Sri Ramanujacharya's Tirunakshatram

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhaktas,

 

Srimans Madhavakannan and Sadagopan have paid glowing tributes to

our Paramacharya, earlier today. In this post we shall focus on a

few related aspects of Sri Ramanujacharya and discuss his five

commands to his followers.

 

We are indebted to this DayaIka

Sindhu for blessing us with our wonderful Sampradayam. Swami

Desikan glorifies this aspect of Sri Bhashyakara in the Yatiraja

Ssapthati. Sri Ramanujacharya handed to us our Sampradayam through

the 74 SimhasanAdipatis. Swami Desikan acknowledges this fact by

using 74 exquisite verses in the Yatiraja Sapthati. The Upanyasams

of H.H. Srimad Andavan Swamigal of Srimad Paundarikapuram Asramam

on this subject are a delight to hear. In it Swamigal very

affectionately presents the details of Sri Ramanujacahrya's birth.

The connections to NammAzhwar and the tamarind tree at Tirukuruhoor

are brought out with consummate effect. Interestingly, Swamigal

offers an alternate explanation on the term Ramanuja. Specifically,

Swamigal raises the question "Ramanuja denotes the younger brother

of Rama. Can this not be interpreted as the younger brother of

Balarama and thus is not our Acharya an incarnation of Lord Krishna?"

This series of 7 tapes is an outstanding piece of work by H.H.

Srimad Andavan Swamigal and is a must buy for anyone interested in

learning about our Sampradayam.

 

The final message of Sri Ramanujacharya for his followers is contained

in the form of five commands. These have the exalted status of

Divya Ajnyas (divine commands) for Sri Vaishnavas. These five commands

are referred to not once but twice during the recitation of

SaRRmuRai. The number five is significant because of its association

with the Pancha Bhutas, PanchEndriyas, Pancha SamskAras, five

Divya Dravyas (used in performing Tirumanjanam for the Lord),

the five forms of Lord Vishnu (Para Vyuha, Vibhava, Archa and

Antaryami), and the Marut Panchakas (Prana, Apana, Samana, Udana and

Vyana). The Taittriya Upanishad extols the significance of the number

five as "PanchasvadhikaraNeshu". Recognizing these facts, our

Paramacharya has blessed us with his message through five gems.

These are listed in descending order of rigour. However, it is

pointed out that the order when reversed, provides a step-by-step

process of increasingly challenging duties for those interested in

mastering Bhagavad Ramanuja Darshanam. This raises the question "what

are the five commands of our Paramacharya?"

 

(1) Read the Sri Bhashya

(2) Read Azhwar Prabandham

(3) Engage in constant recitation of the Dvaya Mantram

(4) Take part in Bhagavat Kaimkaryam

(5) Be of assistance to a Sri Vaishnava who follows the five

commands.

 

First it is pointed out that it is imperativce for every Sri Vaishnava

to follow the five commands laid down by our Acharya. However, an

appreciation of our Acharya's foresight and compassion for those who

may not be able to follow one or more of these commands comes through

when one examines the commands in greater detail.

Interpreted in the order presented, it becomes clear that these

commands contain the answers to a number of "what if" scenarios.

More precisely, mastering the Sri Bhashya (a

terse and argumentative commentary on the Brahma Sutras) requires

a great degree of expertise in Shruti and a thorough understanding of

its intricate meanings. As such this demands a great deal of rigour

and may not be possible for all to accomplish. Therefore, our

DayAika Sindhu offers the alternative of reading and understanding

the Arulicheyals of the Azhwars. Admittedly, this is not easy either.

However, it is somewhat less demanding compared to reading the

Sri Bhashya. For those who are unable to do this, our Paramacharya

has recommended constant recitation of the Dvaya Mantram, which is

much easier to accomplish. This also requires initiation by an

Acharya and not many may have the oppurtunity to receive MantrOpadesham.

For them, the Acharya suggests taking part in

Bhagavad Kaimkaryam. Examples of this include volunteer

work in your local Temple, reciting Vedams and Prabandhams, cleaning

the Temple precincts, participate in preparing food for Tadiaradhanai,

making copies of Stotrams and important texts available to priests

and devotees, participation in Ttemple construction projects

either financially or through a labor of love. If this is also

not possible, the Acharya has recommended that one be of help to a

Sri Vaishnava who follows our Acharya's commands. If this is hard to

practice, the individual is beyond redemption!

>From the standpint of a starter desirous of gaining a deeper

understanding of our Sampradayam, one can interpret the commands of

our Paramacharya in the reverse order. As a first step, when one

undertakes Bhagavata Kaimkaryam, the Karmic influences naturally

lead the individual to greater heights. When a beginner is

associated with a Bhagavata, he is naturally curious about the

activities of the Bhagavata. For a Bhagavata, there is no greater

joy than undertaking Kaimkaryam for Bhagavan and his Bhaktas. Thus

service to the Bhagavata automatically leads the starter to step (4).

This in turn results in the starter thirsting for MantrOpadesham from

an Acharya. Step (3) follows as a consequence. Contact with

the Acharya will inevitably bring out mention of the Azhwar's

teachings, which could serve as the motivating factor for step (2).

One who receives Bharanyasam from the Acharya is also advised to

have Kalakshepam in either the Sri Bhashya or the Rahasyarthas under

the feet of the Acharya or someone similarly qualified. This may

in turn point the seeker to step (1). I confess that these are

purely my own reflections on the commands of our Paramacharyan and

I seek the forgiveness of learned members of our group for my

indulgence.

 

Lastly, the Bhakti group offers ample opportunities for following the

commands of our Paramacharyan. A case in point is the Ranganatha

Perumal Koil construction project. On this note, I wish to pledge

my support to Srimans Sadagopan and Sri Kanumalla for serving them

in any desired manner without being a hindrance to the project. I am

thankful to Sri Mani for providing us the forum for partaking of the

nectar doled out to us by Srimans Sadagopan, Madhavakannan, Anbil

Swamin and a host of other devout and learned Bhagavatas.

 

Sri RamanujArya DivyAjnyam VardhatAm AbivardhatAm.

 

Acharyan TiruvadigalE SharaNam,

 

Namo Narayana,

 

Muralidhar Rangaswamy

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

At 08:57 AM 5/1/1998 -0700, muralidhar rangaswamy wrote:

>(5) Be of assistance to a Sri Vaishnava who follows the five

> commands.

 

[..]

>..... As a first step, when one

>undertakes Bhagavata Kaimkaryam, the Karmic influences naturally

>lead the individual to greater heights.

 

 

A twist to this is that the starting point is also the ending point. It is

said that the culmination of all the study of vedas, bhashyam, and all the

bhagavath kainkaryam finally must end with Bhaagavatha Kainkaryam. There

is no greater purushartham than service to Vishnu Bhakthas. In Tamil this

is called "ellai nilai", i.e. the final stage. This theme is voiced by

many great souls. In ThirupaLLiyeszhuchchi's final verse Thondaradippodi

Azhvaar says that the reason he wants the Lord to wake up from His yoga

nidra is to put himslef into the loving service of Bhagavathas, "un

adiyaarkku atpaduththaay paLLiyezhundharuLaayE." But today being Sri

Ramanuja Jayanthi the last but one verse of "iraamunasa nooRRandhaathi" is

most fulfilling:

 

"inbuRRa seelath thiraamaanusa, enRum evvidaththum

enpuRRa nOyudal thORum piRanthiRanthu eNNariya

thunpuRRu veeyinum solluvathonRuNdun thodtargatkE

anpuR Rirukkum pati,ennai yaakkiyaNG kaatpaduththE." INA 107

 

(O! Ramanuja!, the one with blissful nature!,

permit me to say this to you,

even if I endure cycles of birth and death,

filled with grief and decease,

ennoble me by making me remain affectionate

to your devotees at all times and all places.)

 

 

On a different subject, with the unfailing encouragement from Sri

Sadagopan, the work on 108 DD pages has now started taking

shape. Sri Rangam is almost complete (but not quite). On this auspicious

day of Sri Ramanuja thirunakshathram who gave us the incomparable Gadya

Thraiyam at Sri Rangam, please do visit the Sri Rangam page. Rudimentary

pages for the 11 Northern DDs are also ready. All of these pages are under

construction. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

 

 

http://thondar.busi.utc.edu/108dd/108dd.html

 

 

-- adiyEn

[Guest guest]

Dear Sri Lakshmi Nrusimha Bhakthas :

 

I am sending this note at the request of

Dr.Venkat Kanumala , Vice Chairman of

the Sri RanganathA temple at Pomona , NY .

 

Sri RanganAtha Temple at Pomona , NY is celebrating

Sri Lakshmi Nrusimha Jayanthi this Sunday at Pomona ,

NY .The directions for the temple are at the Temple

home page created by Sriman Dileepan .The URL for that

Home Page is : http://geocities.com/~ahobilam/ranga.html

Please join in the celebrations scheduled between

6-9 PM . On this 1998 Mother's day , please come and

have the blessings of Sri Maha Lakshmi seated on the

lap of Sri NarasimhA BhagavAn .

 

Please also have the darsanam of the absolutely beautiful

ArchA Vigraham of Sri Yogaphattai Narasimhan seated

in the Yogic posture over Adhi Seshan ( The 14th of

the 20 images of ArchA Murthys in the above web page)

housed temporarily at Dr.Venakt Kanumalla"s house ,

while waiting for His permanent residence at the new

Temple to be completed with all of YOUR HELP .

Thanks for all of those , who have responded positively

to the appeals to particpate in this Kaimkaryam .

The flier on the Temple construction kaimkaryam

and the receipt books for acknowledging contributions

are being redied for use in the Sri Vaishnava gatherings

in the different cities of USA and around the world .I am glad

to note that 179 BhakthAs have already visited this special site

for THE ONE AND ONLY SRI RANGANATHA TEMPLE THAT IS UNDER

CONSTRUCTION .

 

While You are on the Internet , please do visit the

other home page for Srirangam and VadanAttu Thiruppathis

as we get ready to celebrate the Sri Lakshmi Nrusimha

Jayanthi . The URL for that home page is :

http://thondar.busi.utc.edu/108dd/108dd.html

The Beauty of the Imagesof Srirangam , Sri RanganAthan

and Ahobilam Nava Narasimhars are a bliss to experience .

 

NammAzhwAr's Jayanthi falls on June 8 this year.

Announcement about the dates for that celebration

will be announced later.

 

Please visit the temple on all these days of Festivals

celebrating our Lord and His dear AzhwArs and enjoy the

sathsangham of BhagavathAs .

 

The program for the May 10 Celebrations is attached.

 

Daasan , V.Sadagopan

 

SRI LAKSHMINRUSIMHA JAYANTI AT SRI RANGANATHA SANNITHI ON

>5-10-98, SUNDAY 6 TO 9 PM.

>6 PM : THIRUMANJANAM TO LORD SR LAKSHMI NRUSIMHA.

>7 PM: SAHASRA NAMA ARCHANA FOLLOWED BY SATRUMURAI.

>8 PM: PRASADA DISTRIBUTION.

>YOU ARE ALL INVITED AND PLEASE ATTEND.

>ADIYEN, VENKAT.