SrI SArasAram -- I (1)

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SrI rAma jayam

 

SrImathe SrI LakshmInrisimha Parabrahmane Namah

SrImathe rAmAnujAya Namah

SrImathe nigamAntha mahAdesikAya Namah

SrImathe AdhivaNsatakopa Yatheendra mahAdesikAya namah

SrImathe SrIvaNsatakopa SrI vedanta Desika Yatheendra mahAdesikAya Namah

SrImathe SrI lakshmInrisimha divyapAdukAsevaka SrI vaNsatakopa -

SrI nArAyana Yatheendra mahAdesikAya Namah

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srI:

 

SrI sAra sAram – I (1)

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I – ThirumantrAdhikAram

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Introduction

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SrImAn vEnkaTanAthAryah kavitArkika kEsarI /

vEdAntAcAryavaryO mE sannidhattAm sadA hrudee //

 

rAmAnuja dayApAtram jn~AnavairAgya-bhooshaNam /

SrImad-vEnkaTanAthAryam vandE vEdAntadESikam //

 

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ceeronRu thooppul thiruvEn kaTamudaiyAn

pAronRac conna pazhamozhiyuL – OronRu

thanE amaiyAthO dhAraNiyil vAzhvArkku

vAnERap pOmaLavum vAzhvu.

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This work of SwAmi Desikan bears the title, ‘SrI sAra sAram’ meaning the

essence of the essence. The first ‘sAra’, indicates the three

rahasya-mantras, which together form the essence of the spiritual knowledge,

very essential for one’s salvation. This grantha, ‘SrI sArasAram’, gives

the core of these mantras. It is the first work under the group of amrutAsvAdinI

rahasyas written by SrI VEdAnta Desika. A significant point is that this work

was brought out by SwAmi Desikan in SrIranga KshEtram, which is known as

BhoolOka VaikuNTam, the Lord’s abode in the earth.

In this, SwAmi Desikan profusely quotes from the works of SrI RAmAnja, namely,

SrI VEdArtha Sangraham, Nityam, Gadyatrayam anf GItAbhAshyam. Similarly, SwAmi

Desikan quotes from Sri ParAsara Bhattar’s SrI LakshmI KalyANa (nAtakam),

besides copious quotations from varied scriptural texts and explanations

thereon. This work also includes 14 important Tamil stanzas written by SwAmi

Desikan himself. The uniqueness of this work is the most important tenets for

our life, which have to be practiced by everyone aspiring mOksha.

At the outset, adiyEn places my sincere gratitude to SwAmi, Oppiliappan Dr. V.

SadagopAchariar, for resting confidence in this chiRiyOn to make a presentation

of this great work for the benefit of a large section of SrI Vaishnavites living

all over the world, to have a glimpse of the superb samradAya of SrI

RAmAnuja-Vedanta Desiska siddhAnta. As many of our brethren are not well versed

either in Sanskrit or in Tamil, an attempt is being made to give this work in

English along with the original text. Wherever necessary, explanations will be

given in detail to the main text along with its translation.

An important point may be kept in mind. This is about the three mantras which

are taught by the AchArya at time of samASrayaNam to the disciple in secrecy.

The disciple is expected to learn the significance of these mantras from his

AchArya or a learned scholar in private discourses, known as kAlakshEpams in the

traditional manner. Whenever any such exclusive matter comes up in the text,

like the actual mantras, it will be left without mentioning as a mark of respect

to their holiness. However, this attempt is aimed to help those interested in

learning the basics of our sampradaya so that it will be easy for them to follow

the discourses in kAlakshEpams, whenever they get the opportunity.

With this submission and with due respect to our AchAryas and great scholars,

this author begins this kainkaryam to the BhAgavatas in all sincerity.

asmad gurubyO namah!.

 

As part of our tradition, we begin with a Thaniyan, which is a verse in praise

of the AchArya, SwAmi Desikan. We have already mentioned the general Thaniyans

both in Sanskrit and Tamil on SwAmi Desikan. This one is exclusive to this work.

Its authorship, however, is not known.

 

Thaniyan:

praNatim vEnkaTESasya padayOrvidadhImahi /

yaduktayO yatIndrOkati-rahasyAnAm rasAyanam //

 

Meaning:

We bow at the feet of SrI VEdAnta Desika who has blessed us with literary works

which reveal the essence of the works of SrIbhAshyakAra.)

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SwAmi Desikan begins this work with a Tamil verse keeping with his usual

practice:

 

moolangkiLaiyena onRiraNdAna mozhi-yiraNdum

mElonRilaiyena ninRa avviththakan than uraiyum

kAlam kazhivathan munnam karutthuRak kaNdidavE

jn~Alam pugazhum nam dEsikarthAm namai vaitthanarE.

 

Meaning;

There are three rahsyas (secret-mantras). One is a single line mantra, known as

Thirumantram, which is considered as the root of the spiritual Tree. The second

one, known as Dvayam, is in two parts, which are the branches of the Tree. At

the top of them is the Carama-SlOka, which came out from the beautiful mouth of

SrI KrishNa. Our AchArayas, who are adored the world over, put us on the right

path and taught us these three mantras, so that we keep them deep in our minds

and enjoy them meditating on their significance, before end of our worldly

lives.

 

(To continue)

dAsan

Anbil S. SrInivAsan

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