Pillai Lokacharya’s magnum opus

M.NARASIMHACHARY

http://www.hindu.com/br/2007/10/09/stories/2007100950021301.htm


SRIVACHANABHUSHANAM OF PILLAI LOKACHARYA—Translation
and Commentary of Manavala Mamuni; Critical Evaluation
of the Theo-Philosophy of the Post-Ramanuja
Srivaishnavism: J. Rangaswami; Sharada Publishing
House, 2094/165, Ganeshpura, Tri Nagar, Delhi-110035.
Rs.1950.

Srivaishnava philosophy of the post-Ramanuja period
had an interesting growth. What was adumbrated by
Ramanuja in his Gadyas received a detailed and
categorical exposition at the hands of great teachers
like Pillai Lokacharya and Vedanta Desika. The
compositions of the mystic saints Azhvars received
greatest attention during this period. Works
highlighting the essential doctrines under the name
Rahasya were composed in Manipravala (Sanskritised
Tamil). This may be describe d as the golden period of
the Manipravala style. Since many Sanskrit words do
not have a correct parallel in Tamil, ancient writers
resorted to this method of blending Sanskrit and
Tamil. This gave the Tamil language, a rare charm and
dignity. Pillai Lokacharya wrote 18 Rahasyas. Of
these, the Srivachanabhushana, Tattvatraya and the
Mumukshuppadi are important, and among them the first
work is the magnum opus of the great writer. The
credit of commenting on this important Rahasya text
goes to Manavala Mamuni (1370-1444).

Features

It has to be pointed out in this context that the
Srivaishnava writings are in Sanskrit, Tamil and
Manipravala. Understanding this literature requires
special training. The present work embodying the
Srivachanabhushana contains 466 pithy aphoristic
statements. But for the commentary of Manavala Mamuni,
this work would have remained unintelligible with its
subtle layers of meaning. The central teachings of
this work may be summarised as follows: the soul does
not need anything but knowledge about its essential
nature. It is always subservient to and dependent upon
the Lord. It has to do eternal service through the
mediation of the preceptors. It is the grace of
preceptors that ultimately helps the soul to attain
liberation.

Translation


The credit of providing an excellent, reliable and
readable English rendition for this monumental work
goes to J. Rangaswami. Here the original aphorisms of
Pillai Lokacharya are given in Roman transliteration,
using diacritical marks. This is followed by verbal
(word-to-word) translation. Then comes the
translation; this is followed by introduction (to the
topic) and then a detailed commentary.

The translator has admirably succeeded in bringing out
the essence of the original text along with the
flavour of the commentary of Manavala Mamuni.

The value of the text is enhanced by the large number
of useful indexes which include the original text of
Srivachanabhushana in Grantha script; glossary of all
the technical words, and index of works and authors.

We congratulate the translator J. Rangaswami for this
commendable publication.




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