Madhwa's Teachings--Brahma Sootra Bhashya by Shrimad Anand Teertha Bhagawatpadacharya and the Tattwa Prakashika by Shree Teekacharya available in Marathi.

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Madhwa’s Teachings .

23- 03- 2010.

Brahma Sootra Bhashya by Shrimad Anand Teertha Bhagawatpadacharya and the Tattwa Prakashika by Shree Teekacharya available in Marathi.

Dear Reader,

A low profile senior scholar, a Sudha Pundit, who regularly attends every patha and pravachana at the Satyadhyana Vidyapeetha has been a great source of encouragement to the novices, like the writer. He explains philosophical equations in detail in a very lucid manner. The ease with which he quotes from different scriptures speaks of the depth of his knowledge of the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Bhagawad Geeta, the puranas and the Brahma sootras.

The pundit is, however, observed to be in very high spirits especially while explaining the Brahma sootras. The elevated state of mind issues out in the form of an eloquent speech without losing the characteristic lucidity.

The Brahma sootras are a key to the secrets of the Vedic lore; they deal with every aspect of the Hindu philosophy. The Vedas contain philosophical equations and the great epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata which are called Itihasa (historical records), substantiate the equations; and so do the puranas. But the Brahms sootras are unique due to the different interpretations given by various acharyas, he says.

The interpretations of the Brahma sootras by Shri Madhwacharya provide an insight into the true meaning of the Vedas; of the forces that operate at different levels under the command of the omniscient, the omnipotent and the omnipresent supreme force – Lord Vishnu. They clearly establish the relationship between the Prameya Granthas and Pramana Granthas. One gets a crystal clear idea of the Vedic knowledge, if one looks through the prism of the Brahma sootras bhasha by Shri Madhwacharya when read with the commentary, the Tattwa Prakashika by Shri Teekacharya, he says in an exalted state of mind.

In the nineteen thirties, Pundit Rangacharya Reddy, a Maadhwa scholar from Wai, Maharashtra, translated the Brahma sootra bhashya by Shri Madhwacharya and the Tattwa Prakashika by Shri Teekacharya into Marathi. A profound scholar as he was, the pundit was able to produce the same effect the original works had created and had held the scholarly fraternity in awe for centuries for the sheer depth of knowledge they contained. He further elaborated some of the sootras duly supported by quotations from the subsequent great work, the Chandrika, written by yet another great scholar and saint, Shri Vyasaraj Teertha Swamiji. It was but natural that the contemporary scholars hailed the work as one of its kind in Marathi not only for its usefulness to scholars, but also to beginners.

The work was soon added to the library of most Marathi knowing Maadhwa scholars and the new entrants to the Maadhwa philosophy, all over the country. His Holiness, Shri. Satyadhyana Teertha Swamiji of the Uttaradi Mutt of the time, was so much pleased with the book that he blessed the pundit with an honorarium of R. 50/-. The amount, to us, may seem very meager; but it was in fact a princely sum in those days. The writer is told that one could purchase vegetables for the whole family for one day just for one paisa (1/64th unit of a Rupee). It is said that His Holiness Shri Satyadhyana Teertha Swamiji, who was generous, would give daksina of Re.1/- to every pundit and the pundits would be over-joyed with it.

The book was out of print for a long time. Now the Dvaita Vedanta Studies and Research Foundation, Bangalore, has published the book edited by the renowned scholar, Vidwan. Professor K. T. Pandurangi. Needless to say, the book is very useful to scholars as well as beginners. It will not be out of context to say that the pundit referred to in the first paragraph has been referring to the said work for a long time and recommends it for beginners too. The Maadhwa Bandhus who are more comfortable with Marathi would now be able to find answers to the problems they have hitherto found very intriguing and appreciate the beauty and grandeur of the Brahma sootras and reach a higher level of spiritual progress.

Those interested may contact Shri Hariprasad Saraf on mobile no. 09900087478, for further details.

Incidentally, the Satyadhyana Bhajana Mandali, Mulund, has brought out the second edition of Bhajana Manjiri. The book contains English transliteration of 108 Kannada bhajans that include many of the very popular “Dasar padagalu”. Smt. Sudha Dhananjay Lachyan, a Maadhwa Bhagini, has rendered a great service to the young Maadhwa bandhus and bhaginis who are interested in Kannada devotional songs, but are unable to read the Kannada script. Priced at Rs. 50/-, the book is available at the Satyadhyana Vidyapeetha, Mulund, Shri Raghavendra Swamiji’s Mutt, Wimbledon Park, Thane,  Pejawar Mutt, and the Giri Stores, Matunga.  

 

With Regards,

Ramachandra Tammannacharya Gutti.

9819550626.