Swami then procceeded to explain patiently and entusiastically the first verse of Tirunedunthandakam. Sastras help us to understand the difference between shariram, atma and paramatma. First step is to understand shariram. Our body is visible to us. It is pratyaksham. But it is not permanent. .Bodies differ in size,shape and form and is determined by Ione’s karma. Some get thiryak shariram, some deva shariram and some manushya shariram depending on his karma. Shariram is like lightning, it is fleeting and temporary. It goes through the stages of Vriddhi, grasam and nasham(growth, change and decay). Shariram differs from birth to birth. Though shariram has doshams(defects), manushya shariram gives a chance to progress spiritually. Vivekam(discerning ability) helps us to understand right from wrong. The thinking power helps man to ponder as to why this shariram has been given to him. He can seek an acharya and opt for sharanagathi at the end of his life and reach moksham. Once the nature of shariram is understood the desire to give too much importance to it will go.The realization that we are not independent and are subservient to Sriman Narayana will clear our misconceptions.
The Vedas are countless but have been condensed to 4 categories by Veda Vysa. They are the very breath of Sriman Narayana, the wealth of Brahmins, they reveal the nature of jeevatma. Though some say that the body and atma are the same, others say that the mind is atma. Ramanuja refutes these statements by saying that gnanam is an adjective which qualifies so atma itself cannot be gnanam. Vedas ask you to look at atma and atmanubhavam is joyful but it makes you so involved that one becomes oblivious of what is happening around. As a result he experiences kaivalyanubhavam and misses the actual nectar Paramatmanubhavam .
Writeup & Video by : Vyjayanthi & Sundararajan