Venkatanathanum Thiruvenkadamudayanum - part 10

Continued From: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2015/11/venkatanathanum-thiruvenkadamudayanum_11.html

Vibhishana Saranagathi

Perumal’s dharmam is accepting our saranagathi. It requires special talent to follow ones dharmam without hurting the feelings of other people. Lord Rama faced this situation in Yudha Kandam of Valmiki Ramayana. Vibhishana approached Lord Rama to surrender but he did not approach the Lord directly but, pleaded with the Vanaras to represent his intentions to the Lord. As Vibhishana had approached the Lord through the Vanaras, the Lord wanted to grant refuge to him through the Vanaras as well. Therefore, He asked the opinion of the Vanara warriors. All of them refused to accept Vibhishana in their fold. Maharaj Sugreevan further added that, as Vibhishana had abandoned his brother Ravana during times of need, he was a bad brother and consequently cannot be trusted to be a good friend. Even though, Lord Rama wanted to convey that, Sugreevan had raised to the position of a king only after he had requested Lord Rama to kill his brother Vali, in order to spare Sugreevan’s feelings, He could not mention this bluntly. The Lord always grants refuge to anyone who approaches Him and He never abandons the people who sought His help. If He hurt Sugreevan’s feelings and as a result if Sugreevan left the company of the Lord, then the Lord would have failed in His duty to never abandon the company of Sugreevan. But, if He followed the advice of Sugreevan, then, He would be unable to accept Vibhishana and hence fail in His solemn vow to grant protection to anyone who approached Him.

The Lord used great tact to overcome this situation.  He told Sugreevan that, not all brothers were good brothers like His brother Bharathan, nor were all sons good son like Himself since He had followed His father’s words and had accepted to live in the forest in exile. He then added that, not all friends were good friend like Sugreevan thereby indicating to Sugreevan that, Sugreevan was a bad brother but a good friend. Similarly Vibhishana might be a bad brother but he could be a good friend. After hearing the Lord’s words Sugreevan immediately changed his opinion and agreed to accept Vibhishana in their fold.

Since on the day, Sri Peria Tirumalai Nambhi finished teaching “Vibhishana Saranagathi” to Swami Ramanujar some visitors from the Pandya country arrived with the archai of Lord Rama along with Ilaya Perumal, Anchaneya Swami, Sugreeva Maharaja and Angadan, Perumal draws our attention to the saranagathi shastram called “Ramayana”.

The above line “kaNNan adiyiNai emakku kaattum veRpu”,thus makes us think about Lord Rama who came to Tirumala so that everyone can attain His divine feet. By coming to Tirumala on the day when swami Ramanujar learnt Vibhishana Saranagathi from his uncle, Perumal draws our attention to the Rama Charama slokam.

सकृद् एव प्रपन्नाय तव अस्मि इति च याचते ||६-१८-३३
अभयम् सर्व भूतेभ्यो ददामि एतद् व्रतम् मम |

sakR^ideva prapannaaya tava asmi iti yaachate

abhayam sarva bhuutebhyaH dadaami etat vratam mama

"The person who seeks refuge in me just once, telling me that, ‘I am yours', I shall give him/her assurance of safety against all types of beings. This is my solemn pledge"

The purport of Varaha Charama Slokam and Rama Charama Slokam is thus emphasized by Lord Srinivasa symbolically through His posture on the Tiruvenkatam Hill.

Continued On: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2015/11/venkatanathanum-thiruvenkadamudayanum_21.html