Monday, March 1, 2010
THE THREE GREAT PHILOSOPHERS OF THE SOUTH INDIA WHO GAVE
THE THREE GREAT PHILOSOPHERS OF THE SOUTH INDIA WHO GAVE
ADVAITHA,VISHISHTADVAITHA AND DWAITHA PHILOSOPHIES
PART : I : AADI SHANKARA
Friends,
Adi Shankara, Ramanuja and Maadvaachaarya are the three very great Acharyaas , of the SOUTH INDIA who expounded ADVAITHA, VISHISHTADVAITHA and DWAITHA schools of philosophies respectively.
Among these, Adi Shankara was the oldest. There are two different versions about his time. One is that he lived between the years 788-820CE. The other one is that he lived between 509-477 BC. Whatever it may be , without touching the disputed versions of his life period, he was born to a NAMBOOTHIRI pious couple called SHIVA GURU and ARYAMBA in KALADI a place very near to THRISSUR in the present KERALA STATE. There is a story behind his birth. Shivaguru and. Aryamba had no issues for quite a long time. Hence they went to THRISSUR VADAKKUNAATHA Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and started praying. This Temple in Sanskrit is called as VRISHABHAACHALA TEMPLE. During that time, one night during the course of their prayers, Lord Shiva came in their dream and asked whether they liked to have a long lived son but who lacked in intelligence or a short lived son who excelled in intelligence for which they preferred the later one . Accordingly Aryamba gave birth to a son whom they named as SHANKARA an epithet of LORD SHIVA meaning the GOD who gave all goods. Shankara `s UPANAYANAM ( HOLY THREAD WEARING CEREMONY) was performed at his age of 5years How-ever, he was extra-ordinarily intelligent from his early age.
He did not like the worldly life from his young age and wanted to become a SANYASIN. As his father died when Shankara was a child his mother did not like her son becoming a SANYASIN. He learnt all the 4 Vedas by the age of 8 years. As customary he was living with his Guru ( teacher ) and living on alms which he got. Once , he happened to ask a poor lady for alms. She had nothing to give as alms except a gooseberry ( NELLIKKAI ), which she gave as BIKSHA. Shankara was taken aback by this gesture of the lady and seeing her in utter poverty , he made the famous KANAKADHARA STHOTHRA which starts thus "Angam hare pulakabhUshanaamaasrayanthi….."Immediately, there was a rain of GOOSEBERRY made of GOLD on the pious and famished lady. Such was his powers at a very young age attained through BHAKTHI.
As I had told earlier, Shankara was inclined to become a SANYASIN, and since his mother was standing against his wish. One day as usual she took her son to PERIYAR RIVER which flows through KALADY, When Shankara was in water , a crocodile caught his leg. His mother cold not save him . Shankara then told her to give permission to him to become a SANYASIN which she gave but put condition that he should reach
her bed side before she died and also perform her APARAKRIYA to which he agreed. Lo! The crocodile released his leg immediately and vanished. It is said that the crocodile was none else than LORD SHIVA. Friends, I have gone to this place and taken bath there which is called MUTHALA KADAVU in Malayalam. In Kalady there are two memorials built for him , one by Sringeri Mutt and the other by Kamakoti Mutt. In grandeur the first one is considered good but in appearance the 2nd one look good. Whatever it may be this Muthala Kadavu is in the Memorial built by Sringeri Mutt. Immediately, Shankara whom we call as as SHANKARA BHAGAVATH PAADAR, immediately too k Sanyasa which is called Apath SanyAsa. Shankara went to North India and near the banks of the Narmada River GOVINDA BHAGAVATHPAADA who is the disciple of GAUDA PAADA and identified himself as Shankara. While doing so he included ADVAITHA SIDDAANTHA in the verse. Hearing this, Govinda Bhagavathpaada was thrilled and immediately accepted Shankara as his disciple. It is said that Shankara Bhagavthpadar kept his KAMADALU on the flooding water which was about to take the life of his teacher Govinda Bhagavathpada who was in penance on the banks of REVA River. As ordered by his teacher, Ginda Bhagavathpada to write a commentary to Brahma Suthra and also propagate the ADVAITHA SIDHANTHA, Shankara wrote a commentary on Brahma Suthra and started propagating ADVAITHA SIDDHANTHA.
SHANKARA'S ADVAIDA SIDDANTHA
" brahma sathyam jagath mithya, jIvO brahmaiva nAparh " - vivEkachUdAmaNi
The above verse is the shortest form of SHANKARA BHAGAVATHPADA'S ADVAIDA SIDDANTHA. The above-quoted verse is taken from" vivEkachUdAmaNi" which is one of Shankara' s own work based on the UPANISHADS, the BHAGAVAT GITHA and BRHMA SUTHRAS. According to his siddantha, THERE IS ONLY ONE GODWHO IS OMNIPOTENT, OMNIPRESENT AND OMNICIENT. In other words, God is ONLY ONE,
who is present in all matters whether has life or not.. He is NIRGUNA, NIRAAKAARA AND NIRVISHESHA meaning GOD has no attributes or characteristics , He has no forms and He is without any speciality . In short the definition from Upaqnishads say that "EKO DEVA,
SARVA BHOOTHESHU GOODA, SARVA VYAAPEE, SARVA BHOOTHANDARAATHMA, KARMAADYAKHA, SARVA BHOOTHESHU VAASA, SAAKSHEE CHETHO KEVALO NIRGUNASCHA" ., This is the definition of GOD.
This definition is akin to Buddha's definition of GOD and this was very much needed to counter the growing popularity of Buddhism and decline of Hinduism. In fact , Hinduism at that period was about to be routed out. ( Some persons are of the opinion that the famous Venkatachalpathy Temple of Thirumala and Sri. Ayyappa Temple at Shabari Mala were Buddhist Temples )
According to Advaitha Siddantha , our soul is engulfed with MAYA which can be called as AVIDYA, or ignorane in English. We must study (BY VIDHYA) the VEDAS and procure knowledge (JNAANA) in the VEDAS. and obtain enlightment. which paves the way for liberation or MOKSHA.. In other words, When the soul gets enlightment as we are nothing but GOD HIMSELF then we can say the entire universe is a FALSITY (Mithya) . As an example, when we see a rope in darkness we feel it as snake but when the darkness is over the light falls in we will know that the thing which we thought as a snake is nothing but a rope..
Advaitha school of philosophy also allow us to worship any deity like VIGNESWARA OR AYYAPPA, GURUVAYURAPPA , VAIKKATTHAPPA, DEVI SUBRAHMANIA etc as our ISHTA DEVATHA. In fact Shankara Bhagavathpaada's ADVATHA professes that .ALL DEITIES ARE ONE AND THE SAME "SHIVAYA VISHNU ROOPAYA". It means that we can worship SAGUNA BRAHMAN". However, for one's liberation we must meditate on NIRGUNABRAHMAN.
ADI SHANKARA traveled throughout India by foot and defeated all others who believed in other philosophies during his life period. He founded FOUR PEETTHAS ( MUTTS) in order to guide all people (1) the one at Sringeri ( Shri Sharada Peethom – For Yajur Vedam)in the South (2) Dwaraka (. Sharada Peethom) in the West for Saama Vedam (3) Puri (Shri Govardhana Peethom) in Orissa and JYOTHR MUTT in Badarinath, North for Atharva Vedam )and installed his disciples (1)Sureswaraachaaya(2) Padmapaadaachaarya (3) Hasthaamalakaacharya and (4) Thotakaachaarya respectively as the MATTHAADHIPATHIS or Heads of the Matth.
He has written many STHOTHRAS on different deities . among which BHAJA GOVINDAM, SHIVANANDA LAHARI, SOUNDARYA LAHARI, SHYAAMALAA DANDAKAM are only few to mention, and he has also written BHASHYAM (commentary) for Brahma sUthra, Aithreya Upanishad, Bruhat Aranyaka, Isopanishad, Thaiththaryopanishad and other Upanishads, BHAGAVAT GITHA, VISHNU SAHASRANAMA and GAYATHRI MAHA MANTHRA. His treaties "Viveka Choodaamani ,Upadesha Sahasri, Athma Bodha Nirguna Maanasa Pooja etc are worth mentioning.
PROMISE TO HIS MOTHER KEPT UP AGAINST ODDS
When his mother was on her death bed, SHANKARA as promised to her, reached his house.
Her last wish to see PARA BRAHMA was realized to her by him by just her touch on his body. When she died the NAMBOOTHIRI BRAHMINS did not go to help him in her cremation and other APARA KIYAS stating that HE as a SANYASI had no right to perform this as he had left all worldly customs.
SHANKARA had to take the body on his shoulders to the CREMATION GROUND where he could not get FIRE WOOD to burn her body. He saw a newly thrown BANANA PLANT with which he burnt her mortal remains and performed her APARA KRIYA..
SAMADHI OF ADI SHANKARA
This subject is also controversial. According to many SHANKARA BHAGAVATHPAADA attained SAMADHI while trekking the HIMALAYAS near KEDARNATH.. Few others say that He attained SAMADHI at VADKKUNNATHA TEMPLE at Thrissur. Ome others say that after attaining Sarvajna Peettah he attained Samaadhi at Kancheepuram. Where some of is deciples started a PEETHOM called KANCH KAAMAKOTI PEETHOM. However, there is consensus in his life span which was very short i.e. 32 years of age.
Friends, I have not dealt with many of the wonderful works or deeds of Adi Shankara except giving a very short biography due to fear that this may become very lengthy.
I conclude this biography here by praying to this Great SAINT
Let us bow to this GREAT SAINT by saying "sruthi smruthi purANAnAm Alayam
karuNAlayam, namAmi bhagavathpAda Sankaram lOkasundaram".
Regards to one and all.
ADVAITHA,VISHISHTADVAITHA AND DWAITHA PHILOSOPHIES
PART : I : AADI SHANKARA
Friends,
Adi Shankara, Ramanuja and Maadvaachaarya are the three very great Acharyaas , of the SOUTH INDIA who expounded ADVAITHA, VISHISHTADVAITHA and DWAITHA schools of philosophies respectively.
Among these, Adi Shankara was the oldest. There are two different versions about his time. One is that he lived between the years 788-820CE. The other one is that he lived between 509-477 BC. Whatever it may be , without touching the disputed versions of his life period, he was born to a NAMBOOTHIRI pious couple called SHIVA GURU and ARYAMBA in KALADI a place very near to THRISSUR in the present KERALA STATE. There is a story behind his birth. Shivaguru and. Aryamba had no issues for quite a long time. Hence they went to THRISSUR VADAKKUNAATHA Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and started praying. This Temple in Sanskrit is called as VRISHABHAACHALA TEMPLE. During that time, one night during the course of their prayers, Lord Shiva came in their dream and asked whether they liked to have a long lived son but who lacked in intelligence or a short lived son who excelled in intelligence for which they preferred the later one . Accordingly Aryamba gave birth to a son whom they named as SHANKARA an epithet of LORD SHIVA meaning the GOD who gave all goods. Shankara `s UPANAYANAM ( HOLY THREAD WEARING CEREMONY) was performed at his age of 5years How-ever, he was extra-ordinarily intelligent from his early age.
He did not like the worldly life from his young age and wanted to become a SANYASIN. As his father died when Shankara was a child his mother did not like her son becoming a SANYASIN. He learnt all the 4 Vedas by the age of 8 years. As customary he was living with his Guru ( teacher ) and living on alms which he got. Once , he happened to ask a poor lady for alms. She had nothing to give as alms except a gooseberry ( NELLIKKAI ), which she gave as BIKSHA. Shankara was taken aback by this gesture of the lady and seeing her in utter poverty , he made the famous KANAKADHARA STHOTHRA which starts thus "Angam hare pulakabhUshanaamaasrayanthi….."Immediately, there was a rain of GOOSEBERRY made of GOLD on the pious and famished lady. Such was his powers at a very young age attained through BHAKTHI.
As I had told earlier, Shankara was inclined to become a SANYASIN, and since his mother was standing against his wish. One day as usual she took her son to PERIYAR RIVER which flows through KALADY, When Shankara was in water , a crocodile caught his leg. His mother cold not save him . Shankara then told her to give permission to him to become a SANYASIN which she gave but put condition that he should reach
her bed side before she died and also perform her APARAKRIYA to which he agreed. Lo! The crocodile released his leg immediately and vanished. It is said that the crocodile was none else than LORD SHIVA. Friends, I have gone to this place and taken bath there which is called MUTHALA KADAVU in Malayalam. In Kalady there are two memorials built for him , one by Sringeri Mutt and the other by Kamakoti Mutt. In grandeur the first one is considered good but in appearance the 2nd one look good. Whatever it may be this Muthala Kadavu is in the Memorial built by Sringeri Mutt. Immediately, Shankara whom we call as as SHANKARA BHAGAVATH PAADAR, immediately too k Sanyasa which is called Apath SanyAsa. Shankara went to North India and near the banks of the Narmada River GOVINDA BHAGAVATHPAADA who is the disciple of GAUDA PAADA and identified himself as Shankara. While doing so he included ADVAITHA SIDDAANTHA in the verse. Hearing this, Govinda Bhagavathpaada was thrilled and immediately accepted Shankara as his disciple. It is said that Shankara Bhagavthpadar kept his KAMADALU on the flooding water which was about to take the life of his teacher Govinda Bhagavathpada who was in penance on the banks of REVA River. As ordered by his teacher, Ginda Bhagavathpada to write a commentary to Brahma Suthra and also propagate the ADVAITHA SIDHANTHA, Shankara wrote a commentary on Brahma Suthra and started propagating ADVAITHA SIDDHANTHA.
SHANKARA'S ADVAIDA SIDDANTHA
" brahma sathyam jagath mithya, jIvO brahmaiva nAparh " - vivEkachUdAmaNi
The above verse is the shortest form of SHANKARA BHAGAVATHPADA'S ADVAIDA SIDDANTHA. The above-quoted verse is taken from" vivEkachUdAmaNi" which is one of Shankara' s own work based on the UPANISHADS, the BHAGAVAT GITHA and BRHMA SUTHRAS. According to his siddantha, THERE IS ONLY ONE GODWHO IS OMNIPOTENT, OMNIPRESENT AND OMNICIENT. In other words, God is ONLY ONE,
who is present in all matters whether has life or not.. He is NIRGUNA, NIRAAKAARA AND NIRVISHESHA meaning GOD has no attributes or characteristics , He has no forms and He is without any speciality . In short the definition from Upaqnishads say that "EKO DEVA,
SARVA BHOOTHESHU GOODA, SARVA VYAAPEE, SARVA BHOOTHANDARAATHMA, KARMAADYAKHA, SARVA BHOOTHESHU VAASA, SAAKSHEE CHETHO KEVALO NIRGUNASCHA" ., This is the definition of GOD.
This definition is akin to Buddha's definition of GOD and this was very much needed to counter the growing popularity of Buddhism and decline of Hinduism. In fact , Hinduism at that period was about to be routed out. ( Some persons are of the opinion that the famous Venkatachalpathy Temple of Thirumala and Sri. Ayyappa Temple at Shabari Mala were Buddhist Temples )
According to Advaitha Siddantha , our soul is engulfed with MAYA which can be called as AVIDYA, or ignorane in English. We must study (BY VIDHYA) the VEDAS and procure knowledge (JNAANA) in the VEDAS. and obtain enlightment. which paves the way for liberation or MOKSHA.. In other words, When the soul gets enlightment as we are nothing but GOD HIMSELF then we can say the entire universe is a FALSITY (Mithya) . As an example, when we see a rope in darkness we feel it as snake but when the darkness is over the light falls in we will know that the thing which we thought as a snake is nothing but a rope..
Advaitha school of philosophy also allow us to worship any deity like VIGNESWARA OR AYYAPPA, GURUVAYURAPPA , VAIKKATTHAPPA, DEVI SUBRAHMANIA etc as our ISHTA DEVATHA. In fact Shankara Bhagavathpaada's ADVATHA professes that .ALL DEITIES ARE ONE AND THE SAME "SHIVAYA VISHNU ROOPAYA". It means that we can worship SAGUNA BRAHMAN". However, for one's liberation we must meditate on NIRGUNABRAHMAN.
ADI SHANKARA traveled throughout India by foot and defeated all others who believed in other philosophies during his life period. He founded FOUR PEETTHAS ( MUTTS) in order to guide all people (1) the one at Sringeri ( Shri Sharada Peethom – For Yajur Vedam)in the South (2) Dwaraka (. Sharada Peethom) in the West for Saama Vedam (3) Puri (Shri Govardhana Peethom) in Orissa and JYOTHR MUTT in Badarinath, North for Atharva Vedam )and installed his disciples (1)Sureswaraachaaya(2) Padmapaadaachaarya (3) Hasthaamalakaacharya and (4) Thotakaachaarya respectively as the MATTHAADHIPATHIS or Heads of the Matth.
He has written many STHOTHRAS on different deities . among which BHAJA GOVINDAM, SHIVANANDA LAHARI, SOUNDARYA LAHARI, SHYAAMALAA DANDAKAM are only few to mention, and he has also written BHASHYAM (commentary) for Brahma sUthra, Aithreya Upanishad, Bruhat Aranyaka, Isopanishad, Thaiththaryopanishad and other Upanishads, BHAGAVAT GITHA, VISHNU SAHASRANAMA and GAYATHRI MAHA MANTHRA. His treaties "Viveka Choodaamani ,Upadesha Sahasri, Athma Bodha Nirguna Maanasa Pooja etc are worth mentioning.
PROMISE TO HIS MOTHER KEPT UP AGAINST ODDS
When his mother was on her death bed, SHANKARA as promised to her, reached his house.
Her last wish to see PARA BRAHMA was realized to her by him by just her touch on his body. When she died the NAMBOOTHIRI BRAHMINS did not go to help him in her cremation and other APARA KIYAS stating that HE as a SANYASI had no right to perform this as he had left all worldly customs.
SHANKARA had to take the body on his shoulders to the CREMATION GROUND where he could not get FIRE WOOD to burn her body. He saw a newly thrown BANANA PLANT with which he burnt her mortal remains and performed her APARA KRIYA..
SAMADHI OF ADI SHANKARA
This subject is also controversial. According to many SHANKARA BHAGAVATHPAADA attained SAMADHI while trekking the HIMALAYAS near KEDARNATH.. Few others say that He attained SAMADHI at VADKKUNNATHA TEMPLE at Thrissur. Ome others say that after attaining Sarvajna Peettah he attained Samaadhi at Kancheepuram. Where some of is deciples started a PEETHOM called KANCH KAAMAKOTI PEETHOM. However, there is consensus in his life span which was very short i.e. 32 years of age.
Friends, I have not dealt with many of the wonderful works or deeds of Adi Shankara except giving a very short biography due to fear that this may become very lengthy.
I conclude this biography here by praying to this Great SAINT
Let us bow to this GREAT SAINT by saying "sruthi smruthi purANAnAm Alayam
karuNAlayam, namAmi bhagavathpAda Sankaram lOkasundaram".
Regards to one and all.
THE THREE GREAT PHILOSOPHERS OF SOUTH INDIA WHO GAVE
THE THREE GREAT PHILOSOPHERS OF SOUTH INDIA WHO GAVE
ADVAITHA, VISHISTADVAITHA AND DWAITHA PHILOSOPHIES
PART III : H.H. MADHWACHARAYA
Friends,
Having given a very brief biography and principles propounded by ADI SHANKARA and RAMANUJA , I am giving hereunder, a small biography and an entirely a new concept i.e.DWAITHA or DUALISM given by another great SAINT called MADHWACHAARYA.
In a tiny village called PAJAKA in Udupi district in Karnataka state, in the year 1238 AD, a boy was born on Vijaya Dashami day of the Lunar month Ashwin to a devout couple by names Madhyageha Bhatta and Vedavati. They named the child as VASUDEVA which is a synonym of Maha Vishnu., since he was born by the blessing of Lord Vishnu whom the couple prayed in varied ways for over 12 years. The story is that on hearing the prayers of the couple, Sriman Narayana asked VAYU to be born to the couple. In fact, Madhwas believe that he is the incarnation of VAYU like, BHEEMA and HANUMAN. In childhood itself Vasudeva was inclined towards spirituality and had great talents in grasping spiritual knowledge, He was very sturdy and well built. Madhwas have many stories to tell about the miracles Vasudeva perfomed as a child. Due to space constrain I shall narrate only one instance. When he was only ONE YEAR OLD once he accompanied his father's bullocks by just holding them on their tips of tails and
took them for grazing. His parents searched for the child but it was a vain attempt. However, the child returned home in the evening with the bullocks. This shows his great endurance power.
While he was a young boy of eleven years old i.e in the year 1149 AD. he chose to become a SANYASI under a great SANYASIN called ACHYUTHA PREKSHA who named VASUDEVA as PURNAPRAJNA. Here-in , I would like to state that PURNAPRAJNA TRUST, managed by MADHVAS is running many institutions for the benefit of mankind and their Educational Institutions are very famous for their excellence in teaching. This great Sanyasin , Poornaprajna had profound knowledge in SANSKRIT, VEDAS, UPANSHADS etc. and LOGIC OR THARKA SHASTHRA. Achyuta Preksha conferred upon Poornaprajna the title "ANANDA THEERTHA" for his knowledge in VEDANTHA and THARKA SHASTHRA through which he defeated VASUDEVA PANDITHA an eminent logician of his times, and, his disciples. In fact MADHWA is the PENNAME assumed by POORNAPRAJNA while writing his works on VEDAS. This is the exact reason why he is revered as MADHWACHARYA the author of DWITHA OR
DUALISM and how he came to be known as MADHWACHARYA. As a teenager POORNAPRAJNA toured all over south which include Thiruvananthapuram, Kanyakumari, Rameshwaram and Srirangam He had no belief in superstitions and faught tooth and nail against it. He WAS SEVERELY CRITISIZED FOR HIS ATTACK ON ORTHDOXY. He then returned to UDUPI and there he wrote his BHASHYA or commentary on BHAGAVAT GITHA. This commentary . he took to BHADRINATH where daily after bath in the holy river GANGA observed MOUNA VRATHA for 48 days. Thereafter he went to VYASA BADRI and believied to have met the GREAT SAGE VEDA VYASA and presented him with his BHASHYA ON BHAGAVAT GITHA. In his original Bhashya, it is said that he had written that the Bhashya was written with the help of Veda Vyasa which was changed by Veda Vyasa himself as "I have written with my own capacity and not with the help of Veda Vyasa".
UDUPI SHREE KRISHNA TEMPLE
Friends, it is now the right time to tell about this wonderful temple situated in UDUPI which is as famous as Sri Venkateshwara Temple of Tirupati , Srirangam Temple and Lord Krishna Temple of Guruvayur. It is said that Madhwacharya once noticed a ship which lost its direction in the sea at Malpe, a small coastal village near Udupi. Madhwacharya immediately took his saffron anga vasthram ( over-cloth) and waved it like a flag looking towards the ship. The captain of the ship noticed this and took the ship to shore. He was very much pleased with the Acharya's action and in gratitude he asked
Madhwacharya to take any thing which he liked from the ship. Madhwacharya who was a sanyasin had no much desires and hence he took a mound of dried GOPICHANDANA from the captain. On breaking open this mound he found a small and beautiful idol of Lord Krishna. This he installed in the Temple at Udupi which is now one of the famous
temples of Lord Krishna. Madhwacharya, then formed eight Mutts and appointed eight Heads for these mutts to perform POOJA, which are given below and which are situated in UDUPI Ratha Veedhi or Car Street.
(1)Phal.imar mutt : hrishikEsha Theertha
(2) adamAr Mutt : Narasimha Theertha
(3) Krishnapura Mutt : Janaardhana theertha
( 4) Puttige Mutt : Upendra Theertha
(5) Kaaniyoor Mutt : Vaamana Theertha
(6) Sode mutt : Vishnu Theertha
(7) Shiroor Mutt : Raama Theertha and
(8) Pejawar Mutt : Adhokshaja Theertha.
The peculiarity of this Temple is that Lord Krishna's idol in this temple is facing the west. Although no one can tell exactly, why this idol is facing west, according to some, there was a devotee called KANAKA DASA who was from a low caste and who could not enter the temple because of his being born in a low caste. Being a great devotee of Lord Krishna he used to stand daily on the western side of the temple and performed his prayers. Lord Krishna was well pleased with him and in order to give Darshan He turned towards the west. This is one belief. All my friends reading this might have heard about KANAKA DASAR KRUTHIS.
I can narrate many stories about this great saint who gave to the HINDUS the DWAITHA SIDDANTHA but due to space constraint I like to cut short this biography.
MADHWACHARYA'S DUALISM
The Dwaitha Siddantha differs from the other two theories on five counts They are :-
(1) JeevaiEEshwara Beda, or difference between the soul and Vishnu;
(2) Jada-EEshwara Bheda or difference between insentient and Vishnu;
(3) Mitha-Jeeva Bheda or difference between any two souls;
(4) Jada-Jeeva Bheda or difference between insentient and the soul;
(5) Mitha-Jada Bheda or difference between any two insentients..
To clarify: ISHWARA is a sentient being, and the JIVA is also sentient. However they are not fully alike. While ishwara is fully independent JEEVA is fully dependent. It is the energization by ISWARA that is responsible for the activity of the JIVA.
According to Madhwa ( Let us not forget his actual name after he was initiated in to SANYAS i.e POORNAPRAJNA ) as all the three saints believe, LORD VISHNU is supreme. Why I included Shankara Bhagavathpaadar also is, because of the difference with him only another great SAINT BHASAVESHWARA started his famous LINGA CULT called LINGAYATS as HH. Shankaracharya said that "SHIVA AND VISHNU
ARE ONE AND THE SAME". And in Sandhya Vandanam especially performed by BRAHMINS says " AkAshAth pathitham thOyam yaththa gachchathi saagaram , sarvadevanamaskaarah: keshavam prathi gachchathi" meaning as all the waters fall from the sky go to the seas, in the same way all prayers towards all DEVAS ultimately reach KESHAVA. And in samarpanam or conclusion we say "Kaayena vaachaa manasEndriyair vaa ddyaathmanaavaa prakruthe swabhaavath, karOmi yadyath sakalam
parasmai naaraayannayEthi samarpayaami. This is not intended to say that we are wrong but only to show as to why the great saints differ in their approach
Coming again to Madhwa's teachings. He says further that the universe is real and the five differences are real, the leagues of Jeevas are cohorts of VISHNU and are superior or inferior among themselves; salvation is the experience of Jiva's own joy; This can
be achieved only by flawless devotion or Bhakthi towards Vishnu.. etc.
After establishing the Lord Krishna Temple and the Mutts, Madhwacharya again went to Badri. He has authored many books some of the important works are his commenries on VEDIC HYMNS like Rig Veda BHAASHYA, KARMANI MAYA , BHASHYA ON VARIOUS UPANSHADS, BHASHYA ON BHAGAVAT GITHA Etc. HH. Madwacharya lived for 79 years i.e till NAVAMI OF SHUKA PAKSHA (BRIGHTER HALF OF THE MOON ) in the month of Magha of PINGALA SAMVATHSARA. Madhwas believe that this great saint is still alive and guiding them in all spiritual matters.
Friends, let us prostrate before all these three great saints with all reverence who made HINDUISM a most DYNAMIC RELIGION.
By Shri P.R.RADHAKRISHNAN
ADVAITHA, VISHISTADVAITHA AND DWAITHA PHILOSOPHIES
PART III : H.H. MADHWACHARAYA
Friends,
Having given a very brief biography and principles propounded by ADI SHANKARA and RAMANUJA , I am giving hereunder, a small biography and an entirely a new concept i.e.DWAITHA or DUALISM given by another great SAINT called MADHWACHAARYA.
In a tiny village called PAJAKA in Udupi district in Karnataka state, in the year 1238 AD, a boy was born on Vijaya Dashami day of the Lunar month Ashwin to a devout couple by names Madhyageha Bhatta and Vedavati. They named the child as VASUDEVA which is a synonym of Maha Vishnu., since he was born by the blessing of Lord Vishnu whom the couple prayed in varied ways for over 12 years. The story is that on hearing the prayers of the couple, Sriman Narayana asked VAYU to be born to the couple. In fact, Madhwas believe that he is the incarnation of VAYU like, BHEEMA and HANUMAN. In childhood itself Vasudeva was inclined towards spirituality and had great talents in grasping spiritual knowledge, He was very sturdy and well built. Madhwas have many stories to tell about the miracles Vasudeva perfomed as a child. Due to space constrain I shall narrate only one instance. When he was only ONE YEAR OLD once he accompanied his father's bullocks by just holding them on their tips of tails and
took them for grazing. His parents searched for the child but it was a vain attempt. However, the child returned home in the evening with the bullocks. This shows his great endurance power.
While he was a young boy of eleven years old i.e in the year 1149 AD. he chose to become a SANYASI under a great SANYASIN called ACHYUTHA PREKSHA who named VASUDEVA as PURNAPRAJNA. Here-in , I would like to state that PURNAPRAJNA TRUST, managed by MADHVAS is running many institutions for the benefit of mankind and their Educational Institutions are very famous for their excellence in teaching. This great Sanyasin , Poornaprajna had profound knowledge in SANSKRIT, VEDAS, UPANSHADS etc. and LOGIC OR THARKA SHASTHRA. Achyuta Preksha conferred upon Poornaprajna the title "ANANDA THEERTHA" for his knowledge in VEDANTHA and THARKA SHASTHRA through which he defeated VASUDEVA PANDITHA an eminent logician of his times, and, his disciples. In fact MADHWA is the PENNAME assumed by POORNAPRAJNA while writing his works on VEDAS. This is the exact reason why he is revered as MADHWACHARYA the author of DWITHA OR
DUALISM and how he came to be known as MADHWACHARYA. As a teenager POORNAPRAJNA toured all over south which include Thiruvananthapuram, Kanyakumari, Rameshwaram and Srirangam He had no belief in superstitions and faught tooth and nail against it. He WAS SEVERELY CRITISIZED FOR HIS ATTACK ON ORTHDOXY. He then returned to UDUPI and there he wrote his BHASHYA or commentary on BHAGAVAT GITHA. This commentary . he took to BHADRINATH where daily after bath in the holy river GANGA observed MOUNA VRATHA for 48 days. Thereafter he went to VYASA BADRI and believied to have met the GREAT SAGE VEDA VYASA and presented him with his BHASHYA ON BHAGAVAT GITHA. In his original Bhashya, it is said that he had written that the Bhashya was written with the help of Veda Vyasa which was changed by Veda Vyasa himself as "I have written with my own capacity and not with the help of Veda Vyasa".
UDUPI SHREE KRISHNA TEMPLE
Friends, it is now the right time to tell about this wonderful temple situated in UDUPI which is as famous as Sri Venkateshwara Temple of Tirupati , Srirangam Temple and Lord Krishna Temple of Guruvayur. It is said that Madhwacharya once noticed a ship which lost its direction in the sea at Malpe, a small coastal village near Udupi. Madhwacharya immediately took his saffron anga vasthram ( over-cloth) and waved it like a flag looking towards the ship. The captain of the ship noticed this and took the ship to shore. He was very much pleased with the Acharya's action and in gratitude he asked
Madhwacharya to take any thing which he liked from the ship. Madhwacharya who was a sanyasin had no much desires and hence he took a mound of dried GOPICHANDANA from the captain. On breaking open this mound he found a small and beautiful idol of Lord Krishna. This he installed in the Temple at Udupi which is now one of the famous
temples of Lord Krishna. Madhwacharya, then formed eight Mutts and appointed eight Heads for these mutts to perform POOJA, which are given below and which are situated in UDUPI Ratha Veedhi or Car Street.
(1)Phal.imar mutt : hrishikEsha Theertha
(2) adamAr Mutt : Narasimha Theertha
(3) Krishnapura Mutt : Janaardhana theertha
( 4) Puttige Mutt : Upendra Theertha
(5) Kaaniyoor Mutt : Vaamana Theertha
(6) Sode mutt : Vishnu Theertha
(7) Shiroor Mutt : Raama Theertha and
(8) Pejawar Mutt : Adhokshaja Theertha.
The peculiarity of this Temple is that Lord Krishna's idol in this temple is facing the west. Although no one can tell exactly, why this idol is facing west, according to some, there was a devotee called KANAKA DASA who was from a low caste and who could not enter the temple because of his being born in a low caste. Being a great devotee of Lord Krishna he used to stand daily on the western side of the temple and performed his prayers. Lord Krishna was well pleased with him and in order to give Darshan He turned towards the west. This is one belief. All my friends reading this might have heard about KANAKA DASAR KRUTHIS.
I can narrate many stories about this great saint who gave to the HINDUS the DWAITHA SIDDANTHA but due to space constraint I like to cut short this biography.
MADHWACHARYA'S DUALISM
The Dwaitha Siddantha differs from the other two theories on five counts They are :-
(1) JeevaiEEshwara Beda, or difference between the soul and Vishnu;
(2) Jada-EEshwara Bheda or difference between insentient and Vishnu;
(3) Mitha-Jeeva Bheda or difference between any two souls;
(4) Jada-Jeeva Bheda or difference between insentient and the soul;
(5) Mitha-Jada Bheda or difference between any two insentients..
To clarify: ISHWARA is a sentient being, and the JIVA is also sentient. However they are not fully alike. While ishwara is fully independent JEEVA is fully dependent. It is the energization by ISWARA that is responsible for the activity of the JIVA.
According to Madhwa ( Let us not forget his actual name after he was initiated in to SANYAS i.e POORNAPRAJNA ) as all the three saints believe, LORD VISHNU is supreme. Why I included Shankara Bhagavathpaadar also is, because of the difference with him only another great SAINT BHASAVESHWARA started his famous LINGA CULT called LINGAYATS as HH. Shankaracharya said that "SHIVA AND VISHNU
ARE ONE AND THE SAME". And in Sandhya Vandanam especially performed by BRAHMINS says " AkAshAth pathitham thOyam yaththa gachchathi saagaram , sarvadevanamaskaarah: keshavam prathi gachchathi" meaning as all the waters fall from the sky go to the seas, in the same way all prayers towards all DEVAS ultimately reach KESHAVA. And in samarpanam or conclusion we say "Kaayena vaachaa manasEndriyair vaa ddyaathmanaavaa prakruthe swabhaavath, karOmi yadyath sakalam
parasmai naaraayannayEthi samarpayaami. This is not intended to say that we are wrong but only to show as to why the great saints differ in their approach
Coming again to Madhwa's teachings. He says further that the universe is real and the five differences are real, the leagues of Jeevas are cohorts of VISHNU and are superior or inferior among themselves; salvation is the experience of Jiva's own joy; This can
be achieved only by flawless devotion or Bhakthi towards Vishnu.. etc.
After establishing the Lord Krishna Temple and the Mutts, Madhwacharya again went to Badri. He has authored many books some of the important works are his commenries on VEDIC HYMNS like Rig Veda BHAASHYA, KARMANI MAYA , BHASHYA ON VARIOUS UPANSHADS, BHASHYA ON BHAGAVAT GITHA Etc. HH. Madwacharya lived for 79 years i.e till NAVAMI OF SHUKA PAKSHA (BRIGHTER HALF OF THE MOON ) in the month of Magha of PINGALA SAMVATHSARA. Madhwas believe that this great saint is still alive and guiding them in all spiritual matters.
Friends, let us prostrate before all these three great saints with all reverence who made HINDUISM a most DYNAMIC RELIGION.
By Shri P.R.RADHAKRISHNAN
Sri Ramanujacharya -The great Philosopher and Social reformer.....
Sri Ramanujacharya..
The great Philosopher and Social reformer.....
Born and brought up at Sri Perumbudhur... Just few hours drive from Chennai....
Was instrumental in developing Vaishnavism
Long before, he broke the ills of casteism....
Treated all with equal respect....
Looking forward to more and more information about him and his philosophy on VISHISTADVAITHAM...
Salient Features of Ramanuja's Life.:
(1) Ramanuja was born at a Village SRI-PERUMPUDHOOR.. near Chennai.. as Adwaithi.. so called Smartha,,, Sankaracharya's disciple... Parents KESAVA SOMAYAJI and mother KANTHIMATHI... were childless until their intensive prayer to Parthasarathy deity at Thiruvallikkeni was gracefully answered... by the birth of Ramanuja..
(2) His first Guru was an Adhwaithi... YAADHAVA-PRAKASA... with whom Ramanuja resided at home for Gurukula Vaasam... .. at THIRUPPUTKUZHI village ...near Kanchipuram.... and learnt Vedas initial lessons..
(3) Guru Yaadhava-Prakasa in the course of teaching to a batch of students along with Ramanuja... interpreted the meaning of one Sanskrit word...KAPYAASAM ... that God's Eyes are similar to the Red-buttocks of Monkey. Ramanuja shed tears on hearing this cheap Simile. to a Diviinity.. When questioned, Ramanuja put forth the alternate meaning which alone can be applicable in this context... he said
" God's Eyes are similar to the Lotus-flower"..
.. on hearing which the Guru became furious that he was an Adhikaprasangi (Impertinent-goose).. who oversteps beyond the bounds of a student who has to just accept whatever the Guru teaches..
Ramanuja prayed the Guru for clarification on his preaching... which the Guru could not.. Whereas Ramanuja further elaborated on his perception of alternate meaning of the same word. This fact could not be denied by the Guru..
Thus the Teacher felt insulted before other students.. who may spread a bad image on the Scholar-Teacher... while Ramanuja may excel him as a better Scholarly Competitor- Teacher.. in the near future.
So he decided to kill the student Ramanuja, by drowning in the River Ganga... so that the Guru need not become a sinner by killing, while his purpose also can be served...
.. a Crooked sense of justification .for a malefic autocracy.
RAMANUJA: ADHISESHA-AWATHARA: Proved during Lifetime- 2
The Jain-King Pittiraya’s daughter,.. rather the Princess of the then Karnataka region, suddenly became Insane... and continued so without any imrovement for several years, in spite of intensive treatment of all sorts by many Doctors of various Schools of Medical profession available those days.
Then the King tried his best by alternative means too.. .. including the Spiritual remedy by Bhuddhist and Jain monks
Doubting the effect of extraneous Evil-force, reputed Manthrikas were engaged .. but with no fruitful result.
So the King was much worried whether it was incurable for his affectionate daughter, the Teen-ager Princess .. due to be married as the Royal-Heir.
At that stage Ramanuja had reached his Kingdom, leaving off the neighbour Chozha desam.. On the recommendation of his Minister, the Jain King invited Ramanuja to his Palace and appealed for advice.
On seing the Princess, Ramanuja asked “ What is wrong with you?”
“Pat came the reply.. “ Hae Swami Ramanuja the ADHISESHA AWATHARA.. I am the Brahma-Rakshasa eagerly waiting for you the Divine-Soul... Originally I am a Gandharva who became a Rakshasa due to a Curse. So to get along the days, I entered this Girls body... waiting for the day of Liberation.
I am prepared to leave off.. if you can grace me Liberation by just touching my Head with your Foot.. because you are AADHISESHA.. Consequently I will be radically cleansed of all my sins along with the evil effects of the curse on me... and thus I can go back to the Gandharva my original form.
Ramanuja complied with the appeal .. and immediately the Evil-force occupying the Princess body left off. The Young girl got up cheerfully as if she woke up from sleep.
The Devils voice declaring Ramanuja as the ADHISESHA-AWATHARA.. was clearly audible to one and all around including the King.
So not only the King started revering Ramanuja highly but also made his people too. by ordering them to pay the due honour to the Aadhisesha Awathara Ramanuja.
Veda says even about Lord Narayana ... as .. AJAAYAMAANAHA... means Birthless....
...but further adds.... BAHUDHAA-VIJAAYATHAE.... which means..."yet takes several REBIRTHS as Awathaaras.(Re-incarnations)
But Nowhere it is mentioned in any Puranas or Vedas that the Lord Siva is "Pirhappili".... Vide Thiruvilhaiyaadal-puraanam... where Lord Siva has taken several Disguises and Re-Births... as Fuel-Wood(Virahu)-Seller, Student-Singer etc.
In the Naayanmaars-Charithram... Lord Siva appeared before Thiruneelakantar as a Sivan-Adiyaar and played a drama with a Earthen-Begging-bowl... You know.
However if at all any God-form.... either Vishnu or Siva or Muruha and other Gods... is attributed as PIRAPPILI anywhere... it has to be positively understood in a HIGH-SENSE...as....
... NON-COMMITTED FOR REBIRTH... due to Karmas of past births... like the Humans and other Creatures..
...Yet took Rebirth to make people understand them better, by means of His/Her actions on the field....
In the case of Lord Sankaracharya.... there are two sorts of Faiths amongst his Disciples...
(1) He was just a Holy-Soul...unlinked to any Gods Rebirth....but a Staunch Vishnu-devotee....
...who created a New Philosophy of Adhwaitha....So, being a Vaishnavite.. he was wearing on his forehead. and all over his body... CHANDHANA-PUNDRAM (Symbol of Vaishnavite).... and chanting constantly Narayana-Nama-Japam....
...as also ordained Vishnu-supremacy in all the Kerala Temples... be it a Siva or Ambal or any such other deity...
...stipulating to chant "Amme Narayana in Bhagawathi Temples or Acha-Narayana in Siva-temples
..Such a faith is mostly amongst Namboodris ... so called his Birth-communioty people.. They have their own justifications to fortify such a belief....
Even in Kaladi... where the Acharyas Samadhi exists... and is worshipped by his devotees....only Chandana-Pundram is worn to Sankaracharya deity... as a Vaishnavite.... and Not Viboothi(Saivite-sign).
(2) Another faith amongst a section of his devotees... especially the Peetaadhipathis at Kanchi, Sringeri etc.... including a part of the Kerala people....it is believed...
... that the Aadhi-Sankaracharya was the Awathara of Lord Siva, Vadakkunathar- Swami at Thirussor Temple.... by whose benign grace to his parents, the Acharya was bestowed as the Remarkable Human of divine Re-birth. of Lord-Siva....
...so, being REINCARNATION OF LORD SIVA... his Idols at some places, including Kanchi and Sringeri- Peetam Temples... Viboothi is worn... as well as by themselves his disciples as Saivites.
I have nothing to argue Pro or Anti... other than putting forth here... the various sects' (All of them, his Disciples only) personal beliefs of reverence.... towards the Great Sankara- Acharya.
However the most interesting point to be observed here is....
...While as per SRI-BASHYAM of Acharya Ramanuja... the supreme God is denoted by him mostly as just EESWARA(Which word is common to all the forms of Gods... including Siva and Vishnu) ... even though by the word Eeswara, he means Lord Narayana only.
...Whereas the Acharya Sankara was very careful not to mention anywhere, the word EESWARA or some such common terminology attributable to more than one form of God.....
And so in his SANKARA-BASHYAM, the Adhwaitha Acharya has all along attributed the Supreme-God as Narayana, Vasudeva, Paramaathma ,Kesava and the like specific names and adjectives prescribed exclusively for Lord Narayana only.
Geetha authorises “Social Discrimination” ?
Ramanujacharya continued his reply to the Vedic Scholars…
No doubt further too...in Geetha there are Slokas specifically mentioning as Brahmana, Kashathriya, Vaisya and Soodhra classifications of Mankind CREATED SO BY BIRTH by God.
But invariably in all those slokas, it clearly declares undoubtedly… that such categorizations are based on their varied standards in Sathva, Rajas, and Thaamas qualities… inborn by nature,…
...conveying the same concept of the above-mentioned Sloka more analytically
So to say, even in one and the same family of any Caste, amongst the four Sons of the same Parents of one Blood-relation...
...there can be one born of Kshathriya qualities while his brothers may be Brahmana, Vaisya and Soodhra... conforming to the sense of Geetha.
Thus, such a Quality-basis is totally unrelated to the Communal-theory of the so called Manu-Dharma Sasthram...
...NOT A SAASTHRAM.... NOR DIVINE, since NOT MADE BY GOD....
... but AUTOCRATICALLY stipulated by the Kings, the Human-beings.
...imitating the same names mentioned in Geetha and Vedas..for their Caste- Names..
Then the Scholars raked up the Vedic sense in relation to Geetha....
...Claiming that the Geetha follows the Vedic-concept of Communal- discrimination by birth as high and low...
...in the Strata of Society comprising of Brahmana, Kshathriya, Vaisya and Soodhra....
... Purusha-sooktha of Yajur-Veda... says
Braahmanosya Mukham.aaseeth. Baahu Raajanya krithaha
Ooru thadhasya yadh Vaisyaha Padhmyaagum Soodhro ajaayatha
On hearing so... Ramanuja laughed at them and said
....“What a PERVERTED MEANING.!!”
Dear Mr Rohit,
I never said so... and if I have said there must be under a context and conditions for it.
....But even then.... rather in ANY CASE... both the persons of opposite approaches, cannot be EQUALLED....
...Nor their Approaches can be the same.... Nor of EQUAL POSITIVE VALUE
That was the statement from an Atheist, about 3 years back, in another Thread,...( I remember well ... who and where... but I don't want drag him here now unnecessarily, because he is out of Hub now-a-days.)
... which I vehemently opposed and justified how two persons of Positive and Negative propensities...
...differently react to Onslaughts of Fate in a discerning manner.
I can further elaborate and justify if you want.
Psychologists and Philosophers speak in One Voice... although their Routes and approaches are different.
That conclution is the ULTIMATE TRUTH.... UNSHAKEABLE...by Positive outlook.
Ramanuja too establishes the same Large-hearted approach of GOD IS LOVE.
...
Thanks a lot for the post, sudhaama.
I have a few doubts :
1. I have read that when Ramanuja was summoned by the king, his disciples took his place & made Udaiayavar escape to melkote. When they were produced before the king, they were asked to sign the proclaimation that Lord Shiva was a greater God than Lord Vishnu & when they refused, they were punished.
Assuming that the above is true, when ramanuja is so large hearted, what prevented his followers also to be so?
I know there is some explaination here which I would like to hear from U.
2. Also I have read that since he was saved by harijans or dalits (as we call them now) from the clutches of robbers when he was returing from delhi to melkote, he "allowed" them to enter the shrine for 3 days in a year.
Now we know that udaiyavar's large heartedness knew no boundaries, if that is the case, why only "the 3 day period?
My intention is not to cast aspersions on the Maha Purusha (Avarai paththi vimarsanam pandrathukku yarukkume thagudi illai geradhu ennodiya abiprayam).
I only want to clear certain misgivings, that's all.
As an ardent udaiyavar devotee, it pains me when certain people cast aspersions.
Also, i wonder why U have stopped posting on Udaiyavar, of late. Please continue to do so. It is of immense benefit & delight to Udaiayavar devotees like me (& I am sure to many others as well).
Prabhu Ram wrote:
When we went to Srirangam last year we asked about the idol to the Archakar there (since I had also heard that it was Ramanuja himself). The Archakar said that, after hie breathed his last, Ramanuja was interred and then he rose in his present form (like a Swayambu) with the asareeri announcing his resurrection.
(1) I am sorry we are overstretching the matter.. violating the Secret Code of practice... strictly being adopted by the Disciples of Ramanuja.
As I have already mentioned, quoting the bitter experience of the Mahan Jothi Ramalinga Swamis case, Ramanuja's followers purposively maintain it as a Secret. So No more discussions please on the Material substance of the Ramanuja Moolavar at Srirangam.
However for the sake of the Acharya's followers.. I highlight here one interesting point.
The Tamil terminology... THAAN AANA THIRUMENI... must clarify all the doubts... which glorifies the holy Moolavar as the worshipful Great.
Let us leave at that.
Prabhu Ram wrote:
........................
Sudhaama wrote:
One of such Acharyas, Swami Desika took up personal commitment to save all the Moolavars, including this Ramanuja's Thirumeni.
I read somewhere that when the invasion happened, Vedanta Desikar took charge of the works of Vaishnavite philosophy, that remained unfinished at the time of Ramanujar's demise and took them with him (to Kanchipuram?), to work on the translations and commentary. And MaNavALa MAmunigaL , along with a Vijayanagar chieftain ensured the safe transportation of the moolavar of the temple.
This was offered by the author as one of the possible root for the sectarian split. One sect claiming lineage to those who undertook to great physical risks to protect the idol, while the other chose an 'easier' path. While the other sect stressed that saving the philosophical works was the bigger contribution.
Perhaps, at some time you deem appropriate to the flow of this thread, you can tell us something about what actually happened at the time of the invasion.
You are confusing yourselves with Amavasai and Abdul kadar... So to say with unconnected factors. The cause of Sectarian split is radically a different subject altogether unconnected with this event of Muslim invasion.
At that time there were NO TWO SRI-VAISHNAVA SECTS... but all One, including Swami Desikar.
It has been proved in the Court of Law categorically and UNDISPUTABLY... in case of Srirangam temple.
Swami Desika took charge of personal custody of Sri-Bhashyam Original Palm-leaf text of Ramanuja, even before the Hindu Temple invasions by foreigners...
..while there was a constant threat from some Jains and Buddhist Kings.
But it is not correct to say... that Ramanuja left any of his works incomplete.
As I already said... immediately on hearing the news of advancement of the Foreign-invaders forces towards Srirangam, all the Sri Vaishnava Acharyas called for a meeting and discussed amicably on the due Protective and Defense measures.
Apart from the subsequent Defensive military counter-fights by the Ranganatha devotees... they protected the Idols Moolavars and Uthsavars under different custodies... well in advance... OVERNIGHT...
...by the selfless toil of the thousands of united devotees at Srirangam.
Pillai-Lokacharya took charge of Ranganatha Uthsavar... called Nam-perumal and carried with him out of the temple. It is a pathetic episode how he sacrificed his life for it.
...those invaders' main target used to be the Hindu Temple Uthsavars...
...on which they took Sadistic- pleasure to denigrate them by using as the Footsteps for their places of worship.
Swami Desika took charge of all the Moolavars and protected them as already detailed hereabove.
.
Sudhaama wrote:
.
.What one sows... he reaps.!!
komban wrote:
Sudhaama wrote:
…all your prayers to different God-forms reach ultimately that One and the same Goal…
..which is the ORIGIN too.. for all !.. ...as categorically declared by Vedas.
That One God... Supreme God "Sriman Narayana"… answers your prayers…
...directly or indirectly as you individually approach..
...and showers His benign grace to all.! REMEMBER.!!!"
.
Will this Lakshmi-Narayana ever have time to restore peace in Pakistan or Afghanistan or Iraq ? Aren't the prayers from people of those region doesn't reach him ? Is the mobile signal weak...?
BS!!!
For the SUICIDAL ACTIONS of ... ALL CONCERNED... we cannot blame God.
The Sufferers are facing the Consequences of their PAST MISDEEDS.!
What Ramanujacharya or Lakshmi-Narayana... have to do.?
.
Care to explain what are such misdeeds that those innocent people did to lose their lives for no fault of theirs ?
Embracing Islam ?
The great Philosopher and Social reformer.....
Born and brought up at Sri Perumbudhur... Just few hours drive from Chennai....
Was instrumental in developing Vaishnavism
Long before, he broke the ills of casteism....
Treated all with equal respect....
Looking forward to more and more information about him and his philosophy on VISHISTADVAITHAM...
Salient Features of Ramanuja's Life.:
(1) Ramanuja was born at a Village SRI-PERUMPUDHOOR.. near Chennai.. as Adwaithi.. so called Smartha,,, Sankaracharya's disciple... Parents KESAVA SOMAYAJI and mother KANTHIMATHI... were childless until their intensive prayer to Parthasarathy deity at Thiruvallikkeni was gracefully answered... by the birth of Ramanuja..
(2) His first Guru was an Adhwaithi... YAADHAVA-PRAKASA... with whom Ramanuja resided at home for Gurukula Vaasam... .. at THIRUPPUTKUZHI village ...near Kanchipuram.... and learnt Vedas initial lessons..
(3) Guru Yaadhava-Prakasa in the course of teaching to a batch of students along with Ramanuja... interpreted the meaning of one Sanskrit word...KAPYAASAM ... that God's Eyes are similar to the Red-buttocks of Monkey. Ramanuja shed tears on hearing this cheap Simile. to a Diviinity.. When questioned, Ramanuja put forth the alternate meaning which alone can be applicable in this context... he said
" God's Eyes are similar to the Lotus-flower"..
.. on hearing which the Guru became furious that he was an Adhikaprasangi (Impertinent-goose).. who oversteps beyond the bounds of a student who has to just accept whatever the Guru teaches..
Ramanuja prayed the Guru for clarification on his preaching... which the Guru could not.. Whereas Ramanuja further elaborated on his perception of alternate meaning of the same word. This fact could not be denied by the Guru..
Thus the Teacher felt insulted before other students.. who may spread a bad image on the Scholar-Teacher... while Ramanuja may excel him as a better Scholarly Competitor- Teacher.. in the near future.
So he decided to kill the student Ramanuja, by drowning in the River Ganga... so that the Guru need not become a sinner by killing, while his purpose also can be served...
.. a Crooked sense of justification .for a malefic autocracy.
RAMANUJA: ADHISESHA-AWATHARA: Proved during Lifetime- 2
The Jain-King Pittiraya’s daughter,.. rather the Princess of the then Karnataka region, suddenly became Insane... and continued so without any imrovement for several years, in spite of intensive treatment of all sorts by many Doctors of various Schools of Medical profession available those days.
Then the King tried his best by alternative means too.. .. including the Spiritual remedy by Bhuddhist and Jain monks
Doubting the effect of extraneous Evil-force, reputed Manthrikas were engaged .. but with no fruitful result.
So the King was much worried whether it was incurable for his affectionate daughter, the Teen-ager Princess .. due to be married as the Royal-Heir.
At that stage Ramanuja had reached his Kingdom, leaving off the neighbour Chozha desam.. On the recommendation of his Minister, the Jain King invited Ramanuja to his Palace and appealed for advice.
On seing the Princess, Ramanuja asked “ What is wrong with you?”
“Pat came the reply.. “ Hae Swami Ramanuja the ADHISESHA AWATHARA.. I am the Brahma-Rakshasa eagerly waiting for you the Divine-Soul... Originally I am a Gandharva who became a Rakshasa due to a Curse. So to get along the days, I entered this Girls body... waiting for the day of Liberation.
I am prepared to leave off.. if you can grace me Liberation by just touching my Head with your Foot.. because you are AADHISESHA.. Consequently I will be radically cleansed of all my sins along with the evil effects of the curse on me... and thus I can go back to the Gandharva my original form.
Ramanuja complied with the appeal .. and immediately the Evil-force occupying the Princess body left off. The Young girl got up cheerfully as if she woke up from sleep.
The Devils voice declaring Ramanuja as the ADHISESHA-AWATHARA.. was clearly audible to one and all around including the King.
So not only the King started revering Ramanuja highly but also made his people too. by ordering them to pay the due honour to the Aadhisesha Awathara Ramanuja.
Veda says even about Lord Narayana ... as .. AJAAYAMAANAHA... means Birthless....
...but further adds.... BAHUDHAA-VIJAAYATHAE.... which means..."yet takes several REBIRTHS as Awathaaras.(Re-incarnations)
But Nowhere it is mentioned in any Puranas or Vedas that the Lord Siva is "Pirhappili".... Vide Thiruvilhaiyaadal-puraanam... where Lord Siva has taken several Disguises and Re-Births... as Fuel-Wood(Virahu)-Seller, Student-Singer etc.
In the Naayanmaars-Charithram... Lord Siva appeared before Thiruneelakantar as a Sivan-Adiyaar and played a drama with a Earthen-Begging-bowl... You know.
However if at all any God-form.... either Vishnu or Siva or Muruha and other Gods... is attributed as PIRAPPILI anywhere... it has to be positively understood in a HIGH-SENSE...as....
... NON-COMMITTED FOR REBIRTH... due to Karmas of past births... like the Humans and other Creatures..
...Yet took Rebirth to make people understand them better, by means of His/Her actions on the field....
In the case of Lord Sankaracharya.... there are two sorts of Faiths amongst his Disciples...
(1) He was just a Holy-Soul...unlinked to any Gods Rebirth....but a Staunch Vishnu-devotee....
...who created a New Philosophy of Adhwaitha....So, being a Vaishnavite.. he was wearing on his forehead. and all over his body... CHANDHANA-PUNDRAM (Symbol of Vaishnavite).... and chanting constantly Narayana-Nama-Japam....
...as also ordained Vishnu-supremacy in all the Kerala Temples... be it a Siva or Ambal or any such other deity...
...stipulating to chant "Amme Narayana in Bhagawathi Temples or Acha-Narayana in Siva-temples
..Such a faith is mostly amongst Namboodris ... so called his Birth-communioty people.. They have their own justifications to fortify such a belief....
Even in Kaladi... where the Acharyas Samadhi exists... and is worshipped by his devotees....only Chandana-Pundram is worn to Sankaracharya deity... as a Vaishnavite.... and Not Viboothi(Saivite-sign).
(2) Another faith amongst a section of his devotees... especially the Peetaadhipathis at Kanchi, Sringeri etc.... including a part of the Kerala people....it is believed...
... that the Aadhi-Sankaracharya was the Awathara of Lord Siva, Vadakkunathar- Swami at Thirussor Temple.... by whose benign grace to his parents, the Acharya was bestowed as the Remarkable Human of divine Re-birth. of Lord-Siva....
...so, being REINCARNATION OF LORD SIVA... his Idols at some places, including Kanchi and Sringeri- Peetam Temples... Viboothi is worn... as well as by themselves his disciples as Saivites.
I have nothing to argue Pro or Anti... other than putting forth here... the various sects' (All of them, his Disciples only) personal beliefs of reverence.... towards the Great Sankara- Acharya.
However the most interesting point to be observed here is....
...While as per SRI-BASHYAM of Acharya Ramanuja... the supreme God is denoted by him mostly as just EESWARA(Which word is common to all the forms of Gods... including Siva and Vishnu) ... even though by the word Eeswara, he means Lord Narayana only.
...Whereas the Acharya Sankara was very careful not to mention anywhere, the word EESWARA or some such common terminology attributable to more than one form of God.....
And so in his SANKARA-BASHYAM, the Adhwaitha Acharya has all along attributed the Supreme-God as Narayana, Vasudeva, Paramaathma ,Kesava and the like specific names and adjectives prescribed exclusively for Lord Narayana only.
Geetha authorises “Social Discrimination” ?
Ramanujacharya continued his reply to the Vedic Scholars…
No doubt further too...in Geetha there are Slokas specifically mentioning as Brahmana, Kashathriya, Vaisya and Soodhra classifications of Mankind CREATED SO BY BIRTH by God.
But invariably in all those slokas, it clearly declares undoubtedly… that such categorizations are based on their varied standards in Sathva, Rajas, and Thaamas qualities… inborn by nature,…
...conveying the same concept of the above-mentioned Sloka more analytically
So to say, even in one and the same family of any Caste, amongst the four Sons of the same Parents of one Blood-relation...
...there can be one born of Kshathriya qualities while his brothers may be Brahmana, Vaisya and Soodhra... conforming to the sense of Geetha.
Thus, such a Quality-basis is totally unrelated to the Communal-theory of the so called Manu-Dharma Sasthram...
...NOT A SAASTHRAM.... NOR DIVINE, since NOT MADE BY GOD....
... but AUTOCRATICALLY stipulated by the Kings, the Human-beings.
...imitating the same names mentioned in Geetha and Vedas..for their Caste- Names..
Then the Scholars raked up the Vedic sense in relation to Geetha....
...Claiming that the Geetha follows the Vedic-concept of Communal- discrimination by birth as high and low...
...in the Strata of Society comprising of Brahmana, Kshathriya, Vaisya and Soodhra....
... Purusha-sooktha of Yajur-Veda... says
Braahmanosya Mukham.aaseeth. Baahu Raajanya krithaha
Ooru thadhasya yadh Vaisyaha Padhmyaagum Soodhro ajaayatha
On hearing so... Ramanuja laughed at them and said
....“What a PERVERTED MEANING.!!”
Dear Mr Rohit,
I never said so... and if I have said there must be under a context and conditions for it.
....But even then.... rather in ANY CASE... both the persons of opposite approaches, cannot be EQUALLED....
...Nor their Approaches can be the same.... Nor of EQUAL POSITIVE VALUE
That was the statement from an Atheist, about 3 years back, in another Thread,...( I remember well ... who and where... but I don't want drag him here now unnecessarily, because he is out of Hub now-a-days.)
... which I vehemently opposed and justified how two persons of Positive and Negative propensities...
...differently react to Onslaughts of Fate in a discerning manner.
I can further elaborate and justify if you want.
Psychologists and Philosophers speak in One Voice... although their Routes and approaches are different.
That conclution is the ULTIMATE TRUTH.... UNSHAKEABLE...by Positive outlook.
Ramanuja too establishes the same Large-hearted approach of GOD IS LOVE.
...
Thanks a lot for the post, sudhaama.
I have a few doubts :
1. I have read that when Ramanuja was summoned by the king, his disciples took his place & made Udaiayavar escape to melkote. When they were produced before the king, they were asked to sign the proclaimation that Lord Shiva was a greater God than Lord Vishnu & when they refused, they were punished.
Assuming that the above is true, when ramanuja is so large hearted, what prevented his followers also to be so?
I know there is some explaination here which I would like to hear from U.
2. Also I have read that since he was saved by harijans or dalits (as we call them now) from the clutches of robbers when he was returing from delhi to melkote, he "allowed" them to enter the shrine for 3 days in a year.
Now we know that udaiyavar's large heartedness knew no boundaries, if that is the case, why only "the 3 day period?
My intention is not to cast aspersions on the Maha Purusha (Avarai paththi vimarsanam pandrathukku yarukkume thagudi illai geradhu ennodiya abiprayam).
I only want to clear certain misgivings, that's all.
As an ardent udaiyavar devotee, it pains me when certain people cast aspersions.
Also, i wonder why U have stopped posting on Udaiyavar, of late. Please continue to do so. It is of immense benefit & delight to Udaiayavar devotees like me (& I am sure to many others as well).
Prabhu Ram wrote:
When we went to Srirangam last year we asked about the idol to the Archakar there (since I had also heard that it was Ramanuja himself). The Archakar said that, after hie breathed his last, Ramanuja was interred and then he rose in his present form (like a Swayambu) with the asareeri announcing his resurrection.
(1) I am sorry we are overstretching the matter.. violating the Secret Code of practice... strictly being adopted by the Disciples of Ramanuja.
As I have already mentioned, quoting the bitter experience of the Mahan Jothi Ramalinga Swamis case, Ramanuja's followers purposively maintain it as a Secret. So No more discussions please on the Material substance of the Ramanuja Moolavar at Srirangam.
However for the sake of the Acharya's followers.. I highlight here one interesting point.
The Tamil terminology... THAAN AANA THIRUMENI... must clarify all the doubts... which glorifies the holy Moolavar as the worshipful Great.
Let us leave at that.
Prabhu Ram wrote:
........................
Sudhaama wrote:
One of such Acharyas, Swami Desika took up personal commitment to save all the Moolavars, including this Ramanuja's Thirumeni.
I read somewhere that when the invasion happened, Vedanta Desikar took charge of the works of Vaishnavite philosophy, that remained unfinished at the time of Ramanujar's demise and took them with him (to Kanchipuram?), to work on the translations and commentary. And MaNavALa MAmunigaL , along with a Vijayanagar chieftain ensured the safe transportation of the moolavar of the temple.
This was offered by the author as one of the possible root for the sectarian split. One sect claiming lineage to those who undertook to great physical risks to protect the idol, while the other chose an 'easier' path. While the other sect stressed that saving the philosophical works was the bigger contribution.
Perhaps, at some time you deem appropriate to the flow of this thread, you can tell us something about what actually happened at the time of the invasion.
You are confusing yourselves with Amavasai and Abdul kadar... So to say with unconnected factors. The cause of Sectarian split is radically a different subject altogether unconnected with this event of Muslim invasion.
At that time there were NO TWO SRI-VAISHNAVA SECTS... but all One, including Swami Desikar.
It has been proved in the Court of Law categorically and UNDISPUTABLY... in case of Srirangam temple.
Swami Desika took charge of personal custody of Sri-Bhashyam Original Palm-leaf text of Ramanuja, even before the Hindu Temple invasions by foreigners...
..while there was a constant threat from some Jains and Buddhist Kings.
But it is not correct to say... that Ramanuja left any of his works incomplete.
As I already said... immediately on hearing the news of advancement of the Foreign-invaders forces towards Srirangam, all the Sri Vaishnava Acharyas called for a meeting and discussed amicably on the due Protective and Defense measures.
Apart from the subsequent Defensive military counter-fights by the Ranganatha devotees... they protected the Idols Moolavars and Uthsavars under different custodies... well in advance... OVERNIGHT...
...by the selfless toil of the thousands of united devotees at Srirangam.
Pillai-Lokacharya took charge of Ranganatha Uthsavar... called Nam-perumal and carried with him out of the temple. It is a pathetic episode how he sacrificed his life for it.
...those invaders' main target used to be the Hindu Temple Uthsavars...
...on which they took Sadistic- pleasure to denigrate them by using as the Footsteps for their places of worship.
Swami Desika took charge of all the Moolavars and protected them as already detailed hereabove.
.
Sudhaama wrote:
.
.What one sows... he reaps.!!
komban wrote:
Sudhaama wrote:
…all your prayers to different God-forms reach ultimately that One and the same Goal…
..which is the ORIGIN too.. for all !.. ...as categorically declared by Vedas.
That One God... Supreme God "Sriman Narayana"… answers your prayers…
...directly or indirectly as you individually approach..
...and showers His benign grace to all.! REMEMBER.!!!"
.
Will this Lakshmi-Narayana ever have time to restore peace in Pakistan or Afghanistan or Iraq ? Aren't the prayers from people of those region doesn't reach him ? Is the mobile signal weak...?
BS!!!
For the SUICIDAL ACTIONS of ... ALL CONCERNED... we cannot blame God.
The Sufferers are facing the Consequences of their PAST MISDEEDS.!
What Ramanujacharya or Lakshmi-Narayana... have to do.?
.
Care to explain what are such misdeeds that those innocent people did to lose their lives for no fault of theirs ?
Embracing Islam ?
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