Pitamahasyapi Pitamahaya...

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Salutations to Sri Sadagopan for his analysis as well as rendering of

translations of Gopalavimshati & Raghuveera Gadhyam (ongoing). Same to the

other prapannas for additional comments and discussions on these subjects.

Here is my little chipmunk (alile) Sevai.

 

 

Sri Vijayaraghavan Srinivasan wrote:

>>Once Navalpakkam Devanathacharya swamigal

>> mentioned that in >>our sampradaayam

>>the following sloka

>>(after reciting the usual dhyana sloka)

>>is recited before the parayanam:

>>Pithamahasyapi Pithamahya

>>Prached(t)asa Desa Phala Pradaya

>>Shri Bhashyakarottama Desikaya

>>Sri Shilapoornaya Namo Namasthat<<<

 

I was taught this slokam as Taniyam

of Srisaila Purna (born 973 AD), the maternal

uncle of Sri Ramanuja. In the Kanya Masam,

Shukla Paksham on the Anuradha Nakshatram

of the year 1973, the 1000 thirunakshatram of

Srisaila Purna was celebrated.

 

It may be asked, why is Srisaila Purna

is referred to as "Pitamahasyapi pitamahaya".

The reason for this is based on the following episode:

On early hours of the day, Srisaila purna was

carrying water in a pot from Papanashini,

located 5 miles from the temple, for nitya

kainkaryam of Srinivasar. While he was

carrying water on this forest path, a hunter

approached him and begged: Tata! I am very

thirsty, give me a drop of water

( Tatae tya manthrya kaschit vanabhuvi

trishitah toya bindum yaychae).

Srisaila purna said the water was intended

for Bhagavadkainkaryam and can not be given to him.

Saying thus he walked towards the temple, deeply

meditating on the Lord. To his surprise when he

approached the temple, the pot was empty. he felt

deeply sad for having not able to perform the

intended kainkaryam. What happened was

that the hunter , with his arrow, had made a

hole in the pot and had followed behind much

of the distance, drinking the water thatleaked out.

Next morning as usual Srisailapurna was carrying

water, teh same hinter appeared and shot an arrow

into a nearby hillock on the path and the water like

amritam sprang out of this. Addressing, Srisaila purna

again as Tata (Father in Sanskrit), instructed him to use

that water source here on, instead of carrying water all

the way from the distant Papanashini kolam. This body

of water is popular as akasha Ganga.

 

Brahma is pitamaha, his father (Pita) is Srinivasa.

Because Srinivasar addressed Srisailapurna as Tata (pita, father)- Thus,

Srisaila Purna earned the title Pitamahasyapi pitamahaya.

 

Srisaila Purna did kalakhepam of Ramayanam

under his grand father Alavandar. In turn,

Ramanujacharya did kalakshpam of Ramayanam

(also known as Dheerga Sharanagathi Sastram)

from Srisailapurna for 18 times. Because of this

Srisaila Purna earned the title

"PrachetasaDesaphalapradaya"

 

(Reference: Shatamarshanara Ajana Siddha Mahimay,

by Sri K. S. Krishnatatachar (my father).

 

Sincerely,

 

Tatachar (K. Sreekrishna)