Pearls from Sri Yathiraja Sapthathi

Pearls from Sri Yathiraja Sapthathi

Introduction

Sri Vedanthacharyar, the Kavithaarkika Simham, has composed a tribute to Swami Ramanujacharya called Sri Yathiraja Sapthathi. This beautiful shloka grantha has 74 shlokas in memory of the 74 Simhasanadhipathis appointed by Swami Ramanujacharya. The grantha commences with a heartwarming tribute to each of all Sri Vaishnava Acharyas who precede Swami Ramanujacharya viz.: Sri Ranganatha Perumal Sri Ranganayaki Thayar Sri Vishvaksenar Swami Nammazhwar Sriman Nathamunigal Sri Uyyakkondaar Sri Manakkaal Nambigal Sri Aalavandhaar [Paramacharya of Swami Ramanuja] Sri Periya Nambigal [Acharya of Swami Ramanuja] This brief essay aims to enjoy a few pearls from the grantha through 5 of the different aspects of the grantha viz.: Dhyanam & Mangalashasanam of Swami Ramanujacharya Greatness of Swami Ramanujacharya's Divine Feet The Uttharakathvam [ability to grant Moksham] of Swami Ramanujacharya The Greatness of Swami Ramanujacharya's Sri Sukthis The Sweetness of the Phala Shruthi

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Section 1 - Dhyanam & Mangalashasanam of Swami Ramanujacharya

Sri Vedanthacharyar - Sri Yathiraja Sapthathi - Shloka # 15, 28

Meaning/s of the Shloka/s

Shloka # 15: Here, Sri Vedanthacharyar describes the Sri Vaishnava Guru Parampara as a necklace [haaram]. He says that Swami Ramanujacharya is the naayaka rathnam [central ruby stone] of the haaram. Due to the naayaka rathnam, the necklace emanates extraordinary radiance and acquires the status of being an excellent, joyful object of meditation for the learned. Shloka # 28: Here, Sri Vedanthacharyar describes Swami Ramanujacharya using 4 grand similies and says "jayathi" i.e. as a quintessential Sri Vaishnava, He performs mangalaashaasanam for Swami Ramanujacharya. The 4 grand similies are - Swami Ramanujacharya is like: A great mountain that is the source of all rivers of knowledge A lush green tree whose shadow assuages the fatigue of the scorching, long journey of samsaaraa The rising sun that dispels the darkness of ignorance present in those who misinterpret the Vedhas The full moon that makes the ocean of Vedhas exult in joy

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Section 2 - Greatness of Swami Ramanujacharya's Divine Feet

Sri Vedanthacharyar - Sri Yathiraja Sapthathi - Shloka # 18, 20

Meaning/s of the Shloka/s

Shloka # 18: Sri Vedanthacharyar comes up with a very beautiful metaphor for Swami Ramanujacharya's Divine Feet: He desribes the Lotus Feet as "padha padma pattanam" i.e. the pair of Lotus Feet is a city! Even if people of poor intellect and conduct reach and reside in this city, they shall become people of good intellect, pure conduct and also, become excellent Sri Vaishnavas and would offer themselves to be sold for the welfare of other Sri Vaishnavas. Note: Here, Sri Vedanthacharyar has directly translated Sri Periyazhwar's paasuram where the epitome of Sri Vaishnava Lakshanam has been desribed as "enthammai virkavum peruvaargalE" i.e. a pure Sri Vaishnava would even offer Himself to be sold for the welfare of Bhagavan and His Dasas. Shloka # 20: Now, Sri Vedanthacharyar reaches the very city that He celebrated in Shloka 18 i.e. He performs Sharanagathi. He says, "The impure mind of this lowly self is unsteady. Swami Ramanujacharya's Divine Feet is the medicine that will stabilize my wavering mind. That Divine Feet can grant everything including moksham. For the noble, Swami Ramanujacharya's Divine Feet is superior even to Sriman Narayana's Divine Feet. I seek refuge in those Divine Feet!"

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Section 3 - The Uttharakathvam of Swami Ramanujacharya

Sri Vedanthacharyar - Sri Yathiraja Sapthathi - Shloka # 56, 59, 60

Meaning/s of the Shloka/s

Shloka # 56: Sri Vedanthacharyar says that Swami Ramanujacharya is a radiant oil lamp and that the oil that nourishes the lamp is "nirupadhi para snEha bharitha:" i.e. the causeless mercy of Sriman Narayana [on beings like us]. "How can the learned avoid a fall into the dark cave of kutharka vaadham [flawed logic with fallacies] if this oil lamp does not glow brightly?" exclaims Sri Vedanthacharyar. Shloka # 59: Here, Sri Vedanthacharyar declares that only Swami Ramanujacharya's Divine Feet can grant Moksham and sweetly prays that everyone in this world should be blessed with the auspicious sambandham of those Divine Feet. He also says, "Swami Ramanujacharya's Divine Feet is worshipped by the heads of those noble people, who are not plagued by blemishes like attachment to wealth, etc." In this shloka, Sri Vedanthacharyar comes up with yet another adorable metaphor. He says, "My mind is an intoxicated, mad elephant that runs helter-skelter in the forest of ignorance while Swami Ramanujacharya's Divine Feet is that powerful chain which [alone] can control the mad elephant." Shloka # 60: This shloka is such a gem, really. Sri Vedanthacharyar compares the compassion of Swami Ramanujacharya to that of a bountiful, flowing river and says: [As Swami Ramanujacharya owns the ability to grant Moksha] The origin of the river is Sri Vaikuntam and it nourishes the Jivathmas who attained Sri Vaikuntam. The river washes away the sins of all sentient beings. The river has been nourished by Acharyas like Sri Aalavandhaar. The river has an undisturbed, unobstructed flow. My arrogant self was seated on a higher plane. Yet the flow of the river, for no reason, travelled upwards [!!] and made me too follow its current! Thus, Sri Vedanthacharyar has established the Utthaarakathvam of Swami Ramanujacharya i.e. the only Acharya whose Sripaadha Sambandham can grant Moksha.

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Section 4 - The Greatness of Swami Ramanujacharya's Sri Sukthis

Sri Vedanthacharyar - Sri Yathiraja Sapthathi - Shloka # 43, 48, 67, 68

Meaning/s of the Shloka/s

Background: Even at the tender age of five, Sri Venkatanatha [the original name of Sri Vedanthacharyar] showed remarkable prowess in Sri Bhashyam, the Grantha authored by Swami Ramanujacharya [it expounds the Visishtadvaitha Siddhantham]. He was heartily blessed by the great Acharya Sri Nadathur Ammal that the child prodigy will do a remarkable kainkaryam in the samrakshanam of the Visishtadvaitha Siddhantham. As always, the Acharya Kataksham and Anugraham came true and Sri Venkatanatha Guru was conferred the title of "Vedanthacharya" by none other than Sri Ranganatha Perumal Himself. In this Sthuthi, Sri Vedanthacharyar, as a true Shishya, has declared Swami Ramanujacharya and the content of His Divya Granthas as the source of His prowess in several shlokas out of which we'd enjoy a few in this essay. Shloka # 43: Sri Vedanthacharyar says, "Those who are ignorant will misjudge the divine Granthas of Swami Ramanujacharya by their size. Swami Ramanujacharya has captured the essence of Veda Vedantha. Hence, it is but natural that His Granthas are small in size. One may place a big boulder and the Divine Kausthubha Gem on a scale and find the boulder to be heavier. Will it be wise to conclude that the boulder is greater than the Kausthubha Gem merely because of its weight? Shloka # 48: Here, Sri Vedanthacharyar says, "We continuously meditate on the content of Swami Ramanujacharya's Divya Granthas because: It is the lamp that illuminates the Jivathma Thathva in this dark world of ignorance It is the tree that offers ripe, low-hanging fruits of Paramathma Thathva Gnanam for those who are hungry to obtain it It is easily understandable." Shloka # 67: Here, Sri Vedanthacharyar declares His gratitude to Guru Upadesha of Swami Ramanujacharya's Divya Granthas: "Due to the anugraha of Sadhacharyas, my heart is filled with the knowledge of Swami Ramanujacharya's Divya Granthas, which have demolished the incorrect claims of those who do not accept the Vedhas and the incorrect explanations of those who misinterpret the Vedhas. Thus, the Consort of Sri Mahalakshmi has cast His cooling glances on my intellect due to which my mind has attained the pinnacle of Vedhas [i.e. Sriman Narayana]!" Shloka # 68: Sri Kavithaarkika Simham roars thus: "A well-armed warrior will be invincible in battle. Likewise, am well-armed with the content of Swami Ramanujacharya's Divya Granthas and hence, my knowledge is blemishless. Swami Ramanujacharya's Divya Granthas are rich in meaning, beautiful, laden with the very essence of Vedhas and true forever. Now, who can defeat me, who is equipped with these handsome weapons [i.e. content of Swami Ramanujacharya's Divya Granthas], in an intellectual debate?"

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Section 5 - The Sweetness of the Phala Shruthi

Sri Vedanthacharyar - Sri Yathiraja Sapthathi - Shloka # 74

Meaning/s of the Shloka/s

Shloka # 74: Sri Vedanthacharyar blesses saying, "May those who eagerly learn this Yathiraja Sapthathi be ardent followers of sathsampradhayam, always listen to content of divine granthas and be completely devoid of jealousy!"

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Conclusion

Sri Yathiraja Sapthathi is perhaps the only shloka grantha that has particularly celebrated the Sri Sukthis of Swami Ramanujacharya in detail. Even in the phalashruthi, Sri Vedanthacharyar has blessed the learner with the fortune to listen to the content of Divya Granthas! Swami Ramanujacharya authored several Vedhantha Granthas viz. Vedhantha Deepam, Vedhantha Saaram, Vedhartha Sangraham, Sri Bhashyam and Geetha Bhashyam. Sri Bhashyam is a commentary on the Brahmasuthram [essence of Upanishads by Sri Vedha Vyasa] as per the Vishishtadvaitha Siddhantha. Now, an Acharya named Sri Sudarshana Suri authored a commentary on Sri Bhashyam and that is known as Shruthaprakashikai. When the barbaric Islamic attack on Srirangam took place, 12000-13000 Sri Vaishnavas were massacred and Srirangam roads were flooded with blood. It was Sri Vedanthacharyar who, as per the instructions of Sri Sudarshana Suri, saved both the children of Sri Sudarshana Suri and the commentary Shruthaprakashikai by acting like a corpse lying on the pool of blood. As Sri Vedanthacharyar performed the Vishishtadvaitha Samrakshana Kainkaryam [which was propelled by the blessings of Acharya Sri Nadathur Ammal], He celebrates the source of the prowess that enabled the kainkaryam through this great shloka grantha. "gurum prakaashayEth dheemaan" - the wise one highlights the glories of the Guru. Jaya Jaya Sri Vedanthacharya! Jaya Jaya Sri Vedanthacharya!

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