HH The 44th Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt

[Guest guest]

Sriman Dileepan's posting symbolizing his

Maha Viswaasam in this great Acharya was

a moving statement . This Jeeyar's efforts to initiate and

complete the stupendous task of building

the Raja Gopuram of Sri Ranganatha

is a subject of legends such as the Kaimkaryam of

Thirumangai AzhwAr and the first Jeeyar of this

Matam , Sri Adhi VaN Satakopa Yateendhra Maha Desikan .

 

The posting of Sri Dileepan reminded me of the First Nyasa

Vimsathi slokam of Swami Desikan, where he describes

Acharya LakshaNam . The particular reference is to the

section of the Slokam : " BHOOSHNU : -----------------------

DHEERGA BANDHUM DAYAALUM SKAALITYEH

**************

SAASIDHAARAM SVAPARAHITAPARAM DESIKHAM YEEPSETH "

******************

 

Here Swami describes the qualities of Acharya to be sought

by a BHOOSNU ( a Sishya , who wants to gain the supreme

and auspicious knowledge and the benefits of Prapatthi ).

 

He says that Acharya should be SKAALITEYH SAASIDHAARAM

( ONE WHO CORRECTS THE SISHYA FIRMLY WITHOUT

DAAKSHINYAM(IMPARTIALITY ) AND HESITATION IN TIMES WHEN THE

SUSHYA SWERVES FROM SASTRIC COMMANDS ) . This section OF

vIMSATHIreminds me of the occasions , when HH the Jeeyar displayed

his well-documented outbursts of temper. I HAVE BEEN AT

THE RECEIVING END AND KNOW THAT HE WAS RIGHT

IN HIS ANGER .

 

Rest of the time , he was the DHEERGA BANDHU

( One had a caring , long term relationship out of

compassion for the sishya ), DAYAALU (most merciful

to pray to Sri Ranganatha and Malola for the well being

of HIs Sishya Vargam ) , SVA PARA HITA PARAM ( One , who

sought the HITAM of himself and His sishyas ) .

 

Swami Desikan concludes that one seeking Prapatthi as a

Prapanna should seek such an Acharya ( Dayaalum (Tam )

Desikam Yeepseth ).

 

HH the 44 th Jeeyar sought such a Desika himself in the

frOm of the Most compassionate 43rd Jeeyar of DeavanaarviLagam

Sri Veeraraghava Yatindra Maha Desikan and was duly blessed

to succeed him .

 

In the second slokam , Swami Desikan points out that

an exemplary sishya should worship his chosen Acharya

as God Hinself (DEVAVATH UPAASYA SYAATH) .

He points further that there is no way in which a sishya

could reciprocate the great blessings conferred by the

Compassionate Acharya over any length of time

( ACHARYA : ---APRATHYUPAKARANA DHIYAA ---

DEVAVATH UPAASYA: SYAATH ) . This is how the

44th Jeeyar approached his Acharya, when he carried the

bundle of fire sticks and the water pot on his head and

hand as he walked in front of the palanquin carrying the

43rd Jeeyar .

 

In his third slokam of this beautiful grantham , Swami Desikan

elaborates on the lakshaNam (attributes/charactrestrics) of

the ideal sishya and the duties of the ideal Acharya , who

accepts the sishya as a link in the golden chain of his

Acharya Parampara . Fifteen lakshanas are described

for this sishya .

 

The fourth slokam deals with the cardinal

and private (Ekaantha ) upadesam performed by the Acharya

to his sishya that approached him to recieve Prapatthi .

 

This Upadesam as revealed to us by Swami Desikan is :

LAKSHMI EESAM YEKAM --PALAM VIDDHI ---

ANYAM PRAAPYAM NA PRATHEEYAA-- ANYAM KANCHIDH

SARANATAYAA NA CHA VRUNEEYAA -- TADH AJNYAAM

MAA UJJEE ( The saarartham here is as follows : Think

only the Lord of Lakshmi as the Lord of the chetanas and

achetanas and seek HIM alone as the sole fruit of your efforts.

Do not seek any others as your means for salvation

and follow the command Mamekam Saranam Vraja .

Do not behave in a manner that is opposed to the commands

prescribed by Him in the Saastraas ) .

 

Rest of this Vimsathi deals with the details of Prapatthi

and the limbs of such a Prapatthi .

 

Acharyan Thiruvadigaleh Saranam

 

V.Sadagopan