Yogavasishta or Gnanavasittam in Tamil

 Compositions which explain Tatthvartha have been written down the time in Tamil. Sanskrit words were used aptly and also suitable words created to enrich the philosophical vocabulary. Commentaries and original works in SriVaishnavaite sampradaya are a treasure house for such vocabulary. Nearly all the schools of thought have tried to bring out works big or small in Tamil. Saiva siddhanta sastras and the commentaries on Sivagnanabodham and Sivappirakasam are great instances of Tamil philosophical output. Along with these and not in any way less eloquent, is the great work called Gnanavasittam. Originally in Sanskrit Mahayogavaasishtam was an extensive work, composed as the teachings of Sage Vasishta to Sri Rama. The great work was condensed to Laghuyogavaasishta by SriKashmira Pandita. This condensation was done into Tamil verses 6000 by one Veerai Sri Alavandan Munivar, son of SriKaviraja Pandithar. There was one commentary in Sanskrit on Laghuyogavaasishta. It was translated into Tamil as Samusaratharani by SriNithyanandar in 1870. Referring various works in Sanskrit Sri Subbaiyya Gnanadesikendrar wrote a commentary called SriVeerasekaram. The verse composition in Tamil of 6000 verses, along with the commentaries Samusaratharani and SriVeerasekaram, all coming together adding to 1800 printed pages of small print in Tamil were brought out in 1928 by Chennai Anandabodhini Press.

It was one of the books fondly quoted by Bhagavan Sri Ramana. A verse which almost teaches verbatim Sri Ramana's upadesam is this one in Upasamappirakaranam, 12

அகம் அகம்என்று

அனைத்துயிரினிடத்தும் இருந்து

அனவரதம் உரைப்பதாகி

நிகழ் ஒளியாய்

ஆன்ம தத்துவமான சொரூபத்தை

நினைத்தல் செய்வாம்.

திகழ் இதயக் குகை உறையும்

தேவதையை விட்டு

அயலே தெய்வம் தேடேல்.

மிக அரிய கௌத்துவத்தை எறிந்து

சிறுமணி தேடும் வேட்கை போல் ஆம்.

Let us behold the nature of Atma Tattva

which is always internally present illuminating

and that which in every being

sounds forth as I, I ;

Leaving this shining deity

which resides always in our heart

and to search for any God outside

is like throwing away the rare gem of Kausthuba

and searching for some gemstone passionately.

You can see how a sophisticated language of philosophy was being wrought by savants in Tamil. While bringing out in 1928 the great book of 1800 pages, SriSubbaiyya Gnanadesikendra says about the commentary Samusaratharani, translation by SriNithyananda. That such a commentary was done some 60 years prior to 1928 and it was being handed down as 'hearing and studying tradition'. That means Vedanta taught and heard and studied by earnest people well before and well after the time of our concern. What a tradition of Vedantic thinking in Tamil!

Srirangam Mohanarangan

***