Aithihyas

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ALVARS are the holy saints who had the divine

blessings of Lord Narayana and sang in praise of the

Him. Their devotional outpourings came in the form of

Tamil hymns which are collectively known as “Nalayira

Divyaprabhandam” (the 4000 verses of divine

composition). Until the emergence of Acharya Sri

Ramanuja during the 11th century, explanations and

expositions on the Divyaprabandham were carried only

by oral tradition. For the first time, at the order of

Sri Ramanuja, Pillan wrote a commentary on

Thiruvaimoli. Following this Nanjeeyar, Nampillai,

Periavachanpillai, Vedanta Desika and Manavala

Mamunigal wrote scholarly commentaries on the Divya

Prabhandams. There were elaborate discussions,

dialogues and discourses on the inner meanings of the

hymns of Alvars. Various interpretations given by

Acharyas who lived in different periods were passed on

to the generations through these commentaries. Also,

important incidents that took place in the lives of

these Acharayas were cited to corroborate and

elucidate the inner meanings of the hymns. These

incidents and the interpretations which are known as

AITHIHYAS and NIRVAHAS respectively are recorded in

the commetaries of the Acharyas above mentioned.

All these aithihyas and nirvahas found in the

commentaries are in manipravala style and hence

without proper explanation it will be very difficult

to understand the inner meening of aithihyas and

nirvahas. Dr. M.A.Venkatakrishan, Professor of

Vaishnavism, University of Madras, who had the good

fortune of learning the traditional texts under the

feet of great scholars like Sri P.B.Annangaracharya

Swami, Sri Sthabhishekam Govinda Narasimhacharya

Swami, Sri Velukkudi K.Varadacharya Swami & Sri

T.A.Krishnamacharya Swami for over 20 years, took the

task of analysing, elucidating these aithihyas and

nirvahas, with explanations in simple Tamil. He took

this as a research project for the past five years and

now he is preparing to publish this in the form a

book. H.H.Sri Vanamamalai Jeeyar Swami and H.H.Sri

Alagiasingar of Ahobila Mutt have blessed this book

with their Mangalasasams and Foreword.

This book will help in reviving the value system of

the ancient society, which will pave the way for the

modern man to learn, appreciate, and strive for

building a better society. Since the aithihyas and

nirvahas are the products of a very high order of

saintly people viz., the Acharyas, a careful

analytical study of these would set the trend among

the younger generations to exhibit a high level of

behavioural pattern so that the modern society would

be in a better place to live amicably, as envisaged in

these aithihyas and nirvahas recorded in the vast and

hoary commentaries of the Acharyas.

As this book consists of about 850 pages (in A4 size

i.e. 21cm x 30 cm), the total cost of publishing comes

around RUPEES TWO LAKHS. We request you Sir, to

donate liberally for publishing this valuable book.

Donations may be sent to and in the name of

GEETHACHARYAN, 7, South Mada Street, Triplicane,

Chennai 600 005, Tamil Nadu India.

 

m.a.venkatakrishnan