Namaste,
I'm very interested in the teachings of Śrī Rāmānujācārya, Śrī Vedānta Deśika, and the Vaḍakalai sect of the Śrī Vaiṣṇava tradition. At the moment I'm having some difficulty with the concept of puruṣakāra (interceder or mediator), which is said to appear in writings after Śrī Rāmānujācārya's day, in which Mother Śrī intercedes with Śrīman-Nārāyaṇa, pleading on behalf of all of their devotees, even the most unworthy. The concept itself I understand. I guess I don't quite understand why this intercession is needed. Let me explain.
We know from the scriptures that Śrīman-Nārāyaṇa is not only just, but also loving and merciful. In fact, Śrī Rāmānujācārya says that one of his countless auspicious qualities is kāruṇya (compassion). When he incarnated as Lord Kṛṣṇa, he was a friend and guru to Arjuna, he danced with the gopīs (cowherd women), and he even washed the feet of Sudāmā. He told Arjuna, "...I shall free you from all sins..." in Bhagavad Gītā 18.66. In this incarnation it seems that he was very accessible to devotees and also forgiving. Yet doctrine of intercession seems to be saying, if I understand it correctly, that Śrīman-Nārāyaṇa can't be asked for forgiveness or help directly. One must go through Mother Śrī first. How does all of this fit together?
Either I've missed something or I'm mistaken somewhere. Would someone who understands the Vaḍakalai Śrī Vaiṣṇava teaching be willing to help me to understand this doctrine as that tradition explains it?
praṇām
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