Sri Harijis discourses Days 4 to 6 Singapore, April 2010

HAPPY TO SHARE
Recorded by: V.Prabhakar Rao, Singapore

DHARMA BRINGS HAPPINESS

Sri Gurubyo Namaha With a namaskara to my Guru Shri Raghavendra Guru rayaru, let me continue with my attempt to capture and record the essence of Sri Harijis discourses, in Sri Sivan Temple, Geylang, Singapore. The fourth days focus was on Sri Thulasi Das, the iconic author of the monumental work Sri Rama Charitha Manas. The great Rama Bhaktha who gave us the famous Hanuman Chalisa.

Harijis initial narration covered how his wifes words brought in a huge transformation in the young Tulsi Das, his movement to Kashi and leading a pious life, his getting into the mode of writing his version of Ramayana and giving discourse of the same everyday . His love for Sanskrit, his initial writing of Ramayana in Sanskrit, the words getting lost from the pages everyday, Lord Siva instructing him to write in the local language, Tulsi Das adopting the Avadh dialect for his work but throwing in liberal chunks of slokas in Sanskrit reflecting his love for that language .. were all very coherently related by Hariji. Tulsi Das earnest desire to have the darshan of Sri Rama, his connection with Sri Anjaneya and Anjaneyas helping him repeatedly in his quest were probably the highlights of the days discourse. Particularly the episode at Chitrakoot on the banks of the river, with Sri Rama and Sri Lakshmana toying with Tulsi Das in the form of two young boys and Anjaneya, taking the form of a parrot, alerting Tulsi Das as to the real identity of the two boys through a song was narrated in a touching fashion by Hariji. Right in that hall we could transport ourselves to the divinely Chitrakoot and visualize Tulsi Das applying chandan on Sri Ramas forehead. What a blessed soul he was!

The discourse moved onto Tulsi Das experience with Lord Krishna during his dhyana in Brindavan, the home of Krishna. Hereabouts, Hariji elaborated on the difference between Asthika (who merely acknowledges the presence of God and is worshipful), a Bhaktha (who derives a lot of satisfaction and happiness in his devotion to God in all His forms) and the Ananya Bhaktha (who is intensely wedded to a particular form of God). Hariji gave the examples of Hanuman who is an Ananya Bhaktha of Lord Rama, who cannot accept anyone else as his Master. Tulsi Das was one such Bhaktha, who when blessed with the presence of Lord Krishna still earned for the experience of Sri Rama. And the discourse reached an auspicious conclusion for the day with the finale of his experiencing Sri Rama darshan.

(O Rama nee nama entha ruchiraa Bhadrachalam Ramadasar) The very next day the discourse was about another great Rama Bhaktha, Sri Bhadrachalam Ramadasar. The discourse touched on the resolve of Gopanna

(Ramadasar) to revive and rebuild the dilapidated Rama Temple and his utilizing the governmental tax collection for this purpose. Here Hariji made a very profound point that everything on this earth belongs to the Lord and what Ramadasar was doing was nothing but using what belonged to Rama for renovating a temple for Rama. This statement reminded me of a Purandara Dasa krithi which says, Hariya karunadholadha bhagyava Hari samarpane maadi bhadhukiro .. Kereya neeranu kerege chelli ...

When Ramadas is imprisoned for this (misuse of state funds) he composes a number of songs on Lord Rama and in some of them he even appeals to Him but Lord remains silent much to the puzzlement of his devotee, Ramadasa. Hariji pointed out that only when he appealed to Sita Devi through the song, Nanu brovamani cheppave sitamma thalli ., it is Devis kindness which moves Lord Rama to come to his devotees assistance. At this juncture, Hariji, took pains to draw the gatherings attention to the fact that Lord Rama (accompanied by Lakshmana) physically went to the King, paid off his money and secured the release of Ramadasa, while as the Lord He could have simply threatened or ordered the King. Hariji pointed out that even in this episode Lord Rama demonstrated his Dharma and integrity of his avatharas purpose (to be a role model of dharma). The sixth day, the very last day of this years Singapore lecture series of Hariji, was focused upon King Rukmangadha. This king was highly devoted to the practice of Ekadasi Vratham, as a form of pleasing Lord Hari. Hariji narrated his staunch commitment to Ekadasi vratham, the Devas sending a Mohini to disturb his

austerity and her succeeding in it almost. Finally it comes down to his being tested by being forced to choose between sacrificing his son or his Ekadasi austerity. And hereabout his wonderful wife and his exemplary son rally around him and strengthen the Kings resolve to hold on devotedly to Ekadasi vratham. While narrating this part of the purana, Hariji dived deep into the extremely dharmic personality of the son Dharmangadha. The way he portrayed his nature, his behaviour, his expressions towards his father all together powerfully sketched an outstanding symbol of dharma. A young man who was willing to offer his own head and sacrifice his own life in order to protect and uphold the sathya of his fathers word .. shades of Sri Rama and His Pithru Vakya Paripalana. At that point, what started as Rukmangadha Charithra gloriously got transformed into a RukmangadhaDharmangadha Charithra.

Thus, on this note of Dharma & Sathya, this years discourse series of Hariji in Singapore came to a divinely conclusion. We look forward to the start of another long multi-year series of discourses from him next year. Hare Rama hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare I Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare II Sri Krishnarpanamasthu: ---------------------------------------------------------