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Srimate SrivanSatakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

 

The Lost Treasures

 

A wealthy philanthropist built a palatial Dharmasaala (rest house) at 
Srirangam, with the lofty purpose of accommodating all wayfarers who came to 
worship Sri Rangaraja. The choultry provided all facilities for pilgrims, with 
comfortable rooms to stay in, facilities for performing daily ablutions and 
sumptuous food at appropriate intervals. All those who stayed at the 
Dharmasaala were extremely grateful to the generous donor, who, in turn, was 
pleased beyond measure at the opportunity for service to the Lord's devotees. 
Word of this munificence and convenience spread and the Dharmasaala became the 
favourite destination of all pilgrims to Srirangam. Countless were those who 
benefited from its conveniences.

 

 

The philanthropist grew old and entrusted the management of the choultry to his 
progeny, who too carried on their father's work sincerely. In time and in tune 
with the general decline in standards of ethics and Dharma, the management of 
the rest house became progressively indifferent, with the successors of the 
philanthropist showing less and less inclination for altruistic activities, 
resulting in the vast Dharmasala falling gradually into disrepair and becoming 
dysfunctional. And one sad day, the last pillar supporting the once-magnificent 
columns fell, marking the closure of an institution that had served thousands 
in its hay day.  As if waiting for the event, a building promoter moved in and 
constructed an impressively ugly block of match-box-like tenements, where there 
once stood the magnificent Dharmasala. Thus was lost to posterity a veritable 
treasure house. 

 

This narration is neither fable nor fairy-tale, but a true-life story which has 
happened with deplorable regularity, not only at Srirangam, but at many other 
holy places. Buildings in ruins, with washed-out sign boards hanging askew and 
bearing the barely-visible name of some charity or the other, are a common 
sight at almost all Divyadesams. 

 

While this is one aspect of our losing bequeathed treasures due to indifference 
and inattention, there is another and more precious genre of heirlooms which we 
may well have lost forever. And what is more, most of us haven't even realised 
the magnitude of the loss and continue to wallow in blissful ignorance about 
its enormity.

 

The immaculate Vedas and their explanatory manuals like the Itihaasas, Puranas, 
Dharma Shastras, etc. are glorious guidebooks designed to pilot us safely 
through the mine-field of Samsara and to reach us safely at the portals of 
Paradise. These works of worship, propagated by the Lord Himself or His chosen 
messengers-Maharshis, Sages and Acharyas-- have been handed down from 
generation to generation, serving as a bright beacon to all those floundering 
in the interminable gloom of Samsara. They function too as guideposts amidst 
the thorny and confusing mundane maze, steering us in the right direction 
whenever we are confronted by bewildering crossroads of choice. It is these 
which form the most precious treasure bequeathed to us by our elders, the most 
valuable of heirlooms which generations of our forebears have protected, 
preserved, propagated and passed on, for the benefit of posterity.

 

 

Due to inadvertence and indifference, already we have suffered quite a heavy 
and irreparable loss, by way of disappearance of portions of Shastras, 
particularly Vedas, from currency. For instance, the Atharva Veda was all but 
lost a few decades ago and it is only due to the enthusiastic and energetic 
efforts of a few Mahatmas that there is now a healthy rejuvenation in its 
study. Even now, students and exponents of this fourth among Vedas are to be 
found in a small number in Gujarat, though it is slowly spreading to other 
places. 

 

Though Vedas are reputed to be beyond numbers ("Anantaa vai Vedaa:"),we 
understand from Scriptures that there were no less than 1180 Shaakhas of the 
Shruti extant in the not too distant past, each with its own Samhita, Aaranyaka 
and Upanishad components. And all these Shakhas had their own votaries, engaged 
in study, propagation and preservation of the Vedas. However, what we have now 
is pitifully small in comparison. 

 

We know of the Taittireeya Shakha, with the Taittireeya Samhita, Taittireeya 
Braahmanam and the Taittireeya Upanisad, all of which have been remarkably well 
preserved. However, granting that the Upanishad generally forms the concluding 
part of a particular Veda Shakha, many of the Upanishads we have now, must have 
been part of independent Shakhas, though not a trace remains of the rest. The 
Kousheetaki Upanishad, for instance, is the sole remnant of the Saankaayana 
Shakha, which must have been a wide-ranging and voluminous body of Vedic 
wisdom. Though the Katopanishad is still extant, its Aaranyakam is nowhere to 
be found. The loss we have thus suffered is incalculable and irreparable. What 
we have lost are not mere books, but treasure houses of wisdom.

 

Coming to more recent times, within the last thousand years, we have managed to 
lose many more precious heirlooms. Sri Nathamuni was the first protagonist of 
our Visishtaadvaita Sampradaya ("Naathopagyam pravrittam") in this Kali Yuga. 
By all accounts, he is reputed to have been a repository of pure devotion, 
selflessness, vairaagyam and other sterling virtues, endowed with divine 
vision. Though he is remembered for all these accomplishments, the moment we 
hear his holy name, what springs to our mind is his wonderful and painstaking 
compilation of the Naalayira Divya Prabandam, which had, by his time, almost 
vanished from currency. He also set them to music and arranged for their 
recital at various temples. Had it not been for this great Acharya and his 
Herculean efforts, we would have lost the priceless treasure of Aruliccheyal, 
the ecstatical outpourings of enlightened Azhwars. 

 

It is therefore extremely ironical that Sri Nathamuni's own great works,

Yoga Rahasyam and Nyaaya Tattvam, are no longer available to us. The former was 
a treatise on Yoga, while the latter was a voluminous work involving 
interpretation of the Nyaaya Shastra according to Visishtaadvaitic tenets, 
criticising the Gautama Nyaaya Sutras in the process. We learn of these great 
works, only from copious references thereto by Swami Desikan in his various 
works like Nyaaya Siddhaanjanam and Nyaaya Parisuddhi. According to Sri 
Sudarsana Bhattar, Sri Ramanuja too, in his Sri Bhashya, has quoted briefly 
from Nyaaya Tattvam.

 

Another great loss Srivaishnavas have suffered is the disappearance of Sri 
Alavandar's path-breaking works Maha Purusha Nirnayam (establishing the 
supremacy of Sriman Narayana) and Kashmira Agama Praamaanyam, which is said to 
validate the Pancharatra Agama and its Vedic source, the Ekaayana Shakha. That 
these works definitely existed, is again to be derived only from Swami 
Desikan's references and quotes. Our sense of loss is further compounded when 
we learn that Sri Yamunacharya's Siddhi Trayam (consisting of the Atma Siddhi, 
Isvara Siddhi and Samvit Siddhi) too is available only in portions. To quote 
Dr.M.Narasimhachary, "It is a matter of regret that all these three Siddhis 
suffer from gaps and the extant text is only a fragment of an originally larger 
work".

 

We come next to the works of Swami Desikan, the most prolific author among 
Srivaishnava Acharyas. While it is indeed our good fortune that the major 
portion of Sri Venkatanatha's works is remarkably well preserved, it is 
simultaneously a matter of deep regret that several of his works too have been 
lost. Sri Vedanta Desikan is reputed to have composed a magnificent and 
voluminous commentary on Tiruvaimozhi, named "Nigama Parimalam", and another 
Tamizh work by name "Tirumudi Adaivu", which are no longer extant. A similar 
commentary on Kanninunsirutthaambu, aptly named "Madhurakavi Hridayam", is also 
no longer available, which fate is shared by a host of Tamizh Prabandams of 
Swami, titled "Pandu, Kazhal, Ammaanai, Oosal and Esal", apparently addressed 
to Sri Deivanayakan of Tiruvaheendrapuram. "Steyaa Avirodham", a work 
justifying Sri Tirumangai Mannan's unorthodox ways of fund-raising for good 
causes, is also lost, as also "Adhikarana Darpanam". Only portions of Tattva 
Teeka (an elaborate commentary on Sri Bhashyam) are available, as also of the 
"Sata Dooshani".

 

We hear too that Vyaakhyaana Chakkravartthi Sri Periyavaacchaan Pillai's 
commentary on Periyaazhwar Tirumozhi is partially lost.

 

This, then, is a brief Status Paper on the priceless treasures of ancient and 
unmatched wisdom that we have lost over the centuries.

 

In this context, we have to remember with gratitude Mahtamas who toiled hard 
and spent whole lifetimes in searching for, restoring, editing and publishing 
rare works of Acharyas. They were not endowed with unlimited supply of funds 
nor had an army of supporters. Yet, with a missionary zeal for the protection 
and preservation of Poorvacharya Sreesooktis, they sacrificed their all to 
ensure that whatever works were available did not meet the same fate as the 
ones lost. Two haloed names that spring to our mind in this regard are 
Tarkaarnava Abhinavadesika Uttamur Sri Veeraraghavacharya Swamy and Prativaadi 
Bhayankaram Sri Annangaracharya Swamy of Kanchi. Though both were prolific 
writers, they displayed greater enthusiasm in publishing works of Poorvacharyas 
than their own. The constant and continuing efforts of Sri Puttur 
Krishnamacharya Swamy too merit special mention in this regard. The good work 
of institutions like the Sanskrit Academy of Melkote (who have brought out 
critical editions of Sri Bhashyam with various commentaries) also deserves 
great appreciation and encouragement.

 

Though these Mahatmas' contribution is matchless, we can still endeavour to 
emulate them to the extent possible, in identifying works of both Poorvacharyas 
and later ones, for preservation. Many of these works are still unpublished, 
especially numerous ones of various Srimad Azhagiasingars who adorned the 
ascetic throne of Sri Ahobila Mutt and are currently available in the form of 
manuscripts, many on palm leaves and similar perishable material. I am sure 
similar works by distinguished Acharyas of Srimad Andavan Ashramam and Sri 
Parakala Matam also exist, in similar need of preservation and publication. 
Since use of paper for composition in our religious institutions is less than a 
century old, earlier works must be on Taala Patram or Panai Olai, likely to 
disintegrate anytime due to their age and disappear forever from our midst.

 

Even in respect of published works, though we come across quotes from several 
old and hoary works like the commentary of Sri Govindaraja on Srimad Ramayanam, 
that of Sri Veeraraghavacharya on Srimad Bhagavatam, the commentaries on Srimad 
Rahasyatrayasaram like Sri Saaraasvaadini of Sri Tirukkudandai Desikan and Sri 
Saarabodhini (of Injimedu Srimad Azhagiasingar) and that of Sri 
Mahamahopaadhyaaya Chetlur Swami, we rarely get to set eyes on them. These 
works need to be reprinted.

 

Against this rather bleak background of partial and total loss of the 
accumulated fonts of wisdom, the recent efforts by inspired individuals to 
identify, catalogue, preserve and publish hitherto unpublished manuscripts of 
Acharyas, deserve all appreciation, encouragement and support. With the 
advanced digital technology now available, scanning or even typing out these 
works from their originals on palm leaf or ancient paper should be possible, 
which would be the first step in preservation. Once the works are available in 
electronic form, the possibilities are endless.

 

Most of these works may be in Sanskrit, many of them may be on esoteric or 
subtle points of Shastra not of immediate interest to the common man-despite 
all this, what we have to remember is that they emanated from erudite and 
enlightened Acharyas who composed these works not as personal memorabilia, but 
out of a fervent desire to inform and educate us. They are works of devotion 
which would guide us on the right path by their mere presence in our home. (My 
late, revered father, apart from his other sterling qualities and deep 
attachment to Srimad Ramayanam, was an acknowledged authority both on shorthand 
and Shakespeare. Though I have regrettably not inherited his enthusiasm for 
either, I still preserve his books as their very sight reminds me of him and 
his devotion. Similarly, works of our Acharyas too inspire us by their very 
presence and sight, even if we are unable to profit from their wisdom 
immediately.) Once these original works are preserved, translations to benefit 
the scholar and layman alike, could be attempted.

 

As Srivaishnavas, it is hence our sacred duty to ensure that these bequests are 
properly appreciated, treated with the veneration they deserve, protected 
against the ravages of distortion and loss and preserved in all their pristine 
purity, so that the generations that follow would also benefit from the ageless 
wisdom.

 

What are the ways in which we can help?

 

We can search sincerely for such old and published/unpublished works of the 
aforesaid kind, existing in our own library/those of institutions and 
individuals likely to have such books or palm leaf manuscripts and make them 
available to those who have undertaken the onerous task of converting them into 
e-format.

 

Those among us who have the technical expertise can help in the above process 
by offering consultancy/active participation.

 

Once the stage for publication comes, we can financially support the printing 
of one or more works of Acharyas.

 

We can spread the word among our relatives/acquaintances about the need for the 
entire endeavour and make them aware of the crying need for preserving our 
heirlooms. 

 

There can be no better tribute to Sri Hayagriva, who holds a book in His hand, 
than to help in protecting works on religion and spirituality. And the 
venerated authors of the unpublished manuscripts would definitely be gladdened 
at their works getting published at long last, benefiting the entire 
Vaishnavite community.

 

Come, let us help in this holy mission!

 

Sriamte Sri LakshmiNrisimha divya paduka sevaka SrivanSatakopa Sri Narayana 
Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

dasan, sadagopan

 

 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





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