Sriman Krishnamachari's Kaimkaryam-Desika Stotrams

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Dear Bhaktas,

 

I thank Sriman Krishnamachari for his wonderful Kaimkaryam of

sharing with us his excellent insights on Swami Desikan's Stotrams

and the Daya Shatakam in particular. It is only due to the Daya of

NammaAzhwar and Swami Desikan that we are even able to get a glimpse

of their colossus through the outstanding posts of Sriman

Krishnamachari. I wish to share a few related observations in this

post.

 

The role of NammAzhwar in bringing to us our wonderful Sampradayam

cannot be glorified enough. It was this great Mahan who instructed

Nathamuni in the holy collects. This marked the founding of our

Kula Dhanam. Swami Desikan celebrates this aspect of NammAzhwar in

both the Padhuka Sahasram and the Daya Shatakam. Specifically, in the

Guru Parampara salutation of the Daya Shatakam, Swami Desikan traces

the origin of our Sampradayam to the ocean of mercy known as Lord

Srinivasa and salutes the Guru Parampara through the cool waters of

this ocean of mercy. Focussing on the feet of this ocean of mercy

(Satakopatvam), it becomes clear that had NammAzhwar not instructed

Nathamuni in the holy collects, there would be no Guru Parampara

to salute! NammAzhwar's outpourings had a profound impact on Swami

Desikan and Swami Desikan spares no opportunity to express his

gratitude to Sri Satakopan of Tirukuruhoor.

 

Sri Krishnamachari brilliantly glorified the role of Daya and

pointed out that in the absence of Daya, all the Kalyana Gunams

of the Lord are shorn of lustre. It is precisely this quality

that is responsible for the Lord granting Moksham to Baddha JivAtmas.

This attribute is shared by the Lord and his consort. Swami Desikan

salutes this aspect of Lord Srinivasa in the Daya Shatakam as

"BhAvitam SrinivAsasya Bhaktadosheshvadarshanam". In the Sri Stuthi,

Swami Desikan extols Periya Piratti as "Kapi KaruNya Seema" and

"Grama SeemAntha RekhAm". In the Sri Ranganatha Gadyam Sri

Ramanujacharya salutes this aspect of the Lord as "Ashrita

VaTsalyaika MahodadhE". It is this unbounded ocean of mercy which

is responsible for the Lord overlooking the faults of the Baddha

JivAtma and blessing the Prapanna with the boon of Moksham. In this

respect, the Lord's love is pure, unbounded and untainted like that

of a cow for its calf. In another Daya Shatakam salutation, Swami

Desikan describes the attribute of Vatsalyam as being akin to the

love of a mother for her retarded son "Manye Mata Jada Iva SutE".

 

It is precisely this Daya which is responsible for the attributes of

Pida Pariharam (for Bhaktas) and Pida Pradanam(for Dushtas).

Swami Desikan excels at the description of these attributes in all

of his works. In the KamasikAshtakam, Swami Desikan describes

the hands of Bhagavan Narasimha competing with one another to

grace the Bhakta Prahlada and destroy the evil HiraNyakashipu.

The Lord was furious at HiraNyakashipu for the Bhagavata

Apacharam to Prahlada and punishment meted out for this Apacharam

paved the way for HiraNyan's redemption. The eyes of Bhagavan Narasimha

simultaneously striking terror in HiraNyan and radiating

compassion for Prahlada is another description of the Pida Pradanam

and Pida Pariharam. The Sudarshana Chakram's protection of

Ambarisha and relentless pursuit of Durvasa, the slaying

of the crocodile in the Gajendra Moksham represent further examples

of the Lord's Daya. Although, Vamana set out to restore Indra with

his kingdom, his blessing of Narayana Sayujyam to Mahabali was far

better because it granted the latter Moksham. The bow twang of Lord

Rama warning Ravana of his impending doom, described in the Raghuveera

Gadyam with consummate effect is another magnificent reflection of

the Pida Pradanam and Pida Pariharam. The salutation is "Vepathu

Lasya LeelOpadesha Desika DhaurjyAgosha". In it Swami Desikan

points out that the twang of Lord Rama's bow struck fear in the

hearts of the Rakshasa clan causing their women to dance to a rhythm.

Yet this same bow twang was sweet music to the ears of Sita Piratti-an

ultimate vindication of her MahAvishvAsam.

 

Thanks again Sri Krishnamachari for an excellent summary which

stimulated these reflections. I seek forbearance of all readers for

my indulgence.

 

Namo Narayana,

 

Muralidhar Rangaswamy

 

 

 

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