Sri Vaishnava books and its sources

[Anirudh]

Namaste

I came to know that many books/poems had been done by Sri Vaishnava Sages & Saints on Sri Vaishanavism. Where can I find information's on Sri Vaishnava books and place to purchase them.

Any link to this will be greatly appreciated.

[Indialover]

Are you explicit looking for books, Anirudh? You would not like works on the internet? There are so many.

Pranam

[Anirudh]

Are you explicit looking for books, Anirudh? You would not like works on the internet? There are so many.

Pranam

Namaste Indialover,

eBooks are fine, but I didn't get good books on Vishitadvaita (either I have English translation or some parts of the text). Even Sri Ramanuja's commentary on Srimad Bhagavad Gita is NOT available.

Earlier you had given me a link for Naalayira Divya Prabandam, it is a very good site.If by chance you have some good links similar to DravidaVeda website please share. I have seen sadagopan.org, it is a very good resource.

Thanks

[Viraja]

Sorry, not suggesting a publisher name, but I thought posting your query in the SriVaishnava Yahoo group 'SriRangaSri' might help.

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/SriRangaSri/conversations/messages

[Indialover]

Namaste Anirudh

since I am not an Indian and not a born Hindu I am not familiar with the subtleties of Vaishnava literature, I like any poetry … may be this website https://srivaishnavagranthams.wordpress.com is interesting for you - hope it is not the same I gave you last time. I found your post but without my answer.

Pranam

[Anirudh]

Namaste Viraja and Indialover

Thanks for your help and the links. Last two days I was not active. I am on a pilgrimage to Thirupathi, shall write back when I return


hope it is not the same I gave you last time.
You have provided a new link now. Earlier you had given me http://dravidaveda.org/

Best Wishes to every one

[Omkara]

Even Sri Ramanuja's commentary on Srimad Bhagavad Gita is NOT available.


It most certainly is www.srimatham.com/uploads/5/5/4/9/5549439/ramanuja_gita_bhashya.pdfI remember seeing two other translations online, will dig them up if you wish.

In any case, a few resources -

http://www.srimatham.com/our-publications.html

http://sadagopan.org/index.php/reference-list-of-ebooks

[Anirudh]

It most certainly is www.srimatham.com/uploads/5/5/4/9/5549439/ramanuja_gita_bhashya.pdfI remember seeing two other translations online, will dig them up if you wish.

In any case, a few resources -

http://www.srimatham.com/our-publications.html

http://sadagopan.org/index.php/reference-list-of-ebooks


Namaste Omkara

I know about this eBook and sadagopan web page, but it is not the original version rendered by Sri Raamanuja.

Thanks for your help. I lost your contact, can you PM m again,

Wish you a prosperous 2017

[Indialover]

Dear Anirudh,

I thought about what you could mean with DravidaVeda.

May be the works of Alvars and Nayanars?
Or the works of Ramanuja?

Thank you for your answer in easy words.

Pranam

[Anirudh]

Dear Anirudh,

I thought about what you could mean with DravidaVeda.

May be the works of Alvars and Nayanars?
Or the works of Ramanuja?

Thank you for your answer in easy words.

Pranam

Namaste India Lover
In 2015, you had given me the link to Divya Prabandam. Sri Vaishnavas (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Vaishnavism) consider Divya Prabandam as Dravida Veda or Fifth Veda.

I am copying wiki information for a detailed explanation. Do you understand Tamil? When you gave me the link in 2015, I had assumed that you can read Tamil and understand Sri Vaishnava philosophy.

Apologize, if I have misunderstood your post.




You can understand Guru Parampara (Teacher's Lineage) Parabrahman, Sriman Narayana (emberumaan)

Lakshmi (periya piraatti)

Visvaksena (senai mudaliyaar)

Nammalvar (kaari maaran sadagopan) (6th-8th centuries A.D.)

------ strictly historical parampara begins here

Naathamuni (c. 900 A.D.)

UyyakkoNDaar (pundarIkaaksha)

Rama Misra

Yaamunaacaarya (Alavandaar) (c. 900-1000 AD)

Periya Nambi (MahaapUrNa)

Ramanuja (emberumaanaar, udaiyavar, bhaashyaakaara)
(1017 - 1137 A.D.)




https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naalayira_Divya_Prabhandham
The Nalayira Divya Prabandham (Tamil (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_language): நாலாயிரத் திவ்வியப் பிரபந்தம், nālāyira tivviya pirapantam) is a collection of 4,000 Tamil (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_language) verses (Naalayiram in Tamil (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_language) means 'four thousand') composed [1] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naalayira_Divya_Prabhandham#cite_note-srivaishnavam-1) by the 12 Alvars (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvars), and was compiled in its present form by Nathamuni during the 9th – 10th centuries. The work, an important liturgical compilation of the Tamil Alvar (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvar) Bhaktas (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhakti), marks the beginning of the canonization of 12 Vaishnava (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaishnava) poet saints, and these hymns are still sung extensively today. The works were lost before they were collected and organized in the form of an anthology by Nathamuni (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathamuni).
The Divya Prabandham sings the praise of Narayana (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narayana) (or Vishnu (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnu)) and his many forms. The Alvars (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvars) sang these songs at various sacred shrines known as the Divya Desams (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divya_Desams). The Tamil (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_language) Vaishnavites (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaishnavite) are also known as Ubhaya Vedanti (those that follow both Vedas, i.e., the Sanskrit Rigveda (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rigveda), Yajurveda (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yajurveda), Samaveda (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaveda) and Atharvaveda (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atharvaveda), as well as the Tamil-language Tiruvaymoli, a work which many South Indian devotees regard as the Tamil Veda).[2] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naalayira_Divya_Prabhandham#cite_note-tveda-2) In many temples — Srirangam (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srirangam), for example — the chanting of the Divya Prabhandham (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divya_Prabhandham) forms a major part of the daily service.
Prominent among its 4,000 verses are the over 1,100 verses known as the Tiruvaymoli or Thiruvaaymozhi ("words of the sacred mouth"), composed by Nammalvar (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nammalvar) (Kaari Maaran, Sadagopan of Alwarthirunagari Temple (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alwarthirunagari_Temple)) and which forms the third portion of the overall Divya Prabandham. Nammalvar (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nammalvar) self-identifies as a lovelorn gopi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gopi) pining for Krishna (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishna). [2] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naalayira_Divya_Prabhandham#cite_note-tveda-2)



Alvars are considered the twelve supreme devotees of Vishnu (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnu), who were instrumental in popularising Vaishnavism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaishnavism) in the Tamil-speaking regions.[8] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvars#cite_note-8) The alvars were influential in promoting the Bhagavata (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagavata) cult and the two Hindu epics, namely, Ramayana (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramayana) and Mahabaratha (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabaratha).[9] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvars#cite_note-9) The religious works of these saints in Tamil (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_language), songs of love and devotion, are compiled as Nalayira Divya Prabandham (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nalayira_Divya_Prabandham) containing 4000 verses and the 108 temples revered in their songs are classified as Divya desam (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divya_desam).[10] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvars#cite_note-Rao-10)[11] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvars#cite_note-Dalal21-11) The verses of the various azhwars were compiled by Nathamuni (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathamuni) (824 - 924 AD), a 10th-century Vaishnavite theologian, who called it the "Dravida Veda or Tamil Veda".[12] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvars#cite_note-12)[13] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvars#cite_note-Garg-13) The songs of Prabandam are regularly sung in all the Vishnu temples of South India daily and also during festivals.[11] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvars#cite_note-Dalal21-11)[14] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvars#cite_note-14)
The saints had different origins and belonged to different castes. As per tradition, the first three alvars, Poigai, Bhutha and Pey were born miraculously. Tirumizhisai was the son of a sage; Thondaradi, Mathurakavi, Peria and Andal were from brahmin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmin) caste (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste); Kulasekhara was a Kshatria (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kshatria), Namm was from a cultivator family, Tirupana from Tamil Panar (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_Panar) community and Tirumangai from kazhwar community. Divya Suri Saritra by Garuda-Vahana Pandita (11th century), Guruparamparaprabavam by Pinbaragiya Perumal Jiyar, Periya tiru mudi adaivu by Anbillai Kandadiappan, Yatindra Pranava Prabavam by Pillai Lokacharya, commentaries on Divya Prabandam, Guru Parampara (lineage of Gurus) texts, temple records and inscriptions give a detailed account of the alavars and their works. According to these texts, the saints were considered incarnations of some form of Vishnu.

According to traditional account by Manavala Mamunigal (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manavala_Mamunigal), the first three azhwars namely Poigai, Bhoothath and Pey belong to Dwapara Yuga (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwapara_Yuga) (before 4200 BC). It is widely accepted by tradition and historians that the trio are the earliest among the twelve azhwars.[10] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvars#cite_note-Rao-10)[11] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvars#cite_note-Dalal21-11)[15] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvars#cite_note-James-15)[16] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvars#cite_note-16)[17] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvars#cite_note-17) Along with the three Saiva nayanmars (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nayanmars), they influenced the ruling Pallava (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pallava) kings, creating a Bhakti movement that resulted in changing the religious geography from Buddhism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism) and Jainism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism) to these two sects of Hinduism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism) in the region.





https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_Veda

Several vernacular texts have also had the status of Veda assigned to them. An example is the Ramcharitmanas (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramcharitmanas), a 17th-century retelling of the story of the Ramayana in Awadhi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awadhi), which is often called the "Fifth Veda" or "Hindi Veda" in northern India, and is viewed by devotees as equalling or superseding the four canonical Vedas in authority and sanctity as the text for the Kali Yuga (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kali_Yuga).[11] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_Veda#cite_note-11)[12] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_Veda#cite_note-12)


Several Tamil (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_language) texts have been assigned the status of being a new Veda by the adherents, who usually term the text in question the "Tamil Veda" or "Dravida Veda". The Tamil (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_people)Vaishnavite (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaishnavite)bhakti (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhakti) community of the Alvars (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvars) conferred this status on the Tiruvaymoli (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruvaymoli) (and, later, the Divya Prabandham (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divya_Prabandham) in general), a claim which was also accepted in secular works such as the Lilatilakam (https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lilatilakam&action=edit&redlink=1), a 14th-century grammar of Kerala Manipravalam (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manipravalam).] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_Veda#cite_note-14) As with the Natyashastra, authors seeking to confer the status of a Veda on the Tiruvaymozhi argued that unlike the canonical Vedic texts reserved for the Brahmin caste, this new Tamil Veda was accessible to all varnas (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varna_in_Hinduism).[16] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_Veda#cite_note-16)

Similarly, the Tamil Shaivite (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaivism) community conferred upon the hymns of the Tevaram (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tevaram) the status of a Tamil Veda, a claim which several of the poets themselves made.[17] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_Veda#cite_note-17)

Tamil Shaivites saw the designation "Tamil Veda" as making the Tevaram an alternative to the Sanskrit Veda, whereas Vaishnavites saw their equivalently designated texts as being a parallel track, rather than an alternative.[18] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_Veda#cite_note-18) Finally, the Tirukkural (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirukkural), a book of ethical maxims, was called the "Tamil Veda" in the Tiruvalluvamalai, a work possibly dating to the 1st century,[19] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_Veda#cite_note-19) a name by which the text remains known.[20] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_Veda#cite_note-20)

[Indialover]

Thank you Anirudh,
I did not know that Divya Prabandam is called Dravida Veda or Fifth Veda and I do not speak Tamil. Since only Yoga and Vedanta are popular in the West and available in my mother tounge I am not familiar with Vaishnava Traditions. Anyhow I like to read these scriptures.

There are more fifth Vedas
Mahabharatam is called as the fifth or the panchama Veda.
The Ramayana, also makes a claim to be the fifth Veda.
Similar claims are made in the Puranas, which claim to be the fifth Veda
The Natya Shastra, a text dealing with performative theory, also applies to itself the label of "Fifth Veda"
Other works that have been characterised as the "Fifth Veda" include, texts on ayurveda
More details https://www.quora.com/Which-Indian-text-is-considered-as-the-fifth-Veda
(https://www.quora.com/Which-Indian-text-is-considered-as-the-fifth-Veda)
Pranam

[Akshaya]

You can see Sri Vaishnava books through the below link:
https://haristore.com/collections/books

[orlando]

Yesterday I ordered in italian Amazon the Bhagavad-gita with commentary by Sri Ramanuja.

Although I bought it in an italian site,the book is in english,in fact it will be sent from USA.

[Viraja]

Planning to purchase 'Bakthamala' compiled by Shri. Nabha Goswamiji, English edition, through amazon.

This book is about close to 500 illustrious Vaishnavas, a very old book from the past century.

[ameyAtmA]

I wrote this reply on another thread a while ago:

--

If you search the word Divyaprabandham, there are several sites and blogs that give English translation or meaning.

Here is one : Koyil : http://divyaprabandham.koyil.org/

Here is the page for
Muthul Tiruvandhadi (http://divyaprabandham.koyil.org/index.php/2017/06/mudhal-thiruvandhadhi/)
Indaram (http://divyaprabandham.koyil.org/index.php/2017/09/irandam-thiruvandhadhi/)
Munram (http://divyaprabandham.koyil.org/index.php/2018/02/munram-thiruvandhadhi/)
Nanmugam (http://divyaprabandham.koyil.org/index.php/2018/06/nanmugan-thiruvandhadhi/)
Periya (http://divyaprabandham.koyil.org/index.php/2018/10/periya-thiruvandhadhi/)

namaste

[orlando]

Perhaps the next book that I will buy will be "Vaisnavism: Its Philosophy, Theology And Religious Discipline" by S. M. Srinivasa Chari.

[orlando]

Yesterday I finally bought the book on italian Amazon.

Perhaps the next books I will buy will be "Philosophy and Theistic Mysticism of the Alvars" and "Fundamentals of Visistadvaita Vedanta" by the same author.