INTRODUCTION
Time was when immediately after samaasrayanam, disciples underwent kalakshepam to learn the esoteric purports of the mantras they had been fortunate enough to receive from the Acharya. This led them, in turn, to the realisation of mundane pleasures being puerile and ephemeral and of the inalienable relationship between us and Emperuman, eventually leading them to surrender at His lotus feet to escape from the interminable cycle of births and deaths. However, like all time-honoured institutions, those undergoing kalakshepam too are a vanishing breed.
It was to address this problem of people lacking authentic spiritual guidance that HH Injimedu Srimad Azhagiyasingar established Sri Nrisimhapriya, a journal to disseminate sampradayic wisdom and to serve as a bridge between Sri Ahobila Matham and its disciples. In his footsteps and realising prophetically the need for such wisdom to be conveyed in a language that many of our youth have come to embrace due to constraints of education and employment, HH Villivalam Srimad Azhagiyasingar founded the English version of the journal.
While the journal is no substitute for kalakshepam and is not intended as such, it aims to open the eyes of Srivaishnavas to the great treasure that awaits them in the form of sampradayic lore and to inculcate in them the taste for learning the same comprehensively through traditional methods. It is in this mission that Sri Nrisimhapriya has been engaged right from inception. The journal, by design, carries articles explaining both the precepts and practice of Visishtadvaitic tenets, authored mostly by those who have traditionally learned these at the feet of sampradayic scholars.
One such article is Visishtadvaita for You and Me, which we have been serialising since 2004. The author, Sri Mukundan Devarajan, has been the recipient of the abundant grace of Villivalam Srimad Azhagiyasingar and Prakrutam Srimad Azhagiyasingar and learned traditionally from the renowned Goshtipuram Sri U.Ve. Ramanujacharya Swami. In the last decade, he has dwelt in detail on the nuts and bolts, so to say, of Prapatti, based on Srimad Rahasya Traya Saara, Nikshepa Raksha and Virodha Parihaara of Swami Desikan, apart from Ukti Nishtaabharanam of Injimedu Srimad Azhagiyasingar. His writing is authentic and lucid, aimed at educating and informing even the lay reader, as the article's title would suggest.
The articles are now being brought out in book form, to enable convenient and repeated perusal, under the apt title 'Sarangati: The Science of Surrender'. This is another publication of Sri Nrisimhapriya Charitable Trust, which has brought readers many valuable works of lasting value. Sri Mukundan has generously earmarked the sale proceeds of this book as a contribution to the Trust.
It is gratifying that the book is being released during the Saptati celebrations of Prakrutam Srimad Azhagiyasingar HH Srivan Satakopa Sri Ranganatha Yatindra Mahadesikan, who has been gracious enough to bless this work with a Srimukham.
I pray to Sri Malolan and Srimad Azhagiyasingar to shower all that is auspicious on the author and the readers too.
PREFACE
In 2004, the editors of Sri Nrisimha Priya's English edition had asked Adiyen to write a series that would explain the tenets of Sri Ramanuja Darsanam, and be a stepping stone to more rigorous study at the feet of an Acharya. Adiyen sought the anugraham of HH Villivalam Srimad Azhagiyasingar. Due to his immeasurable vaatsalyam, HH gave his wholehearted blessing to the endeavour and left Adiyen with a succinct instruction. It was to ensure that whatever is written is fully in accordance with the views and works of Purvacharyas.
The series 'Visishtadvaita for You and Me', started with the basic tenets of Vedantic thought and the principles of the grand edifice of Sri Ramanuja's philosophy. The discussion moved towards the fundamental purpose of all Vedantic knowledge: that of seeking eternal service of the Lord; and Sarangati, the most efficient means to achieve it. The series focused on providing a robust understanding of Saranagati and its nuances as set out by Swami Sri Desikan in his magnum opus Srimad Rahasya Traya Saara and allied texts including Swami's Rahasya Granthas and Nikshepa Raksha, along with Injimedu Srimad Azhagiyasingar's exquisite treatise the Ukti Nishtaabharanam. This monograph is a compilation of the series published in Sri Nrisimha Priya.
Throughout the process of writing the series, Srimad Azhagiyasingar's instruction has been Adiyen's guiding principle. The words of Mahavidwan Sri U.Ve. Goshtipuram Ramanujacharya Swami, at whose feet Adiyen had the good fortune of undergoing kalakshepams, always encouraging questions and critical thinking while being abjectly faithful to our Siddhanta, have also been a constant guide. In keeping with this, Adiyen has attempted to present potential questions of readers, balanced by answers provided in the scriptures, with the hope to spark interest in serious study at the feet of an Acharya.
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