SrI Thirukkudanthai Desikan’s
Desika Sahasra Naamam
Thathva Muktha Kalaapam
Naamas 206
206––440
Annotated Commentary in English By:
Oppiliappan Koil
SrI VaradAchAri SaThakopan
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CONTENTS
TITLE NAAMAS PAGE
Introduction 1
Jata Dravyam 206-250 5
Jeevaathma 251-291
Iswaran 292-325
Buddhi 326-393
Adhravyam 394-440
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SRI THIRUKKUDANTHAI DESIKAN’S
SRI DESIKA SAHASRA NAAMAMS RELATED TO
THATHVA MUKTHA KALAAPAM
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“Porramaraiyal adorning muktha kalapam”
The Tatthva Muktha Kalaapam (TMK) is one of the four magnificent philosophical
gems of Swamy Desikan. The other three are Satha DhUshaNi, NyAya Parisuddhi and
NyAya SiddhAnjana. TMK is categorized as a PrakaraNa grantham, a manual or
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independent treatise to present and defend VisishtAdhvaithic doctrines and to evaluate
critically the deficiencies in the rival philosophical systems.
While Satha DhUshaNi confined itself to the criticism of Advaitham alone, TMK went
farther and provided a comprehensive evaluation of the metaphysical doctrines
(Thathvaas) of significant rival schools of thought. With the sure footedness of a Master
gymnast, Swamy Desikan created TMK in the form of 500 verses in the majestic
Sragdhara meter to house his dialectical arguments in poetry.
The Taarkika Simham (the Lion among the Logicians) combined his extraordinary
poetic skills with those of his dialectic skills to bless us with 500 verses brimming with
such elegance about the serious topics of philosophy. No body has ever dared to
achieve this extraordinary feat.
Regarding his scope of coverage in TMK, Swamy Desikan paraphrases the statement of
Sage VyAsa about Mahaa Bhaaratham and describes: “what is not considered here
(TMK) can not be found elsewhere”. Swamy Desikan is referring to the topics on
Philosophy here.
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Regarding the name selected by Swamy Desikan for this PrakaraNa grantham, he was
inspired by the passage in VishNu PurANam, which refers to the Tatthvams as
ornaments of the Lord. Swamy Desikan, a long term resident of Srirangam at the time
of creating this Sri Sookthi decided to name this grantham as “Pearl (mukta) ornament
(KalApa) of metaphysical doctrines (Tathvaas)”. Swamy Desikan, who had offered
MummaNikkOvai (three strands of Pearls); a Tamizh Prabhandham as a garland to Sri
HemAbhjavalli ThAyAr of Thiru Ayindhai decided to offer a Five strand Pearl
ornament to Lord RanganAtha this time.
The five pearl strands are the five major parts of TMK: (1) dhravya (substance), (2)
Jeeva (Individual Soul), (3) Iswara (God), (4) Buddhi (Knowledge) and (5) adhRavya
(non-substance). TMK is a treasured bhUshaNam (AabharaNam) of Lord
RanganAtha, which He adorns with great joy.
The rival schools of philosophy examined by Swamy Desikan in TMK to establish the
soundness of VisishtAdhvaitham and to expose the deficiencies of Para Mathams are:
NyAya and VaisEshika, Saankya and Yoga, Poorva Mimaamsa, VedAntha (BHAskara,
Yaadhava PrakAsa and Sankara), the four schools of Buddhism, Jainism and
ChArvAkam. No wonder Swamy Desikan said in TMK: “yannAsmin kvApi
naitath” (What is not considered here can not be found elsewhere).
Swamy Desikan blessed us with a commentary for TMK to elucidate the fine points
taken up in TMK. The name given by Swamy Desikan to this commentary is SarvArTa
Siddhi. Dr. V.N. SeshadhriyAcchAr Swamy of Oppiliappan Sannidhi has submitted his
Doctoral Thesis on SarvArTa Siddhi in English at Annamalai University. SarvArTa
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Siddhi is a testament to the wide ranging knowledge of Swamy Desikan on all the
Indian Philosophical Systems. Abhinava Desika UtthamUr Swamy has blessed us with
a glossary named “alabhya laabha:”, which covers both TMK and SarvArTa Siddhi.
Dr.S.M.S. Chari has published in 1988 a scholarly treatise named “VisishtAdhvaitha
VedAntha”, which is a study based on Swamy Desikan's Tatthva Muktha Kalaapa.
adiyEn has benefited greatly from this monograph in English and will touch base with
it.
The main purpose of the e-book on Tatthva Muktha Kalaapam is to connect the
content with the 200 plus Swamy Desika Sahasra Naamams bequeathed to us by the
Founder of the Muni Thraya SamprahAyam, Thirukkudanthai Desikan. adiyEn will
attempt to focus on the individual nAmAs dealing with TMK following closely the
scholarly commentary of NavalpAkkam Dr. VasudEvAcchAr Swamy. The subject
matter is tough and would need a lot of familiarity with Philosophical terms and
Jn~Anam on tarkam. adiyEn is not blessed with such Jn~Anam but adiyEn will try to
summarize the highlights of the elucidations in an easy to understand manner.
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“Veeraraghavan adorns muktham in the Crown”
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Thirukkudanthai Andavan has constructed 235 Sahasra NaamAs to cover the doctrines
elaborated in Tatthva Muktha Kalaapam and SarvArTa Siddhi (NaamAs 206-440).
There are five items that are covered thru these 235 NaamAs:
1) JaDa dhravyam (NaamAs 206-250)
2) JeevAthmaa (NaamAs 251-291)
3)Iswaran (NaamAs 292-325)
4)Buddhi (NaamAs 326-393)
5)adhravyam (NaamAs 394-440).
Here is a brief Naama by Naama commentary based on the exhaustive coverage by
Dr.Navalpakkam Vaasudevacchar Swamy and Dr.S.M.S. Chari. Tatthva Muktha
KalApam is not an easy one to browse/rush through. The need for Saasthra Jn~Anam
to understand the individual slOkams of Tatthva Muktha KalApam can be understood
from a sampler slOkam (57th slOkam) covered currently by Sri KaaNiyampAkkam
DEvanAthAcchAr Swamy in the Avyaya Iypaasi issue of Sri Nrusimha Priya:
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bhAshyE bhAsvath prabhAdhou prathihathi-BahuLee-bhAvapoorvam yadhuktham
tEna srOtha: samAdhim paramathanayatha: prAhurEkE prabhAyAam
vasthunyastE vikalpE sphuDavigaDanayO: vakthurApthasya vaachO:
tAthparyam tarkamAnAnuguNam adhiguNai: chinthyam anthEvasadhbhi:
In the earlier slOkam (56th), Swamy Desikan dealt with the relationship between the lit
dheepam and its lustre (Prabhaa) associated with it. He pointed out that the lustre is a
guNam of the dheepam. The oLi (PrabhA/lustre) is a dhravyam (substance) and it
never is disassociated from the dheepam and hence it can be recognized as a guNam of
the dheepam. It was made clear that the dheepam has to be conceived always with the
prabhaa.
In the 57th slOkam, Swamy examines whether the avayavams of the Prabhaa spread
out (ViSeerNaa:). All of the subtle points about response to this query are housed in the
form of a poem in the sragdharaa metre chosen for this Sri Sookthi. It is mind boggling
in this context to think of the multifaceted genius of Swamy Desikan.
In the 57th slOkam, Swamy Desikan reminds the intelligent sishyAs about the need for
using PramANams and tarkams to arrive at answers for resolving concepts that collide
with each other (paraspara Viruddham). Swamy is a genius in analyzing conflicting
points of view and establishing the correct view based on ParamANams and Tarkam.
He suggests this firm route to his sishyas in upadEsam form: “Vasthuni vikalpE
asththE sathi, Aapthasya vakthu:, sphuDa vigaDanayO: VaachO: tarkamAnuguNam
tAthparyam --chinthyam”.
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Swamy points out that there is no room for conflict in the case of Siddha Vasthus.
When one comes across mutually contradictory statements, tarkam and PramANam
based approach should be taken to settle the issues fairly.
The gentle firmness of a skilled diplomat engaged in conflict resolution is seen here.
Now, let us move on to the summary of Thirukkudanthai Desikan on the upadEsams
of Swamy Desikan in the Sri Sookthi of Tatthva Mukthaa Kalaapam:
ALL NAAMAS ARE PRECEDED BY PRANAVAM
NAAMAS RELATING TO JATADRAVYAM - 206 TO 250
206 ÔVyaÔVyiÉda tÄ‘][aei´ ivc][ay nm>
dravya adravya bhidA tattat lakshanOkti vichakshaNaaya nama:
(Meaning): Salutations to the AchAryan who was skillful to describe the two major
categories of the Tatthvams/PathArTams and their subdivisions. The two major
categories of the Tathvams are: Dhravyam and adhravyam. Dhravyam is the
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PathArTam serving as the substratum for modification (avasthAvathi). A lump of clay
is a dhravyam. It can exist as a pot or as broken pieces or as the pulverized entity of
that pot. Clay however is the dhravyam (substratum) behind, which can undergo
changes as a pot or shards or powder.
adhravyam is a non-substance, “an attribute which can not be the basis for another
Quality”. adhravyam can not serve as the substratum of anything else /anupAdAna)
although it is necessarily dependent on dhravya.
Swamy Desikan lists six dhravyAs: Prakruthi (cosmic matter), Kaala (Time), Iswara
(God), Jivaa (individual Soul), Jn~Ana (knowledge) and nitya vibhUthi (transcendental
spiritual matter).
The six dhravyAs themselves have two categories: JaDam (Material) and ajaDam (non-
material). Prakruthi and Kaala belong to JaDa. The remaining four are ajaDams or
non-material (spiritual) substances. Jadam shines thru other Jn~Anam, where as
ajaDam is self-luminous (Svayam JyOthi). Among these non-material (spiritual)
substances, Iswara and Jivaa are PraTyak (self-revealed or shines on its own) and
Jn~Anam and Nithya VibhUthi are Paraak (revelation for another such as Jn~Ana for
Jeevan).
There are thus 6 dhravyAs and ten adhravyAs. Together they constitute 16 TatthvAs.
The ten adhravyAs are: the three guNAs (Sattva, Rajas and Tamas); the five qualities of
the pancha bhUthAs (gross elements): sabdha (sound), sparsa (touch or tactile), roopa
(color), rasa (taste) and gandha (odour). The remaining two of the ten adhhravyAs are:
sakthi (potency) and samyOga (conjunction).
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SlOkams 6-7 of Tathva Muktha Kalaapam cover these divisions of Tatthvams and their
lakshaNams.
207 ÇEkaLyanekisÏaNt inrasas<ÉvaNtkay nm>
traikAlyAnEka siddhanta nirAsAsambhavAntakAya nama:
(Based on SlOkam 5)
(Meaning): Salutations to the AchAryan, who showed the way to refute many
vipareetha siddhanthams of the present, past and future thru a clear understanding of
the Tattvams and thereby avoiding the delusions caused by Para Matha siddhAnthams.
Swamy Desikan declares right at the beginning of Tatthva Muktha Kalaapam that he
will win in the debates with Para Matha Vaadhis and establish the correctness of our
Matham (VisishtAdhvaitham) thru this approach.
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208 êpaidpÂkaxaraÉav vadinraskay nm>
rUpAdi panchakAdhAra abhAva vAda nirAsakAya nama:
(Based on SlOkam 8)
(Meaning): Roopam (color), rasam (taste), Gandham (fragrance), sparsam and
Sabdham are guNams. Their AadhArams are dhravyams. For instance, Flower is a
dhravyam; it has roopam and rasam. This is our Matham. BhouddhAs deny that the
above five have no aadhAram. Swamy Desikan rejected these views and defended the
division of PathArTams into two categories: dhravyam and adhravyam.
209 xmRximRTvaplap vadXvaNtidvakray nm>
dharmadharmitva apalApa vada dhvAnta divAkarAya nama:
(Based on SlOkam 9)
(Meaning): dharma is the attribute; dharmi is the substantive aspect of an entity or
substratum for that attribute. A pot is the Dharmi and the roopam et al, the attributes of
that pot are its dharma. We have to understand the distinctions between dharma and
dharmi. The sambhandham between dharma and dharmi is dharma-dharmI bhAvam.
In Brahma Soothrams, Brahmam, the dharmi is established thru dharma. This is our
Matham. Bhouddha Matham does not accept dharma-dharmi bhAvam.
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210 p&iwVyaidctu&ÔRVymaÇp]ivÉeidÇe nm>
pruthivyAdi chaturdravya mAtrapaksha vibhEditrE nama:
(Based on SlOkam 11)
(Meaning): Here Swamy Desikan refutes the Naasthika Matham of ChArvAkam, which
accepts only 4 dhravyams that can be perceived such as PruTvee, Jalam, tEjas (agni)
and Vaayu. They do not accept other dhravyams, which are not comprehended directly
by the senses (prathyaksham). For them AakAsam, AathmA, Kaalam beyond direct
perception level are not acceptable as dhravyams. Swamy states that sabdha (Veda)
pramANam has to be used in determining the list of dhravyams and can not dismiss
some because they are not Prathyaksham. For instance, there is a pot in a dark room
that one can not see. The pot can not be declared as nonexistent because one can not
see it in the dark room.
211 iÇgu[eiNÔy vgaRnXy] Éavivxaykay nm>
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triguNEndriya vargAnadhyaksha bhAvavidhAyakAya nama:
(Based on slOkam 11)
(Meaning): Salutations to the AchAryan, who established that Prakruthi and Indhriya
vargams will not become prathyaksham and they can not be seen or felt. Prakruthi is a
dhravyam with three guNams. It is the moola kaaraNam for achEtanams. Prakruthi,
which is KaaraNam becomes kaaryam, when it becomes PruTvee (earth). During its
kaaryam stage, the KaaraNam (Prakruthi) becomes prathyaksham and can not be seen
in its kaaraNam state. Same with the assembly of indhriyams.
212 àk«TyagmgMyTv jgNmUlTv baexkay nm>
prakrutyAgama gamyatva jaganmoolatva bOdhakAya nama:
(Based on SlOkam 11)
(Meaning): Salutations to the AchAryan, who instructed us that Prakruthi can only be
comprehended thru the VedAs and is the root cause for the world of insentients (Moola
KaaraNams for achEtanams). It can not be understood by Prathyaksham or by
anumAnam (as per Saankya Matham).
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213 ctuiv¡zits<Oyak tÅvs&iòàkarivde nm>
chaturvimsati sankhyAka tattva srushTi prakAra vidE nama:
(Meaning): Salutations to the AchAryan, who was knowledgeable about the order of
creation of the 24 tatthvams from Prakruthi to Mahath to ahankAram and so on.
214 sa<OyaidhEtukaeÚIt s&iòtÏetu baxkay nm>
sAnkhyAdi haitukOnnIta srushTitaddhEtu bAdhakAya nama:
(Based on SlOkam 16)
(Meaning): Vedam states that ParamAthma as indweller of KaaraNams and Kaaryams.
Saankhya matham rejects Veda PramANam and engage in hEthu vaadham (why is this
and why is that etc). This matham believes erroneously that ParamAthmA is not
needed by achEtanam (KaaraNam) for engagement in action (pravrutthi kaaryams).
Swamy Desikan rejected this view with Veda PramANams.
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215 AòIkr[ pÂIk«it iÇv&Tkr[ Éedivde nm>
ashTikaraNa panchIkruti trivrutkaraNa bhEda vidE nama:
(Based on slOkam 17)
(Meaning): Salutations to the AchAryan, who explained the reasoning behind the
different approaches to explain creation as a 3 fold (Vedic view), Five fold view
(PancheekaraNam), seven fold view (saptheekaraNam) or the 8 fold view
(ashteekaraNam).
Iswaran creates first panchabhUthams (PruTvee, jalam, Vaayu, AakAsam and Agni)
and then He begins with Vyashti Srushti. He divides each bhUtham into two and splits
that one half next into four parts and mixes each of the one eighth of four bhUthams
with one half of the remaining BhUtham to achieve PancheekaraNam or five fold
assembly. All what we know arises from such deliberate admixtures. For instance, one
half of AakAsam blended with the one eighth of all the other four makes a whole and
unique entity (aNDams).
Thrivrutthi KaraNam cited by Vedam involves the mixing of three bhUthams:Prithvee,
Jalam and tEjas. In Sri BhAshyam, AchArya RaamAnuja has instructed us the
Thrivrutthi karaNam stands really for PancheekaraNam. He suggested that Vaayu and
AakAsam, which are not visible to us were left out for easier grasp on Srushti. When
you add Mahath and AhankAram, their admixture makes Srushti 7 fold. When
8
Prakruthi is added, the permutations and combinations become 8 fold
(ashteekaraNam).
216 ANyavyiv¹e (ANTyavyiv¹e) nm>
anyAvayavighnE (antyAvayavighnE) nama:
217 ANyUnanuTk«òpirma[ivde nm>
anyoonAnutkrushTa parimaaNavidE nama:
218 zrIraeTpÅyupadanEk ÉUtaei´ inraskay nm>
sarIra utpatti upAdAnaika bhUtOkti nirAsakAya nama:
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219 sa<OysTkayRvad¹ay nm>
sAnkya satkArya vAdaghnAya nama:
220 ]i[kTvmtaNtkay nm>
kshaNikatva matAntakAya nama:
221 ][aepaixivze;}ay nm>
kshaNa upAdhi vishEjn~Aya nama:
222 hetusaXyaplap¹e nm>
hEthu sAdhyApalApaghnE nama:
223 àits<Oyaàits<Oya inraexmt ÉÃkay nm>
pratisankhyA apratisankhyA nirOdhamata bhanjakAya nama:
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224 A]ÉUt ivkarTv saxkàa[naznay nm>
aksha bhUta vikAratva sAdhaka praaNanAsanAya nama:
225 ÉUteiNÔyaPyaykTv inxaRr[ ivc][ay nm>
bhUtEndriyApyAyakatva nirdhAraNa vichakshaNaaya nama:
226 ANt>kr[ nanaTvinraskay nm>
anta:karaNa nAnAtva nirAsakAya nama:
227 baýa]EKyinraskay nm>
bAhyAkshaikya nirAsakAya nama:
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228 mnaeVyaipTv inTyTv¹e nm>
manOvyApitva nityatvaghnE nama:
229 #iNÔya[uTvveidÇe nm>
indriya aNutva vEditrE nama:
230 c;uraid àaPykair Éavsaxndi][ay nm>
chakshurAdi prApyakAri bhAvasAdhana dakshiNaaya nama:
231 zBddezgt ïaeÇkayRk«Åv AiÉxaykay nm>
sabdadEsagata srOtra kAryakruttva abhidhAyakAya nama:
232 Svdezagtv&iÄXvin¢aih ïaeÇ baxkay nm>
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svadEsAgatavrutti dhvanigrAhi srOtra bAdhakAya nama:
233 VyaemaXy]Tvin[eRÇe nm>
vyOmAdhyakshatva nirNEtrE nama:
234 oavkazaepkarivde nm>
khAvakAsOpakAra vidE nama:
235 Aakazavr[aÉav maÇÉav ivÉÃkay nm>
aakAsa aavaraNaa bhAvamAtra bhAva vibhanjakAya nama:
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236 AakazinTyTv ivÉuÉav vad ivnazkay nm>
aakAsa nityatva vibhubhAva vAda vinAsakAya nama:
237 idGvStusaxkCDeidne nm>
digvastu sAdhakacchEdinE nama:
238 idGVyaemaÉedsaxkay nm>
digvyOmAbhEda sAdhakAya nama:
239 rajsaOymhÄÅvaiÉÚ àa[ivÉÃnay nm>
rAjasAkhyamahattattvAbhinna prANa vibhanjanAya nama:
240 àa[a]TvavayuÉav vadinûvdi][ay nm>
praaNakshatva avAyubhAva vAda nihnava dakshiNaaya nama:
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241 vEñanr Svêpaidinêp[ ivc][ay nm>
vaisvAnara svarUpAdi nirUpaNa vichakshaNaaya nama:
242 tejaexmRàÉatejae Éavsaxn tTpray nm>
tEjOdharmaprabhA tEjObhAva sAdhana tatparAya nama:
243 àÉadIpa* AvyvÉav AÉav ivxaykay nm>
prabhAdeepAdya avayava bhAva abhAva vidhAyakAya nama:
244 àÉaiv;y Éa:yaei´ ivraexzmn]may nm>
prabhAvishaya bhAshyOkti virOda samanakshamAya nama:
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245 iSwraiSwraOy tejaeivÉag}an ivc][ay nm>
sthira asthirAkhya tEjOvibhAgajn~Ana vichakshaNaaya nama:
246 tm Aalaek ivrhTva Éavp&iwvITvivde nm>
tama aalOka virahatvAbhAva pruthiveetva vidE nama:
247 p&WvIptnp&WvIæm[vad ivnazkay nm>
pruthvIpatana pruthvIbhramaNa vAda vinAsakAya nama:
248 kalSvêpoezaNy Éav}anxurNxray nm>
kAlasvarUpakhEsAnya bhAva jn~Ana dhurandharAya nama:
249 kalanuTpÅy]gMy ÉavSwapntTpray nm>
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kAlAn utpattyakshagamya bhAva sthApana tatparAya nama:
250 kal svRVyapkTv svRsaxktaiàyay nm>
kAla sarvavyApakatva sarva sAdhakatApriyAya nama:
NAAMAS RELATING TO JEEVARASAM - 251 TO 291
TO BE CONTINUED….
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