Dear AasthikAs :
Recently, there was a question
to me about the Thridhandam that
our SanyAsis carry on their
hand and how does it differ in
significance from the yEka
dhaNDam that Adhvaiti SanyAsis
carry on their hands .
Here are some thoughts and
please feel free to join in the
discussions .
The adhvaitha sanyAsis
carry yEka dhaNDam
because of their belief in
Jeeva-Brahma Eikyam .
This is totally unacceptable to
VaishNava and Maadhva SanyAsis ,
who believe that JeevAtman is
different from Brahman and is
a distinct , real "ontological
entity"
different from Brahman .
In our tradition , ThridhaNDam
stands for the many things that
three stands for in our Darsanam
and partiularly , the Tattva Thrayam
and the three rahasyams . ChEtana-
achEtana-Iswara tattvams and
their organic relationships thru
Sareera-Saareeraka Bhavam is
the core of VisishtAdhvaitham
accepting saviSesha Brahman
and reality of the world and
the Jeevans .
The relationship between the three
distinct ontological entities (
tattvams)
is covered by the following Brahma
sUtra adhikaraNAs :
1. VaakyanvayAdhikaraNa
2.AmsAdhikaraNa
3.PrakrtyAdhikaraNa
4.ArambhanAdhikaraNa
5.AhikundalAdhikaraNa
The First two of the above 5
AdhikaraNAs
deal with the relationship between
Jivan(cEtanam)
and Iswaran/Brahman .The next three adhikaraNAs
cover the
relationship of he material universe
(acEtanam) to Brahman .
We have three distinct and real
tattvams .
In Bhagavath RaamAnuja darsanam ,
the universe is real and not a myth
.
Jeevan is an amsam of Brahman ( amsi)
.
The three distinct entities have
an organic relationship with one another
.
Brahman is the indweller( antaryAmin) of
Jeevans and acEtanams . Jeevans and
acEtanams serve as the body of
Brahman.
The three dhandams tied together symbolize
this Sareera--sareeri bhavam ( The
organic
relationship between Brahman and the
universe
of chith (sentients) and achith( insentients)
.This
bhAvam is central to Bhagavath RaamAnuja
darsanam and hence is represented as
thridhaNDam in the hands of the
VaishNava
SanyAsis .
ThridhaNDam is never laid on ground
even when the SanyAsi bends and bows
before PerumAL . At times needed ,
it
rested on a special stand next to
the SanyAsi . Specail wood is chosen
to make the thridaNDam and special
Mantrams are recited to assemble it
.
When it is lifted , the SanyAsi greets
it as a friend and seeks its
protection
( sakhA mE gOpAya). ThridhaNdam
helps the SanyAsi to control his speech
,
mind and body .
ThridhaNDam is raised to direct the sishyAs
in the right path and to hit the PaashanDis
and Kudhrushtis and Veda BhAhya mata
Vaadins like a thinderbolt(
vajrAyudham)
breaks up a mountain.
One of the ebooks on "Trayimayam
idham Sarvam " in the Sundara Simham
series
or Ahobilavalli series by Coimbatore
Sadagopa IyengAr covers a lot of ground
on
the importance of the number three .
The little piece of cloth on top of
the thridhaNDam ( Jala
Vastram)
is used during Mantra Japams and
anushtAnams like daily Gayatri Japam
during the sandhyA vandhana Kaalams
.
It is like a victory flag( Vijaya dhvajam)
on top of the MukkOl (TridhaNDam )
denoting the SanyAsi's conquest over
his mind , speech and body .
ThridhaNDam is considered as a Sakha
for the SanyAsi . DhAti Panchakam blessed to
us by KurEsar celebrates the glories of
ThridhaNDam thru many ullElAlankArams
( multifacted analysis and celebrations )
.
EmbAr has enjoyed the matchless beauty
of
ThridaNDam in the hands of AchArya
RaamAnuja
this way :munn kaiyyil thihazh mukkOl tani
azhagum ".
In the Sri Sannidhi sampradhAyam ,
BhagavAn Narasimhan presented
the ochre robes and ThridhaNDam
to Adhi VaNN SaThakOpa Jeeyar
at Ahobila KshEtram .
SrimathE RaamAnujAya Nama:
V.Sadagopan
---- Original Message -----
From:
An Aasthika
Sent: Friday, June 20, 2008 9:26
PM
Subject: query about TRI DANDAM
Respected swamin,
We very often see our Sree Vaishnavaite Jeeyars
with the Tri Dandam on ceremonial occasions.
While the Smartha and Madhwa Sanyasis use a
single Dandam, in our Sampradayam, Jeeyars use Tri
Dandam.
I am keen to know the following:
a. Significance of the Tridandam in particular
and Dandam in general, when to use it and when to keep it aside
b. Why this number 3 in our sampradayam and
what does it represent