asmadhAcharyan Sri PaRavakkOttai Andavan Thirunakshathram today (Panguni Rohini)

[Guest guest]

SrI:

SrImathE Gopaladesika mahadesikaya namah:

 

Dearest Srivaishnavas,

 

Please accept aDiyEn’s dhaNdavath praNAmams. Today (Panguni – Rohini) is the

82nd Thirunakshathtram (Birthday) of AsmadhAchAryan Srimad PaRavakkOttai

Andavan Sri Gopaladesika Mahadesikan of Sri Poundarikapuram Andavan Asramam.

 

Let us offer our obeisance to the noblest of the noblest on His

Thirunakshathram. GurOr nAma sadhA japEth.. One should always utter the

divine name of the Guru. There is no God equal to the Acharyan. We will

never ever consider so. (AchAryAdhiha dEvathAm smadhikAm anyAm na

manyAmahE..). adiyEn reproduces the article written by the great scholar of

today- Sri U Ve Navalpakkam Ramanuja Thathachariar (Sri NSR) Swamin on

asmadhAchAryan on this most auspicious day.

 

South Indian vaishnavism traces the hierarchy of Acharyas (preceptors) from

lord Narayanan and Mahalakshmi thorugh Vishwaksena, then Nammazhwar,

Nathamuni, Yamunamuni (Alavandhar) and Ramanuja muni, then descending down

to Vedantha Desikan (1268 – 1369) who did great service through expositions

as well as numerous literary works. This tradition is higly regarded as

‘munithraya samparadaya” (acknowledging the contributions of three munis or

sages) . Then came a great teacher Goaparaya Mahadesikan 9Thirukkudnathai

Desikan) who lived between 1700 and 1782. He was in many aspects the

prototype of Swamy Vedantha Desikan and is acclaimed as apara desikan. This

great savant enjoyed the singular distinction of teaching three disciples

who were sanyaasis. Such ascetics in saffron clothes normally commanded

great respect. Nevertheless Thirukkudanthai Desikan commanded such

preeminence in qualities of a preceptor that the three ascetic disciples

came to him, showed the reverence implied in prostration and learnt, from

him, all Vedantha works. They then carried on the spiritual propagation in

their own way. This tradition came to be known by the term, Munithraya-

which acquired a two fold significance since then.

 

A great luminary of this “acharya chain” was Sri Pounadrikapuram Andavan

(1847- 1934). He was held in his times, as the most important and competent

exponent on scriptures and Vaishnavism, to whose abode great scholars

flocked to benefit. It is in his times, that a hermitage in sylvan

surroundings arose near the KoLLidam river bank, in the northern edge of

Srirangam, which had since his time, acquired the distinctive label, Sri

Poundarikapuram Andavan Ashramam. Incidentally in the Tamil counterpart of

the Sanskrit designation ”Swami”. And in this line came the great savant,

Sri PaRavaakkOttai Andavan – Sri Gopaladesika Mahadesikan Swami – who was

born in 1921 and who after having been a sanskrit teacher for long took to

Sanyaas in 1982. Strictly abiding by the highest level of austerity that

characterizes this line of teachers, he confines himself to the

headquarters, only occasionally going, on foot to attend temple festival in

the not far off shrines. He has been the guide in Saasthric knowledge and

spiritual works called “Grantha chathushtayam” (the four works, Sri

Bhashyam, Githa Bhashyam, Bhagavath Vishayam, and Rahasyathraya Saram) to a

large number of yearning students who proceed to the Ashramam for this

prupose. So also, he administers, Pancha Samskaram (Samasrayanam) and

BharanyAsam to persons who go to him and seek them. Here it should be

mentioned that he does not simply accept everyone. The seeker has to fulfill

certain qualifications- in terms of personal discipline, say sporting a

sikhA (kudumi- tuft), daily fulfillment of scriptural duties such as

Sandhyavandhanam. Every day, he devotes more than two hours for the

kalakshepam.

 

He greets visitors with geniality and great warmth, to whatever religious

sect they might belong to. His strictness is aptly and equally matched by

his kindness to humanity. He has been doing excellent propagation work also

in the filed of publication of the four Rahasya master pieces of Swamy

desikan. These are indispensable books for students and teachers of

Srivaishnavam. He contributes masterly articles to spiritual magazines.

 

He was respected alike by his peers and scholars even in his teens. It is

worthwhile to specifically mention that they sued to comment: “There comes

the Sage; he is like Vasishta and Vamadevar; one has to very careful in his

presence; This is no mean tribute, to his stature, that too, as evident in

his youth. He would always be chanting some holy hymn or manthra. In other

words, he was always in communion with god even during school days. His

student days were perhaps, an apprenticeship, a training ground, for ths

sanyaasa life and the life of an Ashrama pontiff that he was to adopt after

40 years later.

 

This great Acharya completes 82 years of age today. The Sathabishekam

celebrations were celebrated last year in a very GRAND manner in Srirangam.

Last week, on Mar 8th, Swamy’s 20th year celebration of Sanyaasa Ashramam

(of ascendance as Acharya) were celebrated in Srirangam along with 100th

year celebration of Sri Poundarikapuram Andavan Sri Srinivasadesika

Mahadesikan Swamy’s ascendance as Acharyan (In fact, under this pretext

only, Prakritham Andavan was persuaded and forced to accept this celebration

of his 20th year. (Else, he was to give an emphatic “No”- I was told)

 

adiyEn merely reproduced mostly from Sri U Ve Navalpakkam S Ramanuja

Thathachar (NSR) Swamy’s article from the Sathabhishekam magazine (but for

the above paragraph).

 

May Swamy live for HUNDRED YEARS and continue to guide us!

Regards

Namo narayana

Acharyan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

Acharyan Thiruvadi

 

_______________

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp.

[Guest guest]

Sri:

 

SrimAtE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

 

Dearest Sriman Madhavakkannan Swamin,

 

Thank you very much for sharing the superb article from U.Ve. Sri NSR

Swamin on this most auspicious day of the Tirunakshatram of H.H.

Srimad Paravakottai Andavan Swami. On this blessed day, adiyen

contemplates with gratitude on the MahOpakaram of H.H. in bestowing

adiyen and family with Prapatti. Adiyen wishes to quote from the

upanyasam of U.Ve. Sri NSR Swamin on the occasion of the

Sathabhisheka mahOtsavam of H.H. where Swamin noted " Just as Lord

Narayana, incarnated as Kannan in Dwapara Yuga, He has incarnated as

Gopaladesika Mahadesikan in Kaliyugam "

 

Kindly permit adiyen some indulgence here. The word Gopala is derived

from the root Gauh, which means of the earth, of the cows, and of the

Vedam. Let us examine each of these meanings and see how it fits H.H.

to a T.

 

Of the earth: H.H. reigns as the king among ascetics in the supremely

sacred land of Srirangam-which is Bhooloka Vaikuntam. The land of

Srirangam itself is sanctified on account of (i)H.H. taking up

residence there (ii) The uncompromising jnAna, Bhakti, Vairagyam, and

exemplary anushtanam (iii) The gosham of Vedam and grantha parayaNam

emanating from the Ashramam during the morning and evening aradhanam,

which virtually transport everyone present to Srivaikuntam and

provides a glimpse of the bountiful treasure and bliss awaiting

Prapannas (iv) The Vedam glorifies Bhumi Piratti as " Hri " in the

Purusha Sooktam and " ShrungE ShrungE yajnE yajnE vibhishaNiI " in the

Bhu Sooktam. These refer to the fact that Bhumi Piratti is verily a

manifestation of the Lord's compassion, who submits an impassioned

appeal on behalf of surrendering Prapannas " although the supplicant

has sinned greatly please forgive him and bestow your grace " . The act

of granting refuge to a Prapanna, is a Yajna performed by Lord

Narayana. Bhumi Piratti renders the yaaga shala fertile through Her

impassioned appeal to the Lord. H.H. is an epitome of compassion.

This motivates H.H. to intercede on behalf of a Prapanna and submit

and impassioned appeal to Lord Narayana, much in the same manner as

Bhumi Piratti as he administers Prapatti to each supplicant that

comes to him. Therefore, H.H. is an amsham of Bhumi Piratti.

 

Of the cows: H.H. tends to the spiritual needs of shishyas and

abhimanis in the much the same manner as Lord Krishna tended to the

cows under his care. Lord Krishna is described as the cowherd, who

presented the nectar of the Upanishads (Bhagavad Gita) to the

desirous calf Arjuna " parthO vatsa Sudhir BhOktha dugdham gitAmrutam

mahath " . The term Vatsa denotes calf, while a cow that has just given

birth to a calf is known as Dhenu. The bond of affection between

Dhenu and Vatsa is known as Vatsalya-unmitigated, untainted and

pristinely pure affection. H.H. exudes Vatsalyam for Shishyas and

abhimanis and blesses them with Sri Sookthis containing blissful

anubhavams of the Divine Couple through His Kalakshepams at the

Ashramam, tele-upanyasams, and masterly publications such as

Ramapiranai Karpom. In this respect, H.H. is verily Lord Rama and

Krishna combined.

 

Of the Vedam: The term trayi is defined in niruktham

as " AdhyAtmika " , " Adhi bhowdika " and " Adi-daivika " , otherwise known

as that which cause tapatrayam (three kinds of suffering). All

aspects pertaining to them are discussed in the Four Vedas.

Furthermore, the means for overcoming these and obtaining eternal

bliss are discussed in the Upanishads, which denote the Shruti Shiras

(head of the Vedas). H.H. upholds the dictates of the Vedas in a most

uncompromising manner by celebrating the supremacy of Lord Narayana

( " Narayana param brahma tatvam Narayana para: " , " NishkalO niranjanO

nirvikalpO nirAkhyAtha: shuddhO deva ekO Narayana: na dvitIyOsthi

kaschith " , " ekO ha vaI narayaNa AsIth " , " VedAhamEtham Purusham

mahAntham " ), by strictly adhering to the Lord's commands ( " shruthi

smruthi mamaIva AgnyA " ) stated in the Shrutis and Smrutis through his

exemplary anushtanam, and by propagating the underlying message of

the Vedas through his Kalakshepams on Sri Bhashyam, Srimad Rahasya

trayasAram, Gita Bhashyam and Bhagavad Vishayam. Thus, H.H. is no

different from Lord Krishna in this respect.

 

Adiyen wishes to conclude this posting with Swami Desikan's message

" gurum prakAshayEth Dheeman mantram yatnEna gOpayEth " and offers

respectful salutations to H.H. through His Taniyan

 

" SrivAsa ranga parakAla munitrayAptha lakshmAthma rakshaNa yathithva

yugAgamAntham Acharya Bhakti paripUthamanarGhasheelam Gopaladesika

munim gurum AshrayAma: "

 

Namo Narayana,

 

Srimuralidhara dasan