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SriRangaSri List Archive: Message 00031 Oct 2001

 
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--- In tiruvengadam@xxxx, "Sudarshan M.K." <sampathkumar_2000@xxxx> 
wrote:
Dear friends,

Continuing from the last post.

>From his biographical details, we learn that Swami Venkatanathan was
a truly knowledgeable one. 'Knowledge' is of two modes. One is called 
'vidyA' and the other is "gnyAna".

"vidyA" is a broad term referring to technique, arts, craft, 
discipline, skill, talent and whatever it takes to apply general 
know-how.

"gnyAna" is deep cognitive understanding of pure principle, idea, 
epistemology or know-why.

Swami Venkatanathan was a master of both "vidyA" and "gnyAna". 

In his famous 'stOtrA' work he composed in praise of the Supreme
Deity of Knowledge -- Lakshmi-Hayagreeva in the temple of
Tiruvaheendrapuram -- in the opening verse itself, Venkatanathan 
apotheosises both "vidya" and "gnyAna" in 2 extremely significant 
phrases:

(1) "gnyAnAnanda mayam dEvam" and

(2) "aadhAram sarva-vidyAnAm hayagreeva"

"gnyAnA-nanda mayam dEvam nirmala spatikA-kritim
aadhAram sarva-vidyAnAm hayagreeva-upAsmahE ".

All this world exists nowhere else but in our thought. Our thoughts 
stem from what we know. Knowledge has its fount in the bliss of 
God and God is Bliss alone, says Swami Venkatanathan.

Here he celebrates "sarva-vidyA" (know-how) as the "aadhAram", the 
fundamental support-system of all life on earth and of every creative 
endeavour of Man. "Vidya" is indeed the engine of all effort. Life on 
earth is made possible because of "vidya". Without 'vidyA' existence 
would be meaningless.

"gnyAna", or know-why, however is celebrated by Venkatanatan, rather 
differently at a higher plane i.e. as being "aananda-mayam": supreme 
bliss that accompanies the discovery of Truth, the One underlying and 
unifying Principle of all existence. 

"VidyA" may be the 'aadhAram' or support of Life but 'gnyAna' is the 
understanding of Life itself. "VidyA" may be the basis of all
creative effort; but 'gnyAnA' liberates one from all effort 
altogether."Vidya" is the lamp-post of knowledge one leans upon for 
support ("aadhAram")in this world; but 'gnyAnA' is the light of 
enlightenment one seeks as the ultimate enjoyment of life 
('aananda-mayam')."vidyA" is the means of fulfillment; but 'gnyAna'
is fulfillment itself.

So Swami Venkatanathan makes his appeal and prayer to the Deity of 
Lakshmi-Hayagreeva to grant him both the "support and the bliss of 
Knowledge" in the 2 magnificent expressions of "gnyAnAnanda mayam"
and "aadhAram sarva-vidyAnAm" in the 'shlOka' above. 

More in the next post.

Thanks and regards,
dAsan,
Sudarshan
--- End forwarded message ---






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