abhinava dESika SrI UttamUr swamy Divya Charitham- 26 (Emperumaan Tattvam:-)
From the Bhakti List Archives
• February 3, 2002
SrI: Sri Padmavathi Sametha Srinivasa Parabrahmane Namaha. Sri Perundhevi Sametha Devadhiraja Parabrahmane Namaha. SrimathE Bhagavad Ramanujaya Namaha: SrimathE Nigamantha Mahadesikaya namaha: Srimate Rangaramanuja Maha Desikaya Namaha. Srimate Abhinava Desika Vatsya Satchakravarti Uttamur SRI VIRARAGHAVARYA MAHA DESIKAYA NAMAHA SrImAn venkatanAthAryaH kavitArkika kesarI | vedAntAcArya-varyome sannidhattAm sadA hRdi || Thanian (Invocatory verse on Sri UttamUr swamy written by Swamy's AchAryan Sri Kozhiyalam Swamy himself) adbhutam yasya vikrAntam vEda vIthI ViSOdhanE | aparam nigamAntAryam prapadyE vIrarAghavam || [Article in Tamil by SrI PayyampADi VEnkatavaradAchArya SwAmi; English write up (based on Tamil) by SrI R.VenkatAchAri (SohattUr- Vankipuram –Oppiliappan Sannidhi), a disciple of SrI UtthamUr SwAmi. Appeared in the souvenir released during the SatAbhishEkam (80th birth anniversary) of SrI UtthamUr swAmi on 10th Feb, 1977] PARAMATA BHANGA AND SRIMAD RAHASYA TRAYA SARA: The printing is going on for these books. Pulavanur, Sri.U.Ve.Chakrapani Iyengar Swami and his brother, Sri.U.Ve.Parthasarathy Iyengar Swami respectively had agreed to bear the entire cost and had already paid the first installment. These would contain a commentary of Our Swami. OTHER GRANTHAS: Sri Alavandar’s SIDHITRAYA was published at the request of Sri V.T.R.Swami. He paid the full cost of the book and he obtained a partial grant from the Govt. of India. This also contains a commentary of Our Swami in Sanskrit. PERIAZHWAR TIRUMOZHI was published again with the full financial aid from Sri V.T.Rangaswamy Iyengar Swami in commemoration of his SATABHISHEKAM (1975). BHAGAVAD GITA with a Tamil Commentary called GITARTHAM and a word by word meaning in Tamil by Our Swami was published. The entire cost of Rs.5001/- was paid by Vavasi Kottai Madabhushi, Dharmika Ratna R.Srinivasan (Partner, Bharat Skin Corporation). This book contains the essence of Bhashya and Tatparya Chandrika and easily understandably even by a person without Sanskrit knowledge. UPANISHADS (TWO VOLUMES) were published again with the financial aid of THE SUNDARAM CHARITIES. In addition to the above, financial help for the publications was received from many Astikas. To mention a few:- Sri V.T.R.Swami, was paying Rs.50/- per month for a long time to engage a proof reader to give a little relief to Our Swami who was doing all the correction work. Sri.K.C.Varadachariar of Lloyd’s Road, hereditary trustee of Lakshmipuram Temple, was paying Rs.300/- every year for replacement of types for two years. Sri N.R.Srinivasan (engineer) and Sri K.Soundara Rajan was paying Rs.25 each to meet the overhead charges, every month. Sri.R.Dorairajan of “The Hindu”. (now no more) made a lump sum donation of Rs.1000/- for the publications. Apart from financial help, many others helped the publication in so many other ways and to mention a few:- Paiyambadi Srivatsangachar Swami, Paiyambadi Venkatavaradachariar Swami, Pulikunnam Sri Stalasayanachar and Sri Chakravarti of Reliance Motors, were helping in proof correction and transliteration in Nagar Script from Grantha script etc. The two sons of Our Swami, Sri Srinivasa Raghava, and Sri Rajagopal had been doing the proof correction after the office hours. DREAM COME TRUE: During Our Swami’s trip to North India to establish the superiority of Our Sri Bhashyakara Sidhanta (at Sholapur) he made a Sankalpa to publish all the books in Our Sidhanta in DEVANAGARI SCRIPT, to enable the North Indian Scholars to study them the lack of which was felt and expressed to Our Swami by them. As usual the Sankalpa was done with “SATVIKATYAGA”. At the time of inaugurating Ubhaya Vedanta Granthamala”, Revered Acharya, Srimad Rangaramanuja Maha Desikan, blessed Our Swami that the organization would grow from strength to strength and he was very confident that all the important Sri Suktis would be printed. Today, on the happy occasion of celebrating the SATABHISHEKA, we find that most of the granthas of Sri Desika and other books like Srutaprakasika, Upanishads, 4000 Prabhandams, etc. had been completed. We all could easily guess that such a mammoth task, was achieved only to prove the efficacy of the Satvika Tyaga Sankalpa and the greatness of the Acharya Parampara and the blessings of Lord Tiruvengadamudaiyan who was staying in the mind of Our Swami all the 24 hours of the day. WHAT NEXT: There are many more books of Sri Desika and the Abhinava Desika, to be published and many more to be reprinted as the copies are sold out. >From the above narration, one could easily find out that the publications were made possible only from out of munificent donations from a few well-to-do Astikas and they were completely voluntary. Now the difficulty is to safeguard the printed copies as there is no space in “Sidhasrama” of Our Swami and the problem of getting more finance for further publications as the entire donations are locked up in unsold books. Astikas should come forward to purchase one set of Sri Desika granthas, which is offered at Rs.200/- for which they would get all the `Desika Sri Suktis’ already printed and to be printed in future. Every Astika in Sri Desika Sampradaya should become a member by paying Rs.200 and possess one set of Sri Desika’s works and keep them in his house as they keep a Koyilalwar in his house. One Thousand “Hayagriva Idols” are made by Abhinava Desika, (in the form of books) and waiting to be enshrined in your house and they are cent percent fit for worship according to Our Sampradaya. Come forward and do not miss his opportunity to possess a “Hayagriva Idol”. (Sri Desika’s works). In one of the meetings at Sri Desika Vidya Bhavanam, Mylapore quite recently, Our Swami said that he is purposely postponing the printing of DRAMIDOPANISHAD TATPARYA RATNAVALI, as the same needs elaborate scrutiny. He requested the pandits and scholars in Sri Desika Sampradaya to undertake the scrutiny of the available version of the grantha, as different commentators had adopted different versions of the Slokas and some portions of the grantha do not resemble the usual masterly poetic style and “Saili” of Sri Desika Vidya Bhavanam, being an organization interested in Sri Desika Sampradaya Vidya, could arrange and organize a Seminar on the above grantha with the avowed purpose of discussing Sloka by Sloka and decide on the correct and probable version of the Slokas which would fit into the context and match the Style of Sri Desika; and that Our Swami would always be available for consultations. However, as the above grantha in the list of Sri Desika’s works to be published by Our Swami according to his Sankalpa, he will take up the scrutiny and publication at proper time when he is a little free, whether the Seminar is conducted or not. As for the other works of Sri Desika, like Stotras and Tamil Prabandams, many editions had already been published and repetition may be unnecessary. However, many Astikas are requesting Our Swami to provide his own commentary for them also. Ultimately he would undertake them at proper times. The idea of publishing a book called “LAGHU RAHASYATRAYA SARA”, a condensed version of Srimad Rahasyatraya Sara, by using Sri Desika’s own words and sentences, avoiding repetitions and arguments, is in Our Swami’s mind for quite some time. This condensed book will be useful to many Astikas who could not find time to do the Kalakshepa of the main grantha. At the same time the Mukhyadhikaris will only study the original version as part of the grantha Chatushtaya Kalakshepa. If time and health permits, the Astika world would get one more “Grantha Gem” from Our Swami’s pen, as “LAGHVAHNIKAM” came from his Revered Acharya. VEDANTA PUSHPANJALI, a grantha of Poems was written by Our Swami at the time of starting the commentary of Upanishads (called PARISHKARA) and intended to be an offering of prayer to Lord Tiruvengadamudaiyan for the successful finish of his Grantha Nirmana work under the banner of Ubhaya Vedanta Grantha Mala. The various Upasana Margas in the Upanishads are treated as flowers and offered as Pushpanjali. The book was not published so long, as Our Swami was busy with publication of other granthas and Sri Desika’s works. This book will now be released soon. The cost of this book os borne by the famous Lady Doctor Dr.E.V.Kalyani and her brothers and will be dedicated to the memory of (Late) Dr.E.V.Srinivasan, Eye Surgeon, and Srimati Kannammal, parents of the donors. Dr.E.V.Srinivasan was a devout Sishya of (Srimad Koliyalam Swami) Sri Rangaramanuja Maha Desikan and had Bharanyasa under him. He was an admirer of Our Swami’s Sampradaya Kainkarya. The book TATVA SARA by Nadadur Ammal will be released on the Satabhisheka day, by the Satabhisheka Mahotsava Committee. The book “UPANISHADARTHA KARIKAS” of Our Swami will also be released on the same day. The cost of this book was donated by Sr.R.Venkatachari of Oppiliappan Sannidhi, who will also be the publisher, and the book will be dedicated to his Revered Acharya Deva, Abhinava Desika Sri Viraraghavarya Maha Desikan, in Reverential Homage. As we had already mentioned, Our Swami’s habit was to go on composing Poems on Lord Tiruvengadamudaiyan and other Deities he worships, whenever a little leisure is available. A book, containing all these Slokas are under print in the name of “SRI HARI GURU STAVA MALA” and if any Astika could come forward to bear the cost, it will be released soon, as another Treasure from Our Swami’s pen. For the time being, the above books and the completion of the commentary called “Sara Vistara” on Srimad Rahasyatraya Sara and the commentary called `Anapaya Prabha’ on Paramata Bhanga, in addition to the regular Kalakshepa Goshti should be enough to occupy Our Swami’s daily routine. As it is, we should be more than satisfied that the purpose of the Abhinava Avatara of Sri Desika, is completely fulfilled and it is absolutely necessary that Our Swami should have enough rest in between to gain health and strength, so that he could continue to bless us all. SRI BHASHYAKARA AND SRI DESIKA – (THEIR MUTUAL REGRETS). Pandits say that Sri Bhashyakara actually predicted the birth of Sri Desika, to continue his work of propagating his Sidhanta, and at the same time regretted that he could not have Sri Desika as his direct Sishya. Sri Desika also, it seems regretted that he could not study directly under the feet of Sri Bhashyakara. To remedy this mutual regrets, it is evident, that Sri Bhashyakara took an Abhinava Avatara and with the intention of combining the sacred name of Srirangam with his name, took the name of “Rangaramanua” and born as Srimad Rangaramanua Maha Desikan, (Sri Koliyalam Swami). It is well known to everybody and accepted even by the scholars in other Sampradayas that, Sri Koliyalam Swami was only an Avatara of Sri Bhashyakara and so, called him, “Abhinava Bhashyakara:. Sri Desika also took an Abhinava Avatara as Sri Viraraghava Maha Desikan (as we all see now) and fulfilled their mutual desires of Teaching and Studying, respectively, (Vedanta Shastras), as Acharya and Sishya. It is worth nothing that the Vedanta Kalakshepa of Our Swami was started by his Acharya while he was in his Grihastasrama. Soon after the starting, the Acharya rushed to Srirangam to become a Sanyasi, and came back as a Sanyasi and continued his Kalakshepa for his Sishya, Our Swami, as Sri Bhashyakara was a Sanyasi and Sri Desika was a Grihasta. Finally, the Abhinava Bhashyakara blessed Our Swami as “APARAM NIGAMANTARYAM”. SARVA TANTRA SWATANTRA: Some may ask that though everybody had accepted Our Swami as Abhinava Desika, how the title of “Sarva Tantra Swatantra”, which Sri Desika got, would fit Our Swami. [Sri Desika got the title after he did the Nirmana of a bronze idol of his own fiture.] The answer would be very simple. Sri Abhinava Desika knew that it would be very difficult to maintain Sanctity and Sannidhyam in a metal Idol, as missing even one day’s pooja would call for a Samprokshanam and other rituals to restore the Sanctity. To avoid all these troubles, Sri Abhinava Desika created NOT ONE but ONE THOUSAND Idols, which would retain the Sancitity and Sannidhyam even if you did not do pooja for days and months together, They are absolutely fit for worship by all people at all times. We can do Archanas and offer Upacharas like Doopa, Deepa, Naivedya and do Aradhana as we do for Srimad Ramayana Srikosa. They are the “SRI SUKTIS OF SRI DESIKA” and other Srivaishnava Acharyas. Our Swami is printing 1,000 copies in all the granthas, which means, he is creating 1000 idols, which contain cent percent Sannidhyam of Lord Hayagriva. In addition, the knowledge, Our Swami possesses about the Printing and Publishing Trade would match that of any leading Printing House Manager. Further, some people may doubt whether Our Swami knew any English. If one goes through the English Translation of Vedanta Deepa, Vishnu Sahasra Namavali etc. which was left unfinished by Sri K.Bhashyam and finished by Our Swami, they would immediately withdraw the doubt. Sri K.Bhashyam should be alive to day to answer the doubt and the undersigned know from personal experience that Our Swami has no equal in selecting the correct and appropriate word in English at the required context. So, the Title of SARVA TANTRA SWATANTRA suits the Abhinava Avatara much more than the original Avatara of Sri Desika. ASTIKAS: Each Hayagriva Idol (Sri Desika’s works) is ready at the Sidhasramam of Our Swami, waiting to be installed and enshrined in your homes, without any need for Pratista for Sanctity, the very presence of which will bring you the blessings of Lord Hayagriva. CONCLUDING PRAYER: The various incidents in Our Swami’s life as narrated above, give the history of a period showing the growth of Sanskrit literature and Vedanta Granthas for more than 60 years, which can be easily called “ABINAVA DESIKA SAKABDA”. When my Revered Acharya Deva gave me the command to do this narration in English, (facts taken from the Tamil narration printed in the same book and approved as correct by Our Swami) I hesitated first and then immediately accepted to write this ABHINAVA DESIKA VAIBHAVAM as I did not want to miss the one and only opportunity provided for wiping out my sins by narrating the life history of my Revered Acharya Deva. After accepting, however much I thought about it, I could not find any qualification in me for this offer except that I knew a few words in English. I can only consider that the extreme `KARUNYA’ of may Revered Acharya Deva in giving me this chance to wipe out my sins, for fore thought of my illustrious father, in entrusting me to the feet of Srimad Abhinava Bhashyakara, Rangaramanuja Maha Desikan to undergo Pancha Samaskara which ultimately brought me to the feet of my Grantha Chathushtaya Kalakshepa and Bharanyasa and (the third) the blessings of Lord TIRUVINNAGARAPPAN whom I worship all the 24 hours, day in and day out. By way of gratitude, I can only pray to Lord OPPILIAPPAN to give my Revered Acharya Deva, Abhinava Desika, Viraraghavarya Maha Desikan, long life, heath and strength to continue the Grantha Nirmana work and to continue to bless of us. SRIMATE VIRARAGHAVARYA MAHA DESIKAYA NAMAHA SRIMATE RANGARAMANUJA MAHA DESIKAYA NAMAHA SRI BHOOMI DEVI SAMETA SRINIVASA PRARABRAHMANE NAMAHA ABHINAVA DESIKA DASA R.VENKATACHARI (Sohattur-Vangipuram-Oppiliappan Sannidhi) [This article was written during Sri UttamUr Swamy’s sathAbhishekam. Today, the books of Sri UttamUr Swamy need to be reprinted again for our benefits and for future generations and also scholars should have them translated into English- this is adiyEn seelamillA siRiyOn – siRiya jnAnantthan- adiyaarkku adiyan madhavakkannan’s desire. That will only enable everyone to know our richest sampradayam and its glories. Let us pay our obeisance to this great AchArya of our sampradayam on his Thirukanshathram today- Thai Swathi] AchAryan ThiruvadigaLE saraNam Regards Namo narayana aDiyEn Narayana dAsan madhavakkannan _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com -------------------------------------------------------------- - SrImate rAmAnujAya namaH - To Post a message, send it to: bhakti-list@yahoogroups.com Archives: http://ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/ Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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