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Shankara and Madhva, Shlokas From Vaishnava Literature(2)
One of the popular misconceptions is that Bhakti is somehow
incapable of producing knowledge of the Absolute Brahman as
defined by Upanishadic texts such as "Tat tvam asi", etc.
Vaishnava philosophers such as Madhva, Jayatirtha and
Vyasatirtha emphatically say that to know or have a vision of
the Supreme God Vishnu is the highest knowledge that any being
can gain. In the Gita we find that Krishna is questioned by Arjuna
precisely about this doubt. Among the worshipers of the personal
form of Krishna and those who meditate on the Unmanifested
Brahman, who can be considered to be the best ? (Gita 12.1)
Krishna replies that both types of people attain the same
goal, ie. Him. However, the path of those who choose to meditate
on the Umanifested, Immutable Brahman is fraught with dangers; it is
very hard for the embodied to achieve, (especially in the Kali Yuga).
It is for this reason that even the great Advaitin Shankara prescribed
Bhakti as a sure way to succeed in the spiritual path.
bhaja govindam bhaja govindam govindam bhaja mUDhamate
samprApte sannihite kAle nahi nahi rakShati DukRnkaraNe ||
Worship Govinda, worship Govinda , O foolish one
When death approaches, memorizing rules of grammar will not
protect you.
(Shankaracharya's Bhaja Govindam)
Note: The repetition of the phrase "bhaja Govindam"
must be interpreted as emphasizing the instruction to
worship Govinda.
bhagavadgItA kincidadhItA gangAjalalavakaNikA pItA
sakrRidapi yasya murArisamarcA tasya yamah kim kurute carcAm ||
By reading the Bhagavad Gita, by drinking just a drop of
water from the Ganga and by worshiping Murari (krishna) once,
all fears of death (Yama) will vanish.
(Shankaracharya's Bhaja Govindam)
geyam gItA nAmasahasram dhyeyam shripatirUpamajasram
neyam sajjanasange cittam deyam dInajanAya ca vittam ||
Recite the Bhagavad Gita; chant the Vishnu Sahsra NAma stotra;
meditate on the form of Shripati (Vishnu) within your heart; let the
mind rejoice in the company of saints; donate your wealth to the poor.
(Shankaracharya's Bhaja Govindam)
satyapi bhedApagame nAtha tavAham na mAmakInastvam
sAmudro hi tarangah kvacana samudro na tArangah ||
Even when I am not under the influence of Dualism, O Lord,
I belong to You but You don't belong to Me ;
the waves belong to the sea but the sea never belongs to the waves.
(Shankaracharya's VishnuShatpadi)
kuru bhunkShva ca karma nijam niyatam haripAdavinamradhiyA satatam
harireva paro harireva gurur harireva jagatpitRmAtRgatih ||
Do your assigned duty and accept the results of your karma
(in a detached way);
always be aware of Hari's lotus feet; Hari is the Supreme God,
Hari is the Guru, Hari is the father, mother and the support
of the World.
(DvAdasha stotra of Madhvacharya )
na tato astyaparam jagadIDyatamam paramAtparatah puruShottamatah
tadalam bahulokavicintanayA pravaNam kuru mAnasamIshapade ||
There is nothing in the world that is greater than Him who is the
Supreme PuruShottama; give up all your worries about the world and
devote yourself to (worshiping) the lotus feet of Hari.
(DvAdasha stotra of Madhvacharya )
yatato api hareh padasamsmaraNe sakalam hyaghamAshu layam vrajati
smaratastu vimuktipadam paramam sphuTameShyati tat kimapAkriyate ||
Even if a person attempts to worship the lotus feet of Hari, all the
sins will be completely destroyed; if a person constantly remembers the
feet of Hari, that person is sure to obtain Moksha, the highest goal.
Why should there be any doubt about this ?
(DvAdasha stotra of Madhvacharya )
dharmah svnuShThitah pumsAm viShvaksenakathAsu yah
notpAdayed yadi ratim shrama eva hi kevalam ||
Dharma which is performed according to one's position is
a wasted effort if it does not give rise to attraction to
the pastimes of ViShvaksena (Krishna).
(Bhagavata Skandha 1 Ch. 2 Verse 8)
vadanti tat tattvavidastattvam yajjnAnamadvayam
brahmeti paramAtmeti bhagavAniti shabdyate ||
Those who know the philosophy of the Absolute Nondual Truth speak
of Him as Brahman, ParamAtmA and BhagavAn.
(Bhagavata Skandha 1 Ch. 2 Verse 11)
Anand
