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Ramanuja List Archive: Message 00044 Jun 2003

 
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ALVARS are the holy saints who had the divine
blessings of Lord Narayana and sang in praise of the
Him. Their devotional outpourings came in the form of
Tamil hymns which are collectively known as ?Nalayira
Divyaprabhandam? (the 4000 verses of divine
composition). Until the emergence of Acharya Sri
Ramanuja during the 11th century, explanations and
expositions on the Divyaprabandham were carried only
by oral tradition. For the first time, at the order of
Sri Ramanuja, Pillan wrote a commentary on
Thiruvaimoli. Following this Nanjeeyar, Nampillai,
Periavachanpillai, Vedanta Desika and Manavala
Mamunigal wrote scholarly commentaries on the Divya
Prabhandams. There were elaborate discussions,
dialogues and discourses on the inner meanings of the
hymns of Alvars. Various interpretations given by
Acharyas who lived in different periods were passed on
to the generations through these commentaries. Also,
important incidents that took place in the lives of
these Acharayas were cited to corroborate and
elucidate the inner meanings of the hymns. These
incidents and the interpretations which are known as
AITHIHYAS and NIRVAHAS respectively are recorded in
the commetaries of the Acharyas above mentioned. 
All these aithihyas and nirvahas found in the
commentaries are in manipravala style and hence
without proper explanation it will be very difficult
to understand the inner meening of aithihyas and
nirvahas. Dr. M.A.Venkatakrishan, Professor of
Vaishnavism, University of Madras, who had the good
fortune of learning the traditional texts under the
feet of great scholars like Sri P.B.Annangaracharya
Swami, Sri Sthabhishekam Govinda Narasimhacharya
Swami, Sri Velukkudi K.Varadacharya Swami & Sri
T.A.Krishnamacharya Swami for over 20 years, took the
task of analysing, elucidating these aithihyas and
nirvahas, with explanations in simple Tamil. He took
this as a research project for the past five years and
now he is preparing to publish this in the form a
book. H.H.Sri Vanamamalai Jeeyar Swami and H.H.Sri
Alagiasingar of Ahobila Mutt have blessed this book
with their Mangalasasams and Foreword.
This book will help in reviving the value system of
the ancient society, which will pave the way for the
modern man to learn, appreciate, and strive for
building a better society. Since the aithihyas and
nirvahas are the products of a very high order of
saintly people viz., the Acharyas, a careful
analytical study of these would set the trend among
the younger generations to exhibit a high level of
behavioural pattern so that the modern society would
be in a better place to live amicably, as envisaged in
these aithihyas and nirvahas recorded in the vast and
hoary commentaries of the Acharyas. 
As this book consists of about 850 pages (in A4 size
i.e. 21cm x 30 cm), the total cost of publishing comes
around RUPEES TWO LAKHS. We request you Sir, to
donate liberally for publishing this valuable book.
Donations may be sent to and in the name of
GEETHACHARYAN, 7, South Mada Street, Triplicane,
Chennai 600 005, Tamil Nadu India.

m.a.venkatakrishnan





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