Aarthi Prabhandham: Brief Introduction

Arthi Prabandham: brief information

Dr.G.Mohana Charyulu,

Associate Professor, Dept. of English,

KL University, A.P. India

Arthi Prabandham was Manavala Mamunigal’s frolic hymn before he attained Acharyan thiruvadi( an abode of bliss at the lotus of acharya). He instigates this prabandham solely for prapannas, who, when caught in the predicament of samsaric difficulty, find themselves unsuitable for performing complete surrender or sharanagathi. By projecting himself as a jivatma caught in the web of samsaric afflictions, Mamunigal, through this prabandham, immediately smack a chord with the samsaris. He stipulates to them the secret that will help them separate all connections with samsara and accomplish an everlasting place in paramapadham.

The relationship between jivas and emperuman continues from time immemorial. It is for the jivas to realize the everlasting continuity of this relationship with the Supreme Self. During Pancha Samskaram, the jiva gets to know of the nature of this relationship in the form of Thirumanthira upadhesam from one’s immediate Acharyan. However, the theoretical knowledge of this relationship alone doesn’t suffice to gain the candidacy required for performing sharanagathi. The samsaric pulls, which are a result of our previous karma, can at some times be too strong for us to condition and discipline our mind to practically realize the truth learnt through upadhesam. It is here that we need the grace of our Acharyan to cross the river of samsara.

All through Arthi Prabandham, Manavala Mamunigal appeals to the infinite grace of Ramanuja to deliver him from samsara. But why did Mamunigal appeal to Ramanuja instead of seeking the grace of Namperumal or his immediate Acharya Thiruvaimozhippillai? Mamunigal himself answers this question in two of his verses in this prabandham. In order to receive the grace of Namperumal, one needs to obtain the qualifications required of a spiritual seeker. On the other hand, Ramanuja, as a sincere father and a care-taking mother will be tolerant of our inadequacies for we are ultimately his sambandhis. Hence, access to his grace, by means of meditating upon him, and by chanting his holy names in the form of Ramanuja Noottandhaadhi (also called Prapanna Gayathri), is the means that will elevate us to the Lord’s divine abode, Paramapadham.

In addition to driving home the importance of singing the holy names of Ramanuja, Mamunigal also makes passing references to the following topics in this prabandham:

1)   He illustrates at length, the pit stops the soul encounters, as it takes the archirathi route to end the repeated cycles of birth and death;

2)   He eulogizes the scholarly might of Ramanuja that expected the supremacy of Vishishtadvaita Vedanta by defeating the Advaitins, Buddhists, Jains and the preceptors of other religions;

3)   He delves on what constitutes Srivaishnava Lakshanam by emphasizing the need to do service to the devotees of Namperumal and Ramanuja. He also summits out the need to circumvent the company of the non-believers in Ramanuja Sampradayam.