Tatthva Muktha Kalaapam: One of the upcoming e-books for the Sundara Simham series

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Sri:

 

Tathva Muktha Kalaapam of Swamy Desikan

 

The Tatthva Muktha Kalaapam (TMK) is one of the four magnificient philosophical

gems of Swamy Desikan . The other three are Satha DhUshaNi , NyAya Parisuddhi

and NyAya SiddhAnjana. TMK is categorized as a PrakaraNa grantham , a manual

or independent treatise to present and defend VisishtAdhvaithic doctrines

and to evaluate critically the deficiencies in the rival philosophical systems .

 

While Satha DhUshaNi confined itself to the criticism of Advaitham alone , TMK went farther

and provided a comprehensive evaluation of the metaphysical doctrines ( Tathvaas)

of significant rival schools of thought . With the sure footedness of a Master gymnast ,

Swamy Desikan created TMK in the form of 500 verses in the majestic Sragdhara meter

to house his dialectical arguments in poetry .

 

The Taarkika Simham ( the Lion among the Logicians) combined his extraordinary

poetic skills with those of his dialectic skills to bless us with 500 verses brimming with

such elegance about the serious topics of philosophy . No body has ever dared to

achieve this extraordinary feat .

 

Regarding his scope of coverage in TMK , Swamy Desikan paraphrases the statement of

Sage VyAsa about Mahaa Bhaaratham and describes : " what is not considered here ( TMK)

can not be found elsewhere " . Swamy Desikan is referring to the topics on Philosophy here .

 

Regarding the name selected by Swamy Desikan for this PrakaraNa grantham ,

he was inspired by the passage in VishNu PurANam , which refers to the Tatthvams

as ornaments of the Lord . Swamy Desikan , a long term resident of Srirangam

at the time of creating this Sri Sookthi decided to name this grantham as

" Pearl ( mukta ) ornament ( KalApa) of metaphysical doctrines ( Tathvaas )".

Swamy Desikan , who had offered MummaNikkOvai ( three strands of Pearls ),

a Tamizh Prabhandham as a garland to Sri HemAbhjavalli ThAyAr of Thiru Ayindhai

decided to offer a Five strand Pearl ornamnet to Lord RanganAtha this time ..

 

The five pearl strands are the five major parts of TMK : (1) dhravya (substance) ,

(2) Jeeva ( Individual Soul) , (3) Iswara( God) , (4) Buddhi ( Knowledge) and

(5) adhRavya ( non-substance) . TMK is a treasured bhUshaNam ( AabharaNam )

of Lord RanganAtha , which He adorns with great joy.

 

The rival schools of philosophy examined by Swamy Desikan in TMK

to establish the soundness of VisishtAdhvaitham and to expose

the deficiencies of Para Mathams are : NyAya and VaisEshika , Saankya

and Yoga ,Poorva Mimaamsa , VedAntha ( BHAskara, Yaadhava PrakAsa

and Sankara) , the four schools of Buddhism , Jianism and ChArvAkam .

No wonder Swamy Desikan said in TMK : " yannAsmin kvApi naitath "

( What is not considered here can not be found elsewhere ) .

 

Swamy Desikan blessed us with a commentary for TMK to elucidate

the fine points taken up in TMK . The name given by Swamy Desikan

to this commentary is SarvArTa Siddhi . Dr. V.N.SeshadhriyAcchAr

Swamy of Oppiliappan Sannidhi has submitted his Doctoral Thesis on

SarvAta Siddhi in English at Annamalai University . SarvArTa Siddhi is

a testament to the wide ranging knowledge of Swamy Desikan on

all the Indian Phiosophical Systems . Abhinava Desika UtthamUr

Swamy has blessed us with a glossary named " alabhya laabha: " ,

which covers both TMK and SarvArTa Siddhi .

 

Dr.S.M.S. Chari has published in 1988 a scholarly treatise named

" VisishtAdhvaitha VedAntha" ,which s a study based on Swamy

Desikan's Tatthva Muktha Kalaapa . adiyEn has benefitted greatly

from this monograph in English and will touch base with it .

 

The main purpose of the e-book on Tatthva Muktha Kalaapam

is to connect the content with the 200 plus Swamy Desika Sahsra

Naamams bequeathed to us by the Founder of the Muni Thraya

SamprahAyam , Thirukkudanthai Desikan . adiyEn will attempt to

focus on the individual nAmAs dealing with TMK following

closely the scholarly commentary of NavalpAkkam Dr. VasudEvAcchAr

Swamy . The subject matter is tough and would need a lot of familiarity

with Philosophical terms and Jn~Anam on tarkam . adiyEn is not blessed

with such Jn~Anam but adiyEn will try to summarize the highlights of

the elucidations in an easy to understand manner .

 

adiyEn will just post this introduction in the lists and complete the rest

and present it in the upcoming e-book on Tatthva Muktha KalApam .

 

Swamy Desika ! Tava DaasOham !

Oppiliappan Koil V.Sadagopan