His Holiness Srimad Vedanta Ramanuja Maha Desikan (Srimad Thirukudandhai Andavan) |
Srirangam Srimad Andavan Swamigal (Thirukudandhai Andavan) was a great and an erudite scholar and a multi-linguist. He was proficient in Sanskrit and Tamil, particularly. His religious discourses were widely acclaimed as superb. They were attended to by thousands of people, all over India, with deep devotion and appreciation. Swami's Thiruppavai lectures were especially famous. After the great Sri Ramanuja, the preceptor of Vaishnavism, who was also known as Thiruppavai Jeeyar, Srimad Andavan Swamigal was so much involved in Andal's Thiruppavai, that, it is not an exaggeration, if His Holiness is called the
Srimad Andavan's Thiruppavai
lectures were truly magnificent. Swamy's style of presentation, his
vocabulary, gnana, depth of knowledge and devotion and his
delicate humour were to be experienced to be believed! Srimad Andavan has traversed almost all over India, extensively on foot, visiting hundreds of temples en route. Captivated by his extraordinary and brilliant discourses, people would flock to the places, wherever they would be held, in great numbers. He had a huge followership ( sishyas ) all over the sub-continent as well as abroad. Once,
at Chennai, India, my humble self was extremely fortunate to be able to
attend the Swamy's Thiruppavai discourses. On an impulse, I took
down hints there from, to be developed and cherished. Later, the
manuscript was submitted to His Holiness for his kind perusal and
exalted approval. I submit here with humility that it was indeed a great
honour that my humble attempt has earned the Swamy's complete approval
and kind blessings. His Holiness gave permission to publish the book.
Initially, the book was published by the blessings of The Acharya
and benevolence of Lord Krishna, in
Tamil, entitled, 'Godhai Thandha Geethai'. Srimad
Andavan Swamigal was magnanimous enough to write a few lines in
Sanskrit, with his own hands, in my copy of the book.
This, I sincerely consider, lends some meaning and purpose to my
very ordinary life. Public patronage and demand for the Tamil version had emboldened me to transliterate and translate my original work into English, in accordance with His Holiness’s wish. And thus was born 'Godhanjali'. I had attempted to translate the Tamil version into simple English, so that, even ordinary people like me, can read and enjoy it and realize God. Sri Andal's Thiruppavai is equated with the Vedas. The central theme of Visishtadhvaitham, that is the philosophy of Saranagathi and the philosophy of Jeevathma and Paramathma are contained in Thiruppavai. In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Sri Krishna says:
He calls the jeevathmas to abandon everything and surrender at His Feet, body and soul, without any thought of self, and promises to protect them. That is the gist of the entire Baghavad Gita. And that is the pith of Godha's Geetha also! It is said that, if one reads Andal's Thiruppavai with devotion, daily during the month of Maargazhi, (Dec.15–Jan.14), one receives The Lord's blessings and conquers re-birth. Lord Sri Krishna is the only Purusha, the man, in the world. All others are Radhas. The jeevathmas, who are for ever trying to realize God and merge with Him, which is indeed, the real purpose of this life! Overwhelming response to the above publications, along with the wish from devotees, made me consolidate the entire work in the form of a Compact Disc (CD), to be kept and cherished for ever (Contact Mrs.Subhadra Govindarajan).
to our great and beloved Acharya His Holiness Srimad Thirukkudandhai
Andavan.
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Mrs. SUBHADRA
GOVINDARAJAN |
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