Mantralaya-1070
(The teachings of Krishna, the TulaBhara episode)
Date Dec 28, 2023
Background
Dear Devotees : Namaskara.
| Sri MannMoolaRamastu Mannmathe Moolamahasamsthhaana Mantralaya Sri Rayaramathe||
|| OM SRI RAGHAVENDRAAYA NAMAHA||
SATYAMEVA JAYATI NA ANRUTA
Background
The
teachings of Krishna, the TulaBhara episode, and the adherence of Sri
Rayara Mutt to Krishna's teachings are elucidated in Mantralaya (1070).
Meaning
Due
to the holiday season, from December 24th onward, Mantralaya has been
bustling with people seeking the blessings of Sri Rayaru. Even on
regular days, the crowd is substantial, and with it being a holiday
now, one can only imagine the increased influx of visitors.
The
Pontiff of Mantralaya, Sri SubhudendraTeertharu, has meticulously
organized arrangements for the numerous gathered devotees. As
highlighted in previous articles, Mantralaya is renowned for Annna
Danna, providing free nourishing meals for everyone. Swamiji personally
took the initiative to visit the Anna Purna hall and serve the food,
setting an example of simplicity and care for people regardless of
caste and gender. The Mantralaya Sri Rayara Mutt consistently instills
this ethos of caring for true devotion.
To appease Lord Rayaru,
you can present anything with sincere devotion. The Lord is willing to
accept even a modest Tulasi leaf offered with genuine devotion. Lord
Krishna illustrated this through a real-life incident and example
during his Tula Bhara.
Let's revisit Krishna's Dwaraka and witness the TulaBhara of Sri Lord Krishna, accompanied by the teachings he shared with us.
The
grandeur of Dwaraka was illuminated by the presence of Krishna's
numerous wives – Rukmini, Sathyabama, Jambhavathi, and others,
diligently attending to their daily tasks, serving Krishna and the
extended Yadava clan. Dwaraka's treasuries consistently overflowed with
jewels and precious stones.
Sathyabama, the beautiful daughter
of King Satrajith, owner of the sacred Syamantaka jewel, possessed a
haughty demeanor, proud of her royal lineage and beauty. Despite her
professed pure love for Krishna, she harbored jealousy toward Rukmini.
In contrast, Rukmini, being the first queen of Dwaraka, epitomized
humility and piety. She devoted herself wholeheartedly to Krishna,
letting nothing hinder her love and service.
Lord Krishna knew the true love of both Sathyabama and Rukmini. He wanted to correct Sathyabama.
One
day, the great sage Narada visited Dwaraka, engaging Sathyabama in a
conversation in the courtyard. Narada, with an air of innocence,
questioned whether Krishna loved Rukmini more than her, invoking doubt
and concern in Sathyabama. Seeking a solution, she implored Narada for
guidance.
Sage Narada devised a scheme: Sathyabama would pledge
to offer Krishna to him as Dana to Bharamin. To recover Krishna from
Narada, she would subsequently trade him for an equivalent weight of
riches. If the weighing machine tipped in favor of balance, Krishna
would belong to Sathyabama, and Narada would claim all the wealth
acquired in the process. Conversely, if the weighing machine didn't
balance, Narada would retain possession of the Lord. Aware of
Sathyabama's pride in her wealth, Narada observed her confidently
embracing the plan.
In a rush, Sathyabama conveyed her vow of
Dana to Krishna, and Lord Krishna, playing along, agreed. Consequently,
Krishna was handed over to Narada as Brahmin Dana. To reclaim Krishna,
a Tula Bhara event was organized.
Large scales were brought
forth, with Krishna seated on one side, and Sathyabama tasked with
placing boxes of wealth on the other to achieve balance in the weighing
machine. Despite Sathyabama stacking box after box of gold, the scales
with Krishna exhibited no signs of motion. Narada warned Sathyabama
about the potential consequences of failing to achieve equilibrium in
the weighing machine. In her desperation, Sathyabama sought help from
the other wives, who willingly offered their jewels, but the scales
remained unyielding. Throughout the entire episode, Krishna maintained
silence.
Situation was out of control and if Sathyabama did balance the weight then she would lose Krishna to Narada.
In
his playful manner, Krishna proposed seeking assistance from Rukmini.
Humbled and desperate, Sathyabama approached Rukmini, narrating the
dire situation. Serene and composed, Rukmini accompanied Sathyabama
and, en route to the court, plucked a single Tulasi leaf.
In the
hall, Rukmini placed the sacred Tulasi leaf with devotion on the piled
wealth, miraculously causing the pan with Krishna to fly up and remain
underbalanced. Stunned and humbled, Sathyabama removed all her riches
until only the single Tulasi leaf remained, still outweighing Krishna.
Krishna
clarified that the significance lay not in the material value of the
offering but in the love and devotion that accompanied it. Those who
sincerely invoke me with genuine love and devotion will find me by
their side.
This lesson marked the end of Sathyabama's ordeal and
the beginning of the tradition of offering Tulabharam to the Lord in
temples, reminding all that love and devotion supersede the material
value of offerings.
The moral of the incident revolves around
the idea that the sincerity, love, and devotion with which an offering
is made matters more than its material value. Sathyabama, proud of her
wealth, was willing to make a grand gesture but lacked the true
devotion and humility that Rukmini exhibited with a simple Tulasi leaf.
The story teaches that God values the intention and love behind an
offering rather than its material worth.
The teachings of
Krishna are still upheld at the Mantralaya Rayaru Mutt to this day. Sri
Subhudendra Teertharu exemplified these teachings by providing food for
all and engaging with every devotee, irrespective of the large
gathering. Subhudendra Teertharu treated everyone equally, regardless
of their wealth or status. In Rayaru's eyes, only true devotion holds
significance.
In the next article, we will explore the Tula Bhara event involving Sri Sushameendra Teertharu.
The devotion towards
Sri Raghavendrateertharu is the ultimate truth and is the most simple
and effective way to reach Sri Hari - "NAMBI KETTAVARILLAVO EE
GURUGALA"! “Those who have complete faith in this Guru will never be
disappointed.”
|| BICHALI JAPADAKATTI SRI APPANACHARYA PRIYA MANTRALAYA
SRI RAGHAVENDRATEERTHA GURUBHYO NAMAHA||