ThiruvahIndhrapuram RathnAngi Kaimkaryam: Part 104/ Desika Darsana Saara Sangraham : Part II

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SrI:

 

NamO VenkatEsAya:

 

Achaarya UpakAram

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Every ChEthanan has to approach the Saathvika-natured BhaagavathAs ,

move closely with them and gain an AchAryan with their help. Afterwards ,

the ChEthanan should pray to the SadAchAryan to point out the way

to Moksham. The SadAchAryan will respond by performing upadEsam on

the meanings of the important Tatthvams and ask the chEthanan not to swerve

from the observance of the Various VarnAsrama dharmams.The AchAryan will

imprint thereafter the Chakra and Sankham, the insignia of the Lord, on

the shoulders of the ChEthanam and perform ManthrOpadEsam .This is what is

known as the rites of SamAsrayaNam and Pancha SamskAram in the world.

This rite is the key observance to become a SrI VaishNava. This rite is common to

Ladies and people of all four VarNams. Without the benefits of this sacred rite ,

no one can become a SrI VishNavan.

 

During the time of SamAsrayaNam , the SadAchAryan will initiate the disciple

on the three manthrams --AshtAksharam , Dhvayam and Charama SlOkam --

with their meanings. The Sishyan should perform japam of these three manthrams

with reflections on their meanings.Afterwards , the SadAchAryan will bless

the Sishyan with KaalkshEpams to grow visEsha Jn~Anam about our Darsanam.

Finally , the SadAchAryan out of His infinite mercy will perform BharanyAsam/Prapatthi ,

where He will place the Jeevan of the ChEthanam at the sacred feet of the Lord , who

is the true owner of that Jeevan . The rites of SamAsrayaNam , KaalakshEpam and

Prapatthi might take place with the same SadAchAryan or with more tha one AchAryAs.

The AchAryAs do not exepct any thing in return for performing their invaluable help.

It is the same as the Mother Cow that blesses its calf with milk without expecting

anything in return . AchAryAs perform thes ecompassionate acts solely for the sake

of the ChEthanam's upliftment from the samsAric afflictions.This is thus an act of

indescribable mercy .

 

The Duties of the SishyAs

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The SishyAs should consider and revere their AchAryan as the Lord Himself.

They should be grateful to Him for initiating them into the most secret manthrAs

and their meanings handed thru Guru paramparA and recognize that they can not

pay back their AchAryan in any manner whatsoever for the great help given to them.

The sishyan should not waste the precious upadEsams through following paths that are

diamemetrically opposite to the UpadEsams of the AchAryan. The prime duties of

the Sishyan is to glorify their AchAryans and to protect the Manthrams entrusted to

them from falling into the wrong hands. The sishyan should worship the AchAryan ,

meditate on the AchAryan's auspicious attributes , speak about His glories in public

and conduct uthsavams to celebrate His avathAra dinam. All of these still will not

repay even in a small measure the greatest upakAram performed by the AchAryan.

 

Performance of KaalkshEpam

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There are four sacred texts that have to be learnt under the sacred feet of

the AchAryan:

 

(1) SrImath BhAshyam created by AchArya RaamAnuja as commentary on

the Brahma SoothrAs of Sage VyAsa

 

(2) SrI GithA BhAshyam authored by AchArya RaamAnuja as commentary on

SrI Bhagavath GithA

 

(3) SrImath Rahasya Thraya Saaram blessed to us by Swamy Desikan that

is a MaNipravALa commentary on the three Rahasyams

 

(4) Sri Bhagavath Vishayam , a precious commentary for Swamy NammAzhwAr's

ThiruvAimozhi by ThirukkuruhaippirAn PiLLAn , a direct disciple

of AchArya

RaamAnujA.

 

These are known as Grantha ChAthushtyam or the four sacred texts.

 

Prior to KaalakshEpam of the above four SrI Sookthis, familiarity with

IthihAsams and PurANams would have been acquired to improve one's

discriminating intellect (VivEkam) and to qualify the sishyan to engage in

KaalakshEpam. One should learn the recital of the entire ThiruvAimozhi

from the AchAryan prior to KaalkshEpam on SrI Bhagavath Vishayam.

In addition to the Grantha ChAthushtayam , the sishyan should learn

from the AchAryan additional AchArya SrI Sookthis and the traditional

intrepretations of their meanings according to their abilities. Those who

can not perform KaalakshEpams of the entire four granthams should

atleast have KaalkshEpam of SrImath Rajasya Thraya Saaram of

Swamy Desikan.

 

The Three Rahasyams

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The first of the three is Thirumanthiram or AshtAksharam.It has 8 letters.

This is the most sacred among the ManthrAs. It has many special meanings.

It has the power to confer all soubhAgyams . Ladies and the members of all

four VarNams can recite it. Ladies and the members of the fourth VarNam have

to substitute PraNavam with "amm".

 

The second of the three rahasyams is Dhvayam with 25 letters. Our Lord

blessed us with this manthram by uniting two separate vaakyams of Upanishad.

Even utterance of this Dhvayam once would grant fruits all the way upto Moksham.

Such is its power . It can be recited by all.

 

The third of the three rahasyams is the Charama SlOkam with 32 letters.

This is found in the last chapter ( Charama adhyAyam ) of Bhagavad GithA.

It was blessed to us by the Lord's sacred speech . This manthram deals with

Prapatthi or Self-Surrender/Aathma nivEdhanam.

 

These three rahasyams have 3, 6 and 12 padhams respectively. AchArya initiates

the Sishyan into them during the time of SamAsrayaNam . The sishyan should then

perform Japam on them daily. The meanings of these three manthrams are covered

extensively in SrImath Rahasya Thraya Saaram of Swamy Desikan. In some of his

ChillaRai Rahasyams also , Swamy Desikan has covered the meanings of these

individual rahasyams ( Thirumanthira Churukku, Dhvaya Churukku and Charama

slOka churukku).

 

In the next posting , adiyEn will cover the three Tatthvams ( ChEthanam , achEthanam

and Iswaran), Hitham or the means observed to gain Moksham ( Bhakthi and Prapatthi

Yogams ) and PurushArTam or the Supreme Goal of Life.

 

(To be continued)

 

Swamy Desikan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan