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abhinava dESika- SrI UttamUr Swamy Divya Charitham- 19

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Madhavakkannan V • January 24, 2002 


SrI:
Sri Padmavathi Sametha Srinivasa Parabrahmane Namaha.
Sri Perundhevi Sametha Devadhiraja Parabrahmane Namaha.
SrimathE Bhagavad Ramanujaya Namaha:
SrimathE Nigamantha Mahadesikaya namaha:
Srimate Rangaramanuja Maha Desikaya Namaha.
Srimate  Abhinava Desika Vatsya Satchakravarti Uttamur SRI
VIRARAGHAVARYA MAHA DESIKAYA NAMAHA

SrImAn venkatanAthAryaH kavitArkika kesarI |
vedAntAcArya-varyome sannidhattAm sadA hRdi ||

Thanian (Invocatory verse on Sri UttamUr swamy written by
Swamy's AchAryan Sri Kozhiyalam Swamy himself)

adbhutam yasya vikrAntam vEda vIthI ViSOdhanE |
aparam nigamAntAryam prapadyE vIrarAghavam ||

[Article in Tamil by SrI PayyampADi VEnkatavaradAchArya SwAmi; English write 
up (based on Tamil) by SrI R.VenkatAchAri (SohattUr- Vankipuram -Oppiliappan 
Sannidhi), a disciple of SrI UtthamUr SwAmi. Appeared in the souvenir 
released during the SatAbhishEkam (80th birth anniversary) of SrI UtthamUr 
swAmi on 10th Feb, 1977]

A few days after the starting of the Kalakshepa Goshti, Sri.K.Bhashya
(Ex-Minister) came to Our Swami, as promised by him during the
Tiruppavai Upanyasam, and paid his homage to Our Swami.  The he
expressed his desire to study our Sidhanta Granthas under Our Swami
but regretted that he could not join the regular Kalakshepa Goshti.
Any other time, either in the morning or in the evening would be
convenient for him.  Our Swami told in private that the granthas
should be studied only in the Acharya-Sishya relationship and that he
was not in the habit of including persons with a cropped head and hair style 
in his Kalakshepa Goshti and so regretted his inability to grant his 
request.  But Sri.K.Bhashyam said that it would be enough if a general 
lecture was given to him.  Our Swami told in private that he had seen even 
great lawyers could not get the correct meaning if they had not studied the 
grantha before him word by word under a fully qualified Acharya which could 
be done only in a regular Sampradaya method.

He advised him that as he was so keen on learning the intricate truths of 
our Sidhanta, and as the cropped head and hair style was not necessary for 
him as had retired from active service as
a Minister and that as a lawyer he could conveniently remove the crop 
without detriment to his profession.  He finally advised him to think
over the matter and decide.   Otherwise if he accepted him as it is in the 
Kalakshepa Goshti, people would accuse him that he had sacrificed his 
principles, for the sake of money.  He went home and after a few days agreed 
to abide by the advice of Our Swami and came back with the proper hair style 
(sikhA) and dress acceptable in Our Sampradaya.  Our Swami was very much 
pleased and started Sri Bhashya Kalakshepa.  It is only the GodÂ’s wish that 
Sri K.Bhashyam changed his mind, as otherwise Our Sampradaya would have lost 
a Patron and well wisher of Our Swami, and one who did a great kainkarya in 
spreading the granthas of Our Swami. He was so keen on learning the granthas 
and he was an advocate, it was easy for him to grasp the meanings easily.

He used to regret that he did not have the good fortune to start the 
Kalakshepa at least ten years earlier, so that by this time, much could have 
been achieved. He completed Srimad Rahasya Traya Sara, Gita Bhashya in 
addition to the Sri Bhashya which he did first.  By this time, he had gained 
enough knowledge and confidence and with Our SwamiÂ’s blessings and 
encouragement translated Sri BhashyakaraÂ’s Vedanata Deepa, Gitartha 
Sangraha, Saranagati Gadya with the commentary of Srutaprakasikacharya and 
Vishnu Sahasra Namavali.  Our Swami used to admire his patience when he sat 
with him to correct his translation, in spite of his old age and possessing 
only one eye functioning.  In the middle of the Kalakshepa of Srimad Rahasya 
Traya Sara, he wanted to undergo Bharanyasa under Our Swami; but Our Swami 
took him to his Revered Acharya, Srimad Rangaramanuja Maha Desika and made 
him undergo the Bharanyasa.

Our Swami was at that time staying in New Mambalam and as he flet that West 
(Old) Mambalam would be more suitable for his Anushtana and so shifted his 
residence.  But after staying there for some time, he
found out that New Mambalam was also equally good with added
facilities for sishyas to come easily.  So he shifted back to New
Mambalam (T.Nagar).  Wherever he stayed, the sishyas erected pandal 
(shelter) for conducting the Kalakshepa.  It took two years to finish the 
Kalakshepa of Srimad Rahasya Traya Sara and Tiruvoimozhi Bhagavad
Vishaya.

In the meanwhile, Manuscript Library authorities requested Our Swami
to scrutinize and make it fit for printing, the book “Nayadyumani” by
Srimad Meghanadari.  It is an argumentative type of grantha and the
subject discussed and argued are mostly found in Sri Bhashya.  The
authorities were very much satisfied with the scrutiny and requested
Our Swami to write a Forward for that.  They gave him full freedom on
the volume of the forward and agreed to print all that would be
written.  The foreword written by Our Swami went to more than 100 pages and 
as promised they printed the entire lot.  All agreed that the Foreword 
definitely improved the value of the book.  The Foreword
contained, in essence, the Visistadvaita Siddhanta, the SarIrAthma
Bhava and the same was explained by quoting many Shastras.  Our Swami
explained there that how the Sariratma Bhava was special to Our
Sidhanta and how other Sidhantas lack the essence of all Shastras by
not accepting the Sariratma Bhava.  It also explained the basic
differences in approach to the subject by the author and Sri Desika.
The author of the grantha was a predecesor to Sri Desika and belonged
to the Vamsa Parampara of Somasiandan, the nephew of Sri Bhashyakara.
Sri U.Ve.D.T.Swami while reviewing the book had written that the
Forward of Our Swami, by itself, was fit to be treated as a separate
grantha of importance.

Coming back to Our SwamiÂ’s publishing activities, which remained as
the main structure and core of Our SwamiÂ’s career, Chandogyopanishad
was published with Parishkara commentary while Our Swami was in
Tirupati.  After coming to Madras, Brihadaranyaka, Svetaswara and
other Upanishads, though printed in Tirupati.  The proof was sent to
Madras for correction and was finished in Tirupati.  To satisfy the
request of many Astikas, Tiruppavai with the Raksha commentary was
also printed and published and well received by everybody.
Within a year after Our Swmai came to Madras, Sri.V.V.Swami passed
away.  Our Swami lost a good well-wisher and the Sidhanta lost a good
Patron.  Sri.D.R.Swami, after many granthas of Our Swami got
published, used to say that it was a pity that Sri V.V.Swami was not
alive to rejoice over the wonderful publications, Our Swami was giving to 
Our Sampradaya.  Sri V.V.SwamiÂ’s absence was, in a way, not felt very much 
as Sri.D.R.Swami, Sri.K.Bhashyam, Sri V.T.R.Swami and others were taking a 
lot of interest in the publications.  Due to the efforts of Sri G.Rangaswami 
Iyengar Swami, the book “Bhavaprakasika” was printed at Tirupati Devastanam 
Press.  During this time,
Mahamahopadyaya, Brahmsri, Anantakrishna Sastriar, wrote, a book
called “Sata Bhooshani” which is a khandana grantha for Sri Desika’s
“Sata Dhooshani”.  To respect the wishes of Sri U.Swami, and to obey
the commands of his Revered Acharya, Our Swami agreed to write a return 
khandana for Sata BhoosahniÂ’, but could not start immediately due to the 
work in hand.
AchAryan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam
Regards
Namo Narayana
ADiyEn Dasan


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