Nyasa Tilakam--Part 2

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The Name

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The name of Nyasa Tilakam was chosen by Swami Desikan inview of

his conviction that this stotra grantham is the crest jewel

among the various works that he composed on Nyasam or

SaraNagathi. Tilakam is the Pottu or auspicious dot worn

by women to bring out the beauty of their faces. Nyasa Tilakam

is the Tilakam for the Nyasa Vidya as indicated by Swami

Desikan's choice of the title for this grantham.

 

Source Literature

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We will provide highlights from the commentaries of

Acharya Kumara Vardarya(Nainacharya ) , Sri D.R .Iyengar

and Oppiliappan Koil Vidwan Srirama Desikachar .

 

Structure/Organization/Metres of Nyasa Tilakam

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First Slokam( Anushtub Metre) deals with salutations to

the Guru Parampara. The Second slokam (Anushtub metre)

is an important one explaining the significance of the Abhaya

mudra (gesture) seen on the right hand of Sri Ranganatha.

 

The third Slokam set in SikariNi metre contains Swami Desikan's

traditional SaranAgathi to the consort of the Lord. The fourth slokam

set again in SikariNi metre explains the tattvam of Maha Lakshmi

(Sri Ranganayaki ) serving both as Upaayam (means ) and mediatrix

(PurushakAram ).

 

The fifth and the sixth slokams continue in SikariNi metre

and focus on Sri Ranganatha. The fourth slokam houses

Swami Desikan's Saranaagathi to the Lord of Srirangam.

The fifth slokam reveals that the Lord rests on his bed

of Adisesha at Srirangam for the express purpose of

guiding people to follow the way sanctioned by the Sastraas

and the Vedas to reach Him .

 

The metre chosen for the seventh slokam is Saardhoola

Vikrititham ( the gait of a tiger). Here Swami explains in

unambigous terms that the Divya Dampathis of Srirangam

are the ultimate Seshis , who are the object of our Prapatthi.

 

In the eighth slokam , Swami shifts his attention to the

Nathkutakam metre and prays for the blessings of the

compassionate glances of the Lord . In the ninth and the

tenth slokams, Swam's mind races like a tiger in the Sardhoola

Vikrititham metre in a manner consistent with the subject .

The ninth slokam deals with the Mahopakaaram rendered by

Sri Ranganatha to Swami . The tenth slokam proudly recounts the

glories of Prapatthi .

 

The eleventh slokam set in Mandaakraanthaa metre covers a

prayer of Swami to the Lord to make his mind seek out and

enjoy the company and the works of Prapannas , who have

already been blessed by the Lord .

 

The twelfth slokam describes the state of Prapanna in

the post-Prapatthi period. The metre shifts here to

Sragdharaa. The thirteenth slokam shares the same Sragdharaa

metre and points out that the Prapannas in the post-Prapatthi

period never trespass the injunctions of Saastraas established

by the Lord.

 

The fourteenth slokam reveals the reason why the Prapannas

in their post-Prapatthi period come across some sufferings

(Dukkam/Sokham ) .

 

The fifteenth slokam set once again in Sragdharaa metre

emphasizes that Bhakthi and Prapatthi are two different

upaayams(means )for securing the blessings of MOksham.

 

The sixteenth slokam set in majestic sardhoola Vikrititham lists the

the different words in vogue to refer to Prapatthi and points out that

all of them refer to the same act of Prapatthi .

 

The seventeenth slokam is housed in Sragdhara metre

and deals with the points of difference between the two

upaayaas (VIZ), Prapatthi and Bhakthi to attain the blessings

of MOksham .

 

The eighteenth slokam is set in the beautiful Maalini

metre and states that Prapatthi performed at the Lord's feet

confers all the fruits (Sarva Hetu: ) . The NInteenth slokam

reverts to Sardhoola Vikrititham metre and deals with

the pancha Sankaas (Five doubts ) that assail the minds of

Prapannas and explains how these doubts can be cleared .

 

The twentieth Nyasa Tilakam slokam set in the Vasantha Tilakam

metre celebrates the blessings of the comforting glances

of the Acharya (Kataaksham of the Acharya ) in the context of successful

Prapatthi .. Swami Desika hints that these blessings

remind one of the experience of spring(Vasantham )

after the winter of distress (life during the Pre-Prapatthi period ).

The twenty first Slokam deals with one of the methods of Prapatthi

known as Acharya Nishtai . This slokam flows leisurely

in the Mandhaakraantha metre.

 

In the twenty second slokam set once again in the

Vasantha Tilakam metre , the thought of the joy of

spring and hope is invoked , when Swami recalls the truths

revealed by Sri Ranganatha to Sri Ramanuja at the time of

latter's SaranAgathi on a Panguni Uttaram day at the south-western

praakaaram of Srirangam .

 

The twenty third and the twenty fourth slokams are set in the

Maalini and the Mandhaakranthaa metres . In the twenty third verse,

Swami expresses his regrets over earlier engagement

in the enjoyment of fleeting worldly pleasures. In the Twenty fourth

verse, he consoles his mind over the past mistakes and assures it

that there is no more reason to worry at the stage of Post-Prapatthi.

>From Slokams 25 to 30 , we experience the firm Vairagyam

of Swami Desikan , where he states that he will not approach

any mortal for favors , while Sri Ranganatha looms large as the

ultimate succor and support. He also declares that he will not

seek any other Gods either for favors , since it is Sri Ranganatha

alone , who has the power the blessings of Moksham . He declares

his unwavering intent to serve the divya Dampathis alone during the

rest of his life on earth. The six slokams are set in Maalini(25) , Saardhoola

Vikrititham(26-28), .Nathkutakam 29 ) and Sardhoola Vikrititham(30) metres

respectively.

 

In the thirty first verse, Swami prays for eternal service in Sri Vaikuntam

to the Divya Dampathis in Sragdharaa metre. The thirty second and the

final verse is set in sikariNi metre and explains the fruits of reciting

Nyasa Tilakam . Swami reveals that the reciter will be blessed

with the boon of serving the Divine couple in both the Vibuthis

(Leela and Nitya Vibuthis) . They will be blessed with the double

pleasure of serving the Divya Dampathis on this earth as well as in

Parama Padham as Nitya Suris.

 

Swami Desikan Thiruvadigaleh SaraNam,

 

Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan