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The Role of Sense Organs (Indriya) in Vaisnava Philosophy
Though the cloud-complexioned beauty of the Lord has been wonderfully described in the writings of the poet-devotee Tulsidasa, yet chanting of the Lord's name like ambrosia through the ears (hrdkarnarasāyana) turns out to be the predominant strain. It has been said about him : "All the bhakti reformers stress the importance of the 'Name', but none give it such prominence as does he."62 In spite of the fact that Kabir, the follower of Rāmānanda tried to impersonalise Rāma who was personalised or qualified for their sect, yet, he too mainly stressed upon the chanting of the glory of Lord's Name.63 On the other hand, in Mīrā, who was mad in her love with the Lord, we notice the activity of all the sense organs : Eye = beauty of forms : 'my eyes are burning to look at my Lord, Hari 64 or
'I have become mad to see You'.65 Ear = Sound: 'I have lost my sense of the outer world hearing the sound of
the flute and my body has become paralysed'. on Tongue = taste : 'O man! drink the nectar of the Lord's name, i.e. chant the
divine Name of Rama.'67 Skin = touch : 'O my mind! touch the feet of Lord Krsna. '68
In the climax of divine delight she says, 'All my five senses have joined together to sing the glory on my God.'69 Elsewhere she says again, 'Today I shall Join with my five senses and tease my dear One.'70 When the feelings are at the highest point we hear her say: 'My mind has got stuck with Krsna?
Sankaradeva of Assam has given a beautiful description of how one can enjoy the nectar like beauty of God through all the senses. It was thus in the Bhāgavata :
'pibanta iva caksurbhyām lihanta iva jihvayā
jighranta iva nāsābhyāḥ ślisyanta iva bāhubhih?? In his translation Sankaradeva wrote: Eyes are drinking that beauty, tongue lapping. hands embracing and nose smelling.'73
Following the example of Sankaradeva his devoted disciple Mādhavadeva also attached great value to the chanting and hearing of God's name through the use of the organs of speech and hearing respectively; yet, he too in his writings seems to favour all sense organs being directed to Lord Krsna : Eye : 'Krsna is like the flower of delight for the eyes. 174
Mādhavadeva wanted to have the delight through hearing of one
whom he had seen with the eyes; because he knew : 'God entering into Tarat 451 ortadt-ATE, 2000 AWWWW WWWWWWWW
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