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Source: The Hindu

(http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/02/18/stories/2002021800490800.htm)

Miscellaneous

-

Religion

 

 

Saint's influence aids spiritual evolution

 

 

 

CHENNAI

FEB.18

 

.. The perusal of the lives and teachings of preceptors and saints is necessary

for those engaged in worldly life as it helps develop inclination for spiritual

life. Devotion to God will blossom in the heart of even a person who is given to

sensory pursuits when he comes under the influence of saints. Their teachings

are not just their interpretations of the scriptures, but attested from the

depths of their spiritual experiences.

 

The nature of the Supreme Reality and the soul's relationship to God and the

world of existence have been formulated by Adi Sankara, Ramanuja and

Madhvacharya in their philosophies of Advaita, Visishtadvaita and Dvaita

respectively on the basis of the scriptures - the Brahmasutra, Bhagavad Gita and

the Upanishads. Each of these traditions has had an unbroken line of preceptors

and saints who have nurtured and embellished the systems by their precept and

practice. In the Dvaita system, the Haridasas were instrumental in making

available the scriptural teachings of the preceptors to the lay people through

Kirtan (singing the Lord's glory) for which they composed songs in Kannada. The

abstract philosophical concepts were couched in simple verse and music which

were both appealing and easy to understand. Guru Raghavendra (17th Century) who

belongs to the Madhwa lineage is revered as a saint who bridged the

philosophical and the popular Haridasa tradition.

 

In his discourse, Sri M.K.Ramanan said Guru Raghavendra was popularly known as

the saint of Mantralaya and as one who fulfilled his devotees' wishes like the

Kalpakavrksha tree and Kamadhenu (cow). He hailed from a family well versed in

music and the scriptures who migrated to Tanjore from Karnataka. He was born in

Bhuvanagiri and was named as Venkatanatha. His father Thimanna Bhatta was an

accomplished musician and scholar but he passed away when he was just a baby and

it was his elder brother who furthered his study in Madurai. His prodigious

skill in music was noticed and soon he came under the spiritual guidance of

Sudhindra Tirtha in Kumbakonam Math where he later succeeded him and adorned the

seat for nearly five decades. His predilection for spiritual life was evident to

his preceptor even when he was a student under his tutelage but he allowed him

to evolve naturally before consecrating him as his successor under the name

Raghavendra Tirtha. Another distinguishing fe!

ature of his continuing spiritual ministry is his entering Jiva Samadhi at

Mancholi in the presence of a large number of devotees under divine inspiration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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