AaLavandhAr & his Stotrams: Chathussloki and Stotra Rathnam
From the Bhakti List Archives
• December 1, 1996
Dear Members of the Bhakthi group : I agreed to share my limited knowledge on Sri AaLavandhAr's two stotrams at the Buffalo Sathsangam planned for Dec 28-30 . . I have now changed my mind , since I thought the Stotra Ratnam in particular would be of interest to a wider set of our members , who could not be at Buffalo for one reason or other. Snow permitting , I look forward to participating in this sathsangam of Sri VaishNavAs . I hope that the postings on Stotra Ratnam( the gem among stotrAs ) of ALavadhAr would generate a lot of reflections and discussions amongst us , prior to the Vaikunta EkAdasi and Dhanur Maasam season of this Daathu samvatsaram .. I will plan on speaking about Swami Desikan's PadhukA Sahasram at the Buffalo sathsangam instead of on AaLavandhAr's Stotra Ratnam. The greatnes of ALavandhAr and his works ************************************************ ALavandhAr ( 916-1041 A.D ) was the grandson of Nathamuni (C 824-924 A.D ) , who recovered for posterity the Naalaaiyra Divya Prabhandham as a result of NammaazhwAr's anugraham . ALavandhAr is also known as Yaamunaa or Yaamunaaccharya . YAmunA is the grand -preceptor ( PrAchAryA ) of RaamAnujA. YAmunA established the principles of VisishtAdhvaitam as an expansion of the doctrines housed in his grandfather's treatises : NyAya TattvA and Yoga RahasyA .He elaborated on those doctrines with authoratative scriptures such as Sruthis, Bhagavadh Gita , AzhwAr's paasurams and Selected SaatvikaPurAnAs . AaLavandhAr's philosophical works are :Siddhitraya , Aagama PrAmANya , MahA purusha nirNya and Githaartha Sangraha. Last year , I had the good fortune of posting a few articles on YaamunA's GithArtha Sangraha , which inspired both RamAnujA and Swami Desikan to base their commentaries along the lines of YaamunA. AalavandhAr is also the author of two lyrical master pieces (stotra GranthAs ) revered as Chathusloki and Stotra Ratnam Latter is the forerunner of almost every stotram composed by Acharyas such as of RamaanujA , Kuresa, Parasara Bhattar, Swami Desikan , MaNavALa Maamuni and others. Swami Desikan has written c ommentaries for both Chathussloki and Stotra Ratnam because of their importance to Sri VaishNava siddhAntham . In Chathussloki ( poem of four verses ) , YaamunA focussed on the theme of Purushakaara Prapatthi and Eka Seshithvam principles . He based this work of his on the doctrines outlined by Lakshmi Tantram . Eka Seshitvam refers to the practise of considering both Sri Devi and BhagavAn together as the means and the goal (upAyam and Upeyam ) . In this context , they are inseparable and hence She is known as VishNu Patnee and He is known as Sriman NArAyaNan . Dr. S.M.S. Chari in his excellent book , "Vaishnavism " describes in detail the relationship between Sri Devi and her consort . AaLavandhAr based the four slokAs of Chathussloki on the four chapters of Brahma Sutram . His purpose was to demonstrate that the attributes of BhagavAn saluted by the four chapters are shared equally by His consort , Sri Devi. The first chapter of Brahma Sutra establishes unequivocally that Lord is the seshi of the Universe and he is the creator of all . The second chapter dwells on His undiminishing glories and that those kalyANa guNAs can not be negated or explained away as nonexistent. The third chapter states that he blesses us with all fruits of our endeavours. The final chapter dealing with mukthi states that he is our Praapyam or our ultimate goal . AaLavandhAr in the first verse of Chatussloki , establishes the equal status of Sri Devi with Her consort. As Isvari of Sarva BhutAs , she enjoys an equal status and rules the physical and the transcendental universe. She possesses like Her Lord,Svarupam , Rupam, GuNam and Vibhavam . She shares in equal measure the six auspicious GuNAs of Her consort (BhagavAn ):: JnAnam , Bhalam , Sakthi , Iswaryam , Veeryam and Tejas . That is why She is known as Bhagavathi or ShAtgunya SampoorNai . She is inseparable from Her Lord at all times and states( AnapAyini ). This Nitya Sri surpasses in some regards Her Lord a s a result of Her motherly qualities such as DayA , KshamA (forgivenness ) , Vaatsalya (tender, endearing affection ) just as a mother has for her children . Through Her innate UdhAra SvabhAva ( magnanimity ), She showers us with Her blessings (anugrahams ) an dgrants us Aiswaryam , Kaivalyam and Moksham , when we use our Anjali mudra to seek these anugrahams. She has in addition a unique role through Her PurushakAratvam . She intercedes with Her Lord on behalf of the sinners and recommends that the sinners be forgiven by Her Lord to become the object of His grace. In the second slkam of Chathussloki , YaamunA states that the Lord Himself is unable to describe completely His consort's KalyANa guNAs. Periya VaacchAn PiLLai has commented with great insight on this and other slokAs of YaamunA 's Chathussloki . In the third slokam, YaamunA dwells on Sri Devi's power to bless one with the Purushaarthams of Aiswaryam , Kaivalyam and Moksham .The glories of Lakshmi Kataksham are saluted here. YamunA hints that the Lord has no existence outside Her. In the majestic fourth slokam starting with the majestic assembly of well-chosen words ripe with profound meanings-- "SaanthaanandaMahaa Vibhuthi Paramam Yadh Brahma Rupam Hare: --" and ends dramatically with the words " Aahu: svairanurupa rupa vibhavai: Gaadhopa gutaanidhE ". YaamunA asserts here that Sri Devi's Rupams and GuNAs are tightly bonded together with that of Her Lord in an insepaerable manner. Whenever He assumes Vyuha -Vibhava - Haartha-Archaa rupaas , She takes the appropriate rupams and is tightly united with Him as AnapAyini .Thus they demonstrate Eka Seshitvam and become UpAyam and Upeyam to us all . I will focus on YaamunA's Stotra Ratnam next . Natha , Yaamuna MunigaL ThiruvadigaLE saraNam. Sri VaishNava Daasan, Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan
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