Experiencing Swami Desika - 30

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SrI:

Shrimate Shri Lakshmi Nrusimha Parabrahmane Namaha:

Shrimate Shri Seetha Ramachandra Parabrahmane Namaha:

Shrimate Shri Ramanujaya Namaha:

Shrimate Nigamantha Maha Desikaya Namaha:

Shrimate Shrivan Satagopa Shri Narayana Yateendra Mahadesikaya Namaha:

 

Shri Peria Nambi, as per the instructions of our lord,

initiated all the mantras to Shri Ramanuja (YatirAja),

and so Shri Ramanuja is the next in our Guru Parampara.

 

Swami's devotion to Shri rAmAnujAchArya - also known as

Shri YatirAja - is well-known and unparalleled. Swami wrote

an exclusive work - the YatirAja Saptati - dedicated to

Shri rAmAnujAr. In this, Swami defines, describes

and details the greatness of Shri Ramanuja and tells

the world the greatest contributions rendered by

Shri Ramanuja to Visishtadvaita. Shri Ramanuja has

defined and spread Visishtadvaita and more importantly

refuted other schools with such power that one has

no doubts in mind.

 

Let us enjoy the flavour of the yAtIrAjA Saptati through

couple of Slokas:

 

"PranAmam Lakshmanamunih pratigrahnatu mamakam !

prasadhayati yatsuktih sVAdhInapatikam srutim !!"

 

-- YatirAja Saptati

 

Swami offers his salutations to the Great Acharya Ramanuja.

Swami says that Shri Ramanuja's teachings have been perfect

and accurate interpretations of the Vedas (Sruti).

It is interesting to note that Swami says that She (Sruti),

has hence become sVAdhInapatika.

 

SVAdhInapatika refers to a heroine (nAyika), who has

got back her Lord with in her control.

 

Information regarding God, nature, practices etc are

contained in the Vedas. As Vedas are so vast, all the

information is not found at one place.

This gives room for independent interpretations by

different saints, scholars and others involved in

understanding the Vedas. This gives an impression

as 'conflict' though when viewed in total we get

the correct and complete picture.

 

Now, lets take a brief look into the schools of thought

 

The Dvaita School:

 

The Dvaita School as propagated by Shri Madhva - who

interprets Vedas from "bheda Sruti" perspective, states

that the "Jivatman" and "Paramatman" as totally different

and also adds that these two could never be the same.

 

The Advaita School:

 

The Advaita School as propagated by Shri Shankara - who

interprets Vedas from "abheda Sruti" perspective, states

that the "Jivatman" and "Paramatman" are one.

 

The Visistadvaita School:

 

The greatest Acharya Shri Ramanuja, professed the theory

where he established that the "Jivatman" and "Paramatman"

are two different entities being in unison- with the Jivatman

being the property of Paramatman.

 

Shri Ramanuja, establishes this school of thought with

the example of body - soul relationship. By this

Shri Ramanuja states that, the body and the soul act

as one and are in unison, but they are totally different.

The body is the vehicle for the soul. The Paramatma

abides in the soul and pervades it within and without.

Shri Ramanuja uses "Ghatakasruti" principle to establish

a common ground between Bheda & Abheda Sruti.

Shri Ramanuja states that the body is subordinate to the

Jiva and the Jiva the subordinate of the supreme. The Jiva,

Sarira and Iswara are thus inseparable.

 

Since Shri Ramanuja interpreted the Vedic texts in the

right perspective as mentioned above, Swami Desika

states that the Veda mAtA got back our Lord within her

bounds - SVAdhInapatika!

 

.......to be continued!

 

yatirAjar tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

 

dEsikan tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

 

Praveena nAmni Ramanuja dasi

24th Jul 1999