Hendathi Santhathi Saviravagali
[Let the Wife’ progeny increase thousandfold]
Sreenivasa Naik was famous as Navakoti Narayana in view of his wealth. He was a miser to the core. He practiced ration system in the house; would issue the day’s ration (rice, dhal, etc.) and lock up the store. His wife Saraswathi Bai was a noble woman. Just as prescribed in Bharya Samhitha (Wife’s Dos and Donts), she would tell the husband about the wrongs and rights as and when opportunities presented themselves. She used to tell him "When the God has given, we should enjoy and we should also give others". These preachings never entered the ears of Naik.
Once Shrihari visited the shop of Naik in the guise of a poor old Brahman and asked for financial help to perform his son’s upanayana. Naik who would never tolerate the poor, shoes him away with his "no". That tenacious Brahman visits the shop daily for the next six months (with the same request). In the end, Naik drives the Brahaman away using his servants. The Brahman, not to lose visits Naik’s house and asks Saraswathi Bai for financial help. She immediately gives him her nose stud. The Brahman rushes to Naik’s shop and asks Naik to value the nose stud and give him money. Naik suspects something amiss and immediately visits his house and asks his wife to give him her nose stud. Saraswathi Bai, naturally afraid of the husband, attempts to take poison. She finds the nose stud in the cup of poison and gives the stud to her husband. Naik is taken aback by the sight of the nose stud and feels exhilarated.Naik is able to guess what exactly has happened. He immediately transformed into a Vairagyashali (one who does not desire any possessions). He called his wife and praised her with "You are a Goddess for me, you have removed the curtain of Ajnana". Later he obtained a pen name (ankita) from Shri Vyasarayaru and became Purandara Dasa. He composed a song "Hendathi Santhathi Saviravagali (literally: Let the Wife’ progeny increase thousandfold)" commemorating the wife’s help (upakara). Here, the word wife has to be interpreted as a Lady who gives the right guidelines and progeny to group of such women in generation after generation (and not children and grandchildren). Similarly thousand refers to a large number.
Purandara Dasa’s blessings (in the form of composition) appear to have materialised.
Later, Shri Jagannatha Dasaru with his pupils (shishyas) visited a place called Kharjagi during the course of his travels (sanchara). In Kharjagi, Dasappa’s house was the largest. And in his house arrangements were made for the stay of Shri Jagannatha Dasaru party. Dasappa’s wife Gundamma extends a hearty welcome to the party and takes care of the party well. Gundamma sports a smiling face all the while, eventhough she is upset and sorrowful for her husband’s absence at a time when a revered personality (hiriyaru) has visited the house.
In the evening, Dasappa chewing tobacco mixed betel leaves and sporting a thick moustache comes home from a prostitute’s house. There was still some time for the start of the Bhajan (Keerthana) programme of Shri Jagannatha Dasaru. Gundamma is happy that her husband has come home. She takes him aside and requests "A learned person (jnani) has come to the house – a very rare event indeed – please do not go out again, a bhajan programme is about to begin". As though he is replying to her tears, Dasappa says ‘Alright, my body is dirty". He bathes and smears the gopichandana marks (namas) on the body and sits in the front row of audience.
This article by Latha Narasimha Rao is the content of her lecture in the Mahila Goshti of the 25th Akhila Bharatha Madhwa Thathwajnana Sammelana held on February 4, 5 and 6, 2006 at Chennai.
Usual practice in the Bhajans of Shri Jagannatha Dasaru was, Shri Dasaru would start with the singing of "Sathatha Gananatha.." (a composition on Lord Ganesha) and then the pupils would take over. But, that day Shri Pranesha Dasa, one of the pupils took the senior’s permission and started with:
Past is past, atleast now onwards take the right path, Hey Animal!
From the bad habits, you will never see succour in the current or next world ||
[In kannada: Aadhadhdhayithu innadharu olle haadhi hidiyo praani |
Ii dhurnadatheyindha ihaparadhali modhendhigu kaanii praanii || ]
And goes on listing all bad habits of Dasappa. Further, Shri Pranesha dasa goes on pointing his hands towards Dasappa (who was seated in the front row) while mentioning each item. Gundamma’s heart races at the sight of what is happening, as Dasappa is a short tempered person and the Dasa is reeling out the truth. She starts fervently praying "Hey Bhagavantha, please protect". Shri Jagannatha Dasaru asks his pupil "Why did you leave Ganapathy today? Why are you furious on Rayaru? (Rayaru referring to Dasappa)". At that time Dasappa replies "There is no mistake on Shri Pranesha Dasa’s side. He has said everything correctly". And Dasappa confesses that at every step he committed mistakes and promises to lead a good life. Further, he requests to be admitted into the Dasa fold (Dasa parampare). Dasappa confesses to Gundamma in private saying "Your help is very great, you have lighted my life, you have made our family’s name proud, I am a sinner". Next day, he communicates a Enough message to the prostitute.Dasappa underwent a religious atonement (shastroktha prayaschitta). He obtained a pen name "Shreedha Vittala", became a Vairagyashaali and an Aparoksha Jnani (one who has had God realisation). He was known as Kharjagi Dasaru. If Gundamma had not requested him to stay home that day, what would have been Dasappa’s life?
Even now there could be many noble women of the type of Saraswathi Bai and Gundamma. All of them and their deeds will not come to light. These two persons have corrected the path of their husbands. There are examples of women who have taken responsibility to correct the path of their children.
Shri I G Venkata Narasimhacharya was a scholar in shastras. But his son Venkata Ramacharya had no education at all. The loving father allowed son to keep playing and showed no interest in his studies. The mother was worried about the future of the child who was just eating and roaming. Shri Gopala Dasaru living in the same town was a renowned "all knowing person" (Thrikalajnani – one who knew about the past, present and future) and Aparokshjnani. She pleads many times with Shri Venkata Narasimhacharya to approach Shri Gopala Dasaru to know about the future of their son. And the pleadings fall on deaf ears. On the other hand, Narasimhacharya used to belittle Gopala Dasaru saying "I have read deep into the shastras and I have not had God realisation (Aparoksha), how come the Dasa can have Aparoksha?" The determined noble woman started reciting a poem composed by Shri Gopala Dasaru in such a way that it should fall on the ears of Narasimhacharya. The poem had summarised the essence (like honey) of all shastras and meant:
There is no pleasure in Samsara | But, it does not leave us even if we try to leave it |
Unwanted talk has increased in the world | Oh Lord Venkateswara ||
[In Kannada: Vagathanadhalli Sukhavilla | Adha bidanendhare bidadhalla ||
Hagarana jagadholu migilaayithu | Pannaganaga nagaranivaasa || ]
Venkata Narasimhacharya, the learned shastrajna appreciated the poem and started to ask her to recite it again and again. She seized one such opportunity to press her demand to visit Shri Gopala Dasaru to inquire about their son’s future.Seeing no alternative, the Acharya visits Gopala Dasaru in a half hearted manner. Shri Gopala Dasaru reads the mind of Acharya and even before any inquiry was made, gives the assurance: "There is no cause for anxiety about Venkata Ramacharya. With his accrued punya from the previous births, by mere listening (shravana), his jnana will emerge (germinate) and he will become a renowned figure accepted as a Guru by the world". Acharya’s wife who had great faith in the words of Shri Gopala Dasaru, ensures that their son sits in the place where shastras are taught (and thus he listens). Very soon Gopala Dasaru’s words came true. Venkata Ramacharya became a panditha in his own right and a Vairagyashali. Later in his life, he became a sanyasi and took the name "Vyasathathwajna". He has composed devara namas under the pen name "Vasudeva Vittala". Through his Thapas Siddhi, he helped Gadwal Samsthana overcome the difficulties caused by Muslim enemies. Due to the efforts by the mother at the nick of time, Venkata Ramacharya was individually benefited and the society as a whole was benefited.
Saraswathi Bai, Gundamma are of recent past. Even in Historical times, there were wives who tried to correct their husbands. For example: Thaaraa, Mandodhari and Gandhaari.Thaaraa tells Vaali "Sugreeva is good soul (sajjana), Bring him inside the kingdom, Return his wife Rume to him". Vaali does not listen to her during his life time. But just before dying tells Sugreeva "Once I die, you will be coronated as King. During governance, if you come across ticklish situations, consult Thaaraa. She knows the finer aspects of Dharma well" and thus praises Thaaraa. All women can be proud of such compliments received by Thaaraa.
Mandodhari was not lucky to receive such compliments. Mandodhari had advised Ravana at the time he brought stealthily Seetha "She (Seetha) is symbolic of your Death in the form of a woman (Sthree). Return her to Shri Rama". Mandodhari repeated the warning at the time a bridge was constructed across the sea. At every step, she warned Ravana. But Ravana never heeded. He did not even remember her advice even at the time of his death.
At the time of Pandavas being invited to play the game of Dice for the second time, Dhritharaashtra was warned by Gaandhaari "This will lead to wiping out of our dynasty, let their be no play"
Some succeeded in guiding people into the right path, while some failed. What is the reason? Shriman Madhwacharya’s Dwaitha Sidhdhantha alone is able to provide an answer to the above question. The answer lies in "Bhedhojeevaganaaha". According to the Acharya’s sidhdhantha souls’ (jeevas’) nature (swabhava) are of three varieties – Sathwikas, Raajasas and Thaamasas. Bhagavantha is not the reason or cause for the different varieties. (If the Bhagavantha is the reason, he will be called biased and indulges in favouritism). Jeevas are said to be Anaadi (beginning less) and the swabhavas are also Anaadi. The jeeva swaroopa will not change. Sathwikas are good natured, Raajasas are mixed natured and Thaamasas are evil natured. The swabhaavas are independent of gender.
According to the Acharya’s sidhdhantha, in the above examples:
Vali in his original roopa is Indra, the saathwika Purusha. Due to various reasons, he appeared evil natured (dushta swabhava), but in the end repented and recognized he good qualities in his wife.
Sreenivasa Naik in his original form is Naradha, a saathwika Purusha. His natural qualities of Jnana, Bhakthi, Vairagya which were dormant came to light with just the incidence of nose stud.
Ravana was none other than the rakshasa Hiranyakashipu (Mahabharatha Thathparya Nirnaya). Cursed Jaya (Vishnu’s Door keeper) was dormant within Ravana. Ravana’s Thamo guna was responsible for his ignoring all sane advice from Mandodhari.
Dhritharashtra was a gandharva, but had an amsha of Kali in him. Thus he could not entertain any good advice.
This article by Latha Narasimha Rao is the content of her lecture in the Mahila Goshti of the 25th Akhila Bharatha Madhwa Thathwajnana Sammelana held on February 4, 5 and 6, 2006 at Chennai.
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