SRI PILLAI LOKACHARYA # 2

[Guest guest]

Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha!

Jai srimannarayana!

 

Sri Pillai Lokacharya

 

lo:ka:cha:rya:ya gurave: krishnapa:dasya su:nave:|

samsa:ra bho:gi sandashta ji:va ji:vathave: namaha||

 

 

Sri PL would be considered a social revolutionary in that he was the first

Acharya who wrote independent works in the vernacular language that expounded on

Vedanta and an account of his views on caste. In the latter instance, he was a

blazing visionary and pioneer, the likes of which finds no rival in the past or

present, saving his younger brother. He very staunchly held that all that

mattered was a bhagavatha’s (devotee’s) devotion to Perumal and that any

consideration of the caste of a bhagavatha constituted a grave 'apacha:ram'

(sin)!!!

 

Sri PL was a practical man who practiced what he preached and included amongst

his principal disciples was a Harijan by name Vilancholaipillai. This 'mahatma'

(great soul) had several Brahmin bhagavatas as disciples. To fully grasp the

immensity of Sri PL’s views and actions, they must be evaluated in the timeframe

in which they occurred, ie, almost 800 years ago. Understandably then, several

baghavathas in Srirangam took exception to Sri PL’s position. These objections

reached a level of criticality that in turn necessitated Sri AMP Nayanar’s

having to formally vindicate his brother. However, Sri PL never soft peddled

these issues!!! He composed several works in which he very directly and

explicitly covers controversial issues of absence of qualificatory states for

prapatti. Notable amongst the many works that were composed for the benefit of

future generations by this supremely benevolent Acharya are eighteen in

Manipravala style, that are called 'Ashtaadasa Rahasyangal' (18 esoteric

scriptures), and that leave no aspect of sri vaishnava philosphy uncovered.

 

 

To be Continued….

 

Andal Tiruvadigale Saranam.

madhava Ramanuja dasan.