IT IS NOT TRUE.

April 26, 2003

SrimathE RangaRamanuja Mahadesikaya Nama:SrimathE GOpAlArya Mahadesikaya

Nama:SrimathE NigamAntha Mahadesikaya Nama:SrimathE BhagavathE BhashyakArAya

Mahadesikaya Nama: SrI: It is NOT true that Bhashyakarar chanted the mantra

loudly in GhOstipuram temple. Bhashyakarar's acharyan was not ready to reveal

the mantrArtham(meaning of the mantram) to more than one sishya at a time. This

is was actually the tradition which was strictly followed. But Bhashyakarar

thought that if a guru was going to pass on the meaning of the mantra for only

one sishya at a time then how will Visistaadvaitam spread fast? Swami Desikan

had taught Sribhashyam some 40 times in His avathara kAlam. If he taught

sribhashyam at the rate of one student at a time then we would be having only 40

acharyaas directly taught by NigamAntha Mahadesikan!! So Bhashyakarar out of

'dayai' announced loudly that he would tell the meaning of the mantram for group

disciples at a time. More importantly he was ready to reveal the meaning of the

rashya mantram only for those who had panchasamskaaram and that too not in

public. The acharyan became angry with Bhashyakarar because of his "invitation"

for disciples to come in group to hear the meaning. But when bhashyakarar

explained him about his intention the acharyan also agreed. From that time till

now upadesam is done for groups and the previous strict traditional rule was

RELAXED. In Srimad Rahasya Traya Saram in the Guruparampara saram swami

desikan stresses the importance of protecting/safegaurding the mantrOpadesam of

an acharyan. Swami desikan belongs to the line of acharyaas coming from

Bhashyakarar. In such a case it is funny to accept such 'stories'. Some of us

try to encourage such stories thinking that it will add more to bhashyakarar's

vaibavam, but it actually would yield a negative result. One should be very

careful in sorting out 'stories' from biographies! AcharyaLum BhagavathaLum

KatakshikkavEnum. AdiyEn, PAdhukAdAsan, AravindalOchanadAsAnudAsan.

I understand that Sri Ramanuja does not use that specific term

sankîrtana in his writing -- but that he refers to the idea of it in

his in the Gita bhAshy and in the Nitya (his manual of household

worship) and in his Theology. Can anybody please tell me of these

references and/or if there are copies of the above mentioned works on

line

I have also hear:

Sri Ramanuja got the secret mantra from his guru who told him not

reveal it to anyone and as soon Sri Ramanuja departed after getting

the mantra he started chanting it loudly for all to hear. Then his

guru asked him why he had revealed the mantra to so many by chanting

it out loud and Sri Ramanuja replied that if the mantra had all the

wonderful power and blessings that he said it had that he wanted to

share it with everyone and not just keep it to himself.

Is the above true or is it a tale... If it is true where can I read

more about this

The New Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo.

April 28, 2003

Dear Friend:

We have heard of what is known as "Nindaa Stuthi", in which on the face of

it, the statement would appear offensive but in reality it would convey the

opposite, an eulogy.

(eg) Songs like

"yEn PaLLik koNDeer ayyaa Sriranganaathare?",

"NaDamaaDi thirinda umadu iDadu kaal Udavaamal muDamaagip pOnadu",

"Ethaik koNdu ichchai koNDaai, aDi magaLE?" etc.

There is another variety in which what appears to boost the image of the

character of the person actually means the opposite and in reality has the

contrary effect of pulling down the image!.

The classic example from Shakespear's Julius Caesar in which Mark Antony

calls the assasins of Caesar as "They are all, all honourable men", while

conveying just the opposite.

The present instance seems to fall under the second category, (Stuthi

nindaa?)May be with the best of intentions, the proponents of this version

might have meant to boost the image of Bhagavad Ramanuja to be so broad minded

as to reveal the mantras and that to all and sundry.

And, by constant repetition time and again, (a la Goebelles, the

misinformation Minister of Hitler)people are led to believe it to be true!.

Unfortunately, some of our own commentators seem to have fallen for

this misstatement and have given credence to it in their writings.

It is derogatory to Bhagavad Ramanuja, to suggest that he did not know the

dictum contained in the SEsha Samhitai (14.50) (Vide Guru Parampara saaram

in Swami Desika's Srimad Rahasya Traya Saaram") viz.,

"Gurum praakasayEth dheemaan mantram yathnEna gOpayEth /

aprakaasa prakaasabhyaam ksheeyatE sampad aayushi"

roughly meaning

" It is the duty of the Sishya to bring to light the glory of his Acharya.

It is equally his duty to zealously and with utmost effort guard the secrets

contained in the mantras taught to him by his Acharya. Not revealing the

greatness of the Acharya and/or revealing the sacred secret mantras (Rahasyas)

will destroy the spiritual wealth and the spiritual life of the sishya"

The following is an excerpt from the Biography of Bhagavad Ramanuja archived

at -http://members.tripod.com/~sriramanujar

maintained by Si Madhava Kannan Swamifrom Singapore.

" (6) The seat of Acharya at Srirangam was lying vacant without a successor

to take over. He was prevailed upon to assume charge. But, before doing

so, he wanted to equip himself with the secrets of the three great Mantras.

For this purpose, he approached one " Tiruk Koshtiyur Nambi" who made him

come several times before actually instructing him. He cautioned Ramanuja

that he should not give out the secrets to all and sundry and if he did so,

he would go to hell.

Immediately on receiving the instructions, Ramanuja climbed up to the top of

the steeple of the temple and proclaimed to the large gathering of his

disciples assembled there the "purport of the instruction"(Not the mantras

themselves).

The popular belief that he gave out the Mantras is not correct; What he

actually gave out was that he had found out the way to attain Moksha

through the three great Mantras and invited those who sincerely wished to

follow him and get initiated.

Also, he did not advise all and sundry as assumed by some. By the time of

this episode, he had already gathered a huge following of disciples who

congregated at the main entrance to the temple and he was thus addressing

his own disciples (as explained in a separate posting in this series).

This is another less known fact about the well known Acharya.

When a tale bearer, rushed to Nambi saying that Ramanuja was

revealing the mantras to the rubble, Tirukkoshtiyur Nambi

was so enraged and demanded an explanation.

Ramanuja replied that he did not give out the mantras and even if he had

transgressed the specific warning of the Guru,(which he did not) - only he

himself would go to hell but the multitude of humanity that listened to his

clarion 'wake-up' call would be saved spiritually.

The Guru was overwhelmed by this reply. Embracing Ramanuja appreciating

his broad mindedness, he called him 'Emperumanar'-

"Oh! My Lord" and declared that Srivaishnavism would thenceforward be known

as " Ramanuja Darsanam"- "the light of Ramanuja"

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

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

>Aravind Gopalan <balaji_gop

>umm

>CC:

> IT IS NOT TRUE.

>Sat, 26 Apr 2003 12:13:28 -0700 (PDT)

>

>SrimathE RangaRamanuja Mahadesikaya Nama:SrimathE GOpAlArya Mahadesikaya

>Nama:SrimathE NigamAntha Mahadesikaya Nama:SrimathE BhagavathE

>BhashyakArAya Mahadesikaya Nama: SrI: It is NOT true that Bhashyakarar

>chanted the mantra loudly in GhOstipuram temple. Bhashyakarar's acharyan

>was not ready to reveal the mantrArtham(meaning of the mantram) to more

>than one sishya at a time. This is was actually the tradition which was

>strictly followed. But Bhashyakarar thought that if a guru was going to

>pass on the meaning of the mantra for only one sishya at a time then how

>will Visistaadvaitam spread fast? Swami Desikan had taught Sribhashyam some

>40 times in His avathara kAlam. If he taught sribhashyam at the rate of one

>student at a time then we would be having only 40 acharyaas directly taught

>by NigamAntha Mahadesikan!! So Bhashyakarar out of 'dayai' announced

>loudly that he would tell the meaning of the mantram for group disciples at

>a time. More importantly he was ready to reveal the meaning of the rashya

>mantram only for those who had panchasamskaaram and that too not in public.

>The acharyan became angry with Bhashyakarar because of his "invitation" for

>disciples to come in group to hear the meaning. But when bhashyakarar

>explained him about his intention the acharyan also agreed. From that time

>till now upadesam is done for groups and the previous strict traditional

>rule was RELAXED. In Srimad Rahasya Traya Saram in the Guruparampara

>saram swami desikan stresses the importance of protecting/safegaurding the

>mantrOpadesam of an acharyan. Swami desikan belongs to the line of

>acharyaas coming from Bhashyakarar. In such a case it is funny to accept

>such 'stories'. Some of us try to encourage such stories thinking that it

>will add more to bhashyakarar's vaibavam, but it actually would yield a

>negative result. One should be very careful in sorting out 'stories' from

>biographies! AcharyaLum BhagavathaLum KatakshikkavEnum.

AdiyEn, PAdhukAdAsan,

AravindalOchanadAsAnudAsan.

dI understand that Sri Ramanuja does not use that specific term

>sankîrtana in his writing -- but that he refers to the idea of it in

>his in the Gita bhAshy and in the Nitya (his manual of household

>worship) and in his Theology. Can anybody please tell me of these

>references and/or if there are copies of the above mentioned works on

>line

>

>I have also hear:

>

>Sri Ramanuja got the secret mantra from his guru who told him not

>reveal it to anyone and as soon Sri Ramanuja departed after getting

>the mantra he started chanting it loudly for all to hear. Then his

>guru asked him why he had revealed the mantra to so many by chanting

>it out loud and Sri Ramanuja replied that if the mantra had all the

>wonderful power and blessings that he said it had that he wanted to

>share it with everyone and not just keep it to himself.

>

>Is the above true or is it a tale... If it is true where can I read

>more about this

>

>The New Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo.

>

>Srirangasri-

>

>Your use of is subject to

>

_______________

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April 29, 2003

SrI: Swami adiyen wrote whatever adiyen heard from adiyen's kalkshepa acharyan

Sri Ghostipuram swami. AdiyEn,PadhukAdAsan,AravindalOchandAsAnudAsan.

Venkat <ternandanan wrote:Dear Arvind Gopalan

thanx for ur outstanding espousal of abberation caused to the spotless Sri

Ramanuja vaibhavam. It is highly thoughtful and convincing argument . The

reported incident was not known to Swami desika (He would have mentioned

that in his Ethiraja Sapthathi , if that was true)

It is a later day creation rightly told by u in anticipation of getting

greater recognition.

Thanks again and let this message be given wider circulation

This argument of this writer has been told and Stressed by my Great

SadAcharyan Garudapuram Thirumalai Echambadi Raghunandanachariar Swamin

during Grantha Chathushtaya Kalakshepam Repeatedly

Dasan Venkat

-

"Aravind Gopalan"

To:

Cc:

Sunday, April 27, 2003 12:43 AM

IT IS NOT TRUE.

SrimathE RangaRamanuja Mahadesikaya Nama:SrimathE GOpAlArya Mahadesikaya

Nama:SrimathE NigamAntha Mahadesikaya Nama:SrimathE BhagavathE BhashyakArAya

Mahadesikaya Nama: SrI: It is NOT true that Bhashyakarar chanted the

mantra loudly in GhOstipuram temple. Bhashyakarar's acharyan was not ready

to reveal the mantrArtham(meaning of the mantram) to more than one sishya at

a time. This is was actually the tradition which was strictly followed. But

Bhashyakarar thought that if a guru was going to pass on the meaning of the

mantra for only one sishya at a time then how will Visistaadvaitam spread

fast? Swami Desikan had taught Sribhashyam some 40 times in His avathara

kAlam. If he taught sribhashyam at the rate of one student at a time then we

would be having only 40 acharyaas directly taught by NigamAntha

Mahadesikan!! So Bhashyakarar out of 'dayai' announced loudly that he would

tell the meaning of the mantram for group disciples at a time. More

importantly he was ready to reveal the meaning of the rashya mantram only

for those who had panchasamskaaram and that too not in public. The acharyan

became angry with Bhashyakarar because of his "invitation" for disciples to

come in group to hear the meaning. But when bhashyakarar explained him about

his intention the acharyan also agreed. From that time till now upadesam is

done for groups and the previous strict traditional rule was RELAXED. In

Srimad Rahasya Traya Saram in the Guruparampara saram swami desikan stresses

the importance of protecting/safegaurding the mantrOpadesam of an acharyan.

Swami desikan belongs to the line of acharyaas coming from Bhashyakarar. In

such a case it is funny to accept such 'stories'. Some of us try to

encourage such stories thinking that it will add more to bhashyakarar's