Summary of last session (March 4) by Shri Mohan Khandekar
Shri Vijayji started the session by describing the qualities of qualified students. Sati and Brahma are not considered to be qualified students because they were not truthful, however Parvati and Vishnu are because they are virtuous. A ladder/ support is necessary to be a qualified student.
Vijayji, next pointed our attention to Doha 78, where Saptarishis discourage Parvati from doing a penance on Naradji’s advice to gain Shivji. In the next verses, they also criticize Narad and repeatedly tell Parvati about his cunning and deceitful nature by giving many examples. According to them, Narad is not a respectful Guru and Parvati should not follow his recommendations. Furthermore, they are critical of Shivji by describing His nature, His attire and His uncivilized behaviour. They explicitly verbalize about His laziness, wearing snakes all over His body and garlands of skulls around His neck. ‘ Why would you like to marry someone who does not wear proper clothes and who is homeless ?’ Saptarishis ask Parvati, sneeringly. They warn her that marrying Him will bring her sorrows and the life of a beggar.
After this vivid dialogue and harsh details, Vijayji raised two important questions and also provided their answers. Who are Saptarshis and why are they questioning Parvti about Narad and painting such a gloomy picture of marrying Shivji? Saptarishis are Jeeva like us. They were born from the creator, Brahma, are enlightened and continue to guide the human race through all yugas with their deep knowledge of Brahman. They are Jeevanmukt. The reason behind dissuading Parvati was to test her resolve. Does she truly believe in Guru Kripa, Shashtra Kripa and Ishwar Kripa (गुरु कृपा, शाश्त्र कृपा, ईश्वर कृपा)?
79:1,2 “Stop listening to Narad and we will find you a decent groom, whose glories are complimented in Vedas. Not only He is without any faults but He is virtuous and rich”, they promise further. Clearly they are talking about Vishnu Bhagvan. They continue to narrate six positive qualities of Vishnuji and condemn the negativity of Shivji. सकल गुण रासी is interpreted as सत्यम शिवम सुंदरम.
Here Vijayji drew our attention to Chapter 16 of Bhagavad Geeta (Daivasur Sampad Yoga), where Shri Krishna details thirty six Daivi (दैवी)qualities
श्रीभगवानुवाच |
अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिर्ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थिति: |
दानं दमश्च यज्ञश्च स्वाध्यायस्तप आर्जवम् || 1||
अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधस्त्याग: शान्तिरपैशुनम् |
दया भूतेष्वलोलुप्त्वं मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम् || 2||
तेज: क्षमा धृति: शौचमद्रोहोनातिमानिता |
भवन्ति सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातस्य भारत || 3|
|
Qualities of Shivji mentioned in Ramcharit Manas can be easily compared to nine qualities mentioned in above verse such as
उदास (विरक्त): Detached
त्याग :Charity
आर्जवम: Straight Forward
शौचम vs Untidy Attire. Inner and Outer Purity is paramount.
संशुद्धी Purity of Heart
A Garland of skulls around neck: ज्ञान योग्य व्यवस्थितं, (शास्त्र योग्य माला)
कुलहीन vs दया compassion (वसुदेवम कुटुम्बकम)
गेह (without house) vs Renunciation (सन्यास)
दिगंबर (Naked) vs नतिमानिता Absence of pride
सर्पो की माला vs सत्यम (Necklace of truth)
79:3 Parvati agrees with Saptarishi but declines their “offer”, saying “I will die but will not be swayed from my resolve”. Parvati declares.
79:4 Parvati denies to defy Naradji’s commands because she has taken up Naradji as her Guru. For her, Guru occupies the highest position. “The one who does not believe in Guru will never be happy”, Parvati comments.
Doha 80: In spite of listening to various negativities of Shivji, Parvati refuses to give up.Here Shri Vijayji referred to a statement by Shri Kalidas, who says, Shivji, in different attire visited Parvati and asked her to give up the idea of marrying Him but alas she did not “budge”!
Jai Shree Ram