Book review from The Hindu- SRIVACHANABHUSHANAM OF PILLAI LOKACHARYA

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Pillai Lokacharya’s magnum opus

 

M.NARASIMHACHARY

 

http://www.hindu.com/br/2007/10/09/stories/2007100950021301.htm

 

 

SRIVACHANABHUSHANAM OF PILLAI LOKACHARYA—Translation

and Commentary of Manavala Mamuni; Critical Evaluation

of the Theo-Philosophy of the Post-Ramanuja

Srivaishnavism: J. Rangaswami; Sharada Publishing

House, 2094/165, Ganeshpura, Tri Nagar, Delhi-110035.

Rs.1950.

 

Srivaishnava philosophy of the post-Ramanuja period

had an interesting growth. What was adumbrated by

Ramanuja in his Gadyas received a detailed and

categorical exposition at the hands of great teachers

like Pillai Lokacharya and Vedanta Desika. The

compositions of the mystic saints Azhvars received

greatest attention during this period. Works

highlighting the essential doctrines under the name

Rahasya were composed in Manipravala (Sanskritised

Tamil). This may be describe d as the golden period of

the Manipravala style. Since many Sanskrit words do

not have a correct parallel in Tamil, ancient writers

resorted to this method of blending Sanskrit and

Tamil. This gave the Tamil language, a rare charm and

dignity. Pillai Lokacharya wrote 18 Rahasyas. Of

these, the Srivachanabhushana, Tattvatraya and the

Mumukshuppadi are important, and among them the first

work is the magnum opus of the great writer. The

credit of commenting on this important Rahasya text

goes to Manavala Mamuni (1370-1444).

 

Features

 

It has to be pointed out in this context that the

Srivaishnava writings are in Sanskrit, Tamil and

Manipravala. Understanding this literature requires

special training. The present work embodying the

Srivachanabhushana contains 466 pithy aphoristic

statements. But for the commentary of Manavala Mamuni,

this work would have remained unintelligible with its

subtle layers of meaning. The central teachings of

this work may be summarised as follows: the soul does

not need anything but knowledge about its essential

nature. It is always subservient to and dependent upon

the Lord. It has to do eternal service through the

mediation of the preceptors. It is the grace of

preceptors that ultimately helps the soul to attain

liberation.

 

Translation

 

 

The credit of providing an excellent, reliable and

readable English rendition for this monumental work

goes to J. Rangaswami. Here the original aphorisms of

Pillai Lokacharya are given in Roman transliteration,

using diacritical marks. This is followed by verbal

(word-to-word) translation. Then comes the

translation; this is followed by introduction (to the

topic) and then a detailed commentary.

 

The translator has admirably succeeded in bringing out

the essence of the original text along with the

flavour of the commentary of Manavala Mamuni.

 

The value of the text is enhanced by the large number

of useful indexes which include the original text of

Srivachanabhushana in Grantha script; glossary of all

the technical words, and index of works and authors.

 

We congratulate the translator J. Rangaswami for this

commendable publication.

 

 

 

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The link should be http://www.hindu.com/br/2007/10/09/stories/2007100950231400.htm SridharMadhavakkannan V <srivaishnavan wrote: Pillai Lokacharya’s magnum opus M.NARASIMHACHARY http://www.hindu.com/br/2007/10/09/stories/2007100950021301.htmSRIVACHANABHUSHANAM OF PILLAI

LOKACHARYA—Translationand Commentary of Manavala Mamuni; Critical Evaluationof the Theo-Philosophy of the Post-RamanujaSrivaishnavism: J. Rangaswami; Sharada PublishingHouse, 2094/165, Ganeshpura, Tri Nagar, Delhi-110035.Rs.1950.Srivaishnava philosophy of the post-Ramanuja periodhad an interesting growth. What was adumbrated byRamanuja in his Gadyas received a detailed andcategorical exposition at the hands of great teacherslike Pillai Lokacharya and Vedanta Desika. Thecompositions of the mystic saints Azhvars receivedgreatest attention during this period. Workshighlighting the essential doctrines under the nameRahasya were composed in Manipravala (SanskritisedTamil). This may be describe d as the golden period ofthe Manipravala style. Since many Sanskrit words donot have a correct parallel in Tamil, ancient writersresorted to this method of blending Sanskrit andTamil. This gave the Tamil

language, a rare charm anddignity. Pillai Lokacharya wrote 18 Rahasyas. Ofthese, the Srivachanabhushana, Tattvatraya and theMumukshuppadi are important, and among them the firstwork is the magnum opus of the great writer. Thecredit of commenting on this important Rahasya textgoes to Manavala Mamuni (1370-1444). Features It has to be pointed out in this context that theSrivaishnava writings are in Sanskrit, Tamil andManipravala. Understanding this literature requiresspecial training. The present work embodying theSrivachanabhushana contains 466 pithy aphoristicstatements. But for the commentary of Manavala Mamuni,this work would have remained unintelligible with itssubtle layers of meaning. The central teachings ofthis work may be summarised as follows: the soul doesnot need anything but knowledge about its essentialnature. It is always subservient to and dependent uponthe Lord. It has to do

eternal service through themediation of the preceptors. It is the grace ofpreceptors that ultimately helps the soul to attainliberation.Translation The credit of providing an excellent, reliable andreadable English rendition for this monumental workgoes to J. Rangaswami. Here the original aphorisms ofPillai Lokacharya are given in Roman transliteration,using diacritical marks. This is followed by verbal(word-to-word) translation. Then comes thetranslation; this is followed by introduction (to thetopic) and then a detailed commentary. The translator has admirably succeeded in bringing outthe essence of the original text along with theflavour of the commentary of Manavala Mamuni. The value of the text is enhanced by the large numberof useful indexes which include the original text ofSrivachanabhushana in Grantha script; glossary of allthe technical words, and index of works and

authors.We congratulate the translator J. Rangaswami for thiscommendable publication. ________Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect. Join 's user panel and lay it on us. http://surveylink./gmrs/_panel_invite.asp?a=7

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