The Carama Sloka Currukku of Swami Desikan : Part 1

[Guest guest]

Dear Memebers of the PRAPATTHI GROUP :

 

During the course of discussions on the agenda items for inclusion in

the Bhaktha SammELanam meeting at Pittsburgh to honor

the visiting MatAdhipathi of Uduppi , I learned that the Madhva

SampradhAyam rejects the Prapatthi approach in getting the

Blessings of the Lord and their intrepretation of the Carama

SlOkam of the Lord does not permit them to accept SaraNAgathi

as the most efficacious , superior and easy to perform route

available to one and all revealed by the GeethAcharyan .

 

After a lot of discussions , it was agreed that in a Sri VaishNavA

conference , the omission of SaraNAgathi as

one of the primary items would not be a welcome move . Prapatthi

yOgam was then included along with Bahkthi Yogam as the two essential

planks for gaining Moksha Siddhi . Our Sri Vijay Srinivasan has kindly agreed

to cover the subject of SaraNAgathi that is dearest to heart of

Bhagavadh RaamAnuja SiddhAntham . A panel to discuss SaraNAgathi

was also agreed upon and the balance was acheived finally .

 

During these discussions , it also became clear that the Sri VenkatEswarA

temple has not had many Sri VaishNavite topics for upanyAsams based on

VishidhtAdvaitham for coverage compared to other Vedanthic view points .

 

Another thing also became clear . It would be beneficial to have a

a new religious Journal in English entitled " SaraNAgathi " to cover

this magnificient , ennobling and most important topic of Self-surrender

to get familiar with the different view points , nuances and cardinal

aspects of the Prapatthi SaasthrA . The intent is to invite articles from

Sri VaishNavite scholars from India and USA and bring these all

together .

 

I have agreed to serve as an Editor of this important

publication until a suitable and more qualified scholar could take over .

The plan is to have the issues printed in India to save some printing

expenses , if we can not get it done thru Desktop Publishing

help from some of our capable members . Please let me know ,

if some of you would like to join in this bhagavadh kaimkaryam

in the areas of contributing articles , reviewing , preparing the text ,

membership drive et al . We are at the planning stage at this time .

I will have more details after my trip to Pittsburgh on 8/30/97 .

 

In the context of the paucity of coverage of the Sri VaishNavite topics

in a Sri VaishNavite temple , I have also agreed to help by organizing a

one or two day conference on " AzhwArs and AchAryA's anubhavam

of Sri VenkatEswara " at Pittsburgh . All AzhwArs with the exception

of Thondaradippodi ( Sri RanganAtha pathivrathai ) have blessed us

with a total of 202 Paasurams . Swami Desikan's Daya Sathakam and

other contributions by NadhOpAsakAs such as AnnamAchAr , Purandara

Daasa , Saint ThyagarAjA , Sri Mutthuswami Dikshithar would easily

add material to extend the conference to two days . We would have to

schedule this important conference to coincide with one of the National

extended holidays . It might be possible to release a souvenir containing

the presentations prepared for that meeting by the speakers . Please

let me know of your views about this Kaimkaryam and your interest

in particpation at the appropriate time .

 

I will now write as prelude about a magnificient short grantham

in Tamil by Swami Desikan known as " Carama Sloka Surukku " .

There are 11 tamil verses in this rahasya grantham . All of them are

set in the Tamil metre known as KattaLai kalitthurai . This rahasya

grantham is part of the Desika Prabhandham .

 

The well-known carama Slokam of GeethAchAryan

has the following TEN parts or words or group of words :

 

(1) Sarva DharmAn Parithyajya

(2) Maam (3) Yekam (4) SaraNam

(5) Vraja (6) Aham (7) tvaa (8) Sarva PaapEpyO

(9)MokshayishyAmi (10 ) Maa Sucha :

 

In the first of his 11 verses , Swami Desikan gives the full

meaning of the entire verse . Then , he uses ten more verses

to cover indivually , the ten bhaagams of the carama slOkam .

 

I will cover in this posting , the first verse and its expanded meaning .

I will split the sandhis of the verse to make it easy to apprciate the verse .

I will be following the sampradhAyam of intrepretation of my

maanaseeka guru , Sri V.N. Srirama DesikachAr Swami of

Oppilaippan Koil , my next door neighbor . Please let me know , if you would

like me to cover the word for word meaning for the Tamil words .

 

Verse 1 of Carama slOka curukku

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

 

kallAr ahalum karumamum j~nAnamum kaathalum marru

yellAnilaikaLukku(m) yErpa vithittha kirisaikaLum

vallAr mulha vali izhandAr yenranai tthozhuha yenru

yellaa dharumamum uraitthavan inn adi sErnthanamE

 

( Meaning ) : Those knowledgable ones with proficiency

in SaasthrAs can perform effectively Karma Yogam , J~nana

Yogam and Bhakthi Yogam . The untutored rest will go

away from the practise of the above three yogAs based on their

inadequacy about their ability to perform these difficult yogAs .

 

It is hence understandable that those , who are skilled in true

knowledge will perform one of these three yogAs for their

salvation . For those , who are not capable of performing

these ardous yogAs , I will stand in the place of these yogAs ,

when they surrender themselves to Me unconditionally ; I will bless them

with the full fruits of these yogAs . ( Swami Desikan states at the very end of

this verse that he has taken refuge at the sweet and sacred feet of

the GeethAchAryan, who made such a pledge out of

His infinite compassion for us all ) .

 

(Extended Meaning ) : O ChethanA ! Your understanding of the tattvAs

is limited . Your power to grasp the full meaning of the saasthrAs

is also limited . You are here on this earth of Mine for a limited time .

You are in an impatient and restless state of mind and are unable to put

up with the delay in gaining Moksha Siddhi . You recognize that

it is well nigh impossible to practise any one of the three yOgAs ( Karma ,

J~nAna and Bhakthi yOgAs ) ; you also recognize that they take too

long to bear fruit . Therefore , do not roam hither and thither chasing

these three difficult-to-practise yogAs as routes appropriate

for your salvation .

 

I am easy of access to one and all .

I am the refuge for all of the beings of the universes .

You elect Me and Me alone as your sole refuge . Perform SaraNAgathi

to Me with its five angAs (limbs ) .When once you perform that act ,

you become a krutha Krithyan ( one who has done his duty ) .

Through this act of BaranyAsam , You have become a special

chEthanA , who is to be protected by Me. You become very dear

to Me as a result of this aathma samarpaNam act of yours .

My love for you is limitless.

 

I will begin to bless you rightaway . There is no

limit or obstacle to my independence and power . I am the one ,

who is the reaper of the reward for My action on behalf of you .

My sankalpam ( volition ) is the only basis and support for My

act of coming to your rescue . The multitudes of your enemies

that interfere with your goal to reach me are limitless . They

are immeasurable . You can not destroy them on your own accord ,

even if you wanted to . I will root them all out and make sure that

they do not follow you anymore . I will elevate you to enjoy Me and

all that is Mine and make you equal to Me in enjoying these bhOgAs .

If you enjoy Me in this way , I will bless you with the boons of

eternal kaimkaryam to Me at all times and places without interruption .

Please do not grieve anymore over any thing .

 

The depth of meaning for each of the ten parts of the carama slOkam

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

 

Out of his infinite compassion for us befitting his status as a paramAchArya ,

Swami Desikan has distilled the essence of the upadesams of his

purvAchAryAs and has blessed us with the many levels of meanings

for each of the ten parts of the carama slokam . In this context ,

we encounter the following number of intrepretations for each of

the ten parts of carama slOkam :

 

1) Sarva DharmAn Parithyajya -- Six meanings

2) Maam -- Four meanings & hint on the avathAra rahasyam of the Lord

3) Yekam -- six meanings for this term

4) saraNa sabdham -- one meaning

5) vraja -- one meaning

6) aham -- one meaning

7) tvaa-- one meaning

8) sarva pApEpyO - four levels of meanings for the sarva sabdham

9) MokshayishyAmi-- one meaning

10) maa sucha: -twelve meanings befitting its exalted status

among the ten parts of the carama SlOkam .

 

We will weave these postings amidst the ones under plan

such as DehaLeesa Sthuthi and Naama Sankeerthanam .

 

GeethAchAryan , Swami Desikan ThiruvadigaLE Saranam

Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan