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Sri Manavala Mamuni's Works

From the Bhakti List Archives

A.Bharat • October 19, 1999 


Bhagavatottamas	

Adiyen for one is delighted that Sri Sadagopan has
come forward to give us translations of two of Sri MM's
incomparable works.Knowing the thoroughness and scholarship
with which Sri sadagopan undertakes any writing it is
sure to be a wonderful experience.

In this proper context adiyen would also  like to 
mention a third work of Sri MM which has been an unexcelled
source of solace and pleasure thro the years:His
Arthi Prabandham.The reason is not far to seek.It is a
most direct appeal by one of the greatest commentators
in Tamil known for the clarity and felicity of his
language,to THE greatest of all AchAryas anywhere anytime.
And it is also the ultimate receptacle of his humility
(NaichyAnusandhAnam),where he prays for still greater
humility "equal to that of Sri KoorattAzhwAn and Sri
Bhattar put together"! The Prabandham when composed by
Sri Manavala Mamuni may constitute NaichyAnusandhAnam,
but when people like aDiYEn say it it constitutes nothing
but absolute truth and hence is a must for NityAnusandhAnam.

The beauty of the concepts which arise in each
stanza and the music of the metres used by Sri MM
like-

"Sankara-BAkkara-YAdava-BhATTa-PirabhAkarar tangaL matam
 SAyvuRa vAdiyar mAyguvarenRu SadumaRai vAzhndiDu nAL
 Vengali ingini vIRu namakkilai enRu migattaLarnAL.. etc"

0r

"Tennarangar SIraruLukkilakkAga pppeRROm
 Tiruvarangam tiruppaDiYE iruppAga pppeRROm
 Manniya SIr mARan kalai uNavAga pppeRROm
 Madurakavi SoRpaDiyE nilaiyAga  pppeRROm  ...etc"

simply cry out for the poem to be read aloud.

In this context one is reminded of the occasion when
Sri BhoovarAhAchariAr while quoting a passage from
Sri PiLLaiLOkAchariAr's SrIvachana BhooshaNam said
with a smile,"See, he refers to the SamsAris as
,adding himself  also to our well known
group!"

One hopes Sri SaDagopan will add this also to his
list sometime.

EmberumAnAr TiruvaDigaLE SaraNam!
aDiyEn
Bharat