Commentary on a philosophical hymn
V. N. GOPALA DESIKACHARIAR
ASHTASLOKI of Parasara Bhattar — Commentary in Tamil by Uruppattur Rajagopalachariar; Pub. by Srimad Andavan Sri Poundarikapuram Swami Asramam, 43-A/13, Asramam Road, Srirangam, Tiruchi-620006. Rs. 30.
One of the brightest luminaries in the firmament of Vaishnavism is Parasara Bhattar (12th Century A.D). The prodigious son of a prodigious father, Bhattar perhaps even excelled his father, Kuresa, in propagating Vaishnavism through his valuable works and preaching to numerous disciples. Vaishnavites hold three Rahasyas (secrets) sacred, taught by their preceptors during a ceremony called Pancha Samskara and which they recite with piety and devotion every day. The first and foremost of them is the Ashtakshara (eight-syllable mantra) followed by the Dvaya and the Charama sloka.
Extensive and incisive commentaries have been written explaining the import of these secrets by several scholars the most prominent being the Rahasyatrayasara by Vedanta Desika, a guru nonpareil. This book is an encyclopaedic presentation of the esoteric and abstruse philosophical truths enshrined in these secrets.
Parasara Bhattar, a forerunner of Desika, gives the meaning of these secrets in a nutshell, in just eight verses in Sanskrit for purpose of easy remembrance and daily recitation, and the work is appropriately called Ashtasloki (eight verses).
The first four verses relate to the Ashtakshara while the subsequent two each dwell on the Dvaya and the Charama Sloka. In keeping with the grandeur of the subject matter Bhattar employs majestic, long metres.
The first explains the meaning of the three components the sacred Mantra `Aum' (Om) and the next three verses dwell on the rest of the Ashtakshara, indicating the essential nature of the soul and surrender to the Lord. The two verses on the Dvaya explain the concept of Self-surrender as the sure means to liberation.
The last two verses deal with the Gita verse (Charama sloka): "Having given up the Dharmas and duties prescribed by the Sastras, seek refuge in Me alone; and I will liberate you from all sins. Grieve not."
This book gives the verse, along with word-for-word meaning in Tamil, followed by a detailed exposition. The author ably draws from Desika's Rahasyatrayasara and its condensed version Sarasara besides quoting from the works of Azhwars and Ramanuja's Saranagati Gadya.
The commentary is good, educative and elucidatory. There are too many Sanskrit words throughout the bookwhich are difficult to follow by a lay reader in the absence of explanation in Tamil.
The two interpretations of `u' in Aum could have been explained clearly. The meanings of the technical terms `antarvyapti' and `bahirvyapti' have been interchanged and are not correct. The Mahabharata is eulogised as the fifth Veda and not the Bhagavad Gita as stated.
The book will be useful for understanding the import of the three Rahasyas as enunciated by Bhattar.
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