Page 13 - Bhakthinivedana-English-January-2022-Magazine.pmd

a - Why an
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Ba:la Nive:dana - Why and How to Thank God!
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our acharyas and alwars. One such great stho:thram us once we take shelter of his Lotus feet. He holds on
is 'Mukunda Ma:la' by Sri Kulasekhara Alwar which to us and never let us fall again into this samsa:ra.
gives an excellent instruction on how to engage our
senses and sense organs. Then Alwar pleads the pair of eyes to look at the
most charming beauty of Lord Krushna because he
The tongue does two things, eating whatever is lauded as 'Madhuradhipathe akhilam madhuram'.
is available and talking whatever comes to mind. He is the one who grants permanent bliss. Instead of
Both when done moderately, help us in leading a looking at unwanted things let's see the Divya mangala
better devotional life. One should be righteous and vigraha of Sri Krushna.
soft spoken so as not to hurt others. As a result, even
enemies become friends. Alwar requests, "Oh my Then Alwar requests the pair of legs to go to
tongue! always sing the infinite auspicious qualities of Lord Hari's temple instead of wandering here and
Kesava who dispels our distress". there. "Harir harathi pa:pa:ni" He who destroys our
sins, grants all our wishes and rescues us from this
Mind is capable of doing both good and bad miserable samsa:ra.
things. Sri Krushna in Bhagavad Githa states that one
should uplift oneself with the mind that is free from Alwar then appeals to the nose to smell the
material desires. The mind which is indifferent to fragrance of Thulasi leaves decorating the Lotus feet of
material enjoyments is a dear relative of one and the Mukunda, He who grants freedom from all sufferings
mind which is attached to sensual pleasures is one's and bestows liberation. Finally, Alwar appeals to the
enemy. head to shed ego, bow down and do namaskaram to
Lord Vishnu, Adhokshaja who grants us unlimited
uddhare:th a:thmana:thma:nam bliss.
na:thma:nam avasa:daye:th |
jihve: ki:rthaya ke:savam
a:thmaivahya:thmano: bandhuhu muraripum che:tho: bhaja sri:dharam
a:thmaiva ripura:thmanaha (BG 6.5)
pa:nidvandva samarchaya:chyutha

Alwar is requesting, "Oh my Mind! think kaththa:ha
of Muraripu, Sri Krushna", who destroyed Mura sro:thradvaya thvam srunu |
rakshasa who has five heads representing pancha
thanmathras, sabda, sparsa, rasa, rupa, gandha- which krushnam lo:kaya lo:chanadvaya
drag the senses away from Bhagavan. When the mind hare:r gachha:nghriyugma:layam
is engaged in thinking of Muraripu, he eliminates our
wickedness. jighra ghra:na mukundapa:da thulasi:m
mu:rdhannama:dho:kshajam ||
Next Alwar appeals to the pair of hands to
worship Sridhara, the divine couple, Lord Vishnu (Mukundama:la -16)
on whose chest Sri:, the Divine Mother is inseparably
residing. She talks on our behalf and increases Thus Alwar by assigning activities to all organs
his Kshama guna and requests him to forgive our gives us an excellent way to restrain them from
mistakes. Alwar is requesting the hands to worship material enjoyment and engage in the service of Sri
the divine couple by offering fragrant flowers, fruits Krushna and teaches us how we can pay tribute to
with love. Bhagavan for granting us this wonderful body.
- By Sridevi Ankisetty, from the Mukundama:la teachings
Alwar then urges the pair of ears to listen to the of His Holiness Sri Ahobila Jeeyar Swamiji
stories of Achyutha meaning- one who never leaves

Jan 2022 Bhakthi Nivedana 13