Thiruvaheendhrapuram RathnAngi Kaimkaryam: Part 182 ( Mey Viratha Maanmiyam: Part 7.3 ): Paasurams 226/Third chapterof Brahama soothram )

[Guest guest]

Dear BhakthAs :

 

Today we will continue to study one of the most brilliant summaries of

the Third Chapter of Brahma Soothram with its four paadhamds

by Swamy Desikan .

 

Third Chapter of Brahma Soothram

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We will focus now on the 17th to the 24th lines of this Paasuram,

which is a summary of the third Chapter of Brahma Soothram

dealing further with the omnipotent Supreme Brahman worshippable

by the route of Bhakthi yOgam :

 

otthu anaitthu ulahum oRRi oRRi varum

ibbavatthu isayum isaivinAr

 

uruvam aruvam yenum ulahin muduhu ilathil

uvamai ilathu ilahu talaivanAr

 

utthamap-padi vahuttha vitthaihaLil

uttharikka uNar guNavanAr

 

uriya girisahaLil ariyathoru virahu

teriya virayumavar parivinAr

 

The first two lines ( otthu anaitthu ulahum--isaivinAr)

deal with the first paadham of the third chapter of Brahma

Soothram (BRS) : Our Lord is the One , who is the commander

( nirvAhakar/person in charge) of the immortal Jeevan in the body during

the states of wakefulnees, dream , sleep , uncosciousness (Moorcahna)

and death .

 

The next two lines ( Uruvam aruvam ---talaivanAr) deal with

the essence of the second paadham of the third chapter. Here ,

the upadEsam is that even if he is together with the sentients and

insentients as their indweller , He is not affected by their dhOshams.

 

The subsequent two lines of this prabhandham cover the many means

of Bhakthi yOgam by which the Lord is mediated upon ( UpAsanais

of Brahmam for Moksham like Dahara , SaaNDilya , Para and other vidhyais ).

This is the essence of the third paadham of the third chapter of the BRS.

 

The final two lines ( Uriya kirisaihaLil---parivinAr ) deal with

the summing up of the fourth paadham of the third chapter of

the BRS. Here the reference is to the Supreme Being ( Para Brahman) ,

who responds with alacrity to the saadhakAs , who follow the prescribed

VarNAsrama dharmams ( performance of the nithya-naimitthika-kAmya

karmAs with Saathvika thyAgam ) . For them , the Lord comes forward and

grants readily the desired fruits of Bhakthi yOgam ( Moksham )

 

The essence of the Four Chapters of Brahma Soothram (BRS)

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The first chapter of BRS deals with the establishment of Brahman

as " the ground of the Cosmos" based on correlation with Upanishadic

texts (samanvayAdhyam). The second chapter of BRS (avirOdhAdhyAyam)

supports the theme of the first chapter and refutes the theories advanced by

rival schools of thought that are inconsistent with VedAnthic tenets. The

third adhyAya ( SaadhanAdhyAya) deals with the ways and means

to attain Brahman. It deals with the state of mind of the jeevan engaged in

pursuing these means , the dispassionate approach , the cultivation of

ethical

values and finally the different upAsanAs ( Meditations) to practise for

realizing Brahman . So far , Swamy Desikan followed the lay out of the

Brahma-

SoothrAs and discussed the nature of Brahman ( Tatthva dealt in the first

and second chapters ) , the saadhana to attain it (third chapter)

and the supreme goal of that Saadhana ( PurushArTa ) in the fourth

chapter of BRS( PhalAdhyAya) . We will study next the PurushArTa

(lines 25 to 32 of the 19th Paasuram of Mey viratha Maanmiyam) .

 

Swamy Desikan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam ,

SrImath Azhagiya Singar Thiruvadi ,

Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan