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From: Madhavakkannan V (srivaishnavan_at_hotmail.com)
Date: Sun Feb 03 2002 - 17:01:31 PST
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
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