The 128th Thirunakshatra Mahothsavam of Sri Lakshmi Hayavadana Divya Mani Paduka Sevaka Srimadh Abhinava Ranganatha Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Swami (33rd Jiyar) was grandly celebrated on 19th July 2012 (Aashada – Punarvasu) at Sri Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Swamy Mutt.
Srimadh Abhinava Ranganatha Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Swami (33rd Jiyar)
Born in Thaarana-Parthiva (Aashada – Punarvasu – 1884) as a result of the prayers of Sri Lakshmi Nrsimha, Sri Ramachandra, Rangacharya, a scion of the family of Hareetha to which Sri Bhagavadh Ramanuja belonged,early moved out to Mysore from his place of birth at the age of seventeen prompted by his unquenchable thirst for the knowledge to crown his knowledge of Shastras which he had already attained at an early age. Sri Krishna Brahmatantra Pakala Swami (31st Jiyar) discerned this legitimate greed for knowledge,and bestowed on him Sri Chakrankanam and Sri Bhasyartham and consigned him to the care of Sri ‘Pandita-ratnam’ Kasthuri Rangacharya Swami, who had already won for himself as great a name in India as his renowned teacher Sri Ranganatha Brahmatantra Parakala Swami(30th Jiyar). Along with the study of Darshanams,Nyaya, Sahithya,Mimamsa, Vaisheshika and Vishishtadvaitha Vedantha,Sri Rangacharya conducted his regular studies of Sahitya, Alankara,Vyakarana.etc.under the respective teachers in Maharaja’s Sanskrit College.
But even more than his profound and complete scholarship,it was the Swami’s resolute performance of every one of his duties a Grishastha as an ‘Ahitagni’, as a ‘Shatkarma Niratha’ , as a ‘Shadangadikshitha’ as a ‘Shaddarshani Paradrashta’ , which marked him out for the exalted position he occupied as the Acharya of the Mutt.Throughout his Grihastashrama the ‘sacred-fire’ ever burnt under his roof even as in the ‘Parnakutiram’ of the rishes of the ancient times. On one occasion in Pushya-Makara,during a solar-eclipse in the early hours of the morning, when there was an unparelleled and terrible downpour accompanied by a biting chill, amidst the thousands who gathered on the banks of the Kaveri, in ‘Gauthama Kshethra’ , there was this solitary Grihastha with his grihini and the sacred fire in the pot ! protecting it with all his resources as a fond motherdoes her baby threatened by a ruffian for its jewels.Such has ever been the unwavering, unflinching appalling earnestness, devotion and detachment of this Acharya to the practice of Dharma.
Having been called upon to fill the position of the Trustee and guardian of Sri Hayagriva Samsthanam, he had naturally been devoting all his energies, all his physical and mental resources to Seva with unflinching resolve like ‘Sri Varada Ramanuja Swami of Sri Rangam and Kanchi’ —-from whom as Sri Rangacharya, as a grihastha, received the ‘Bharanyasam’ , Srimadh Abhinava Ranganatha Swami had won renown all over the country,as ‘Vairagya-Acharya-Vardhi’, in addition to his being regarded as ‘Jnanaamburashi’,like ‘Sri Maha Parakala Swami'(21st Jiyar), whose seat he had occupied.Like him too, Swami was engaged in the ‘Jeernoddhara’ kainkaryam of Sri Vedantha Deshika Sannidhis in various Divya Deshams and also acquiring centres from where the teachings of Sri Ramanuja may be carried forward, in Thirupathi, in distant Rewah (Rajasthan), Azhwar Thirunagari, Thiruvahindrapurametc.. To facilitate the propaganda of Sri Vedantha Deshikar , he himself started the ‘Vedantha Vihara Sabha’ under the auspices of which annual examinations were conducted on the model of ancient ‘sadas’, prizes awarded and extension lectures delivered in the Mutt.
Removal of some of the disabilities of the ‘Thirukkulattars’, ‘Harijans’, also received the attention of this Great Sage as was exemplified when that stolid of Hinduism, the Late Pandit Sri Madana Mohana Malaviya, approached the Swami on one occasion during his visit to Mysore for the purpose.After a thorough discussion,for two days in succession, it was agreed that ‘Manthra-Deeksha’ was allowed by Shastras to the Harijans with some restrictions and Sri Malaviya went back satisfied with the verdict of Swami.On another Occasion (Dec 1927),when an earnest seeker of truth from Marburg,A European Gentleman,Rudolf Otto,”generally acknowledged as very few theologians of Germany”,sought interview with Swami, the latter readily accorded him the interview and the worker went away supremely enlightened and acknowledged his obligation to the Swami in a book. ‘India’s Religion of Grace and Christianity Compared and Contrasted’ (1930), which he subsequently published.
His Highness Sri Maharaja Marthanda Singhjee of Rewah visited the Mutt, and paid obeisance to the Acharya.It is no exaggeration o say that Srimadh Abhinava Ranganatha Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Swami occupied a high position in the spiritual world of South India as his Great Predecessor Sri Maha Parakala Swamy of the 16th Century ! The ‘Raja-Guru’ to the ‘Royal Family’ of Mysore, Swami blessed the Wodeyars, Sriman Maharaja Sri Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar and Sriman Maharaja Sri Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar Bahudur with Sri Vaishnava Dikha and Kalakshepams. Swami attained paramapadam during his age of 82. Swami adorned the Gadi of Sri Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Swamy Mutt for 40 years !! (1925-1966 Asthana Nirvaham) with an eternal kainkaryam to Sri Lakshmi Narayana- Sri Lakshmi Hayavadana – Sri Venugopala ! Jayathu Sriman Abhinava Rangendra Brahmatantra Parakala: !!!
Swami’s Works:
Hayashiropakhyana
Tatvamuktakalapa -Commentaries in 3 volumes.
Gudartha Sangraha – His Magnum Opus on Sri Bhashya
Vedartha Sanjivanam
Thraiyantha Saramrtham
Hayavadana Rathnamala Sthothram
Aupanishad Manihara
Upanishaddhara
Ramanuja Matha Darsha
Paduka Sthuthi
Taniyan:
Sri krishna brahmatantrotthama guru karunaavaptha chakranka bhashyam
vairagyaachara vardhou varada pada mukhe lakshmane nysastha bhaaram |
sri vagishaattha thurya shataripu yathiraad veda chudarya murthim
noothnam sri ranganatham kaliripum anagham brahmatantram shrayamaha||sri thuragavadana padoo santhathapari charanamathra paramartha: |
jayathu sriman abhinava rangendra brahamtantra parakala: ||
[P.S: This is an extract from the book : Origin & Growth of Sri Parakala Mutt, by Sri N.Deshikacharya. All credits to the author.]
Courtesy: Sri Sripuram Srikanth
