Aananda Sagara Stavah

[Guest guest]

Namaskaram.

 

When I was on the faculty in Northwestern University, I was introduced

to one

Vishwa Bharathi who is a descendent of the venerable Nilakanta

Dikshitar. He related

to me the story of the Dikshitar's insight with respect to the sculpture

of the King's wife and

also how Ananda Sagara Stavah came about. Though, I was fascinated, I

did not realize

the beauty of this wonderful work till I read a 1961 lecture of Kanchi

Maha Periyaval

entitled 'Meenakshi' (by Raa Gaanapathi). The discussion in this group

escalated my

interest in this wonderful work.

 

On reading Ravi's postings, it is clear that Ananda Sagara Stavah is

hard to come by. I

am trying to track down Mr. Vishwa Bharathi (He lives in Chicago and has

a

construction company in downtown - Perhaps Aaravind has run into him).

 

When I contact him, I want to ask him for copies and sources where I can

get

Dikshitar's work. Please let me know, for the purpose of our

discussion, what

I should be asking for other than the Stavah. With permission, I can

make copies

for members of the group.

 

Hari Om!

 

Ramu

Attachment: vcard [not shown]

[Guest guest]

> did not realize

> the beauty of this wonderful work till I read a 1961 lecture of Kanchi

> Maha Periyaval

> entitled 'Meenakshi' (by Raa Gaanapathi). The discussion in this group

> escalated my

> interest in this wonderful work.

 

namaste

 

Do you have this talk (on meenakshi) with you. May be if you find

time, you can translate it into English for the bhakta-s on this

list and through our kaamakshii site, make it available to the

world.

 

At this point, I request Dr. M. Sudhakar to take up some

translation of periyava's talks on ambaaL. Dr. Sudhakar did a

wonderful translation of the talk "Sankara Sampradayam" for

advaita-l. I hope he will continue this great work.

 

Also, please visit the www.geocities.com/kaamaakshii site. Swami

Vishwarupananda is doing a great work there. Now it has a search

engine also.

 

 

This list reminds me of the lines of abhiraami bhattar in the

verse

 

kaNNiyathu un pugazh kaRpathu un naamam kasindhu bakthi

paNNiyathu niniru paadambujaththil pagal iravaay

naNNiyathu unnai nayandhOr avayaththu naan mun cheytha

puNNiyam ethu en ammE puvi Ezhaiyum puuththavaLe"

 

Which means:

 

O My mother, the source of seven planes of existence,

(the seven planes are from bhuH to satyam), I always contemplate

on your glories, I learn your names to do your namasmarana, and I

melt in devotion only to your lotus feet, and day and night I

seek the company of your devotees, for all this fortune, what

good things did I do in my pervious births!

 

The implication is same as "katham akR^ita puNyaH prabhavatI"

 

---

Abhiraami bhattar's verses are so moving and powerful. Adding

more majesty to it is the brilliant rendering of sirgazhi

S. govindarajan. Clear pronunciation and bhakti bhavam will melt

even hearts of stone. Prof. Narayanaswami once told me that the

100 verses are rendered in many different raagas.

 

 

 

With respects,

 

Ravi