SrI:
NamO VenkatEsAya:
Achaarya UpakAram
************************
Every ChEthanan has to approach the
Saathvika-natured BhaagavathAs ,
move closely with them and gain an AchAryan with
their help. Afterwards ,
the ChEthanan should pray to the SadAchAryan to
point out the way
to Moksham. The SadAchAryan will respond by
performing upadEsam on
the meanings of the
important Tatthvams and ask the chEthanan not to swerve
from the observance of the Various VarnAsrama dharmams.The AchAryan will
imprint thereafter the Chakra and Sankham, the insignia of the Lord, on
the shoulders of the ChEthanam and perform ManthrOpadEsam .This is what is
known as the rites of SamAsrayaNam and Pancha SamskAram in the world.
This rite is the key observance to become
a SrI VaishNava. This rite is common to
Ladies and people of all four VarNams. Without
the benefits of this sacred rite ,
no one can become a SrI VishNavan.
During the time of SamAsrayaNam , the SadAchAryan
will initiate the disciple
on the three manthrams --AshtAksharam , Dhvayam and
Charama SlOkam --
with their meanings. The Sishyan should perform
japam of these three manthrams
with reflections on their meanings.Afterwards , the
SadAchAryan will bless
the Sishyan with KaalkshEpams to grow visEsha
Jn~Anam about our Darsanam.
Finally , the SadAchAryan out of His infinite mercy
will perform BharanyAsam/Prapatthi ,
where He will place the Jeevan of the ChEthanam at
the sacred feet of the Lord , who
is the true owner of that Jeevan . The rites of
SamAsrayaNam , KaalakshEpam and
Prapatthi might take place with the same
SadAchAryan or with more tha one AchAryAs.
The AchAryAs do not exepct any thing in return for
performing their invaluable help.
It is the same as the Mother Cow that blesses its
calf with milk without expecting
anything in return . AchAryAs perform thes
ecompassionate acts solely for the sake
of the ChEthanam's upliftment from the samsAric
afflictions.This is thus an act of
indescribable mercy .
The Duties of the SishyAs
********************************
The SishyAs should consider and revere their
AchAryan as the Lord Himself.
They should be grateful to Him for initiating them
into the most secret manthrAs
and their meanings handed thru Guru paramparA and
recognize that they can not
pay back their AchAryan in any manner whatsoever
for the great help given to them.
The sishyan should not waste the precious
upadEsams through following paths that are
diamemetrically opposite to the UpadEsams of the
AchAryan. The prime duties of
the Sishyan is to glorify their AchAryans and to
protect the Manthrams entrusted to
them from falling into the wrong hands. The sishyan
should worship the AchAryan ,
meditate on the AchAryan's auspicious
attributes , speak about His glories in public
and conduct uthsavams to celebrate His avathAra
dinam. All of these still will not
repay even in a small measure the greatestupakAram
performed by the AchAryan.
Performance of KaalkshEpam
*************************************
There are four sacred texts that have to be learnt
under the sacred feet of
the AchAryan:
(1) SrImath BhAshyam created by AchArya RaamAnuja
as commentary on
the Brahma SoothrAs of
Sage VyAsa
(2) SrI GithA BhAshyam authored by AchArya
RaamAnuja as commentary on
SrI Bhagavath
GithA
(3) SrImath Rahasya Thraya Saaram blessed to us by
Swamy Desikan that
is a MaNipravALa
commentary on the three Rahasyams
(4) Sri Bhagavath Vishayam , a precious
commentary for Swamy NammAzhwAr's
ThiruvAimozhi by
ThirukkuruhaippirAn PiLLAn , a direct disciple of AchArya
RaamAnujA.
These are known as Grantha ChAthushtyam orthe four
sacred texts.
Prior to KaalakshEpam of the above four SrI
Sookthis, familiarity with
IthihAsams and PurANams would have been acquired to
improve one's
discriminating intellect (VivEkam) and to qualify
the sishyan to engage in
KaalakshEpam. One should learn the recital of
the entire ThiruvAimozhi
from the AchAryan prior to KaalkshEpam on SrI
Bhagavath Vishayam.
In addition to the Grantha ChAthushtayam ,the
sishyan should learn
from the AchAryan additional AchArya SrI Sookthis
and the traditional
intrepretations of their meanings according to
their abilities. Those who
can not perform KaalakshEpams of the entire four
granthams should
atleast have KaalkshEpam of SrImath Rajasya
Thraya Saaram of
Swamy Desikan.
The Three Rahasyams
***************************
The first of the three is Thirumanthiram or
AshtAksharam.It has 8 letters.
This is the most sacred among the ManthrAs. It
has many special meanings.
It has the power to confer all soubhAgyams. Ladies
and the members of all
four VarNams can recite it. Ladies and themembers
of the fourth VarNam have
to substitute PraNavam with "amm".
The second of the three rahasyams is Dhvayam with
25 letters. Our Lord
blessed us with this manthram by uniting two
separate vaakyams of Upanishad.
Even utterance of this Dhvayam once would grant
fruits all the way upto Moksham.
Such is its power . It can be recited by
all.
The third of the three rahasyams is the Charama
SlOkam with 32 letters.
This is found in the last chapter ( Charama
adhyAyam ) of Bhagavad GithA.
It was blessed to us by the Lord's
sacred speech . This manthram deals with
Prapatthi or Self-Surrender/Aathma
nivEdhanam.
These three rahasyams have 3, 6 and 12 padhams
respectively. AchArya initiates
the Sishyan into them during the time of
SamAsrayaNam . The sishyan should then
perform Japam on them daily. The meanings of these
three manthrams are covered
extensively in SrImath Rahasya Thraya Saaram of
Swamy Desikan. In some of his
ChillaRai Rahasyams
also , Swamy Desikan has covered the meanings of these
individual rahasyams ( Thirumanthira Churukku,
Dhvaya Churukku and Charama
slOka churukku).
In the next posting , adiyEn will cover the three
Tatthvams ( ChEthanam , achEthanam
and Iswaran), Hitham or the means observedto gain
Moksham ( Bhakthi and Prapatthi
Yogams ) and PurushArTam or the Supreme Goal of
Life.
(To be continued)
Swamy Desikan ThiruvadigaLE
SaraNam
Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan
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