Sumadhva Vijaya 11: Ekadasha Sarga
In this Sarga the Author describes the Vaikunta of Lord Vishnu (heaven)
very vividly. One day when Shri Acharya was
preaching Brahmasuthra in Udupi a bright light appeared in the dark sky and
suddenly disappeared. This happened because
Sesha Devaru with Sanakaadis had come to Udupi to listen to the Acharya’s
pravachana (preaching).
Even though Sanakaadis were well
aware of Madhva Shastra, Sanakaadis
questioned Sesha devaru to explain the usefulness of listening to Madhva
Shastra.
Sesha devaru starts explaining the
benefits of Madhva Shastra:
From following the Madhva Shastra,
one can reach Swarga (heaven) just as grass is important for cultivation. But the chief award is attaining moksha (liberation
from cycle of death and rebirth) just as the grains are the chief product
obtained from agriculture. In addition
one can live happily with wealth. By
following Madhva Shastra one can reach Lord Vishnu’s abode Vaikunta (heaven of
Vishnu).
Descriptions of Vaikunta
Shri Hari’s places are surrounded by
golden walls. The mansions and houses all
over the place are incompatible and are glowing with jewels. The roofs of the houses are shining with
sapphires and gems stones like Yamuna and Ganga rivers. The artificial birds assembled in the houses
look very real. Even though so many muktas
are in Vaikunta, the place is quite huge because of the glories of Shri Hari. As the moon (Chandra) shines amidst Stars
Lord Vishnu’s palace (temple) is virtuously shining amidst other temples in
Vaikunta. Shri Ramadevi herself does all
the work in the palace even though she has thousands of female servants under
her. At the same time she worships Lord
Shri Hari (Vishnu). The scene of Lord
Vishnu in golden yellow dress (peethambara) with ornaments sleeping on Sesha devaru,
and Mahalakshmi worshiping Him at his feet is a wonderful sight in the palace. Chaturmukha
Brahmas, Garuda, Sesha devaru and Indra with their wives ,and others with their
wives happily enjoy with devotion looking at Shri Vishnu (Lord Hari) in the palace (temple) all the time. Those muktas (liberated from samsara, that is
released from cycle of death and rebirth) having lotus eyes with chaturbhujas
wearing yellow dress (peethambaras) live happily in Vaikunta. In Vaikunta there will be no experience of
births, old ages and deaths; there will be no sufferings or pains; the three
gunas of sattva, rajas, and tamas will not be there. They enjoy paripurna happiness in
Vaikunta. They always remain young and
enjoy life with their ever young wives.
The young women are very beautiful with lotus eyes and are elaborately
dressed with various types of gems and jewels on them. They are very soft spoken women. They make their husbands always happy in the
delightful divine grove (nandanavana) situated in Vaikunta loka. In Vasantah rutu, the divine grove will be
flourishing with fresh basil leaves plants and champa plants (sampiges); in
Grismah rutu, the divine grove will be full of jasmine plants (malliges); in
Varsah rutu the peacocks dance beautifully; in Sarat rutu muktas will enjoy
life with their beautiful wives; In Hemantah rutu the divine grove will be full
of phalini plants (basil leaves plants) ; in Sisirah rutu the divine grove will
be full of kunda plants (downy jasmine) plants.
The weather in in Vaikunta will be neither cold nor hot in all the
seasons (Rutus) and Muktas enjoy
pleasant weather always. According to
their capacity, Muktas offer prayer to Lord Shri Hari. In
this beautiful divine grove the young couples embracing together and making
love is a common scene in Vaikunta. In
Vaikunta the bodies (shareeras) of the muktas are jnaanandamaya svarupa and
hence it is entirely different compared to other lokas.
The people in Vaikunta are blessed as
the Lord Vishnu is visible to them always.
Lord Vishnu appears with
thousands of curly hairs wearing rare jewelry crown and crocodile ear rings
with a half curved tilaka on his forehead.
With wide lotus eyes, red lips, moon like face and a teasing smile He
makes His devotees happy in Vaikunta.
Lord Vishnu wears brilliant celebrated gem, golden garland, golden ring
and bracelet. Lord Vishnu holds
Sudarshana chakra (beautiful discus), Shanka (conch shell), Padma (lotus
flower), Koumodaki (mace), and dhanus (bow) also in his four arms. Brahma on the lotus emerging from naval of
Vishnu having a light belly with his consort Lakshmi always residing in his
heart is another sight witnessed in Vaikunta.
His thighs are in the form of elephant’s trunk and legs from the ankles
to the knees are very beautiful. In this
form Lord Vishnu appears in Vaikunta. He
is svagathabhedavivarjita meaning that He is same in all avatars (incarnations). We should not distinguish His one avatar is
different from other avatar. His
incarnations are illustrations of giving worldly knowledge at all times. His avatars are taken place to the punishment
of injustice (adharma) and to the protection of justice (dharma) during that
time. Muktas in rituals worship Lord
Vishnu by offering sacred fire; they
worship Him by praising with songs and dances.
All Muktas are free from fate and are very happy in Vaikunta. Whatever desired by Muktas are very easily
available in Vaikunta.
Sesha devaru concludes that whoever
understands the Brahma sutra Bhashya (exposition of Brahma sutras) and other
sacred scriptures of Sarvajeevothama Shri Madhvacharya will attain moksha in
Vaikunta.
Prepared by J. Sudhindra Simha, Bengaluru.
Next: Dwadasha
Sarga
Previous: Dashama
Sarga
Beginning: Prathama
Sarga