Among the most erroneous and anti-Vedāntic ideas popular today is the idea that Śrīman Nārāyaṇa, who is called the Supreme Brahman, the Supreme Self and the Supreme Light in all the Veda, who is glorified as the Only God, who declares the same Truth Himself as the charioteer of Pārtha in Gītā, who clearly states that the worship of other deities leads to lesser results and not mokṣa, is equal to other deities.

This idea is the killer of true spiritual progress, as the ultimate goal of spiritual life is to totally surrender to Paramapuruṣa and experience His infinite beautiful qualities.

Parvatī Pati Śiva declares in Padma Purāṇam:

yastu nārāyaṇaṃ devaṃ brahmarudrādidaivataiḥ
samam anyair nirīkṣeta sa pāṣaṇḍī bhavet sadā

"He who regards the God Nārāyaṇa as equal to other deities such as Brahmā, Rudra, and the like, is a pāṣaṇḍī (hypocrite, blasphemer) always."

yathāgamaṁ yathājñānaṁ niṣṭhā nārāyaṇaḥ prabhuḥ |
na cainamevaṁ jānanti tamobhūtā viśāṁpate ||

It is declared by Bhishma Pitamaha in Mahabharata:

"It is established by the Scripture and true Knowledge that Nārāyaṇa is the Supreme Lord. Yet those who are overcome by ignorance do not know this, O protector of the people!" (Shanti Parva, Moksha Dharma Parva, 12.359.69-70)

In medical education, students might learn about ineffective or harmful treatments, but that doesn't mean those methods are actually the practice of medicine.

Similarly, philosophy may examine ideas like atheism, nihilism or skepticism (the notion that truth doesn't exist or is unknowable even if it does) but these lines of thought remain alien to the core essence of philosophy, which is to inquire into the Truth and find true wisdom. True philosophy culminates only in God, the Supreme Being, the Highest Truth (Satyam Param).

Let us surrender unto the beautiful Thief, who steals the jivātmā from the hold of her past punya and papa karmas, and claims her, being the rightful Owner. He remains in Paramapadam as the divine Leader of infinite nitya-sūris. Even those who have no knowledge, surrendering at His divine feet, attain the Highest Truth and reach Him easily. O Bhagavān! You reside in Tirumaliruncholai! Your blessed feet are the object of devotion for Emperumānār! Please free us from the shackles of egotism and make us lovingly attached to You!

Let us worship the Supreme Person, the sole Lord of all sentient and insentient entities, the Supreme Brahman who is the only goal of Vedānta, who is the Soul of all, who has all as His body. Knowing Him, Sundararāja, who has blessed Thirunagai, one crosses over all darkness.

Those who inquire into Truth and advance in knowledge ultimately come to the conclusion that every worldly desire/pursuit/attachment should be totally abandoned, and Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is the Highest Truth, and none other, is to be always meditated upon and worshipped.

Whose name does Devarshi Narada recite always with great joy? Who is the shelter for the host of deities including Brahma, Rudra, Indra and so on? It is Hari, who played along the banks of Yamuna, that is the Supreme Brahman.

Lusts (desires for enjoyment, or physical pleasures), anger, greed, fear etc. are all covering the pure self and destroying one's true knowledge. One is practically powerless against these enemies as they have overcome the self since the beginningless bondage of prakriti sambandham.

However, after countless births and deaths, when one realises one's existence to be solely dependent on Śrī Rāma, who makes one firm in Dharma and renounce evils, who is the true protector, who is filled with infinite auspicious qualities, one easily becomes purified. Let us worship that Kakutstha, who is the true shelter for all beings!

Beautiful speech is that which praises Lord Hari, beautiful thoughts are those that think of Him, beautiful are the hands that work for Him and the feet that walk to His temple. Beautiful is the head that bows down to Perumāḷ. Existing for the sake of that Lord of Lakṣmī alone, one becomes filled with auspiciousness. He is the source of all Good, the Highest Truth, the Supreme Light. We exist not for our sake, but for Him - the One adored by Yatirāja - only!

Nārāyaṇa Nārāyaṇa

Emperumānār (Śrī Rāmānuja) has firmly established the Highest Knowledge for everyone's upliftment and opened up the path of Ekāntika-dharmam for all! Even the slight remembrance of Emperumānār destroys all miseries and sins! He has appeared in this world just to uplift everyone. His compassion far exceeds that of Bhagavān. Even the lowest person, taking shelter at his divine feet, becomes fully purified and filled with noble qualities. Having found Śrī Rāmānuja, who is very accessible and simple by nature, who is beautiful to behold, whose names are like nectar, I shall not go to any other shelter!

Once, a great Vaiṣṇava travels a long distance to receive some advice from Parāśara Bhattar. Quoting from Nammāḻvār's divine words, Parāśara Bhattar instructs that Vaiṣṇava that knowing Bhagavān is like eating a little, but knowing the Bhāgavata (the servitor of Bhagavān) is like filling one's stomach.

While being devoted to Bhagavān will uplift us for certain, taking complete shelter of Emperumānār (Śrī Rāmānuja) is certain to grant complete peace, knowledge, etc. as his compassion far exceeds that of Bhagavān.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the One who rules over all beings, who has all as His body. He is the treasure-house of infinite auspicious qualities. May He accomplish all His desires (of uniting with jīvātmās) and be filled with Joy (the Joy of mutual devotion with His servitors, for which He yearns), blessings be upon that Husband of Lakṣmī, Bhūmī and Nīlā.

Even a slight thought of Śrī Rāmānuja will rid one of all impurities and establish one in one's true nature which is total servitude (śeṣatvam) for Nārāyaṇa's divine feet.

A person should abandon all desires for lower things and totally lay everything at the lotus feet of Śrīman Nārāyaṇa who is the Supreme Light and the Supreme Truth, who is one's actual Owner and Protector, the Self of one's self. It is His glories alone that all the Vedas, which are the highest source of knowledge, sing. He is the One from whose lotus navel Brahmā is born. He is the Supreme Brahman, who has all as His body - and there is nothing and no one that compares to Him. He has the bright jewel of Kaustubha on His chest. That Lord is full of auspicious qualities that are never exhausted, beyond expression! Knowing Him as the ultimate, one should seek His divine feet, which are Everything!

The self is the offering, the Devata is Yajnesvara (the Lord of sacrifice), Devaraja (the King of devatas), Sri Vishnu, who is the Supreme Brahman. In this manner, one who renounces self-ownership and dedicates everything to the lotus feet of the Husband of Perundevi Thayar, becomes completely blessed. True blessing is existing for the sake of Varadaraja, who is filled with infinite auspicious qualities such as vatsalyam (tender care).

The divine feet of manavAla mAmunigaL bestow dharma, artha, kAma and moksha. All goals of life are provided by his divine feet. One who bows to them is truly blessed and possesses great wealth. Let us bow down to him, who has perfect knowledge.

The Protector of all beings, the Blissful Lord, Nārāyaṇa is the refuge of all.

Let us bow down to Yatirāja who is filled with countless divine qualities. After much contemplation and inquiry, one ultimately knows the lotus feet of Emperumānār are the true shelter. He is the true goal to be attained. He is the one in whose divine heart Nārāyaṇa dwells along with Śrī.

Nothing exists aside from Viṣṇu, who is the Supreme Brahman. He is the Supreme Truth, the Supreme Path and the Supreme Goal. He is all.

Glories to the lord of Hastigiri, the Husband of Śrī, who has lotus eyes - the remover of distress from those who take shelter of Him, bowing down at whose lotus feet destroys all ignorance and miseries.

O protector of the distressed, the chastiser of the wicked! O God of gods! Despite knowing that adiyEn lacks good qualities, please uplift us out of Your mercy alone, simply out of the fact that You are indeed the eternal Protector of each person. Please rid us of attachment to all else other than Your divine feet.

O bhagavAn! Enslaved by my own vAsanAs and ruci, adiyEn is being tossed here and there in the ocean of samsAram and remains unable to be subservient upon Your lotus feet. As Your position is to be a protector for all, even the lowly like adiyEn, please uplift us out of Your own grace alone. You are the beautiful Husband of srI, You are worshipped by yatirAja! Please don't forsake us at any time. Your divine feet alone are the refuge for us!

nArAyaNa nArAyaNa