A.V. Devan Times

From Editor’s Desk Dear Readers/Seekers, A popular Thiruk-Kural goes like this : “Porul illarku ivvulagu illai Arul illarku avvulagu illai” Meaning it will be difficult to lead a worldly life without material wealth and equally difficult to lead a life beyond without spiritual wealth. Agreed, to survive in this material world we need wealth, but our prime objective should not be driven only by wealth and wealth alone. And our spiritual lore amply testifies that whenever a true devotee faces financial difficulties, the Supreme Being comes to his rescue in double quick time. In this succinct episode, we will be seeing an incident involving a poor lady who overwhelmed by sheer love towards the young (Adi) Sankara received the extraordinary grace of Goddess Mahalakshmi. In fact it was the young Sankara, the beneficiary of her love, who had invoked the divine Mother to help the lady tide over her pitiable situation. Such was the kind heartedness of Sankara about which we shall see in greate

Dear Readers/Seekers, Am happy to present the Guru Samarpanam – Issue # 7. The issue contains the excerpts from the biography, teachings, miracles and upadesa of Pujyashri Sri Sri Chandrasekarendhra Sarasvati Swamigal fondly revered as “Nadamadum Theivam” [Walking God], Mahaperiyva, Peramacharya etc. Under the biography we can see our Paramacharya’s maiden visit to Tindivanam, the town which witnessed as a young boy now returning as “Jagadguru”. It also narrates the celebration that took place at Kumbakonam to commemorate the Acharya’s pontification as the Acharya of the Kamakoti Peetam. In the section teachings of Mahaperiyava one can read Periyavaa’s lucid explanation of “Samsare Kim Saram?” i.e. what is the essence of this wordly life? In this Acharya explains the step by step towards achieving the Jnana. I hope this will be very very useful for a sadhaka. Under the Mircales of Mahaperiyava we are going to see the experience of an Auditor from Salem which clearly tells how our Param

From Editor’s Desk Dear Seekers, Those who are engaged in the devotional service of God have little or no interest in the mundane material life. They do not get attracted to the material activities as they always think about God and God only. Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita “Sarva Dharmaan Parithyajya Maam Ekam Saranam Vraja - Aham Tvaa Sarva Papebhyo Mokshaisyami Ma Sucha” (Chapter 18 Verse 66) i.e. To those who surrender unto Him, He eradicates all the sins committed by them and gives moksha or deliverance and gives the devotees an assurance not to worry. Who else can give a guarantee like this except Sriman Narayana ? But to get that guarantee card the Lord says there is a conditions apply* clause (I think all the marketing people would have read this Sloka in Bhagavad Gita??!!!). Krishna the great marketing guru stresses the word “ekam”. The word ‘ekam ’ means only and unto Him only i.e. He asks for an unconditional surrender (conditional clause with an unconditional commitmen