Artha Pancaka of Pillai Lokacarya and Svamy Desika - A Study

About the Book: Vedanta is considered by the common man as it is to do with spirituality and does not concern him. On the contrary Vedanta is very much relevant to every living being to lead a life of sreyas to oneself and to society. Vedanta talks about Tattva (realities) Hita (means) and Purusartha (the goal). In Visistadvaita tattva is further classified as three realities cit (the sentient) acit (the insentient) and isvara the controller of the other two. It is the relationship between these three which is so significant and that is what is discussed by all acaryas. The cit when it is associated with acit in the form of sarira is able to transact with the grace of Isvara to attain moksa the goal the purusartha. Cit like Isvara is unperishable and it survives even after the body is dead. It enters another body based on the karma-phala that had fructified. This study is a comparison of the above concept as described by two great Vaisnava acarvas namely Pillai Lokacarya and Svami Desika. About the Author: A. Padmavathi though was born in southern Tamil Nadu lived all the time in Chennai the erstwhile Madras. Her earlier education was in Christian missionar schools and college. She qualified herself with Bachelor in Science and Bachelor in Education before marriage. After bearing two sons and after they settled down she along with her husband went back to school to do their Master’s degree in Vaisnavism from the University of Madras. She completed her M.Phil. under ProfS. Padmanabhan was later awarded a Ph. D. for her thesis on Artha Pancaka a study as presented by Pillai Lokacarya and Svami Desika under the guidance of Prof. V K S N Raghavan at the University of Madras. The thesis is published as a book for the general public. The subject is so gripping because it involves every person’s way of living and guides one through to live a meaningful and purposeful life.