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The Strength of Shiva Narayana's Sister by Maha Periyava (Part 2) - Sage of Kanchi
The Strength of Shiva Narayana's Sister by Maha Periyava (Part 2) - Sage of Kanchi
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Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara – In continuation of the previous part Sri Periyava
explains philosophically how Sriman Narayana and Ambal are one and the same. Unless
someone is Sarveswarsaran himself it cannot be explained with this amazing clarity.
Many Jaya Jaya Sankara to Smt. Sunitha Madhavan for the translation. Rama Rama
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It means Perumal has kept on His right side, Eswara with crescent moon in the matted
hair. This implies on the left half of Eswara is Perumal.
Ambal was born to Yashoda as Vishnu Maya on Krishna Ashtami day. She incarnated as
Gnanambikai during Sri Rama Navami, at the time of Vasantha Navarathri. When Vishnu
took Avathars, She too descended on earth. This means, the two are one and the same
or that they are siblings.
Andal had a dream in which she weds Lord Krishna. She sang beautiful hymns about it
wherein she says, as per Vedic Brahminical tradition, her sister –in-law helped her drape
the wedding saree, wear the garland and then escorted her to the marriage pandal/hall.
Andal says Ambal, as Krishna’s sister held the status of the sister-in-law to play this
auspicious role.
Like this, if we get used to associating Ambal with Eswaran on one side and Mahavishnu
on the other, consort of one and the sister of the other, then we will never ever
differentiate between Eswaran and Perumal by regarding one as higher or lower than the
other. Surely then the confrontation between Shaivites and Vaishnavites sects will get
snapped too.
When inert matter is invigorated, it assumes many forms; among the forms there is
nothing superior or inferior. Similarly, between these forms and that one UlimateTruth
which is the root of all these, there is no variation. If this wisdom dawns on us, there will
be no fight, frustration, and differences of opinion in our religion. The feeling of oneness
can be bestowed on us only by Ambal, the consort of Eswara and the sister of
Padmanabha.
Ambal is depicted in various forms in temples. One of them is the goddess Durga. In
Shiva temples around the sanctum sanctorum are found deities of Vinayaga,
Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu or Lingothbhavar, Brahma, and Durga. Of these
Dakshinamurthy has no consort. The portrayal is that He is independent on His own
without association with Ambal. Similarly for Durga too, we are at a loss to figure out
anyone occupying the position of Her Lord. In Her own right she is present as Ambal.
Dakshinamurthy holds in His hands, a string of crystal beads and palm leaf manuscript.
He is pure white in complexion. Identical with Him is Saraswathi, holding a white Japa
mala and palm manuscript. Saraswathi is Shiva’s sister. Both are embodiments of
knowledge. Brahma is seated on a lotus. He is of golden hue in complexion. Similarly,
Mahalakshmi with a golden complexion is seated on lotus. If Brahma is creating the
species, Lakshmi is creating wealth. These two are siblings.
Now let us see how Ambal as Durgai Amman is portrayed without any association with
the male principle. Her color is that of blue cloud. In her hands She possesses conch and
discus. She is the one who has destroyed several demons like Mahishasuran. When we
observe all these we understand without anybody explaining that Sri Mahavishnu is
certainly Her brother. Same color, the same conch and discus, incarnating again and
again to destroy the demons, are all the features seen in Mahavishnu as well. Both are
engaged in annihilating the evil because of their utmost compassion for us. This
ephemeral Universe is functioning by their amazing Leelas (playful deeds). These are
the Two who make wonders with their illusionary splendour ‘Maya’, in spinning the
galaxy. ‘Maayon’, that is producer of magical effects is the name given to Vishnu. It has
been in existence in Tamizh Nadu from the days of the Sangam Age (very ancient
period). Puranas refer to Him as ‘Maayavi’ or magician, creating illusion with
extraordinary inexplicable power. Ambal is called as ‘Mahaa Maaya’. These two
distinguished siblings stand apart from the other siblings. Their identical attributes make
us say that they are indeed one and the same. Infact, the name Durga I referred to above
has a name as Vishnu Durga. Though we all recognize Ambal as the sister of Vishnu, to
the same extent it is not widely known in this world that Saraswathi is the sister of Shiva
or Lakshmi is the sister of Brahma.
Ambal, Mahavishnu, Parameswara are three gems. “Rathna thraya pariksha” is the
Grantham (religious document) composed by Appaiya Dikshithar. These three are the
three different forms of the Universal Truth. Ambal is inextricably fused with the other
two. She is the consort of one and the sister of the other. Equal devotion to all the three
deities must be there without imagining superior or inferior status among them. Shivam is
the Truth, the foundation of all. It is seen as many due to the Energy surfacing as Ambal
or Vishnu. With this understanding we must worship them.
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