shrI: tattva dIpikA - Part 3

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Sri:

Srimate Sri Lakshminrisimha ParabrahmaNE nama:

Srimate Sri Satakopaya nama:

Srimate Sri Ramanujaya nama:

Srimate Sri Nigamantha mahadesikaya nama:

Srimate SrimadhaathivaN satakopa yatindra mahadesikaya nama:

Srimate Srivan Satakopa Sri Vedantha Desika Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

Srimate Sri Lakshminrisimha Dhivya Padhuka sevaka

Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

 

 

Sri Parasara Bhattar's view

---------------------------

The fifth view is the preferred view for not just Swami Sri Desikan, but for

Sri parasara Bhattar as well. The following Mangala Slokam cited by Swami

Sri Desikan is from the epic " Lakshmi Kalyanam " , by Sri Bhattar.

 

ananyAdhIna kalyaaNaM anyama~Ngala kAraNam |

jagannidAnaM advandvaM dvandvaM vandAmahe maha: ||

 

This epic by Sri Bhattar is no longer extant. Therefore, some do not cite

this sloka as an aauthority. If we are to take this approach much of the

references quoted by the poorvaacharyas belonging to both branches of Sri

Vaishnavam will be rendered null and void as the original source of these

slokas are not extant today. In as much as these sources were available

during the time of our poorvaacharyaas we continue to accept the authority

of these slokas even though the sources in their entirety are not available

to us now. Therefore, the above sloka must be accepted as authoritative.

 

In this sloka Sri Bhattar says we worship a couple (dvandvam = mitunam). In

the rest of the sloka, Sri Bhattar explains the characteristics of this

couple, i.e. dvandvam, or mitunam. These characteristics are, " ananyAdhIna

kalyANam " , " anyama~Ngala kAraNam " , " jagannidAnam " , and " advandvam " .

 

" ananyAdhIna kalyANam "

This couple is free of dependence upon anyone else and is naturally and

without the aid of anyone manifested by auspicious qualities. That is, both

Piratti and Perumal possess auspicious qualities that are not derived from

anyone else.

 

" anyama~Ngala kAraNam " ,

This couple is the reason for the auspicious qualities of all others. That

is, the auspicious qualities of everyone including Brahmma and Sivan, are

derived from Perumal and Piratti.

 

" jagannidAnam " ,

This couple is the cause for this universe. Both Perumal and Piratti are

the cause for creation.

 

" ahvandvam "

There is no other couple equal to this couple. The divine couple Perumal

and Piratti is peerless.

 

Of these, " jagannidAnam " , " advandvam " are important in the present context.

From these two adjectives it is clear that both Piratti and Perumal are

equally the cause of creation. There is nothing here to suggest a more

important role for Perumal and a less important one for Piratti. Further,

this Sloka does not purport any significance independent of Sruthi. Its

significance is to make Sruthi's intent clear. All the Slokas of our

poorvaacharyas serve the purpose of explaining the truths contained in

Sruthi to everyone. Therefore, the adjective " jagannidAnam " in the above

Sloka is meant to illuminate the intent of Sruthi that Piratti, like

Perumal, is a cause of creation and ruler of the universe.

 

-- to be continued

 

srimad azhagiya singar thiruvadigaLE saraNam

 

-- adiyen ramanuja dasan

 

 

(Translation by P. Dileepan)