_
 Home  Temple  Upcoming Events  Uthsavams  Gallery  Kainkarya Sabhas  Contact Temple  Contributions
                    
                    
Google


                 
Timings Management Facilities
Varusha Uthsavam Chithirai Vaikasi Aani Aadi Aavani Purattasi Ippasi Karthigai Maargazhi Thai Masi Panguni Panchaparvam
1. ThondaradipPodi Azhwar Satrumurai 2. Bhogi ThirukKalyanam 3. Adhyayana Uthsavam 4. ThirupPavai Upanyasam 5. 2012 Archives 6. 2011 Archives 7. 2010 Archives 8. 2009 Archives 9. 2008 Archives 10. 2007 Archives
Veda Parayanam Vanabhojanam Trust Sri Patham
Send an E-Mail
Ubhayams
தேஶிக ஸந்தேஶம் - மாத இதழ்
Desika Sandesam - Monthly Magazine
 Sri Mukham  Editor's Note  Articles/Features  Quiz / Results  Junior Quiz Archives  Weekly Paasuram Quest  Valued Views  Contact Site  Tell - A - Friend
                    
                    
                 
Desika Darsanam An Incarnation of Lord Venkateswara Master of Analogy Chithra Desikeeyam Acharya Vamsa Vruksham Paasurappadi Ramayanam Swami Nammazhwar Snippets
Quiz July Prizes / Results Your Score / Answers Notes for Answers July Answers Answer Archives Question Archives Participant Feedback Quiz Master in You First among the Best Cumulative Results 2014
Answer Archives Question Archives Cumulative Results 2013
Dec 8, 2024's Quest Dec 1, 2024's Results Cumulative Results Your Cumulative Tally
General Feedback About Quiz
14 105
Editor's Note - 15 (August 1, 2009)



Remembering Yaamuna Muni, The Path-Breaker

Dear Fellow-Bhagavathas,

If our Sri Sampradaya – with special reference to the Doctrine of Saranaagathi – can be likened to a solid fort-like edifice erected by Swami Desika, it is chiefly because it stands on the beams and pillars so assiduously and expertly raised by Bhagavath Ramanuja upon the foundation laid by Sri Aala Vandhaar.

Aala Vandhaar (named Yamunai-Thuraivan/Yaamunacharya) was the grandson of Nathamunigal and the son of Iswaramunigal. His legacy to our Sidhdhantha is of far greater magnitude than one would imagine. His Chathu-Sloki and Sthothra Rathnam are philosophy-defining works which Emperumaanaar and Thooppul Pillai used to great effect in establishing the supremacy of Sriman Narayana, and with that the Visishtaadvaita.

We shall very briefly recapitulate the great Acharya’s life-sketch.

He was born in 917 AD corresponding to the year Dhathu in the month of Aadi under the constellation of Uththiraadam on a Friday in Kaattumannar Kovil. He grew up as an intelligent young man and mastered all the Saasthras under the tutelage of one Mahabhashya Bhattar. Once when his master was challenged by a royal chaplain called Akkiyaazhwan, Yaamunacharya took up the gauntlet and offered to conquer the haughty scholar.

So did the young man in the debate of logic and got half the kingdom as promised by the king at the insistence of the queen, who hailed the young man as ‘Aala Vandhaar’. After a few years of royal stint, he realised through Manakkaal Nambi that he was destined for greater things, took to Sanyasa and accepted the spiritual throne earlier adorned by Nathamunigal.

Sthothra Rathnam literally means a gem among hymns. It is interesting to note that apart from this salutary name, and the other name ‘Aala Vandhaar Sthothram’ — one derived from the authorship — no given name is attributed to this hymn. Just as Vishnu Puraanam is hailed as ‘Puraana Rathnam’ and the ‘Dhvayam’ as ‘Manthra Rathnam’, this hymn of Aala Vandhaar is celebrated as ‘Sthothra Rathnam’. Very fittingly, Yaamunacharya refers to the ‘Puraana Rathnam’ in the fourth sloka of his own hymn which is regarded as an elaboration of the ‘Manthra Rathnam’.

The ‘Gem among Hymns’ is in fact, an assembly of 64 gems (slokas). The author begins the work with invocation to Nathamunigal in the initial three slokas, salutes Sage Parasara in the fourth and bows to Nammazhwar in the fifth. He even indulges in salutation in jest to himself for shamelessly attempting the impossible of singing the praise of the Lord’s feet in Sloka No. 7, before embarking on the main job.

From then on it is a virtual feast with the menu comprising delicious mix of the Lord’s great virtues, the glory of His feet which are both the means and goal, Thathva-thrayam, Rahasya-thrayam, Anjali Vaibhavam, Prapaththi Saasthra and its five mandatory elements, Naichyaanusandhaanam (self-deprecation), and so on. It is amazing that so much could be packed in 64 slokas. No wonder that Swami Desika has not only written a wonderful Sanskrit commentary on Sthothra Rathnam but also drawn comprehensively from this masterpiece to shore up our philosophy, especially in Srimath Rahasyathraya Saaram and very many of the Chillarai Rahasyangal.

We shall see the meaning of a handful of landmark slokas from this splendid hymn of lilting meters.

The great Acharya’s Thirunakshathram (Aadi-Uththiraadam) falls on August 5. The best way to celebrate the same will be by remembering him and remaining grateful to him for his compassion and magnanimity in gifting us such a great work. Even better it would be if we can recite the hymn, particularly with proper understanding of the meaning.

Swami Desika, in his Prabandham Adhikaara Sangraham, dedicates the fifth Paasuram to Aala Vandhaar, which we shall recall on this occasion:

நீள வந்து இன்று விதிவகையால் நினைவொன்றிய நாம்
மீளவந்து இன்னும் வினை உடம்பு ஒன்றி விழுந்து உழலாது
ஆளவந்தார் எனவென்று அருள் தந்து விளங்கிய சீர்
ஆளவந்தார் அடியோம் படியோம் இனி அல்வழக்கே.

“After the vicious cycle of innumerable births and deaths, we have been fortunate to be born as servants of the majestic Aala Vandhaar and learn his works to be rid of our miseries. So we shall never read works related to other faiths.”



Yajur Upaakarma

On the same August 5th falls the Yajur Upaakarma this year. All are requested to observe it diligently adhering to the requirement of the Saasthras as much as possible. Rather than regarding the occasion as an annual routine, doing it with involvement will keep us all in good stead.

And also, for the Gayathri Japam on the following day, the Japam should ideally be done 1008 times as opposed to 108 preferred and practised by some. Not a tough ask, considering we are to do it once a year only. Subham Asthu!

Meet you in the next Note.


எங்கள் தூப்புல் பிள்ளை பாதம் என் சென்னியதே!

Natteri P. Srihari (a) Lakshmi Narasimhacharyar

<< Prev Next >>


* * *


Please feel free to let us know your views/comments about the site at [email protected]



* * *






www.svdd.com - © Sri Vedantha Desikar Devasthanam, Mylapore, Chennai.