Book Review- from The Hindu- Bhagavad Vishaya Bhava Bodhini

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Commentarial work

 

V.N. GOPALA DESIKACHARIAR

http://www.hindu.com/br/2007/01/30/stories/2007013000221500.htm

 

 

BHAGAVAD VISHAYA BHAVA BODHINI — Commentary on Second

Centad of Tiruvoimozhi: Tirupputkuzhi Narasimha

Thathachariar; Hayagriva Vidya Peetam, 22,

Tiruvalluvar Street, Taramani, Chennai-6000113.

Rs. 50.

 

BASED ON the Vedas and nurtured by sages of yore such

as Parasara, Vyasa and Bodhayana, Vaishnavism received

a fillip with the advent of the Azhvars who

popularised it among the masses with their mellifluous

outpourings in Tamil, collectively called the Nalayira

Divya Prabandham.

 

Nammazhvar is venerated as the chief among the Azhvars

and his four Prabandhas are adored as equal to the

four Vedas. The masterpiece Tiruvoimozhi is equated to

the Sama Veda, with its 1000 verses synchronising with

the 1000 sakhas of the Sama Veda.

 

The Tiruvoimozhi is divided into 10 centads, each

consisting of 10 decades of 10 verses each (with the

11th one as benedictory verse or phalasruti). The

earliest commentary on this work was by Kurukesa

(Pillan), a disciple of the celebrated Ramanuja, at

his master's bidding; and this is the first treatise

in `Manipravala' language (a mixture of Tamil and

Sanskrit), followed by several other commentaries over

the centuries, by later preceptors.

 

A reputed Vaishnavite scholar and savant of the last

century, Tirupputkuzhi Narasimha Thathachariar has

written a simple commentary on the Tiruvoimozhi,

closely following Pillan's exposition. The present

book pertains to the second centad.

 

In this section, Nammazhvar, besides praising in

extenso the Lord's greatness and mercy, His myriad

auspicious qualities and divine sports during

manifestations as Rama and Krishna adopts the approach

of bridal mysticism in two decads, depicting the acute

pangs of separation from his beloved Lord. The

commentator gives the text, word-for-word meaning and

a detailed summary, explaining the import of each

verse. The explanation in simple Tamil is lucid and

illuminating, with apt allusions to and quotations

from sacred texts like the Ramayana. Small anecdotes

at appropriate places, culled from the works of

earlier Acharyas, add to the beauty.

 

The author's commentary, particularly on decades 2.1,

2.4 and 2.10 is delectable. Another noteworthy feature

is the pithy heading given to each verse, bringing

forth its quintessence.

 

The book unravels the pristine beauty of the Azhvar's

divine poetry in simple Tamil that can be understood

and appreciated by all.

 

 

 

 

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