SRI MADHWA VIJAYA - CHATURTHAHA SARGAHA SHLOKAS 44 TO 46

(In these stanzas, Sri Poornaprajna fires the first salvo against mysticism by taking up a popular book of Advait philosophy titled Ishta Siddhi. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

GurOho swashiShyam chaturam chikeerShataha prachOdanAchChrOtumihOpachakramE|

AThEShTasidDhishccHala jAtivAriDhirnirAdarENApi mahAtmanA(a)munA||44||

SUMMARY: Again, although he was unwilling, Sri Poornaprajna started listening to the analyses of “IShTasidDhi”, a compilation of unscrupulous thoughts, illogical jargons and a heap of inconsequential arguments; he did it at the behest of his Master/Guru Sri Achyutaprekasha, who wanted to make his disciple a better informed person.

This refers to an instance where Achyutapreksha spoke at length about “Ishtasiddhi” a commentary on one of the tenets of Advait philosophy, which Sri Achyutapreksha wantonly chose to do to make Sri Poornaprajna conversant with that theosophy.

“Ishtasiddhi” was authored by saint Vimuktatma, a disciple of Sri AvyayAtma in about 950 A.D. It is a very popular book consisting of eight cantos. It dwells on the basic principles and propositions of Advait philosophy like Jaganmithya or the entire universe is fake or false.  

TadAdyapadyasThamavadyamanDalam yadA(a)vadat ShODashakadwayAtmakam|

UparyapAstam taditi bruvatyasau gurau tamUchE praNigadyatAmiti||45||

SUMMARY: When Sri Poornaprajna contended that in the very first stanza of that book Ishtasiddhi there were 32 erros, Sri Achyutapreksha tried to evade by telling that the explanation for them is given in the latter part of this book; but, Sri Poornaprajna insisted that the explanation should be explained instantly.

By stating that there were thirty-two mistakes in the first stanza of that most popular work ov saint Vimuktatma, Sri Poornaprajna that the book had an inauspicious, unholy and highly controvertial beginning.

BhavatpravaktratwasamarThatA na mE sakOpamitTham bruavati vrateeshwarE|

Apeeha mAyAsamayE paTau nruNAm baBhUva taddUShaNasamshayAnkuraha||46||

SUMMARY: When Achyutapreksha, who had a comprehensive and commendable command over the mystic theory, angrily told Sri Poornaprajna “I am not capable of teaching you”, an apprehension gripped the minds of people because of the criticism that the book had attracted.

What is stated in this stanza is that Sri Achyutapreksha was an established scholar in Mayavada or mystic theosophy or Advait philosophy and when he was rendered speechless by Sri Poornaprajna, the people smelt or felt that there something really wrong with that school of thought.

This incident demonstrates that even Sri Poornaprajna wanted to infuse confusion in the minds of people about Maya Vada and that is why he intentionally chose Ishtasiddhi for discussion. The tiny bud of suspicion about Maya Vada that sprouted on that occasion later grew into a giant tree to root out the mysticism.