A Legend

A LEGENDtc "A  LEGEND"

N.Ch. Sri Rama Iyengar

Transfer from active service to more active service in the twilight of life is indeed a rare gift I was endowed with. While the former gave me satisfaction of serving the three services in my humble way, the later humbled me so thoroughly, in that , I surrendered my heart and soul, mind and body at the lotus feet of my spiritual guru Shri Srirangam Nallan Chakravartula Raghunandhacharya of Warangal, a beacon light in the modern world. The position I am in appears to me symbolic of the evergreen life after this life. “ACHARYAH HARIHI SAAKSHAT” and hence the concept.

It is his boundless grace showered on me abundantly and extravagantly that picked me up for taking down dictation of his masterpiece Sri Vishnu Shasra Nama Bhashya for the last four years. Rigorous ‘train’ing for nearly five hours a day from Secunderabad to Warangal and in the company of bankers, doctors, teachers, and officials, a number of good people in good measure enriched my energy and experience. The publication was presented as an offering by the author firstly to Sri Ranganadha on the 2^nd December, 2002 at Sri Rangam, on 4^th December, 2002 to Swamy Varadaraja at Kanchi and at Tirumala on the 6^th December, 2002 to Lord Venkateswara. Watching the event with the entourage at each holy temple I felt elated. It is only Lord Rama who could make his sandals as much worthy as to adorn a throne or a blessed squirrel admired by generations forever and ever.

The incident that occurred at Kanchi in the context of an anecdote provoked me to share my feelings with my friends and hence this feature. Rajahamsa the Chief Adhyapaka at Varadaraja Temple came running to Raghunadhacharya Swami when he spotted him on the precincts, offered sanshtanga pranam, escorted us round the temple and performed offering of the book to the Lord and His Consort. In the afternoon Raghunadhacharya Swami with his followers was invited to his house. A shawl, new clothes etc. were offered on a silver plate to the Acharya and the entire family bowed down to him in reverence. The host did not leave the feet of his distinguished guest from Andhra Pradesh. He recited extempore many verses in Sanskrit and Tamil in praise of Rghunadhacharya and befitting the nature of a true Srivaishnava. They mean some thing to the effect ‘but for your generous gesture in accepting my invitation to visit my house I neither deserve this honour nor capable of affording this luxury even in my dream; I call it a day in my life; Lord Varadaraja answered my prayers this way. I conceive no other reason for this fortune’. This went on and on for quite some time. A scene almost unseen and unheard in the present day. I came to know later that Rajahamsa was the grandson of (Late) Padmavibhushan Prativadi Bhayankaram Annangaracharya of Kanchi, an established and acknowledged authority on Sanskrit literature and spiritual discourses in those times. He was said to be the uncrowned king among scholars of South India; and widely respected throughout the country.

Padmavibhushan Annangaracharya was sixty years old when Raghunadhacharya was still a student at Vedanta Vardhini Kalasala, Sitarambagh, Hyderabad  at the age of eighteen. Recognising the latent talent and many a fascinating facet in the bright and buoyant boy his teacher Shri Vedantacharya and Principal Shri Ramanujacharya took special interest and transformed him into a master and an authority on vedic and Sanskrit literature, sciptures and Tamil prabhandas of Alwars. They saw in him the future hope of Visishtadvaita. True to their expectations, Raghunadhacharya firmly believed in the rich heritage and tradition of visihtadvaita and vowed to preserve, protect and propagate the holy edicts ordained by Bhagavad Ramanuja through out his life and stood by his oath.

During this period a controversy arose which started as a small shower but ultimately turned out to be a big storm that shook the entire literary world and uprooted the tower of assumed authority in the field. Annagaracharya in his wisdom thought it fit to target a small time scholar for his alleged misinterpretation of the word “Madirekshana” from Kalidasa’s Sakuntalam. He chose to belittle the Pundit in public by shooting articles in leading magazines of the day highlighting the mistake and exposing the culprit. He put forward what according to him is correct as imparted by his illustrious Guru.

The height of arrogance of the supreme and the humiliation suffered by the unsuspecting less known scholar angered young Raghunadhachrya. He joined issue with the literary gaint and challenged him at his own game. Through the same magazines he condemned the contention of Annangaracharya. He quoted extensively from roots of the term, rules of grammar, derivation and usage by earlier poets.

Annangaracharya’s ego was hurt. He could not ignore the resistance to his writ. The opponent was far from an equal nay, negligible in stature. It is all the more impossible to digest. He preferred to nip it in the bud. With vengeance, he countered Raghunadhacharya’s submissions supplemented by choicest abuses. The young man in turn cut short and sharp every point of his adversary’s defense with incisive logic and stood his ground with confidence and robust optimism. The literary world was divided in support and against the rivals. Some threw weight with the majority for fear of antagonizing the great man and few others stood by Raghunadhacharya by compulsion of conscience and truth.

The heated exchange through press reached boiling point. Personalities involved in the controversy notwithstanding, the scholars wanted to know what is right.

A committee of experts presided over by poet laureate Mahamohopadhyaya K. S. Krishnamurty Sastry examined the argument of both sides, evaluated the evidence produced, documents quoted , authorities cited and finally gave their verdict that Raghunadhacharya is correct hundred percent. Few years later the title Kavi Sabdika Kesari was conferred on Raghunadhacharya. Mahamahopadhyaya and Satra Ratnakara followed.

Annangaracharya was crestfallen. He could not digest the ignominious defeat at the hands of a boy of eighteen, less than worse that of what he inflicted on the small-time scholar. He never forgot nor forgave Raghunandhacharya till he breathed his last.

Humility in victory is a great virtue with Raghunandhacharya. The very pink of modesty and civilized behaviour he is a treasure trove of spiritual knowledge and a scholar of scholars. He is a source of inspiration strength and blessing to his disciples. Mellifluous in speech, kind at heart, true to percept in practice he is an Acharya by letter and spirit of the word.

By dint of his spiritual knowledge and personal traits Raghunadhacharya captivated the heart of Rajahamsa the chief Adhyapaka at Kanchi. By example the Acharya taught him how to conquer hatred. The grandson of Annangaracharya bowed down in veneration to Raghunadhacharya and scored a point over his grandfather.