HAMSA SANDESAM: SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE --PART 2

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" But, by far the greatest acheivement of Desika

in this kavyam is the praise of the lovely EmperumaanArs

of the various Divya Desas.Desika"s great attachment

to the Archa forms of the Lords that preside over the

several shrines is revealed to us by the excellent

stotras in praise of Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam,

Lord Srinivasa of Thiruvenkatam, Lord Varadaraja

of Kanchipuram , Lord Sundararaja of Thirumalirumccholai

and Lord Semthaamarai Kannan of ThiruveLLarai . These five

Archa Murthys have captured the raptourous attention of Swami

Desikan and captivated his love-lorn mind. Not content with

his own praise in other slokas and Prabhandhams, Desika

struck on a very fine idea for effectively establishing the greatness

and glory of Archaavataaras in his Hamsa Sandesam.

 

Rama noted for His own exquisite beauty (Atheeva Priyadarsanam )

is made to praise ,nay, wonder at the beauty of several Archa forms.

Only a Sarva Tantra Svatantrar can think of eulogizing

Archavataara and establish its greatness and glory through

a Vibhavavataara Emperumaan. The first Aaswasa is full of

praise for the Divya Desa Archa Murthys . The Second Aaswasa

shows to us the intensity of Rama's love towards Sita.

 

In the slokas 23 to 35 in praise of Kanchi's Lord Varadaraja ,

Rama is made to share Desikan's great infatuation for that

Lord"s beauty and grace. But, By far,the best beauty spot in

this Kavyam is where Rama is shown to enjoy the greatness of

Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam, who is Periya PerumaaL (Rama

Himself is PerumaaL) .In sloka 46, Rama at the mere mention of

the Sesha Peetam on the banks of Chandra Pushkarini frogets

Himself for a moment and is unable to proceed with his thoughts

further; His mind travels in a trice (Chetoh Daawati ) to distant

Ayodhya and revels on the beauty of the Ishvaaku Kula Daivam

(Sri Ranganatha) , who is lovingly known as Azhagiya MaNavALan,

who reclines softly on Adisesha. PERUMAAL BECOMES AZHWAAR

FOR THE NONCE. "

 

Such is the rich repast of poetry and Philosophy offered

by our Vedaanthaacharya in his Exquisite Hamsa Sandesa

Kavyam.

 

Sri Nigamantha Maha Desikan Thiruvadigaleh Saranam,

 

Oppliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan