AchArya RaamAnujA CD ROM Contents: Part IV

[Guest guest]

Dear BhakthAs : Here is a brief description

of the contents of the Grantham section :

 

2.1: VedArtha Sangraham

 

Sri RaamAnujA created this grantham right in front of

the Lord of Thirumalai , Sri VenkatAchalapathy and placed

it at His holy feet . This is an original and detailed

work on the contents and significance of the important

texts of th VedAs and selected Upanishads .Our AchAryan

also quotes from the smruthis and Saathvika PurANAs

in recognition of their validity as pramANams and rejects

the views of MeemAmsakAs and other rival schools such as

Advaitham , Bhaaskara , Yaadhava PrakAsa and places

Sri VisishtAdvaitham on its high pedestal and establishes

the parathvam of Sriman NaarAyaNA .He elaborates on

the real Tattvam , Hitham ( means of attaining Brahman )

and PurudhArtham ( the supreme goal of one's life ) and

argues brilliantly for Sriman NaarAyanan as the material

and instrumental cause of this universe and its beings .

 

This grantham section is visualized as nine gems (nava

rathnams ) for navigation purposes with the side bars

of "philosophical Significance" and "Tell me More "

for detailed information on these granthams with

appropriate audio clips of the original texts.

 

The VedArtha sangraham section starts with the singing

of the mangala slOkam set in SahAnA raagam . We see

Sri RaamAnujA standing Before Lord SrinivAsan of Thirumalai

with anjali hastham and presenting this grantham

as samarpaNam at His lotus feet .He concludes this

grantham with a statement that agaditha gatanams

(irreconcilables)have been reconciled ( Sarvam Samanjaasam ).

Few select passages from this grantham and their meanings are

given and excerpts are sung in SankarAbhAraNam and

Vaachaspathi raagams.

 

2.2 and 2.3: VedAntha Saaram and VedAntha DhIpam

 

These two are brief commentaries on the Brahma SoothrAs.

VedAntha Saaram gives the essential meaning of each of

the SoothrAs and adhikaraNAs for the benefit of the beginner

in the study of our sampradhAyam. VedAntha DhIpam discusses

the main purport of each SoothrA and stays away from

the complex and terse analysis housed in his magnum

opus , Sri BhAshyam .

 

In the CD ROM , we hear the majestic , original commentary

of AchArya RaamAnujA of the first and the last Brahma Soothrams

in the VedAntha Saaram section .In the section on the VedAntha

DhIpam , we hear our AchAryAs' original commentary on

the last soothram . The accompanying graphics are

soulfully rendered .

 

2.4 : Sri Bhaashyam

 

This is the celebrated and voluminous work

of AchArya RaamAnujA dealing with the Brahma soothrAs

of Sage BadarAyaNA .Using the select passages of Sruthi ,

Smruthi , Paancha Raathra SamhithAs and PurAnAs , AchArya

builds the edifice of Sri VisishtAdvaitham and rejects

Adhi SankarA's advaitham and BhaaskarA's BhEdhAbhEdham

and other rival schools .The commentary of the first

soothram itself is so elaborate that it is a sacred text

by itself . AchArya RaamAnujA follows BodhAyana Vrutthi

on BadarAyaNa SoothrAs , AlavandhAr's Siddhi Thrayam and

Aagama PrAmANyam as well as the teachings of his five

AchAryans .

 

The splendid graphics , the clear texts accompanying

this section of the grantham help beginners as well as

the initiated to appreciate the grandness of this grantham .

 

The philosophical significance section points out

that the heart of the poet (RaamAnujA ) mingles with

the mind of a dialectician . The recitation of the majestic

prose of AchArya RaamAnujA leaves one in a state of thrill .

 

Elaborate introduction to the First Soothram , the definition of

the concept of PurushOtthaman and a mesmerizing rendering of

the commentary on the last soothram are included in the CD ROM.

As one hears these passages , whether one understands their

meanings or not , the effect is like waves of bliss washing

over us and making us filled with Aanandham .

 

2.5 : Sri GitA BhAshyam

 

This grantham is a detailed account of the brief work

of AlavandhAr on Sri Bhagavath GItA revered as

GitArtha Sangraham . The prapatthi doctrine is

incorporated in the commentary on the Charama SlOkam

of GitA by AchArya RaamAnujA . He establishes the absolute

supermacy of the personal God priniciple( Sri KrishNaa )

over the impersonal attribute (nirguNa Brahman ).

 

The section starts with the Mangala slOkam

sung in the Raagam Aananda Bhairavi and a tribute to

AaLavandhAr for his GithArtha sangraham on which this

grantham is based .One sees Lord standing in front of

ArjunA 's chariot in the middle of the battle field

blessing the bewildered ArjunA with GithOpanishad .

The "Tell me more " section contains outstanding

rendering of Charama slOkam in reassuring

and majestic RaagA Naattai . This section ends with

a tribute to Sri Paarthasaarathy ( yathra YOgIswara:

KrishNo--) rendered in MeLa Raagam , Karahara PriyA .

 

2.6, 2.7 and 2.8: The three Gadhyams

 

Beautiful recitation of the sections of the three

gadhyams in rakthi raagams , beautiful , eye-filling

graphics of the Divya dampathis of Srirangam in their

sErthi sEvai on panguni Utthiram day and animation of

Blue (the Lord's color ) and Gold ( Sri RanganAyaki's hue)

flowers falling on them as PushpAnjali are memorable

images that get etched in the onlooker's minds .The dialog

between Sri RangarAjA and the YathirAjA are recorded

in a brilliant manner. Extensive recitations of the lilting

and majestic passages have been recorded. One has to close one's

eyes and enjoy these recitations filled with Bhakthi and BhAvam.

 

The distinctions between the three gadhyams are

described in the Philosophical significance sections .

The selection of the tranquil raagam , SankarAbharaNam is

very appropriate for reciting passages of Sriranga Gadhyam.

 

In the Sri Vaikunta gadhyam section , the beautiful

graphics shows us the trance of AchArya RaamAnujA

and his visulaization of Sri VaikuntanAthan with His Devis

seated on Adhi Seshan in Sri VaiKuntam. This is an evocative

scene that is extremely beautiful to experience.Lengthy

passages from the text are recited in a grand manner .

The three sections on the three gadhyams alone are a

delight to the eye and ear .

 

The philosophical significance sections explain

that the purport of SaraNAgathi gadhyam is the

SaraNAgathi doctrine (self-surrender or Prapatthi );

Sriranga gadhyam is identified as Sri RaamAnujA's

adoration of Sri RanganAthA with bhakthi and preethi .

Sri Vaikunta gadhyam is described as Sri RaamAnujA's

enjoyment of the supreme bliss of Sri Vaikuntam as

experienced by MukthAs (liberated souls ).

 

2.9: Nithya Grantham

 

The ninth and the final work of AchArya RaamAnujA

is a brief account of the daily anushtAnams of

a Sri VaishNavA . Fifteen main points are identified

by AchArya RaamAnujA to worship Sriman NaarAyaNA in

the time honored way prescribed by the VedAs , smruthis

and PurANAs . The religious practises of a Sri VaishNavA

that make him or her dear to the Lord are covered here

as adumbrated in the 12th chapter of Srimadh Bhagavadh GitA .

This way of worship is therefore called , " Bhagavadh-

AarAdhana prayOgA "and sets the stage for the next

important section on how to perform the AarAdhanam for

Sriman NaarAyaNA by an initiated Sri VaishNavan .

 

Graphics are connected to the ArchA murthy of

ThirunArAyaNapuram and an excellent introduction

to Nithya grantham is housed in the " Philosophical

Significance " section .

 

The nectarine content of this section of the CD ROM

dealing with the nine granthams of the great AchAryA ,

their purport , the audio clips on the original

passages is hard to describe . Blessed indeed will

be the owners of this CD ROM to enhance their

Bhagavath-BhAgavatha Bhakthi and growing their

ruchi for kaimkaryam to the divya dampathis.

 

In the subsequent postings , I will cover the AarAdhanam

section , Vaibhavam of AchArya RaamAnujA and the two

rare videos dealing with Thirumanjanam for RaamAnujA

at Melkote and the Vaira Mudi sevai of Selva PiLlai

( sampath KumAran ) of ThirunArAyaNapuram .

 

Daasan, V.Sadagopan

 

P.S :Those who would like to support the purchase

of the license of Macromedia Director license for

enabling us to release this CD ROM and use that

license for creation of the other three CD ROMs

in plan ( Swami Desikan , AzhwArs and the 108 Divya

Desms ) are requested to forward their contributions

to Sriman P.Dileepan at 1908 Presswood Drive, Hixson,

TN 37343 and copy me on their notes. These contributions

are 100% Tax deductible .We need $ 599 more to reach

the target of $750 to purchase this software license for 7.0 Version for our use in the above projects .

 

Our plans are to reproduce 1,000 copies of the CD ROM

on AchArya RaamAnujA for the use of the community both here

and abroad . Those who have alredy contributed to the Kaikaryam

(some 100 BhakthAs ) will get a copy of the RaamAnujA CD ROM

before the end of summer or sooner .Those who wish to acquire

one or more copies for themselves , family and friends are

requested to contact me or Sri Dileepan .