A natural connection

Arjuna, having seen Lord Krishna’s Viswaroopa, realises that Krishna is the Supreme One. All these days, he had seen Krishna as just a relative and had treated Him playfully. He now asks for forgiveness. He first acknowledges Lord Krishna as the father of the entire world and then points out that a father is ready to forgive his son. In the same way, Krishna must forgive him. We find Arjuna’s words in verses 43 and 44 of Chapter 11 of the Bhagavad Gita, said Velukkudi Krishnan in a discourse. Ramanujacharya wrote three gadyams — Saranagati Gadyam, Sriranga Gadyam and Vaikuntha Gadyam, and on Panguni Uthiram day, he recited these three works before Lord Ranganatha and Goddess Ranganayaki of Srirangam. At that time, he quoted these two verses from the Gita. In his Thiruvaimozhi, Nammazhvar refers to the deity Oppiliappan as “ennappan”, meaning “my father.” What distinguishes this divine father from a mortal father is explained by Nampillai in his commentary. Nampillai explains that Nammazhvar uses the word Ennappan to show that this is a father who never abandons His children. There are irresponsible fathers, who abandon their children. But Oppiliappan protects us always. He never turns us away.

Thirumangai Azhvar sees Lord Narayana as all his relatives combined, He refers to Lord Narayana as One who does more for us than a mother would. Later, while praising Lord Srinivasa, he says that he had spent his life caring for his parents, his wife, and children. All this had brought him sorrow. Who but the Lord can give us unalloyed bliss? Our connection with mortals is due to karma — it is a sopadhika sambandha, relationship due to a cause. But our connection to the Lord is nirupadhika sambandha — a natural relationship, not due to karma or any other cause.

Published - December 25, 2024 05:11 am IST