Thiru AdhyayanOthsavam : The many splendored meanings of the key word Adhyayanam

[Guest guest]

Dear BhakthAs getting ready to perform and

enjoy the AdhyayanOthsavam for Sri RanganAthA !

 

As a complimentary input for Sri RengarAjan's

excellent series of postings on the uthsavams at

Srirangam , adiyEn will comment on the etymology

and the Vedic significance of the word " Adhyayanam "

and its connection to " AdhyayanOthsavam " .

 

The prefix " adhee " means to study , to learn by heart ,

to remember what is learnt ( as in " adhee: BhagavO BrahmEthi "

passage of TaitthirIya Upanishadh) ; it also means to teach ,

declare and understand .As is usual with Sanskrit

words , there are a host of meanings depending

on the context .

 

From " adhee " , we move on to " adheetha " ,

which means learnt , studied and remembered.

 

From " adhee " derives " adheeyAna: " , which

means a student , who is learning VedhAs (Sruthis)

in the traditional way from an " adhyApAka "

or teacher .

 

From " adhee " is also derived the word " adhIthin "

to denote a well-read , devoted scholar engaged

in reciting sacred texts like Sruthis.

 

Now with this introduction to the root of " adhee " ,

we come to the key word " adhyayanam " , which means

learning , study and rememberance of the Vedic passages.

This reference can be for Sanskritic VedhAs as well as

for the Tamizh VedhAs ( Tamizh MaRaikaL) or NammAzhwAr's

four dhivya prabhandhams with its six angams (Kaliyan's)

as well as the other 14 Dhivya Prabhandhams .Adhyayanam

is not connected to the word " ayanam " meaning solistice

as in DakshiNAyanam (Winter Solistice ).

 

Adhyayanam is a must for three of the four classes

of people as indicated by Manu Smruthi: " adhyayanam

cha aksharamAthra PaaDa ithi VaidikhA : " .Those who

not only learn Vedhic texts but understand the meanings

of these sacred ageless (anAdhi ) text are " arthaj~na: "

Latter type (arthaj~na:) are supposed to derive all

auspiciousness (sakalam Bhadhram asnuthE ) according to

YakshA , who is the author Vedic etymology . They can be

recognized in Vedic terms as " Salakshana GhanapAtis " .

Azhwars always remind us in their phala sruthi slOkams

to recite their dhivya Prabhandhams with knowledge of

the meanings of the paasurams eulogizing the anantha kalyANa

GuNAs of the Lord to attain all soubhAgyams

culminating in param hitham . One such Phala Sruthi

indicating Sakala Bhadhram ( all types of auspiciousness

/sakalam bhadhram asnuthE )for the reciters of

Kaliyan " s Tamizh Vedhangam is :

 

Poomaru PozhilaNi ViNNagar mEl

Kaamaru seerk KalikanRi sonna

Paamaru Tamizhivai Paada vallAr

Vaamanan aDi iNai MaruvavarE (Periya Thirumozhi 6.1.10)

 

Kaliyan refers to Paada VallAr or Otha VallAr or those

who are capable of reciting the Paasurams on

ThiruviNNagarappan will attain the holy pair of

feet of Vaamana Moorthy .

 

Swamy NammAzhwAr goes one step further about

understanding the meanings of the Paasurams and describes

the supreme benefits obtained by the reciters of

his Paasuram ( adhyayanam) as gaining Parama Padham :

 

NaakaNaimisai NampirAn SaraNE SaraN namakkenRu ,nADORum

EkachinthayanAyk KyruhUr SatakOpan MaaRan,

aaha nooRavanthAyirautthuL ivaiyum ohr patthum vallAr

maaha Vaikunthatthu mahizhveyuthvar vaikalumE

 

(meaning): " Whatever may happen , whatever be the troubles ,

the feet of the Supreme Lord reclining on AdhisEshA are

the only resort to me. This is a conviction with me .

The only path chosen is thus clinging to the Lord's feet .

It is in this spirit (and to sustain himself as a realized athmA)

that KuruhUr SatakOpan wove a thousand verses . Of them ,

this decad will ensure permanent VaikunthA stay to those

who MASTER it " .

 

AdhyApAka: is the teacher of the VedhAs .

AdhyApanam is the act of teaching of the sacred

Knowledge ( VedhAs et al).

 

AdhyAya: means not only a chapter , but also reading,

learning and study especially VedhAs . Adhyayanam

derives from this word " adhyAya: " . AdhyAyana Uthavam

is the festival of reciting by a AdhyApAka GhOshti ,

the group of such adhyApAkA: or adhyApayithrus

or teacher/instructors ,who have mastered the studies

of VedhAs ( both Sanskritic and Tamizh VedhAs).

 

With Lord RanganAthA's blessings , this uthsavam

will prove to be a great kaimkaryam that will delight

His heart and lead to the securing of His paripUrNa

anugraham to complete the construction of

the Temple for Him in the coming yearon

the banks of the Utthara CauvEri (Hudson River).

 

AzhwAr , AchAryAL ThiruvadigaLE saraNam ,

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAhAri SdaagOpan