PANCHA STHAVAMS OF KOORATHAZAN - AN INTRODUCTION

[Guest guest]

PANCHA STHAVAMS OF KOORATHAZAN - AN INTRODUCTION

 

Dear Bhagavatas

In connection with the Tirunakshatram of Sri KoorathAzhwAn on 26th January

2000, it gives me great pleasure to commence a series on the works of this

great AchAryan.

 

Every single SlOkam of the 400 plus SlOkas contained in the Pancha Sthavams

is a gem. It is very difficult to pick and choose but due to space

constraints and my own limitations, a random selection is attempted and

presented in this series based on what I have heard during the KAlakshEpam

discourses of U.Ve. VidwAn PaiyambADi SEtlur V SrivatsAnkAchAriar SwAmi and

his masterly comments in the twin volumes written by him.

 

The credit for all that is stated correctly goes to him and my AchAryas, HH

Srimad ParavAkkOttai GOpAla MahA DEsikan of Poundarikapuram Andavan Ashramam

and HH Azhagiya Singhar of AhObila Matam. All errors of commission and

omission are entirely mine and I seek your indulgence in forgiving me for the

same.

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

=============================================================

SRI KOORTHAZHWAN

Sri KoorathAzhwAn (N) was the son of Sri KoorathAzhwAr ®. He was also known

as AzhwAn, KooranAthan, NaDamADum Pathanjali, SrivatsAnka Misrar, Srivatsa

Chinhar etc. He was one of the direct disciples of Bhagavad RAmAnuja. He had

two illustrious sons viz. Sri ParAsara BhaTTar and Sri Veda vyAsa BhaTTar.

His Sishya was VaDuga Nambi.

 

HIS WORKS

Several works have been attributed to him e.g. Abigamana SAram, Charama SlOka

vyAkhyAnam, Purusha Sooktha BhAshyam, SAreeraka SAra etc. The thanian

beginning with "LakshminAtha samArambhAm" was written by him. Several songs

sung during weddings like Laali, Oonjal, yEsal as well as "Lakshmi KalyANa

VaibhOghamE", "SrirAma, Jaya Jaya Laali" etc. were also written by him.

"KoorEsa Vijayam" and "Yamaka RathnAkaram" are also believed to be his works

though some hold that these two were written by his father.

 

PANCHA STHAVAMS

But, by far the most famous of his works are the 5 StOtras known as "Pancha

Sthavams" which include-

 

1. Sri Sthavam (10 SlOkas) on Sri Ranga NAchiyAr

 

2. Sri VaikunTa Sthavam (100 SlOkas) on ParamapadanAthan. The SAstra arthas

contained in Sri Baashyam and other Rahasya granthas have been clearly

brought out in this Sthavam without transgressing the preclusions and

exclusions ordained in the study of the vEdas, in such a manner that it used

to be said "Sri VaikunTa Sthavam theriyAdhavan Sri VaishNavan allan" meaning-

"one who does not know Sri VaikunTa Sthavam is not a Srivaishnavan at all"

 

3. AthimAnusha Sthavam (61 SlOkas). Here, the AzhwAn argues how though

PerumAL claimed to be just human, He did superhuman feats in the various

AvatAras. AzhwAn has unassailably proved with Tharkam (logic) PramANam

(authority) and Anubhvam (experience) how EmperumAn is THE SarvEswaran.

 

4. Sri Sundara bAhu Sthavam (132 SlOkas) on Azhagar of TirumAlirum SOlai.

History has it that this was composed when due to the harassment by the

ChOzha King, AzhwAn had to stay at TirumAlirum sOlai which was then under

PAndya kingdom.

 

5. Sri VaradarAja Sthavam (102 SlOkas) on Hasthigiri Varadan, This is

considered to be he last StOtra composed by AzhwAn.

 

After appealing to PurushAkara ThAyAr in (1), AzhwAn proceeds to describe

"Param" in (2). In (4) and (5) we enjoy AzhwAn's anubhavam of "ArchA'.

(3) stands apart as AzhwAn's "magnum opus".

 

We will commence in the next posting with a short write up on "Sri Sthavam"

the shortest of the 5 Sthavams. This is because AzhwAn himself has commenced

his Sthavams with a salutation first to Sri, in accordance with Sri Vaishnava

Sampradayam of praying to the Purushakara 'Sri"- before offering our

obeisance to PerumAL.

=============================================================