Sri P.B. Annangaracharyar Swami's Ten Words on
Acharyas as Clouds
Sri:
Srimathe Ramanujaya Nama:
Sri P.B. Annangaracharyar Swami's Ten Words on Acharyas
as Clouds
-
Clouds gather the water from the salty ocean and shower it
as sweet water. Similarly, acharyas gather the divine
meanings from the ocean like Vedas, which are dificult to
understand and enjoy by everyone, and using the strength of
their words give them out to be greatly enjoyed by everyone.
-
Clouds shower the rain where it is needed for
the benefit of this world ("uyiraLippAn mAgangaL
ellAm thirindhu" - Thiruviruththam 32). Similarly,
acharyas go to all divyadesams and to all other
places ("eNdisaiyum pOrththakara nAngudaiyAn
pErOdhip pEthaigAL thIrththakararAmin thirindhu" -
Irandam Thiruvandadhi 14, "srirangam karishailam
anjanagirim ... shAlagrAma girim nishEvya ramatE
rAmAnujOyam muni:") and pour the special divine
meanings that are required for the upliftment of
souls.
-
Clouds pour the rain water and fill even the
lowly ditches. Similarly, acharyas discourse on
great subjects and up-lift even the lowliest of
beings.
-
Clouds do not always shower the water. They
only do so in certain seasons. Similarly, acharyas
look for the opportune time to perform their
upadeshas.
-
If the clouds do not pour the water in the
appropriate times, this world will face several
drawbacks. Similarly, if the acharyas do not perform
their upadeshas at the right times, this world (the
souls) will face dangers such as imagining their
body to be their soul, thinking they are independent,
servitude to the wrong entities, self-depenedence,
etc.
-
No matter how much it pours the water, the clouds
are neither satisfied nor look for anything in return.
Similarly, no matter how much they discourse,
acharyas, who do not look for anything in return,
remain unsatisfied.
-
Some times the clouds will shower a little and
stop. At other times, it will pour a great amount.
Similarly, some times acharyas will speak just a
few words (mantrOpadesham) in their disciples ears.
At other times, they will speak extensively (during
kAlakshEpam), on the divine meanings of the smrtis,
itihAsas, purANas and ubhaya vEdAntas.
-
Clouds rain in a street and the water runs away
and goes waste. But they also rain on shells, which
then becomes pearls and prcious stones. Similarly,
acharyas some times teach to certain people and it
does not bear any fruit. However, at other times,
they teach great people and they come out as great
works such as Sri Vacana Bhushanam and Upadesa
Ratthinamalai for the benefit of all.
-
The rain from clouds becomes useful to all beings
when it reaches rivers, lakes and wells. If it runs
elsewhere, it becomes unusable. Similarly, when
acharyas teach divine meanings to worthy recipients,
they become part of the guru parampara and enjoyable
to all. If they are given to others, like water
poured on a hot iron piece, it goes waste.
-
Grains, the Sataka birds, etc have no other
refuge and look forward to the clouds ("eththanaiyum
vAn maRandha kAlaththum painkUzhgaL maiththezhundha
mAmugilE pArththirukkum" - Perumal Thirumozhi 5.7).
When the rain falls on them it becomes useful. When
the same clouds rain on a posionous plant, it becomes
destructive ("nIrkAlaththu erukkilampazhavilaipOl
vIzhvEnai" - Nacchiyar Thirumozhi 8.8). Similarly,
acharya sri sUktis are expected by srivaishnavas
(who have no other refuge) and are used by them for
a great purpose. When they reach others, they are
wrongly understood and become misused ("sARuvAga
madha nIRuseydhu samaNac cedikkanal koLuththiyE
sAkkiyakkadalai vaRRuviththu migu sAngiyakkiri
muREiththida" - Arthi Prabandham).
Azhvar Emberumanar Jeeyar Thiruvadigale Sharanam