Tuesday 19 January 2021

Sri Mani Rathna Mala – Prashnoththari – Sri Shankaracharya Virachitham

 


Chapter – 2 – Sri Manirathna Mala – 5 – 10


The disciple speaks “Oh! Bhagavan, 1) what’s that rope that fastens the Jeeva to the Prapancha/material matters of Prakrithi?  2) What is intoxicating as the spiritous drink?  3) Who is blind?  4) What’s death?”

 

The preceptor speaks “1) The body and I consciousness/me, mine and myself, is the rope that fastens the ignorant Jeeva to the Prapancha. The attachment to material matters such as people, fame, richness, wealth, possession, money, etc. and the practice of constant chase to accumulate material welfare and satiate senses tightens the Jeeva to Prapancha. 2) The lust for bodily pleasure is intoxicating as the spirituous drink, would definitely ruin the consciousness. 3) The lustful person with insatiable desire is the blind 4) The ill fame is equivalent to the death of the person.”

 

The disciple speaks “ Oh! Bhagavan, kindly enlighten me 1) Who is the supreme preceptor 2) who is the perfect disciple? which is the illness that continuously troubles the Jeeva? What is the cure for that prolonged illness?”

 

The preceptor speaks “1) The supreme preceptor is the Hithopadheshi/who advise welfare of the disciple, and inspires to follow austerities, vows, Shamadhamadhi, Swadhyaya, Athmavichara, meditation, and contemplation, etc. The preceptor always works for the welfare of the Jeeva, removes the impurities of Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Madha, and Mathshcharya, fear, and anxieties, lessen the interest in worldly matters and bondage, thus protects the Jeeva from the vicious cycles of repeated births.  The preceptor removes the trepidations in the disciple with his mere presence. 2) The perfect disciple is the one who sincerely follows the commands of the preceptor, and has sincere devotion at the lotus feet of the Preceptor. The sincere disciple please his preceptor with mind, deeds, and words, and selflessly serve the preceptor, in this way achieves the perpetual grace of the preceptor. 3) The prolonged illness is the vicious cycle of repeated births. The Jeeva who did not strive to achieve the Purusharththa/Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha, continues to take several births until it achieves union with the Paramathma Parambhramam resides as a soul in it like the mud pot merges with the mud after a certain period of time. The unfinished desires and attributes in the Jeeva hurl into the repeated cycles of birth. 4) The one and only cure from the prolonged illnesses of repeated birth, that is ‘Athmavichara’/knowledge of ‘self’.  The nearness of preceptor, selfless service and worship of preceptor, the practice of austerities, Shamadhamadhi, vows, celibacy, meditation, and contemplation upon the all-pervasive supreme Bhramam, would remove the impurities of Shadvikara, ultimately the disciple achieves the knowledge of ‘self’, the indestructible Purusha resides as soul and the destructible Prakrithi that has fleeting nature.”

 

The disciple speaks “Oh! Bhagavan, kindly enlighten me 1) which is the superior ornament? 2) which is the superior Theertha? 3)  Which one should abandon to achieve the fruitfulness of life? 4) what is auspicious to listen always?”

 

The preceptor speaks “1) The superior among the ornaments are Sadhachara/virtues and disciplines, kindness/Dhaya, Ahimsa/non-violence, Sathyam/truthfulness, Shaucham/cleanliness, purity, Dhamam, and Shamam are the commendable virtues considered as an exquisite ornament. 2) The superior among the sacred Theertha is one’s own heart, free from the impurities of Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Madha, and Mathshcharya. 3) The two important things should be abandoned for good, a) Kamini/unsatiable desire and lust towards woman, b) Kanakam/uncontrollable desire to procure precious yellow metal/gold. 4)The most auspicious deed is listening to the Guru Upadhesha, and always carry them in mind.”

 

The disciple speaks “Oh! Bhagavan, kindly describe 1) what are the methods to achieve Bhramajjana? and Who is Mahathma?”

 

The preceptor speaks “I shall narrate the easiest methods to achieve the knowledge of supreme Bhramam, 1) Satsang/Sadhusangama is the association with the noble-souls, Mahatmas, ascetics who have abandoned the interest in worldly matters and bondage like Trina, undertaken the extreme austerities and Tapasya, and constantly immerses in the ‘Athmarathi’.  The association with these Mahatmas are most beneficial and extremely difficult to achieve, that is obtainable only with the grace of the supreme Lord. 2) The Mahatmas are liberated souls, completely abandoned the interest in worldly matters and bondage, consider the body as the bundle of secrete, engages in various austerities and Tapasya get rid of Ajjana/ignorance, immerses in the transcendental state is Shivaswaroopa, the Akhanda Ananda Sacchidhanandhaswaroopa Paramathma Parambhramam.”

 

The disciple speaks “Oh! Bhagavan, 1) what is the common and highly infectious disease in the Jeeva? 2) Who is Moorkha/fool/ignorant? 3) which task should be performed with great interest and sincerity? 4) Which is the purest form of life?”

 

The preceptor speaks “1) The common and the highly vulnerable disease is ‘redundant thoughts’, no Jeeva is freed from the wearisome thoughts, the practice of austerities, Shamadhamadhi, Swadhyaya, Athmavichara, contemplation, and meditation upon the all-pervasive Bhramam and knowledge of ‘self’ would remove the most susceptible disease forever. 2) The ignorant/fool is the person who has not strived to achieve the knowledge of ‘self’/who am I, and spent whole life chasing after the material welfare, possession, richness, fame, money, wealth, attachment to wife, children, companions, and relatives, and constantly undergoes miseries and sufferings from the above. The ignorant is the one who hasn’t strived to achieve even a single thing from the Purusharththa/ Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha is a burden on the Earth. 3) The highly propitious deed is the worship of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva with utmost sincerity and devotion. 4) The ideal life is free from the interest in worldly matters and bondage, impurities of Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Madha and Mathshcharya, and body and I consciousness.”

 

Pashohi Ko Yo Mamatha Abimana :  Sammohayathyeva  Surevakasthree | Ko Va Mhandho Madhanathuroyo  Mrithyushcha Kova Payashaswakeeyam ||

 

Kova Gururyohi Hithopadheshta  Shishyasthu Koyo Gurubhaktha Yeva | Ko Dheergharogo Bhava Yeva Sadho Kimaushadham Thasya Vichara Yeva ||

 

Kim Bhooshanath Bhooshanamasthi Sheelam | Theertham Param Kim Swamano Vishudhdham |Kimathra Heyam Kanakam Cha Kantha  Shravyam Sadha Kim Gurudeva Vakyam ||

 

Ke Hethavo Bhramagasthesthu Santhi | Sathsangathir Dhanavichara Thosha: | Ke Santhi Santhoakhila Veetharaga| Apa Sthamoha:  Shiva Thathvanishta: ||

 

Ko Vo Jwara: Pranabhritham Hi Chintha  | Moorkhoasthi Koyasthu Vivekaheena: | Karya Priya Ka  Shiva Vishnu Bhakthi: | Kim Jeevanam Dhosha Vivarjjitham Yath ||