Geethartha Sangraham-Chapter 2

[Guest guest]

CHAPTER 2:SALUTATIONS TO ALAVANDAAR BY SWAMI DESIKAN

*************************************************************************

Sri Alavandaar had a very significant influence on Swami Desikan, Parasara

Bhattar and Kooratthazhwan before through his illustrious work known as STOTRA

RATNAM. This moving work

served as a touchstone for the stotras of the above three Acharyas.Swami

Desikan and Periya Vaacchan Pillai wrote commentaries(Vyakyaanams) for the

Stotra Ratnam, becuse of the esteem they had for this path-lighting composition

of Sri Alavandaar. Swami Desikan most probably recited the two Taniyans of

Stotra Ratnam in his days:

 

NAMOH NAMOH YAAMUNAAYA YAMUNAAYA NAMOH NAMA: I

NAMOH NAMOH YAMUNAAYA YAMUNAAYA NAMOH NAMA: II

 

SVAADAYANNIHA SARVESHAM TRAYYANTHAARTHAM SUDURGRAHAM I

STOTRAYAAMASA YOGINDRA: TAM VANDHE YAAMUNAAHVAYAM II

 

I salute the king of Yogis, Alavandaar, who made available to us all the

difficult-to-grasp meanings of the Vedas in the form of a most enjoyable and

sacred stotram.

 

Alavandaar is revered by the Acharyas that followed him as "Yatikatku Iraivan

Yaamunai Turaivan" in Tamil, which reminds one of the Title given to Ramanuja as

Yatirajan. The association of the word Iraivan illustrates the reverence with

which He is being held in the Sri Vaishnava tradition.Swami Desikan folowed this

tradition to remind us about the illustrious contributions of the two

Yatis(Sanyasis) and paid his own tribute to both of them.His Yatiraja Saptati

is his tribute to Ramanuja. His salutations to Alvandaar are spread out in his

other works as well as in the Yatiraja Saptati.

 

Salutations in Yatiraja Saptati

********************************

 

VIGAAHE YAAMUNAM TEERTHAM SADHU BRINDHAVANEH STITAM I

NIRATHA JIHMAGASPARSEH YATRA KRISHNA KRITAADHARA: II

 

I deeply dip in to the sacred river of Alavandaar (yamuna waters) and reflect on

him, who protected the assembly of people of pure mind(Sadhus) gathered in the

Brindaavanam ( forest on the banks of Yamuna river = at Alavandaar's feet as his

disciples). That was the water from which Krishna Bhagavan removed the source of

poison from Kaliya serpent ; similarly , Yamunaacharya removed the poison of

the serpents( those with twisted minds , who misintrepreted the true meaning

of Sastras and Vedas) of his time. {Swami Desikan uses sledai/pun in this

verse to accomodate the double meaning of the name of Alavandaar

(Yamunaachrya)}.

 

Salutations in Rahasya Thrya Saaram( RTS)

***********************************************

In the Guru Paramparaa section of his magnum opus, Swami Desikan paid tribute to

Alavandaar, his compositions and his line of disciples. {Alavandaar had fifteen

well known disciples, who took refuge in him.He also blessed us with the

following illustrious works,which inspired Swami Desikan: (1) Aagama Praamanyam

(2) Purusha Nirnayam (3-5) Siddhi Tryam containg Atma Siddhi, Iswara Siddhi and

Samvit Siddhi (6) Gitaartha Sangraham (7) Stotra ratnam and (8) Cathu: Sloki on

 

Maha Lakshmi to remind us about Her unique role in Prapatti}.

 

The verse in RTS begins with the words: Ennuyir tantalitthavarai charanam

pukki. Here Swami salutes the line of Acharyas from Ramanuja , Periya Nambi,

Aklavandaar, Manakkal Nambi, Uyyakkondar,Nada Muni, Nammazhwar , Vishwaksenar ,

Maha Lakshmi and Sriman Narayanan.

He saye the Acharyas like Alavandaar protected him by revealing the knowledge

that his Atma was

Seshan to the Lord .

 

In another verse in RTS exclusively devoted to Alavandaar, Swami states that he

is the Dasa of Alavandaar and he will not therefore study any Sastras that are

not true to his teachings. The version

in Tamil is as follows:

 

Neelavandhu Inru Vidhi vahayaal Ninaivu Onriya Naam

Meela Vandhu Innum Vinai Udambu Onri Vizhundu Uzhalaathu

Aala Vandarena Venru Arul Thantu Vilangiya SIr

Aalavandaar adiyom padiyom ini ilvazhakkeh

 

In this long and tortous Samsara, we have over aeons wandered and finally due

to the grace of the Lord have attained discrininating knowledge. To avoid

rebirth in this world and attaing another body due to the Karmas, we have taken

refuge in Alavandaar and his teachings. We will therefore not have lower births

and we have declared our servitude(Dasatvam) to Alavandaar. He has conquered the

opponents with ill views and has come as it were to protect to us from the

misfortunes associated with the travails of Samsaara. After thus becoming his

Dasas, we will not engage in the study of fruitless and imperfect Sastras

anymore and be misled.

 

Namoh namoh Yaamunaaya Yamunaaya Namoh Nama: I

Namoh Namoh Yaamunaaya Yamunaaya Namoh Nama: II

 

V.Sadagopan

Yuva Eippasi Krishna Paksha Chaturdasi

Mrugaqseersha Nakshatram