Response to a query about TRI DANDAM

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SrI:

 

 

Dear AasthikAs :

 

Recently, there was a question

to me about the Thridhandam that

our SanyAsis carry on their

hand and how does it differ in

significance from the yEka

dhaNDam that Adhvaiti SanyAsis

carry on their hands .

 

Here are some thoughts and

please feel free to join in the

discussions .

 

The adhvaitha sanyAsis

carry yEka dhaNDam

because of their belief in

Jeeva-Brahma Eikyam .

This is totally unacceptable to

VaishNava and Maadhva SanyAsis ,

who believe that JeevAtman is

different from Brahman and is

a distinct , real "ontological entity"

different from Brahman .

 

In our tradition , ThridhaNDam

stands for the many things that

three stands for in our Darsanam

and partiularly , the Tattva Thrayam

and the three rahasyams . ChEtana-

achEtana-Iswara tattvams and

their organic relationships thru

Sareera-Saareeraka Bhavam is

the core of VisishtAdhvaitham

accepting saviSesha Brahman

and reality of the world and

the Jeevans .

 

The relationship between the three

distinct ontological entities ( tattvams)

is covered by the following Brahma

sUtra adhikaraNAs :

 

1. VaakyanvayAdhikaraNa

2.AmsAdhikaraNa

3.PrakrtyAdhikaraNa

4.ArambhanAdhikaraNa

5.AhikundalAdhikaraNa

 

The First two of the above 5 AdhikaraNAs

deal with the relationship between Jivan(cEtanam)

and Iswaran/Brahman .The next three adhikaraNAs

cover the relationship of he material universe

(acEtanam) to Brahman .

 

We have three distinct and real tattvams .

In Bhagavath RaamAnuja darsanam ,

the universe is real and not a myth .

Jeevan is an amsam of Brahman ( amsi) .

The three distinct entities have

an organic relationship with one another .

 

Brahman is the indweller( antaryAmin) of

Jeevans and acEtanams . Jeevans and

acEtanams serve as the body of Brahman.

The three dhandams tied together symbolize

this Sareera--sareeri bhavam ( The organic

relationship between Brahman and the universe

of chith (sentients) and achith( insentients) .This

bhAvam is central to Bhagavath RaamAnuja

darsanam and hence is represented as

thridhaNDam in the hands of the VaishNava

SanyAsis .

 

ThridhaNDam is never laid on ground

even when the SanyAsi bends and bows

before PerumAL . At times needed , it

rested on a special stand next to

the SanyAsi . Specail wood is chosen

to make the thridaNDam and special

Mantrams are recited to assemble it .

When it is lifted , the SanyAsi greets

it as a friend and seeks its protection

( sakhA mE gOpAya). ThridhaNdam

helps the SanyAsi to control his speech ,

mind and body .

 

ThridhaNDam is raised to direct the sishyAs

in the right path and to hit the PaashanDis

and Kudhrushtis and Veda BhAhya mata

Vaadins like a thinderbolt( vajrAyudham)

breaks up a mountain.

 

One of the ebooks on "Trayimayam

idham Sarvam " in the Sundara Simham series

or Ahobilavalli series by Coimbatore

Sadagopa IyengAr covers a lot of ground on

the importance of the number three .

 

The little piece of cloth on top of

the thridhaNDam ( Jala Vastram)

is used during Mantra Japams and

anushtAnams like daily Gayatri Japam

during the sandhyA vandhana Kaalams .

It is like a victory flag( Vijaya dhvajam)

on top of the MukkOl (TridhaNDam )

denoting the SanyAsi's conquest over

his mind , speech and body .

 

ThridhaNDam is considered as a Sakha

for the SanyAsi . DhAti Panchakam blessed to

us by KurEsar celebrates the glories of

ThridhaNDam thru many ullElAlankArams

( multifacted analysis and celebrations ) .

 

EmbAr has enjoyed the matchless beauty of

ThridaNDam in the hands of AchArya RaamAnuja

this way :munn kaiyyil thihazh mukkOl tani azhagum ".

 

In the Sri Sannidhi sampradhAyam ,

BhagavAn Narasimhan presented

the ochre robes and ThridhaNDam

to Adhi VaNN SaThakOpa Jeeyar

at Ahobila KshEtram .

 

SrimathE RaamAnujAya Nama:

V.Sadagopan

 

---- Original Message -----

 

An Aasthika

saranagathi-owner

Friday, June 20, 2008 9:26 PM

query about TRI DANDAM

 

Respected swamin,

 

We very often see our Sree Vaishnavaite Jeeyars with the Tri Dandam on ceremonial occasions.

While the Smartha and Madhwa Sanyasis use a single Dandam, in our Sampradayam, Jeeyars use Tri Dandam.

 

I am keen to know the following:

 

a. Significance of the Tridandam in particular and Dandam in general, when to use it and when to keep it aside

 

b. Why this number 3 in our sampradayam and what does it represent