anthimOpAya nishtai – 1 – AchArya/sishya lakshaNam

ponnadikkAl jIyar‘s thanian (by dhoddayangAr appai)

ramya jAmAthru yOgIndhra pAdha
sEvaika dhArakam
bhattanAtha munim vandhE vAthsalyAdhi guNArNavam

Translator’s note: Grantham starts here.

enthai maNavALa yOgi enakkuraiththa
anthimOpAya nishtaiyAmathanaich

The learned scholars will be pleased to see this work, the one who is interested in learning will be pleased and learn this subject matter. Others, out of jealousy, may insult this work, but is it so surprising that they insult this work? (It is not, since they are not matured enough to understand the glories of this subject matter).

In this samsAram (material world) which is full of miseries, everyone goes around in the cycle of birth and death. It is said that the effects of our small momentary action cannot be consumed by us even in many many thousands of births (we may be killing many invisible entities in a moment – and we have to consume the effects of all those pApa karmA in many thousands of births). Also this samsAram is a very cruel place where samsAris (materially focussed people) cannot stabilize themselves to be able to remove the troubles in samsAram and free themselves. Also, they are always bewildered about the unbreakable cycle of birth and death and the effects of their karmAs. AchAryas mercifully bless such beings, remove their fear and uplift them from this samsAram. These AchAryas transform such beings who are totally devoid of any knowledge about the self (and keep thinking that they are not different from their body) and make them realize their true nature through their causeless mercy. The AchAryan identifies what is to be pursued and what is to be given up clearly and protects the sishyan truly. Such sishyas who are truly blessed have to accept the lotus feet of their AchAryan as the best path to relieve them from samsAram. This prabhandham explains that, the following are the most essential aspects to do always for such sishyas who are situated in anthimOpAya nishtai.

• To constantly meditate upon and glorify their AchAryan’s divine names, knowledge, affection, etc and his birth and actions
• To constantly meditate upon and glorify the dhivya dhEsam where the AchAryan lives
• To accept that the AchAryan’s lotus feet are the path for the ultimate benediction
• To constantly meditate upon and glorify the AchAryan’s divine form and service to his AchAryan’s bodily needs – these are considered as upEyam (ultimate benediction) for an anthimOpAya nishtan (one who is in AchArya nishtai/charama parva nishtai).
• To serve the divine form of AchAryan by thoughts, words and action constantly and to enjoy such valuable kainkaryams to the AchAryan always
• To be pleased by seeing the pleasure of AchAryan after accepting the sishyan’s kainkaryam and the benediction we get as a result of AchAryan’s pleasure
• To constantly perform mangaLAsAsanam (pray for well-being) of AchAryan

Translator’s note: The next section in this grantham lists out many pramANams to support the greatness of AchArya’s mercy followed by how a sishya should be. The images of these 8 pages are attached here. A brief explanation on this section will follow the pramANams listed.

anantha pAram bahuvEdhithavyam alpascha kAlO bahavascha vignA: |
yathsArabhUtham thadhupAsithavyam hamsO yathA kshIramivAmbumisram ||asAramalpasArancha sAram sAratharam thyajEth |
bhajEth sArathamam sAsthram rathnAakara ivAmrutham ||

thathkarma yanna bandhAya sAvidhyA yA vimukthayE |
AyAsAyAparam karma vidhyAnyA silpanaipuNam ||

sAsthragyAnam bahuklEsam bhudhdhEschalanakAraNam |
upadhEsAdhdharim budhdhvA viramEth sarvakarmasu ||

AdhyANam sadhrusE katham visadhrusE dhEhE bhavathyAthmana:
sadhbudhdhEssa cha sangamAdhapi bhavEdhaushNyam yathApAthasi |
kO vA sangathihEthurEvamanayO: karmAtha sAmyEth kutha:
thadhbrahmAdhigamAth sa sidhyathi mahAn kasmAth sadhAchAryatha: ||

anAchAryOpalabdhAhi vidhyEyam nasyathi dhruvam |
sAsthrAdhishu sudhrushtApi sAngAsaha palOdhayA |
na prasIdhathi vai vidhyA vinA sadhupadhEsatha: ||

dhaivAdhInam jagathsarvam manthrAdhInam thu dhaivatham |
thanmanthram brAhmaNAdhInam thasmAdhbrAhmaNadhaivatham ||

vruthaiva bhavathO yAthA bhUyasI janma santhathi: |
thasyAmanyathamam janma sanchinthya saraNam vraja ||

pApishta: kshathrabandhuscha pundarIkascha puNyakruth |
AchAryavaththayA mukthau thasmAdhAchAryavAn bhavEth ||
brahmaNyEva sthitham viswam OmkArE brahma samsthitham |
AchAryAth sa cha OmkAras-thasmAdhAchAryavAn bhavEth ||

AchAryassa harissAkshAth chararUpi na samsaya: |
thasmAdhbhAryAdhaya: puthrAsthamEkam gurumApnuyu: ||

sAkshAnnArAyaNO dhEvA: kruthvA marthyamayIm thanum |
magnAnudhdharathE lOkAn kAruNyAchchaAsthrapANinA ||

thasmAdhbhakthirgurau kAryA samsArabhayabhIruNA ||

gururEva param brahma guruEva parA gathi: |
gururEva parAvidhyA gururEva param dhanam ||

gururEva para:kAmO gururEva parAyaNam |
yasmAththadhupadhEshtAsau thasmAdhgurutharO guru: ||

archanIyascha  pUjyascha kIrthanIyascha sarvadhA |
dhyAyEjjapEnnamEdhbhakthyA bhajEdhabhyarchayEnmudhA ||

upAyOpEyabhAvEna thamEva saranam vrajEth |
ithi sarvEshu vEdhEshu sarvasAsthrEshu sammatham ||

yEna sAkshAdhbhagavathi gyAnadhIpapradhE gurau |
marthyabudhdhi: kruthA thasya sarvam kunjarasauchavath ||

yO dhadhyAdhbhagavadhgyANam kuryAdhArmOpasEvaNam |
kruthsnAm vA pruthivIm dhadhyAnna thathulyam kathanchana ||

aihikAmushmikam sarvam gururashtAksharapradha: |
ithyEvam yEna manyanthE thyakthavyAsthE manIshibhi: ||

yEnaiva guruNAyasya nyAsavidhyA pradhIyathE |
thasya vaikuNta dhugdhAbdhidhvArakAssarva Eva sa: ||

yath snAtham guruNA yathra thIrtham nAnyath thathOdhikam |
yachcha karma thadhartham  thadhvishnOrArAdhanAthparam ||

pasurmanushya: pakshI vA yE cha vaishNavasamsrayA: |
thEnaiva thE prayAsyanthi thadhvishnO: paramam padham ||

bhAlamUkajadAndhAscha pangavO badhirAsthathA |
sadhAchAryENa sandhrushtA: prApnuvanthi parAngathim ||

yam yam sprusathi pANibhyAm yam yam pashyathi chakshushA |
sthAvarANyapi muchyanthE kimpunarbAndhavAjanA: ||

andhOnandhagrahaNavasagO yAthi rangEsa yadhvath
pangurnaukAguharanihithO nIyathE nAvikEna |
bhunkthE bhOghAnavidhithanrUpassEvakasyArbhakAdhi:
thvathsamprApthau prabhavathi thathA dhEsikO mE dhayAlu: ||

sidhdham sathsampradhAyE sthiradhiyamanagam srOthriyam brahmanishtam
sathvashtham sathyavAcham samayaniyathayA sAdhuvruththyA samEtham |
dambhAsUyAdhimuktham jithavishayagaNam dhIrgabandhum dhayAlum
skAlithyE sAsithAram svaparahithaparam dhEsikam bhUshnurIpsEth ||

uthpAdhakabrahmapithrOrgarIyAn brahmadha:pithA |
sa hi vidhyAthastham janayathi thachchrEshtam janma |
sarIramEva mAthApitharau janayathA: |
dhEhagrunmanthragrunna syAth manthrasamskArakruth para: |
thau chEnnAthmavidhau syAthAm anyasthvAthmavidhAthmakruth ||

nAchArya: kulajAthOpi gyAnabhakthyAdhi varjitha: |
na vayOjAthihInascha prakrushtAnAManApadhi ||

kimapyathrAbhijAyanthE yOgina: sarvayOnishu |
prathyakshithAthmanAthAnAm naishAm chinthyam kulAdhigam ||

bhinnanAvasrithO janthuryathA pAram naghachathi |
andhaschAndhakarAlambAth kUpAnthE pathithOyathA ||

gyAnahInam gurum prApya kuthO mOkshamavApnuyAth |
AchAryO vEdhasampannO vishNu  bhakthO vimathsara: |
manthragyO manthrabhakthascha sadhA manthrAsrayasUsi: ||

sathsampradhAya samyukthO brahmavidhyAvisAradha: |
ananyasAdhanaschaiva thathAnanyaprayOjana: ||

brAhmaNO vItharAgascha krOdhalObhavivarjitha: |
sadhvruththasAsithA chaiva mumukshu: paramArthavith ||

EvamAdhiguNObEtha AchAryassa udhAhrutha: |
AchAryOpi thathA sishyam snigdhO hithaparassadhA ||

prabOdhya bhOdhanIyAni vruththamAchArayEth svayam |
uththArayathi samsArAth thadhupAyaplavEna thu ||
gurumUrthisthithassAkshAdh bhagavAn purushOththama: |
thrirUpO hithamAchashtE manushyANAm kalau hari: ||

guruscha svapnadhrushtascha pUjAnthE chArchakAnanAth |
Iswarasya vasassarvam manthrasya vasa Iswara: |
manthrO guruvasE nithyam gururEvEsvarasthithi: ||

yEsha vai bhagavAn sAkshAth pradhAnapurushEshwara: |
yOgIsvarairvimrukhyAngrirlOkO yam manyathE naram ||

nArAyaNAsrayO jIvassOyamashtAksharAsraya:
ashtAksharassadhAchAryE sthithithasthasmAdhgurum bhajEth ||

dhayAdhamasamObhEtham dhrudabhakthikriyAparam |
sathyavAk seelasampannamEva karmasukausalam ||

jIthEndhriyam susanthushtam karuNApUrNamAnasam |
kuryAllakshaNa sampannam Arjavam chAruhAsinam |
EvanguNaischa samyuktham gurum vidhyAththu vaishNavam |
sahasrasakAthyAyi cha sarvayathnEshu dhIkshithA: |
kulE mahathi jAthOpi na  gurussyAthavaishNava: |
agyAnathimirAndhasya gyAnAnjanasalAkayA |
chakshurnmeelitham yEna thasmai srI guravE nama: ||

manthra: prakruthirithyukthO hyartha: prANa ithi smrutha: |
thasmAnmanthrapradhAchAryAdhgarIyAnarthathO guru: ||

ghusabdhasthvandhakArassyAdhrusabdhasthannirOdhaka: |
andhakAranirOdhithvAdhgururithyabhIdhIyathE ||
sishyamagyAnasamyuktham na sikshayathi chEdhguru: |
sishyAgyAnAkrutham pApam gurOrbhavathi nischay: ||

lObhAdhvAyadhi vA mOhAchchishyam sAsthi nayO guru: |
thasmAth samsruNuthE yascha prachyuthau thAvubhAvapi ||

AsinOthi hi sAsthrArthAnAchArE sthApayathyapi |
svayamAcharathE yasthu AchAryassObhidhIyathE ||

ravisannidhimAthrENa sUryakAnthO virAjathE |
gurusannidhimAthrENa sishyagyANam prakAsathE ||

yathAhi vahnisamparkkAnmalam thyajathi kAnchanam |
thathaiva gurusamparkkAth pApam thyajathi mAnava: ||

snEhEna krupayA vApi manthrI  manthram prayachathi |
gururgyEyascha sampUjyO dhAnamAnAdhibhissadhA ||

ananyasaraNAncha thathA vAnanya sEvinAm
ananyasAdhanAnAncha vakthavyam manthramuthamam ||

samvathsaram thadhardham vA mAsathraya madhApivA |
parIkshya vivadhOpAyai: krupayA nisspruhO vadhEth ||

nAdhIkshithAya vakthavyam nA bhakthAya na mAninE |
nAsthikAya kruthagnAya na sradhdhAvimukhAya cha ||

dhEsakAlAdhiniyamam arimithRadhisOdhanam |
nyAsamudhrAdhikam thasya purashcharaNakam na thu ||
nasvara: praNavOngAni nApyanya vidhayasthathA |
sthrINAncha sUdhrajAthInAm manthramAthrokthrishyathE ||

rushyAdhincha karanyAsam anganyAsancha varjayEth |
sthrIsUdhrAschavinIthAschEnmanthram praNavavArjitham ||

na dhEsakAlau nAvasthAm pAthrasUdhdhincha nai[nE]chchathi |
dhvayOpadhEsakharthAthu sishyadhOsham na pasyathi ||

dhurAcharOpi sarvAsI kruthagnO nAsthika: purA |
samAsrayEdhAdhidhEvam sradhdhayA saraNam yadhi |
nirdhOsham vidhdhitham janthum prabhavAath paramAthmana: ||

manthrarathnam dhvayam nyAsam prapathissaranAgathi: |
lakshminArAyaNanchEthi hitham sarvapalapradham |
nAmAni manthrarathnasya paryAyENa nibOdhatha ||
thasyOchchAraNamAthrENa parithushtOsmi nithyasa: ||

brAhmaNA: kshathriyA vaisyAssthriyassUdhrAsthathEtharA: |
thasyAdhikAriNassarvE mama bhakthO bhavEdhyadhi ||

yasthu manthradhvayam samyagadhyApayathi vaishnavAn |
AchAryassa thu vigyEyO bhavabandhavimOchaka: ||

nrudhEhamAdhyam prathilabhya dhurlabham plavam sukalyam gurukarNadhArakam |
mayAnukUlEna nabhasvathEritham pumAn bhavAbdhim satharEth na AthmahA ||

AchAryam mAm vijAnIyAnnAvamanyEtha karhichith |
na mAthyabhudhdhyAdhrusyEtha sarvadhEvamayO guru: ||

atha sishyalakshaNam:-

mAnushyam prApya lOkEsmin na mukhO padhirObhi vA |
nApakramAthi samsArAth sa kalU brahmahA bhavEth ||

sadhAchAryOpasaththyA cha sAbhilAshasthadhAthmaka: |
thaththvagyAnanidhim saththvanishtam sadhguNasAgaram |
sathAm gathim kAruNikam thamAchAryam yathAvidhi |
praNipAthanamaskArapriyavAgbhischa thOshayan |
thathprasAdhavasEnaiva thadhangIkAralAbhavAn |
thadhukthathathvayAthAthmyagyAnAmrutha susambrutha: ||

artham rahasyathrithayagOcharam labdhavAhanam ||

parIkshya lOkAn karmachithAn brAhmaNO nirvEdhamAyAth nAsthyakrutha:
kruthEna thadhvigyAnArtham  sa gurumEvAbhigachEth samithpANis-
srOthriyam brahmanishtam thasmai sa vidhvAnupasannAya samyak-
prAsAnthachithAya samAnvidhAya yEnAksharam purusham vEdha sathyam prOvAcha
thAm thaththvathO brahmavidhyAm ||

gurum prakAsayEdhdhImAn manthram  yathnEna gOpayEth |
aprakAsaprakAsAbhyAm kshIyEthE sampadhAyushI ||

AchAryasya prasAdhEna mama sarvamabhIpsitham |
prApnuyAmIthi visvAsO yasyAsthi sa sukhIbhavEth ||

AthmanO hyathinIchasya yOgidhyEyapadhArhathAm |
krupayaivOpakarthAram AchAryam samsmarEth sadhA ||

na chakrAdhyanganam nEjyA na gyANam na virAgathA |
na manthra: pAramaikAnthyam thairyukthO guruvasyatha: ||

nithyam gurumupAsItha thadhvacha:sravaNOthsuka: |
vigrahAlOkanaparasthasyaivAgyApradhIkshaka: ||

prakshAlya charaNau pAthrE praNipathyOpayujya cha |
nithyam vidhivadhargyAthyairAdhruthObhyarchayEdhgurum ||

sruthi:
AchAryavAn purushO vEdha | dhEvamivAchAryamupAsItha |
AchAryAdhIno bhava| AchAryAdhInasthishtEth | AchArya dhEvo bhava |
yatha bhagavathyEvamvakthari vruthi: | gurudharsanE chOththishtEth |
gachhanthamanuvrajEth |

sarIram vasu vigyANam vAsa: karma guNAnasUn |
guruvartham dhArayEdhyasthu sa sishyO nEtharassmrutha: ||

dhIrgadhaNdanamaskAram prathyuththAnamanantharam |
sarIramartham prANancha sadhgurubhyO nivEdhayEth ||

gurvarthasyAthmana: pumsaha kruthagyasya mahAthmana: |
suprasannassadhA vishNurhrudhi  thasya virAjathE ||

manthrE thIrthE dhvijE dhEvE dhaivagyE bhEshajE gurau |
yAdhrusI bhAvanA yathra sidhdhirbhavathi thAdhrusI ||

yasya dhEvE parAbhakthir yathAdhEvE thathA gurau |
thasyai thEkathithA hyarthA: prakAsyanthE mahAthmana: ||

dharsanasparsavachanais sanchArENa cha sathamA: |
bhUtham vidhAya bhuvanam mAmEshyanthi gurupriyA: ||

dhEhakrunmanthrakrunna syAnmanthrasamskArakruthpara: |
thau chEnnAthmavidhau syAthAm anyasthvAthmavidhAthmakruth ||

avaishNavOpadhishtam syAthpUrvam manthravaram dhvayam |
punascha vidhinA samyakvaishNavAdhgrAhayEdhgurO: ||

atha sthrIsUdhrasankIrNanirmUlapathithAdhishu |
ananyEnAnyadhrushtau cha kruthApi na kruthA bhavEth ||

athOnyathrAnuvidhivath karthavyA saraNAgathi: |
dhaNdavath praNamEdhbhUmAvupEthya gurumanvaham |
dhisE vApi namaskuryAth yathrAsau vasathi svayam ||

AchAryAyAharEdharthAnAthmAnancha nivEdhayEth |
thadhadhInascha varthEtha sAkshAn nArAyaNO hisa: ||

sathbhudhissAdhusEvI samuchithacharithas thathvabhOdhAbhilAshU |
susrushusthyakthamAna: praNipathanapara: prasnakAlaprathIksha: ||

sAnthO dhAnthOnasUyussaraNamupagathassAsthravisvAsasAlee |
sishy: prAptha: parIkshAngruthavidhabhimatham thaththvatha: sikshaNIya: ||

yasthvAchAryaparAdhInassadhvruththau sAsyathE yadhi |
sAsanE sthiravruthissa sishyassadhbhirudhAhrutha: ||

sishyO gurusamIpasthO yathavAkkAyamAnasa: |
susrushayA gurOsthushtim kuryAnnirdhUthamathsara: ||

AsthikO dharmaseelascha seelavAn vaishNavas suchi: |
gambhIraschathurO dhIra: sishya ithyabhIdhIyathE ||

Asanam sayanam yAnam thadhIyam yachcha kalpitham |
guruNAncha padhAkramya narO yasthvadhamAm gathim ||

ghOsvoshtrayAnaprasAdhaprastharEshu katEshu cha |
nAsItha guruNA sArthdham silAbalakanaushUcha ||

yasthishtathi guruNAncha samakshamakruthAnjali: |
samadhrushtyA thadhAgyAnath sa sadhyO nirayam vrajEth ||

Asanam sayanam yAnam apahAsancha saunaka |
athipralApam garvancha varjayEdhgurusannidhau ||

yadhruchchayA sruthO manthraschannEnAthacha lEna vA |
pathrEkshithO vAvyarthassyAth tham japEdh yadhyanarthakruth ||

manthrE thadh dhEvathAyAncha thathA manthrapradhE gurau |
thrishUbhakthissadhA kAryA sAhi prathamasAdhanam ||

adhamO dhEvathAbhakthO manthrabhakthasthu madhyama: |
uththamasthu sa mE bhakthO gurubhakthOthamOththamaha: ||

sruthi:-
AchAryAnmA pramadha:! AchAryAya priyam dhanamAhruthya |

gurOrgurutharam nAsthi gurOranyanna bhAvayEth |
gurOrvArththAscha kathayEdh gurOrnAma sadhAjapEth ||

archanIyascha vandhyascha kIrthanIyascha sarvadhA |
dhyAyEjjapEnnamEdh bhakthyA bhajEthabyarchayEnmudhA ||

upAyOpEya bhAvEna thamEva sarNam vrajEth |
ithi sarvEshU vEdhEshU sarvasdAsthrEshU sammatham ||

yEvam dhvayOpadhEshtAram bhAvayEdh bhudhdhimAndhiyA |
ichchAprakruthyanuguNair upachAraisthathOchithai: ||

bhajannavahithaschAsya hithamAvEdhayEdhra:  |
kurvItha paramAm bhakthim gurau thathpriyavathsala: ||

thadhanishtAvasAdhI cha thannAmaguNaharshitha: |
sAnthOnasUyu: shradhdhAvAn gurvarthAdhyAthmavruthika: ||

suchi: priyahithO dhAntha: sishyassOparathassudhi: |
na vairAgyAthparO lAbhO na bOdhAdhaparam sUkam |
na gurOraparasthrAthA na samsArAth parO ripu: ||

Translator’s note: Since adiyen’s samskritham knowledge is limited, adiyen is just translating the pramANams which are commonly referred and explained.


Summary and some salient points from AchArya vaibhavam section:

• We have very little time in our life but there are so many hurdles while trying to learn true knowledge about the self. We should be like a swan which separates milk from water and just consumes the milk.
• sAsthram is an ocean filled with valuable gems – but it also contains unwanted weeds, misleading entities, etc. The most valuable gem is thirumanthram and its meanings that are hidden in sAsthram. True seeker of self should focus on the thirumanthram and its meanings and ignore the sections which are less important.
• That knowledge which leads to mOksham is true knowledge and any other knowledge that is just useful for bodily comforts are useless.
• Understanding the essence of sAsthram ourselves by going through various pramANams is very difficult and challenging. Hearing the essence from a learned scholar and leading our life based on those instructions is very easy to do.
• The whole universe is under the control of bhagavAn, bhagavAn mercifully allows him to be controlled by thirumanthram and thirumanthram is at the disposal of an AchAryan – thus the AchAryan is the same as bhagavAn himself.
• Everyone should approach an AchArya since both the abominable sinner kshathrabandhu and the pious puNdarikascha were liberated by AchAryas.
• AchArya is bhagavAn srIhari himself. Unlike bhagavAn who stays in the temple on his own will without any movement, AchArya is walking God. Thus, one should have complete faith on the AchArya.
• bhagavAn srIman nArAyaNan himself accepts a human form as AchArya to uplift the people of entire universe out of his divine mercy. When he appears as AchArya he holds the sAsthram in his hands (while he appears as himself (srI rAma, krishNa, etc) he holds asthram (weapons) in his hands). Thus, ones who are fearful of samsAram should have total devotion towards their AchAryan.
• An animal, human or bird, once taken shelter of a vaishNava, they are sure to attain the divine universe of srI mahAvishNu (paramapadham).
• Child, deaf, dumb, blind, lame, etc., when taken shelter of a true AchArya, they are sure to reach the ultimate destination of paramapadham.
• Even plants and trees when becoming the target of a vaishNava’s katAksham (merciful vision) or touch, they are guaranteed to get mOksham – what to speak of humans? (they are sure to be relieved from samsAram).
• “gu” indicates ignorance, “ru” indicates the removal of such. Thus guru means one who removes our ignorance.
• AchArya means one who learns the sAsthram fully, explains them firmly to others  and himself practises it properly.
• and many more pramANams are present.