Ashtasloki Vyakhyanam - Introduction

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sri:

Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha:

Ashtasloki Vyakhyanam - Introduction

 

Prapannas are those who have understood that Bhagwan is the only resort for all

beings. For reaching Him, He alone can help and there is no other means. Even

though we are prapannas, because of this birth we are attached to this material

world. Due to this attachemnt these souls are immersed in the cycle of birth and

death. The relesae from this cycle leads us to Moksha.

 

In order to reach moksha, we need to understand the basic essential knowledge

known as the ArthaPanchanka. They are:-

 

1. Knowledge about the true nature of paramatma (Lord).

2. Knowledge about the true nature of jeevatma (the soul).

3. The path to be followed and its true nature (swabhava).

4. The goal to be achieved and its greatness.

5. The obstacles in our way to reach the Lord.

 

Haaritha Samhitha explains the features of Artha Panchakam as:

 

praapyasya brahmanoo rupam praapthusccha pratyagaathmanaha

praapthyupaayam palam chaiva tathaa praapthi virodhi cha

vadanthi sakalaa vedaha sethihaasa puranaakaaha

 

Sri Parasara Bhattar Swami explains the features in his tanian for

Thiruvaimozhi as:

 

mikka irainilaiyum meyyaam uyir nilaiyum

thakka neriyum thadaiyaagi thokkiyalum

oozh vinaiyum vaazhvinaiyum odhum kurugaiyar kon

yaazhin isai vedaththiyal

 

This means that "The ThiruvAimozhi" composed by kurugaiyor kon, contains the

Artha Panchakam,

 

1. Nature of the eternal Paramaatma.

2. Nature of the eternal jeevaatma.

3. Path to be followed by the jeevaatma to attain Paramaatma.

4. Hurdles on this path towards the goal.

5. Moksha is the goal of jeevathma.

 

The technical name given to five points listed above is 'artha panchakam'. In

order to educate us on all these issues several works were presented to us by

the Lord. The chief among them are:

a. Vedas.

b. Ithihasas like Ramayanam and Maha Bharatham.

c. Puranas like Vishnu Puramam.

d. Dhivya Prabandam by Azhvars including Andal and Amudhanar.

 

All these have come to existence to elaborate the five points listed in Artha

Panchakam.

 

 

 

Azhvar Emberumanar Jeeyar Thiruvadigale Saranam

Dasan

VP Srinivasa Varadan