KARMA NIRNAYA
कर्म निर्णयः
Please refer XVI sarga of Sri Madhva Vijaya slokas 41 to 45 .Some opponents of Sri Madhva at a place called Ucchabhuti or Ujire encountered Sri Madhva and questioned him on certain aspects of Vedic Mantras and procedures. They thought that Madhva was a Monk and he might not be knowing the details of Vedic sacrifices and their meanings and details etc., To the surprise of all , he deftly answered to their questions and explained various details on which they had doubts. Then they accepted that he was really a Sarvajna ( all knower ) and asked him to explain Mahaa Naamni Mantras of Aitreya Aranyaka . He explained to them on the meanings and significance of Mahaa Naamni Mantras and made them to be written in the form of a book called “ Karma Nirnaya’’. The book is also known by the name “ Khandartha Nirnaya ‘’ . This book is a great contribution of Madhva for the vedic interpretation after his Rigveda Bhaashya .
In the Aitreya 24th Brahmana in the thirtieth chapter in the sixth Khanda there is a Mantra starting as “CandasAM vai SaSThe छ्न्दसां वै षष्ठे ‘’ and ends with “tanute ya evaM veda तनुते य एवं वेद ‘’. Sri Madhva explained the significance of the above Mantra to the opponents and they were surprised at the tremendous knowledge possessed by Sri Madhva. They asked Sri Madhva about the Mahaa Naamni Mantras and their meaning and how “ Upasargas ‘’ or prepositions should be joined to those Mantras. He said that how the prepositions like pracetana , pracetaya , aayaahi , pibamatsva, kratuccanda ritham, bruhat, sumna aadehi No vatso to be added to the riks “ adhatanyam jatere prema “ etc.,to get the correct meaning of the mahaa naamni riks. The opponents were fully vanquished andpraised Madhva as real “Sarvajna “ (all knower). Madhvva has recorded the meanings of Mahaa Naamni riks in “ Khandartha Nirnaya ‘’ or “Karma Nirnaya’’ book .
Bhagavan Hari is known as “Mahaan’’ because He is sakala guna poorna and sarva dosha doora . MahaaNaamni riks glorify “mahaan’’ only. That was established by Sri Madhva in this book .
He criticised the views of Monists when they say “Paramatma is nirguna and Niraakara ‘’ in this work. He criticised the views of “Nirviseshatva’’ cocept of the Monists.
Sri Madhva pronounced the theory of “Sarva Naamavan’’ of Vishnu in this Grantha.
Meemamsakas say ,”how can the God be connveyed by the Vedas , because Vedas always communicate something that is to be acted upon’’.Madhva has answered this by pointing out that even Siddha vastu (established fact) is conveyed by the sentences and therefore there is no difficulty to convey Vishnu by the Vedas.
The entire Mahaanaamni hyms are interpreted word by word. He proved finally “how the Supreme God is parama mukhyaartha of every word of the Vedas and how all sacrifices and rituals should be performed with devotion to the God and the detachment from the worldly results and all should be offered at the feet of the God.
The work begins with the following Mangalacharrana sloka.
ya ijyate vidhi IzAna zakra pUrvaiH ramA praNayine tasmai sarvayajJa bhuje namaH
य इज्यते विधि ईशान शक्र पूर्वैः सदा मखैः रमा प्रणयिने तस्मै सर्वयज्ञ भुजे नमः ॥
I bow to the consort of Rama( रमा ) who is eater of all sacrifices and who is worshipped through the sacrifices performed by Brahma,Siva,Indra and other deities.
How “Karma(actions)’’ has to be performed as ‘‘ pooja ‘’ to God elaborated in Karma Nirnaya. All Vedic Mantras are God’s praisings only.All Yagnas or sacrifices shouuld be performed as pooja to God only.
In the beginning ,how prepositions to be added to Maharnaaamni Mantras and how God is not “nirguna(Qualityless)’’ has been told.Interpretation of “Nirguna Sruti’’, “Eko Devaha’’ is beautifully done. Sri Madhva said how all things have some kind of characteristics and how there is no characterless thing or “ nirdharmaka vastu’’ . Madhva vehemently criticised the Advaitin’s view of “anirvacaneeyatva” concept. He also criticised the Monists’ theory of “Suddhabrahma Vaada”, “Jagadaasa Tyatva vada’’and etc.,
He criticised the Meemaamsikas view of “Siddha vastu is not the subject matter of the Vedas’’.With this philosophical discussions were over and interpretation of “Mahaa Naamni’’ Mantras begin.He quotes extensively from “Sabda Nirnaya’’of Veda Vyasa in his interpretation of Mahaa Naami Mantras. He showed how proper Upasargas should be added to some of the Mahaa Naamni Mantras.He has proved how the Vedic Mantras have many meanings.
Madhva has very clearly told how all actions should be done with devotion to God Hari , Knowledge of Hari’s supremacy, and dispassion.
bhagavadbhakti jJAna vairAgyapUrvakaM ca karma kartavyam
भगवद्भक्ति ज्ञान वैराग्यपूर्वकं च कर्म कर्तव्यम् |
Acharya Madhva concludes the works with this Mangalacharana sloka.
namo nArAyaNAyAja bhavazkroSNa rUGmu khaiH |
sadA vandita pAdAya zrIpAya preyase -dhikam ||
नमो नारायणायाज भवश्क्रोष्ण रूङ्मु खैः ।
सदा वन्दित पादाय श्रीपाय प्रेयसेSधिकम् ॥
I prostrate at the lotus feet of Sri Narayana who is very dear to Madhva and who is worshipped by deities like Brahma,Rudra,Indra and Surya and others!
“ SriKrishnarpanamastu”