Ashtasloki - 1 - Bhattar's Tanian and Verse1

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Sri:

Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha

 

So far we have seen that in Ashtasloki, Sri Parasara Bhattar gives us the

meanings of the three most important mantras of Ramanuja Sampradaya.

 

In the first four slokas, Sri Bhattar explains the meaning of the Thirumantram

"Om Namo Naaraayanaaya". comprising three words: om, namaha and Naaraayanaaya.

 

In slokas five and six, Sri Bhattar teaches the meaning of the Dvaya-mantra.

This mantra consists two parts: Purva Khandam: SrimanNaaraayana Charanau

Saranam Prapadye Uttara Khandam: Srimate Naaraayanaaya namaha

 

In sloka seven and eight, Sri Bhattar explains the important Charama Sloka. This

is the essence of Srimad Bhagavad-Gita as given by Lord Krishna.

 

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'Om' is the Pranavam and 'Namo Naaraayanaaya' is Manthrasesham. Pranavam (om) is

expanded upon by Manthrasesham. Manthrasesham is further expanded by Dvayam.

Dvayam is expanded upon by Charama Slokam.

 

We now start with the Tanian of the Sri Parasara Bhattar who has given us this

kula-dhanam (Ancestral Treasure).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Swami Sri PARASARA BHATTAR's Thanian

*Sri Parasara Bhattaryaha Sri Rangesa purohithaha

Srivatsanga sutha sriman sreyasey mesthu bhooyasey*

 

May Sri Parasara bhattar, son of Srivatsanka (Sri KoorathAzhvan), who was

dedicated in the service of Lord Ranganatha, may he grant the knowledge which

will give me shreyas.

 

Verse No.1.

*akaraarthoo vishnuhu jagadudaya rakshaa pralaya krth

makaaraarthoo jeevaha tadupakaranam vaishnavamidam

ukaaroonanyaarham niyamayati sambandhamanayoh

trayee saaraha tryaatmaa pranava imamartham samadishath

*

Jagat udaya raksha pralaya krithu one who creates, sustains and destroys all of

the worlds Vishnu all pervading Lord Akarartha ha is the meaning of the letter

'ah' contained in the pranavam 'Om' Jeevaha the jeeva who is the embodiment of

knowledge

Makararth tha ha is the meaning of the letter 'ma'

Tat idam the above mentioned 'jeevatma' the soul.

 

Vaishnava upakaranam is subservient only to the Lord. This is borne out of the

forth case ending which disappeared as per a technical grammar rule.

 

ookaraha the letter 'ooh' which is in the middle of the pranavam 'om' Anayoho

sambandam the relationship among the Paramatma and jeevatma

(the Lord and the Soul).

 

Ananyarham niyamayathi is binding firmly. For example in this life as in the

relation between Husband and wife.

Imam artham the meanings thus explained

Tra-yi-sara ha they represent the essence of the three Vedas.

Tri-atmas representing three letters as well as three words

Pranavaha sama-dhi-sat the 'om' syllabal conveys to us

 

This verse explains the meaning of "om", the first word of 'Thirumantram'.

Thirumantram has eight letters and three words. The first word is 'om' consists

of three letters 'ah','ooh' and 'ma''. 'ah' + 'ooh' makes the 'oh' and 'm' is

joined to 'oh' to make the 'om'.

 

A doubt may arise about the exact number of letters contained in the Pranavam,

'om'. Is it only one letter as mentioned in the Vedas? 'omithi ekaksharam', or

is it three letters as shown in the above paragraph?

 

 

 

Continued in the next post.

Azhvar Emberumanar Jeeyar Thiruvadigale Saranam

Ramanuja Dasan

VP Srinivasa Varadan