- Saiva Sarabam M.Pattamuthu
M.Sc., B.T.
What is Bashyam? It is a vivid
and elaborate exposition of one's own doctrine by
logically refuting other doctrines with relevant
reasons, arguments and illustrations. The very
ancient Mahabashyam is the one written by Patanjali
Munivar on the fourteen Mahesware Sutras explained
by Sage Panini and elaborated by Vararusiar through
his Varthigam.
Then came the Sabara
Bashyam of Sage Sabara. This rose to explain the
Poorva Meemamsai of Jamini. Then followed
Neelakanta Baashyam, Sankara Bashyam, Ramanuja
Bashyam, Anantha Theertha Bashyam. All of them
tried to underline the central theme of Viyasa
Maharishi's Brahma sutras in their own way.
While Patanjali's
Bashyam is a commentary on grammar only, Sabara
Bashyam refers to the Karma Kaandam of Vedas alone.
Neelakanta, Sankara, Ramanuja and Anantha Theertha
Bashyams dwell upon the Gnana Kaandam of Vedas
only. All these Bashyams are in Sanskrit.
Is there any Bashyam
in Tamil? Is there any Tamil scholar to enrich Tamil
by bringing out a Mahabashyam? Yes, there arose a
Sun of SIVAGNANAM in the horizon of saivism to
present a Mahabashyam in Tamil. Our Sivagnana
Swamigal gave the Savites the great mahabashyam in
Tamil which is the Dravida Mahabashyam.
The twelve sutras of
Sivagnana Botham appearing in the Rourava Agama have
their root at the Holy Grace of Sri Kanda
Parameswara. Sri Meikanda Devar of
Thiruvennainallur translated these sutras of
aphorisms into Tamil and gave Varthigam or notes
explanatory to the sutras Based on these sutras and
varthigam of Sri Meikanda Devar, our Swamigal has
given a large commentary which is called Dravida
Mahabashyam. Just like the Patanjali's Mahabashyam,
this has Sutra-Varthiga-Bashyam formation. But
Dravida Mahabashyam is a great religious scripture
whereas Patanjal's Mahabashyam is a mere commentary
on sound only.
While the Bashyams of
Sri Neelakander, Sankarar Ramanujar and Ananda
Theerthar try to explain the philosophy of a certain
part of vedas only, our Dravida Mahabasayam deals
with 4 Vedas, 28 Sivagamas, 12 Thirumurais and 14
Siddhantha Sastras. This gives a clear picture of
our Supreme Saiva philosophy.
While the Sivagra
Bashyam of Sri Sivagra Yogi of Suryanarkoil Adheenam
explains the 12 aphorisms of Sivagnana Botham in
Sanskrit it has no Varthigam unlike Dravida
Mahabashyam having Varthigam.
Hence in all respects Dravida
Mahabashyam is the Supreme one in contrast with
other Bashyams. The Guru Parambarai from Sri Kanda
Parameswarar through Sri Nandi Devar to Sri Meikanda
Devar, Sutra - Varthigam Bashyam line of formation
and the comprehensive exposition of Saiva Philosophy
based on Vedas, Sivagamas, Thirumurais and Siddhanta
Sastrams add supremacy to Dravida Mahabashyam.
Tamil gets enriched by this Bashyam. Lovers of
Tamil too owe much to our Swamigal.
A careful study of
Dravida Mahabashyam through Guru will definitely
underline the truth that Sri Shiva gnana Swamigal is
the Guiding Star of Saivites.