Chillarai Rahasyams

[Guest guest]

Dear BhakthAs :

 

Prior to my restart on ChillaRai Rahasyams ,

I wanted to share a posting that I have received

from Sri Hari Of Singapore.Here it is:

 

" SrI DESikan has blessed us all with 32 rahasya grantams in maNi-pravALa style.

These works explain elaborately the tatva-hita-purushArthams thus explaining

the secret meanings enshrined in the three secret mantras namely AshtAksharam,

dwayam and charama-slOkam. As these concepts are deep and difficult to be

comprehended, they are to be learnt as "bahudhA srOthavyam" and this is the

reason for numerous titles in this context. Of these rahasya grantams, the

following are voluminous.

1. SrImath Rahasyatraya sAram

2. Abhaya-pradAna sAram

3. Parama-pada-sOpAnam

4. Para-matha-bhangam

5. SrI Hasthi-giri-mahAthmiyam

 

The rest of the rahasya grantams are not that voluminous

nd in fact highly condensed in volume. This is the reason why

hese grantas (other than the 5 grantas mentioned above

ut of the 32 rahasya grantas) are called "chillarai

rahasyams".

 

The term "chillarai" is also sometimes written as

"chillaRai".The two "ra"s (ra and Ra) in Tamil

are to be noted here for differentiation.The "arai" in

"chillarai" means "half". This indicates the condensed

nature (in volume ) of these "chillarai rahasyams".

 

Few may object that the term "chillaRai" is used to

denote coins of lower denomination of currency)

and therefore these highly regarded rahasyams

should not be called as "chillaRai". To overrule

this objection, it is said that the term "chillaRai"

or "chillarai" is NOT meant to denote any inferiority

of these Sri Sookthis in any manner but only used to mean

that these chillaRai rahasyams are shorter in volume

and cover the same subject with highest regards

and respect ; also in ancient times, the meaning of

the terms was only this ; only in more recent periods,

the meaning relating to " inferiority" came into vogue.

Therefore the above objection is not sustained ".

 

Hari Sarngarajan of Singapore