Transcript Sri Mahalakshmi – The unfailing counsel

Sri Mahalakshmi – The unfailing
counsel
• The role of Sri in Vaishnavam – Sri Vaishnavam
• The inevitable Lakshmi
• BhagavAn is the unfailing means for liberation –
upAya or sadhana
• He is full of vAtsalya , sousIlya, svamitva, and
soulabhya (parental compassion, magnanimity,
ownership, easy access)
• However, all these are masked by svAtanrya
(unquestionable independence / will) which
triggers anger to punish the sinners.
• Lakshmi consoles Him as a Mediatrix
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PurushakAra: - the arbitrator
• Lakshmi enjoys the role of PurushakAra:
• Purusham karOti iti purushakAra: - one who
moulds a purusha and makes him behave so
• lakshmI: purushakAratvE nirdishtA parama
rishibhi:
• She does this for both jivAtma and paramAtma –
She corrects paramAtma with Her love and
jivAtma with Her maternal compassion.
• She is a bridge between them as in the Omkara –
• a = narayaNa – u – Lakshmi – and ma = jivAtma.
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Guiding ParamAtma
• Puru bahu sanOti ii purusha: - one who grants
abundantly is a purusha
• The ever generous bhagavAn refuses to grant
annoyed by our sins
• She pleads by reminding the intimate relationship
between paramAtma and JivAtma and the
responsibility of the creator to protect
• Sriman Narayana who is in mad love with Her
immediately accepts and forgives.
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Correcting jivAtma
• One who takes a lead is a purusha – jivA
falls back in going towards bhagavAn.
• Lakshmi with Her mercy mends the jivA
and makes him interested in bhagavAn.
• Sita advising even rAvaNa
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The epithets of Lakshmi etymology
• Sri: - srayatE – she resorts to bhagavan
•
srIyatE – she is resorted to by all
•
srnOti – listens to our plea
•
srAvayati – makes bhagavan listen
•
srnAti - destroys our sins
•
srInAti - reaches us to paramAtma
• kamalA – ka mou lAti iti kamalA – one who
restores the lost jivA to its rightful owner and vice
versa
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The inseparable Lakshmi
• She resides in a separate sanctum, by the side of
Perumal and seated on His chest.
• She is a an attribute, characteristic of His essential
nature (determinator) - tirukkandEn, markandeya.
• The sequence of worship in a temple – acharyas,
azhvars, Garuda, Lakshmi and then Perumal.
• Worship Lakshmi before Perumal and confess – as
a caring mother She argues favourably before we
reach Perumal
• SaranAgaty – first to Her and then to Him–
panguni uttiram - vibheeshana, sUrpaNakha,
rAvaNa
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Instances from RamAyaNa
• lakshmyA saha hrishIkEsa: dEvya kAruNya
rUpayA rakshaka: sarva siddhAntE vEdAntEpi ca
gIyatE
• Sita forgiving kAkAsura – rAkshasIs
• vAli’s remarks
• Her divine glances grants – rati mati sarasvatI
dhrti samrddhi siddhi and sri ( love, wisdom,
silver tongue, steadfastness, abundance,
accomplishment and wealth)
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Why is She always in union
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No time, place regulation for saranAgati
saranAgati never fails
saranAgati succeeds only in Her presence
Conclusion – She is always in union with Him
Diamond is glorified by its lustre but lustre is not
independent. So is fragrance in flower and Lakshmi
to Perumal.
• Agalagillen irayum enru alarmEl mangai urai
mArba nigaril purgazhAi ulagam mUnru udayAi
ennai AlvAnE nigaril amarar munikkanangal
virumbum tiruvEngadattAne pugal onru illA
adiyEn un adikkIzh amarndu pugundEnE.
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