Viveka Choodamani

When one thinks of the mercy of one's Guru, one attains the state of Nithya Sharanagathi. We may wonder what it means. It like prostrating  for ever feet. - like falling straight on the ground, then, standing on the place , where the head was and prostrating again until the entire circumferential of a temple or mountain is reached or on the way to Guru's Abode. Bagavad Ramanuja did this when he went to meet his Guru, in ThruKottiyur Maha Poorna. Thinking of one's Guru and his mercy, where he blesses one with the divine knowledge of the Self, one attains that state of endless bliss. Even reading great Granthas like this, which were blessed to us by our Jagadachaarya, we enter into that state of bliss, where nothing bur pure consciousness alone prevails.

As the name suggests, this is the crest jewel of knowledge or intelligence   Let's now enjoy these beautiful verses.

sarvavedAntasiddhAntagocharaM tamagocharam.h .
govindaM paramAnandaM sad.hguruM praNato.asmyaham.h

Desc: Acharyal starts his grand verses by saluting his Guru Sri Govinda Bagavadpaada. This could also be interpreted as a praise to Sri Krishna, who blessed us with BagavadGita. He praises his Guru as one, who is not reachable or far away from the theologies and scriptures (as he shines as that Supreme Light).Guru, Ishwara and the Self are all nothing but that Shuddha Chaitanyam or pure bliss (which is veiled by the screen of Maaya).

jantUnAM narajanma durlabhamataH pu.nstvaM tato vipratA
tasmAdvaidikadharmamArgaparatA vidvattvamasmAtparam.h .
AtmAnAtmavivechanaM svanubhavo brahmAtmanA sa.nsthitiH
muktirno shatajanmakoTisukR^itaiH puNyairvinA labhyate .. 2..

Desc: As we all know, a human birth is very rare to attain among all other births as animals, birds etc.. (Only Man has a illusive mind and an intellect, which can overcome that illusion). Among men, blessed are the ones, who are learned or Vipras (Brahmins). Even among the learned ones, who just don't use their knowledge for money-making(like the commercial priests), blessed are the ones, who have a real involvement and dedication to the Vedic religion. There is the concept of Aathma and Anathma (Self and non-self), beyond which is the state of Jeevan mukthi - where the differences between the Jeeva (caused due to an illusive mind) and the Ishwara is destroyed and one prevails as one's one Self ( Tat Thvam Ashi) as described in the Upanishads. Before one gets there, one needs to earn the merits of millions of deeds from several hundred previous births. So, Self realization my happen naturally to someone, who is very much dedicated to Spirituality and who seeks refuge in a true Guru, and all of these needs merits from previous births. Although it looks like it is spontaneous it is a result of accrued merits from various births.

durlabhaM trayamevaitaddevAnugrahahetukam.h .
manuShyatvaM mumukShutvaM mahApuruShasa.nshrayaH .. 3..

Our Acharya further goes to the next step , where he describes the fruit of Bagavad Anugruham. He states mainly these three things:

Being born as a human being
Having a taste for Moksha (trying our best to understand and attain the 4th aim of our life)
Surrendering to a Great Soul(who is Self realized



One may attain a Guru, based on one's karma only. Not all Gurus preach the concept of non-duality, which is the primary aim of the Upanishads. Only with paripoorna anugruham from God, the Almighty one attains the feet of a real SadGuru.
labdhvA kathachinnarajanma durlabhaM
    tatrApi pu.nstvaM shrutipAradarshanam.h .
yastvAtmamuktau na yateta mUDhadhIH
    sa hyAtmahA svaM vinihantyasad.hgrahAt.h .. 4..

Desc: Acharya further goes to the next step and calls those lazy-minded people as suiciders. If one after merits from previous deeds attains birth as a human, and has studied all the scriptures and is well versed in bookish knowledge but does not strive to know what is his Self and what is that Supreme and how are they related etc.. there's no use of learning all those scriptures and he is equivalent to some one, who has committed suicide. 

itaH ko nvasti mUDhAtmA yastu svArthe pramAdyati .
durlabhaM mAnuShaM dehaM prApya tatrApi pauruSham.h .. 5..



Once again Acharya insists on Aathma Vicharam or the Self Inquiry. Upanishads talk about nothing but this. Chandokya Upanisad states this Self Inquiry 7 times, with seven different examples  and declares that the true Self is nothing but that Supreme (Tad Thvam Ashi). So, only a foolish person will neglect to think about his Self after the attainment of a human birth and manhood.

vadantu shAstrANi yajantu devAn.h
    kurvantu karmANi bhajantu devatAH .
Atmaikyabodhena vinApi muktiH
    na sidhyati brahmashatAntare.api .. 6

One more beautiful verse has been quoted here. One may be speaking about the scriptures etc.. , do the Yagnas for Gods/Goddesses, do all the (good) karma, and sing the glories of the Deities. But Mukthi for this Jeeva or Jeevan Mukthi never happens unless Aathma Bodham is being realized even after several hundred years of Brahma. So, one my do all the outward karmas, yagnas, yagas etc.. but to attain liberation is become one with the Supreme Light one must experience that wisdom of non-duality. Otherwise whatever one does is like not fruitful.