AsmadhAcharya ParyanthAm vandE GuruparamparAm-3

[Guest guest]

Sri:

 

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

 

Dear Bhaktas,

 

Adiyen is forwarding the following note at the request of Sriman

Madhavakkannan Swamin. Adiyen joins his request for your support

for the 81st Tirunakshatram Kaimkaryam of H.H.

 

Namo Narayana,

 

SriMuralidhara Dasan

 

***************************************************

SrI:

SrImathE GopAladEsika MahAdEsikAya Namah:

 

Dearest Srivaishnvas,

 

Please accept adiyEn's dhaNdavath praNAmams at your feet.

The word Guru means one who removes ignorance (agnjAnam) of spiritual

knowledge. In Prapanna pArijAtham by SrI NadAdhoor AmmAL Guru is

described very beautifully:

Please forgive me for my free translations (from tamil meanings)

 

A great Guru should be sought after by a person (disciple), immersed

in samsaaric afflictions; who is afraid of the transitory life; the

sorrows due to internal and external factors (AdhyAthmikam- soul

dependent; Adhiboudhikam- extermal world dependednt; and

Adhideivikam- pertaining to Supreme Lord). That Guru will

teach and initiate the disciple with the necessary manthrAs and

impart jnAnam.

 

This Guru is the Supreme Highest; he is verily Brahman (Lord); He is

the highest of highs; He is the highest desire; He is the Highest God

Himself. Guru is the Ultimate wealth; Guru is the knowledge; Guru is

our treasure; Guru himself is means; Guru is the end. He needs to be

worshipped at all times, under all circumstances; His name shall

always be uttered by the disciple at all times.

 

gururEva parambrahma gururEva param dhanam;

gururEva paraa vidyA gururEva parAyaNam; gururEva para: kAma: gururEva

parAgathi: tasmAth sathupadEshTasou thasmAth guruthamO guru: (48

Chapyter 4- Guru paddhathi)

 

It may please be noted that though there are two sects (namely

Vadakalai and thenkalai) in srivaishnavam, they are only different on

very few subtle issues and both follow strictly AchArya YathirAjar-

Bhagavath Ramanuja sampradayam in all respects with fullest

sincerity.

 

In fact, it is the GREATEST PillailOkAcharya, who composed on AchArya

Swamy Vedantha Desikan as:

 

SeeronRu thoopul thiruvEmkatamudaiyaan/ PAronRach chonna

pazhamozhiyuL/ OronRuthaanE amaiyAdhO dhAraNiyil/

vAzhvArkku vAnERap pOmaLavum vaazhvu.

 

Meaning: Even one (slokA or prabhandham) of Thoopul Swamy Vedantha

Desikan's is enough for one to get the prApthi of Sri VaikuNtam- says

lOkAchAryan.

 

Their respects and regards for each other are great and profound. Sri

Manavala maamunigL, had also studied Sri Bhashyam from the sishya

parampara of Swamy Vedantha Desikan and his respect for Swamy is

phenomenal. Let us unite under the umbrella of Sri Bhagawath Ramanuja,

the YathirAja, and contribute for the Thirunakshathram celebrations of

the LIVING YATHIRAJA, Sri PaRavaakkOttai Andavan, Prakritham ANdavan

of Sri Poundarikapuram Andavan Ashramam.

 

In the words of Dr. Sri V.N. Vedantha Desikan Swamin:

 

There is a special kind of link between the Ahobila Mutt and Sri

Poundarikapuram Andavan Asramam deserves mention in this connection.

Down from 1750 to this day the Acharya hierarchy is unbroken,

uniquely continuous in this Asramam. The Acharyas are also native to

the school; inbred and brought up by Kalakshepam / invitation by

earlier Pontiffs at some time. Once a gap occurred in the Ahobila

Mutt; for some five years (1900-1905). The Poundarikapuram Andavan

of this Asramam had proudly helped in securing a deserving candidate

and giving him Sannyasa – order and installing him as the Pontiff

(the 38th). This happened in 1905.

 

Also with regard to Srimad Andavan PeriAshramam: Till about 1890's

there was only one Andavan Asramam, situated somewhat near further

up-stream the coleroon. Sri Andavan, particularly called Peria

Andavan had many disciples, among whom two were Tatacharya cousins;

Sri Valianallur Andavan is the one finding a place in the hierarchy of

Sri Poundarikapuram Asramam. The other pontiff, Sri Chinnandavan

headed the Mela (or Peria) Asramam. The two were naturally intense

friends [only incidentally I would mention that my aunt - the

daughter of Sri Navanitam Swami had been given in marriage to Sri V R

S Tatacharya, the grandson of Sri Chinnandavan. This gentleman was

more than a son-in-law to my grandfather!]. Certain circumstances

might have necessitated the setting up of this new Asramam for Sri

Poundarikapuram Andavan but we - the modern educated disciples ought

to bear in mind that the more there are Acharyas, the more they serve

the religious cause in a broad canvas. It is relevant to mention

that Sri Vinnatrangarai Swami was accepted as sama teacher by Sri

Thenbarai Andavan (of Peria asramam), since the latter had a feeling

of regret that he had not mastered his own Sakha, sama veda!

 

Very interestingly, in the Sannyasa life too, Sri Vinnatrangarai

Andavan exhibited great concern for the

health (that was rapidly declining) of Sri Thenbarai Andavan (1960's).

Everyday he would walk to and fro. What it means is that he should

take bath every time on return! Once indeed, a moving event occurred,

Sri Vinnatrangarai Andavan walks to Peria Asramam, meets Sri Kannan

Swami on the way, learnt that the latter was going to Madras on some

urgent work since the Thenbarai Andavan's health would sustain life

for some three days, but Sri Vinnatrangarai Andavan warns the latter

that it was not so, takes him back to the Asramam and almost

influences him to take to the saffron order. Yes, it was urgently

necessary. Readers would realise the risk, the confusion, etc. That

often results on the successor not taking over immediately without a

gap in time.

 

Indeed on later occasions, Sri Vinnatrangarai Andavan used to

congratulate Sri Thirukkudanthai Andavan on the growth, expansion,

increasing affluence, etc. of his Asramam, with a legitimate

satisfaction that He himself had worked for it by forcing Sri Kannan

Swami to accept Sannyasa at the right moment.

 

How I wish disciples of both the Asramams bear this in mind and help

the cordial spirit to grow ever and ever. There is - and there can be

- no reason for any other feeling between two such parallel and

allied streams of spiritual propagation, working for the same goals of

spiritual uplift of society according to the great, common, heritage

both inherit.

 

We are planning to celebrate the Satabhishakam (the 80th Anniversary)

of H.H. Sri Paravakottai Andavan for five days in March 2001 at

Srirangam. Monthly celebrations are also going on. It is the duty of

all spiritually-minded persons to contribute their mite towards this

celebration. To place the Asramam free from want, to make it

self-sustaining, we wish to build a sold fixed edifice. Disciples or

non-disciples do not have a distinction herein. (Thanks to Sri Dr. VN

Vedantha Desikan Swamin for giving permission to make use of his

article.)

 

I humbly request with my folded hands to each Bhagawatha of this list,

to contribute your mite for the 81st Jayanthi celebration. Please pay

your obeisance by contributing your mite and donate generously to

the cause of the 81st Tirunakshatram celebrations planned for March

24-31, 2001. Contributions from the USA are tax exempt. Please mail

your checks to

 

SMSA Inc,

c/o Smt. Nagu Satyan,

7821 W Alder Drive Littleton, CO 80128

 

Please indicate on the memo of your check that your contribution is

for Srimad Poundarikapuram Ashramam.

 

For those in India, please send the cheque or drafts in favour of

" S.P.A.V Trust, 81st Jayanthi a/c and send to Srikaryam, Srimad

Poundarikapuram Andavan Ashramam, 43- A/13, Asramam Road, Srirangam,

TRICHY. PIN 620006, India.

 

AchAryan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

 

Regards,

 

Narayana Narayana,

 

Narayana Dasan