ‘Sengani vãi onrinodum selginradhen nenjame’, sings the Nammãzhwãr. His mother wonders, “Did I not accompany you to that Temple?. But I do not suffer as you do!” The Ãzhwãr tells his mother, “En nenjukondu pãrume”! - “See (the Lord) with my heart!” How I yearn, “Would not I become like Vãsudeva Thataha?” He was, indeed, such a great Rama Bhakta. To remember him here and now is indeed by itself, ‘punya’! A little child that he was, even at the age of six he wept for the vision of Lord Rama. Born in Thiruvaheendrapuram (near Cuddalore, Tamizh Nadu State, S.India) Vasudeva Thatha, christened as Rajagopala Desikan, went to Sri Rangam all alone in search of the Lord. Tirupati Perumal is said to possess the four teats of Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. But it is also said that the last one, Moksha is kept closed by Him while He bestows His devotees with all the others. He went to the dense forest of Tirupati - the Holy shrine of Seven Hills. Each Hill is divine and has a history of its own. Though Tirupati is said consist of these Seven Hills it in fact extends from Kalahasti to Ahobila - he sat challenging the Lord to show him some hint of His (the Lord) existence. And the Lord did through a Komitti Chetty devotee of his whom He sent to bring Vasudeva Thatha safely down. The Lord’s response encouraged Vasudeva Thatha to challenge the Lord to appear before him failing which he decided to consume the poison that he held in a cup. But even as he was about to consume the poison as the Lord did not appear. A Garuda (the Divine Bird Vehicle of Lord Vishnu) swooped down on him and carried away the cup containing the poison. It was in the area where the Tapovanam of Sri Gnãnãnanda stands today did Vasudeva Thatha attain ‘Sãkshãtkãra’ of Lord Rama. It is probably because of this event that the Tapovanam has come to be where it stands today. Vasudeva Thatha was the live example of the words describing the nature of a Bhakta - ‘azhuvan, pulambuvan (would shed tears, would moan/will sigh) He never let anyone come near him. He was very short tempered and used it as a sheath to keep people away from him. Bhadrachala Ramdas whose name was Gopannagãru lost his father quite early in life. His father was himself a very wealthy man and held a high post in the court of the Nizam of Hyderabad. Gopanna was deeply devoted to Lord Rama even as a child. To divert his mind to the world and to make him more ‘responsible’ the elders in the family got him married. But his wife who was totally devoted to him only deepened his devotion. Gopanna spent huge sums of money in the celebration of Sri Rama Navami Utsav. Only one thing raised Gopanna’s temper and that was to curtail his expenses towards Sri Rama Navami Utsav. All were welcome to the Utsav. On one side the Bhagavatas performed pãrãyana of the Epics while in another place the Vedic scholars chanted the Vedas; the Bhagavatas performed Naama Sankeertanam in yet another place while those adept in discourses performed the same in the place reserved for them. Without any means of income the wealth that had been bequeathed to him by his father was spent away in Sri Rama Navami Utsav. This pushed Gopanna to the pitiable state of day to day living. He thus had to look up to his maternal uncle for the succeeding year’s Utsav. This uncle held a high office in the court of the Nizam of Hyderabad. None other than Gopanna’s father had secured this for him. In a gesture of gratitude to Gopanna’s father the uncle offered to bear the expenses for the Utsav. Gopanna had already earned the name of Ramadas as people recognized his deep devotion to Lord Rama. Very gleefully did Gopanna celebrate that year’s Sri Rama Navami Utsav. His wife herself cooked for all the guests as she felt it an honour to render this service. After preparing the meals she put their little son, Raghav, to sleep and after placing an oil lamp nearby she went upto the place of festivity to listen to Naama Sankeertanam. It was very special to her as the Kirtans were those composed and now sung by her husband. The oil lamp placed near the child had been blown out and it was dark all around. The little boy woke up suddenly and began to cry out for his mother. Raghav entered the kitchen as he went in search of his mother. The kitchen floor had been spilt over with hot rice gruel (‘kanji’). The little boy slipped and fell into the place where hot rice ‘ kanji’ had been filtered and died. The mother who came to check the sleeping child found the bed empty. Soon she found the dead body of little Raghav in the rice ‘kanji’ tank. Stricken with grief she suppressed her tears and shock to avoid any hindrance to the celebration of Sri Rama Navami Utsav! She quietly wrapped the dead body of the child in a sack and placed it aside. When the guests were being served food, one of the Bhãgavatas enquired Ramadas of his little son. “Where is the little one? I have not seen him for quite some time now”. Ramadas looked at his wife who tried to control her tears. But she was compelled to relate what had happened. Though Ramadas and his wife tried to console the shocked guests (!) explaining that it was Rama who had given them this child and it was Rama who had taken him away, the noble guests refused to accept this. They said this incident would mar the name of Lord Rama and so prayed to the Lord fervently to bring the child back to life. Just then a Yogeeshwar entered the house and demanded to know what was happening there. When explained, the Yogeeshwar tapped the child’s body and said, “Dead? Who says the child is dead? Son! Get up!” and the child woke up as if from sleep. The Yogeeshwar disappeared even as the people looked on. Ramadas realized it was none other than his Beloved Rama who had performed this wonder. His trust that Rama took care of everything only deepened after this incident. Ramadas’s uncle not only extended help in the celebration of Sri Rama Navami but also secured the post of Diwan for Ramadas in Bhadrachalam. Ramadas arrived at Bhadrachalam where the locals received him in the Temple of Lord Rama. On seeing the poor state of affairs of the Temple and the old, dirty oily clothing of Sri Rama, Sita and Lakshmana, Ramadas shed tears and felt convinced that it was only to improve the condition that Lord Rama must have brought him here. Initially he had no thought of diverting the funds of the State to this work. He sold all the property that he owned as also the jewels of his wife to renovate the temple. But the funds got out of this was not enough to meet his desire to adorn His Beloved Lord, His consort and Lakshmana with costly jewels and do the utmost for the Temple construction. He thought, “All the wealth of this world belongs to Rama. While the world enjoys it, poor Rama is in such a pitiable state.” He, therefore, diverted the funds of the State to this end. He kept a neat record of every coin spent in this matter. However, the affair was soon brought to the notice of the Nizam by some dissatisfied soul. The Nizam immediately ordered the arrest and imprisonment of Ramadas as he was unable to repay the ‘usurped’ funds. Ramadas here asks Rama through his kirtan, ‘Emira Rama nã valla neramemira’ - Oh! Rama! what is my lapse?’ Most of Ramadas’s moving kirtans were written during the twelve years spent in the lonely and cruel prison cell. Ramadas sings, “Deenadayalo! Deenadayalo! Deenadayaapara Deva Dayãlo!” -- Oh! Compassionate one! Oh! compassionate One! -- At the time when he has been imprisoned by the Nizam Ramadas sings this Kirtan calling his Prabhu Rama as a Compassionate one. The hot sun is like the furnace --- bound inside the prison cell --- he had been whipped severely --- he lived for 12 long years in this jail all alone --- living in that cell one cannot know if it was day or night --- It was then that he sang, ‘Oh! Compassionate one! Oh! Compassionate one!’ What deep love (‘priyam’) must he have possessed for Rama? He built the temple for Rama. But he was imprisoned and whipped frequently. And what did he sing? ‘Oh! Rama! I cannot bear Your Grace!’ --- ‘Deenadayalo! Deenadayalo!’ Ramadas’s attraction to the form of Lord Rama went so deep that he carved the form of his Beloved Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana on the stone walls of his prison cell with nothing but his fingernails and worshipped it! He ate raw rice soaked in water after offering it to his Rama. He refused to accept cooked food. Prison life was tough in those days with the prisoner made to break rocks, pull ‘chekku’ (instrument used in those days to extract oil to which usually an ox [in the prison cell it was the prisoner] was tied that went round and round grinding the grain) and whipped quite frequently. It was during this period that he wrote innumerable kirtans on Lord Rama. In one Kirtan he questions Rama, “Wherefrom do you think you have got all these jewels that you and your family are glittering in? It is neither your father-in-law Janaka who has adorned you with these nor your father Dasarata who only ripped you of everything and sent you away to the forest. But it is I who have adorned you with all these. Should I not enjoy you all adorning them?” In one of the Kirtans he pleads with Rama to come and save him. With no response from Rama he asks teasingly, “Rama! Why don’t you give your consent to whatever I have done? Say that I have not done anything wrong. Is it because your mouth contains pearls which you fear will spill over if your open the mouth that you keep a tight lip?” -‘Paluke bangãramãyena! Kodandapãni! Paluke bangãra mãye pilichina palakavemi!’ Ramadas then places his request to Sita. He prays to her, “Oh! Mother! Why don’t You plead my case with Sri Rama?” and goes a step further to brief her when and how She should bring up his case to Rama! Sita also pleads with Rama on his behalf. But Rama questions her, “Did I ask him for all these jewels? I am a King myself and am aware what great problem it is if the funds of the State were diverted. I cannot render any help in this matter!” But with repeated pleadings from Sita, Rama says, “I will be able to get him out of the prison only if I can repay what he had taken away.” Since Sita is none other than Mahalakshmi (goddess of wealth) she rained down gold coins at the request of Rama. Rama and Lakshmana made a bundle of the gold coins and disguised as Ramadas’s assistants (‘Talaiyãriis’) went over to the Nizam’s palace and knocked at the doors of the Nizam’s room. Who could dare stop the one so lustrous? The astounded Nizam opened the door only to find two deeply striking young men, calling themselves the ‘talaiyãriis’ of Ramadas having come to repay the funds of the State taken by him. The dumb struck Nizam accepted the gold coins and as demanded by them wrote a receipt on a piece of his upper cloth with the help of a bird’s feather dipped in the ‘ãsha’ used by his queen and also wrote the order of Ramadas’s release. The two young ‘talaiyãriis’ left for Golconda immediately with the order. On reaching the prison Rama threw the piece of cloth into the cell through the ventilator. The wonder struck Ramadas soon realized the work of his Lord. Ramadas with tears flowing down his cheeks asked his Prabhu, “Is it because it was the Nizam’s money that was used to renovate your Temple and adorn you with jewels that you blessed him with your darshan? How fortunate he is?” The Nizam struck by the ‘Brahma sparsa’, yearned deeply to see them again. He immediately rushed behind them to Golconda and personally ordered the release of Ramadas. The Nizam offered the gold coins, received from Rama, to Ramadas. Ramadas refused the gold coins. However, some of his disciples who were there accepted them surreptitiously. On their return journey to Bhadrachalam the disciples feared attack from dacoits. Ramadas said, “What have we to fear? We have nothing in our possession.” It is then that the disciples confessed of having accepted the gold coins. Ramadas sang the Kirtan, ‘Pahi Rama Prabho!’ seeking protection from Rama. Rama and Lakshmana, in the form of two security men guarded them all through the way. The Nizam, realized the deep devotion of Ramadas and bequeathed the whole Bhadrachalam to him. He requested him to take care of the Temple and perform Sri Rama Navami Utsav grandly. Ramadas on return from his long stay in the prison cell found that the ‘tambura’ was intact with the ‘swara’ (tune), as on the day he had left it! Ramadas lived to a ripe age before attaining the Lotus Feet of His Beloved Rama. Ramadas had an unflinching faith in Rama. Never for a moment did he forget his Rama during his long stay in the ghastly prison cell. Later, Ramadas sings the kirtan, ‘Shri Ramula divya nãma smarana seyuchunna jãlu Ghoramaina tapamulanu goranetike manasa!’ ----(oh! mind! Taking the Name of Rama will suffice; why do you have to perform severe penances?) In this kirtan, Ramadas also asks, ‘Dorakoni parula dhanamula dochukunnãte chãlu Gurutugãnu gopuramulu dattanetike manasa!’ ----(oh! mind! It is enough if you do not usurp others' money; where is the need to build temple towers in remembrance? (!) ) The irony is he who had diverted the State’s funds to build the temple tower sang the above! But for Ramadas, Bhadrachalam and its presiding deity would have remained unknown to the world. Lord Rama of this Temple whose glory was spread to the whole world by Ramadas, spread the glory of His Bhakta. Through sheer Rama Nãma, Ramadas attained ‘Sãkshãtkãra’. Carnatic music has had its origin in South India. The Thevãrams of Nãyanmãrs and the Prabandams of Ãzhwãrs were only stotras and not Kirtans. It was Jayadev who first sang kirtans followed by Bhadrachala Ramadas. Sãrngdev of Bengal had written ‘Sangeeta Ratnakaram’ along the lines of which Jayadev set his kirtans. Later, Purandara Dasa and Thiagaraja Swami also sang innumerable kirtans. It was Bhadrachala Ramadas who created the ‘paddhati’ (tradition) for Nama Sankeertanam. The placing of a lamp (‘kuthu villakku’) around which the Bhãgavatas go dancing, singing the Nãma of Bhagavan was first started by Ramadas. One should develop taste for Rama Japa (Rama japa ruchi). One who enquires into the ‘hetu’/ ‘phala’ (fruit) of Rama Nãma japa is not eligible to chant it. When we are offered ‘laddu’ (a kind of sweetmeat) do we try to find what it is made of or what good would eating it bring? We just grab and put it in our mouth and enjoy it! Don’t we? So should the chanting of the Mantra be. Unless you have a taste for the chanting of the Mantra, unless one is deeply attracted to it he cannot be called a Bhakta. He is only a ‘kamyan’ - one who seeks material benefits. ‘Taraka Mantra’ is Hanuman’s ‘mata’ (religion), Bhagavata ‘mata’. Just keep chanting the Mantra. Do not take up the work of protecting others. Do not go to build old age home or orphanage or an ashrama for the ascetics. Deeply sympathetic to their plight one may make sincere efforts in providing them with comforts. But what happens? Any amount of service you render does not satiate them. Only complaints of usurping the funds collected in their names is thrown at you. Drop all these desires. Pick up the ‘Taraka Mantra’ and do incessant chanting. A Nãyanmar says, “Pãdiri puliyurãnai pãdãda nãllellam pirakkãda nãlle” - days spent without singing the Name of the Lord of Padiripuliyur (Siva) are days whence I have not been born. (wasteful days). Ramadas sings, ‘Diname sudinamu! Sitarãma smaraname pãvanamu!’-‘Auspicious is the day when the Name of Sitarama is remembered!’ Placing His Rama and Sita on the ‘oonjal’ (cradle) Ramadas sings this kirtan as he swings them - ‘Diname sudinamu Sitarãma smaraname pãvanamu!’ In this kirtan he sings in the end, ‘karamuna velayu bangãru pushpamulacheda tara Bhadragiri Ramadãsu poojinchu’ - auspicious are the days when this Bhadragiri Ramadasu worships you with offering of golden flowers with his hands. ‘Charanamule nammiti nee divya charanamule nammiti! Vãridhi gattina vara Bhadrachala Varadã Varadã Varadã nee divya!’ (Charanamule) It is only Your Divine Feet that I trust One who constructed the bridge, bestower of boons of Bhadrachala! Bestower of boons! Bestower of boons! (it is) Your Divine Feet That I trust!’ "
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“GOPIKA JEEVANASMARANAM!
Page 1 Page 2 NOTE: Any discrepancy/lapse in the translated version of the Upanyasam is the sole responsibility of the person/s who translated the work from Tamizh into English.
Radhe Krishna |
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