SRI VADIRAJA VIRACHITA “TEERTHA PRABANDHA” – STEP 21 ಶ್ರೀ ವಾದಿರಾಜ ವಿರಚಿತ “ತೀರ್ಥ ಪ್ರಬಂಧ”.

SRI VADIRAJA VIRACHITA “TEERTHA PRABANDHA” – STEP 21

ಶ್ರೀ ವಾದಿರಾಜ ವಿರಚಿತ “ತೀರ್ಥ ಪ್ರಬಂಧ”.

Description of Sri Subrahmanya Kshetra and Lord Sri Subrahmanya/

ಶ್ರೀ ಸುಬ್ರಹ್ಮಣ್ಯ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರ ಹಾಗೂ ಶ್ರೀ ಸುಬ್ರಹ್ಮಣ್ಯಸ್ವಾಮಿಯ ವರ್ಣನೆ

ಸುಬ್ರಹ್ಮಣ್ಯಸ್ಯ ಮಹಿಮಾ ವರ್ಣಿತುಂ ಕೇನ ಶಕ್ಯತೇ|

ಯತ್ರೋಚ್ಛಿಷ್ಟಮಪಿ ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟಂ ಶ್ವಿತ್ರಿಣಃ ಶೋಧಯತ್ಯಹೋ||37||

SubrahmaNyasya mahimA varNitum kEna shakyatE|

YatrOchChiShTamapi spaShTam shwitriNaha shODhayatyahO||37||

SUMMARY: How can one describe the greatness of Subrahmanya when the meals left out on the plantain leaf by Brahmins is believed to cure leprosy if the afflicted person rolls on those leaves?

There is a practice, which is often branded as dogma, of lepers rolling on the plantain leaves on which Brahmins have consumed their meal. This practice is believed to cure leprosy. Of late, there is a severe opposition and criticism against this practice. Legal restrictions have been laid on this practice. However, it is said that several lepers had been cured of their disease by rolling on the plantain leaves left by Brahmins after their meal. Therefore, Sri Vadirajaru cites this practice and says that the greatness of Lord Subrahmanya here, the place is known as Kukke Subrahmanya, is beyond explanation or description.

ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಹತ್ಯಾದೋಷಶೇಷಂ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣಾನಾಂ ಹರನ್ನಯಮ್|

ವಿರೋಧೇ ತು ಪರಂ ಕಾರ್ಯಂ ಇತಿ ನ್ಯಾಯಮಮಾನಯತ್||38||

BrahmahatyA dOShashESham BrAhmaNAnAm harannayam|

VirODhE tu param kAryam iti nyAyamamAnayat||38||

SUMMARY: In the event of a dichotomy between not insulting a Brahmin and clearing a leper off his disease, Lord Subrahmanya here prefers to clear his devotee off the disease.

This stanza needs further explanation. Panini, a Sanskrit grammarian, has provided several formulae. As per one such formulae, there is a provision to ignore an earlier condition and choose the subsequent one, if there is a paradox. According to the Shastras, the Brahmahatya Dosha or the crime of killing a Brahmin attracts such punishment that even after a long stint in the hell, the quantum of sin would not be cleared. To complete the term or quantum of such crime, a person will be born as a leper or gets afflicted during his next life time. When a leper comes to Subrahmanya and offers prayers to Lord Subrahmanya, the Lord would clear off the balance of sin of that person. The dilemma is that by clearing the sin, the Brahmin killed by the culprit in previous birth might be hurt, which is again unacceptable. However, as per the Lakshya formula of Panini, Lord Subrahmanya removes leprosy, ignoring the slight penury it may cause to the ‘killed Brahmin’.

ಸುಬ್ರಹ್ಮಣ್ಯ ಸುರಾಗ್ರಗಣ್ಯ ಕುಜನಾರಣ್ಯಜ್ವಲತ್ಪಾವಕ

ಪ್ರಬ್ರೂಯಾತ್ತವ ವಿಕ್ರಮಂ ಭುವಿ ಕವಿಃ ಕೋವಾ(s)ಮರೋ ವಾ ದಿವಿ|

ಯಃ ಪ್ರಾಗಪ್ರತಿಮಲ್ಲತಾರಕಮಹಾದೈತ್ಯಂ ಸುದೃಪ್ತಂ ಭವಾನ್

ವಿಪ್ರೌಘಪ್ರಿಯ ಸುಪ್ರಭಾವ ಸಮರೇ ಕ್ರೀಡನ್ನಜೈಪೀದ್ದ್ವಿಷಮ್||39||

SubrahmaNya surAgragaNyakujanAraNyajwalatpAvaka

PrabrUyAttava vikramam Bhuvi kavihi kOvA(s)marO vA divi|

Yaha prAgapratimallatArakamahAdaityam sudruptam BhavAn

ViprauGhapriya supraBhAva samarE kreeDannajaipeeddviSham||39||

SUMMARY: Oh Lord Subrahmanya, you are the chief commander of the army of Gods and demons; you are the wildfire to engulf bad people; Oh Lord, even the greatest poet on earth or the deities in heaven can fully describe your power and valor. Being most powerful valiant and beloved of Brahmins, you easily won against the most ferocious demon Taraka, who was an enemy of deities. This is just a sample of your outstanding glories.

Tarakasura was the son of Vajranga and Varangi. Vajranga was the son of Diti, who wanted to avenge the killing of several Asuras by Indra. Vajranga defeated Indra. He did fierce penance in the name of Lord Brahma to beget a son. Tarakasura was thus born to Vajranga and Varangi. Tarakasura did penance and sought from Brahma a boon that he be killed only by a son of Lord Shiva, who had become a Yogi and was in deep penance following the sacrifice of his wife Sati in fire. Indra consulted Narada, who suggested that Himavanta, king of mountains, should be requested to allow his daughter Parvati to marry Lord Shiva. Parvati was an incarnation of Sati and was bent on marrying Lord Shiva, who was in penance at that time. Later, Parvati succeeded, through penance and prayer, to make Lord Shiva marry her. The plan was only to get a son and through him, kill Tarakasura. This son was named Subrahmanya. He is also known as Shanmukha, Kartikeya and so on. Kartikeya was made the chief of the army of deities and in the battle that ensued between deities and demons, led by Tarakasura, Lord Kartikeya kills Tarakasura.

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