TIRUNAKSHATRAM OF H.H. PP ANDAVAN

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Sri:

 

SrImathE Gopala Desika Maha Desikaya Namah:

 

Dearest Sri Anbil mama,

 

Your post on Swami was superb. It was so touching and was narrated in

simple, lovely, truthful manner.

 

Swami - "ennaiyum poruLaakki yERRamuRach cheyvittha Emperumaanukkum

mElaay yaan vaNa~ngum Deivam ivar".

 

AchAryan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

 

Narayana Narayana

 

Narayana dAsan Madhavakkannan

 

Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

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78th TIRUNAKSHATRAM OF THE GREATEST LIVING YATHISRESHTA

 

Today, is the great day, the Tirunakshatram day of Paravakkottai Sri Gopala

Desika Maha Desikan, Prakritam Srimad Andavan of Sri Poundarikapuram Andavan

Ashramam, Srirangam, the senior most among all the extant yathivaras of our

Siddhantam in point of age. He completes 78. Tirunakshatrams today. (He was

born on 17th March 1921, in the year Roudri, Panguni month and under Rohini

nakshatram)

 

And, he is senior most in terms Sannyasa Sweekaranam also. He has completed 17

years of his illustrious rein in his Thureeya Asramam. (He took to Thureeya

Asramam on 20th February 1982). A remarkable aspect of his Asrama Sweekaranam

was that never before in living memory had anyone performed the "Jeeva

Sraddham" in the form of "Anna Sraddham"

 

In temples, we find two moorthams viz Moolavar and Utsavar. If the spiritual

leaders of other establishments in our Sampradayam are like "Utsavars," the

pontiffs of the Guru Paramparyam of Poundarikapuram Andavan Ashramam can be

rightly considered as "Moolavars." He represents the very cream of the ascetic

order in general and this Ashramam in particular.

 

This Swami is always available in his Ashramam in Srirangam. The only place he

visits regularly is the Desikar Sannidhi belonging to the Ashramam at East

Uttara Street, Srirangam to which he goes on foot. Even when he undertakes

long sancharams, he walks the entire distance. Indeed, he is hailed as

"Nadamaadum Deivam."

 

His incomparable Virakti and Vairaghyam evidenced through his strict self-

abnegation, is matched only by his meticulous observance of Aachaaram and

Anushtaanam.

 

When on an occasion during one of his sancaharms, he slipped and fractured his

foot, he could not even stand and was experiencing excruciating pain. But with

an incredible fortitude, he politely declined the offer of a wheelchair and

preferred to walk all the way bearing the unbearable pain. This proves how he

is unmindful of personal conveniences, let alone comforts and luxuries.

What a self-abnegation!

 

His limitless compassion is not limited to his Sishyas but extends to even

insects visiting the Ashramam. Once, when we visited him during winter, swarms

of mosquitoes from the marshy surroundings were literally invading the

Ashramam premises. While the Sishyas were trying to ward themselves off from

them one way or the other, the Swami was seen quite unperturbed and unmindful

of the irksome pricks and let the mosquitoes have their way. We could see with

our own eyes, how he was observing "Ahimsa" in practical terms.

What a compassion!

 

When some of us pleaded with him to have a telephone installed at the

Ashramam, he declined saying that it might interfere with his ceaseless

concentration on the Lord and his Anushtanams. It was with very great

difficulty that we could convince him that after all, this was required for

the benefit of his Sishyas who were like his children.

What a Virakti!

 

When the news of the premature and violent death of his dear (poorvaasrama)

son in a bomb blast in Chennai was conveyed to him, he did not exhibit any

shock but was seen with utmost composure. He merely enquired "Oh ! Appadiyaa?"

and went on his 'kainkaryam as usual.' It requires a lot of imagination on our

part to comprehend his control of emotions which shows how a real yathi would

and should react in such tragic circumstances.

What a Vairaaghyam!

 

The immeasurable breadth and unfathomable depth of his Gnaanam is acknowledged

and applauded by all Yathivaras who revere him as their mentor.

He is hailed as the model Acharya and even called "Vasishta Maharishi," by one

and all. Simple and unassuming, profound in knowledge and strict in observing

disciplines of Sannyasa Dharma, he is easily accessible to all those who

yearn to learn. The present and previous Jeeyars of Ahobila Mutt and all other

Yathivaras extol his virtues in nothing short of superlatives.

 

Yet, his unostentatious demeanor reveal his Soulabhyam and make us feel

palpably his Soulabhyam. It is rare to find such a happy blend of supreme

scholarship and incredible simplicity. Anyone who has had the opportunity to

visit this Maharishi will vouch for the veracity of this fact.

 

Those who have had no such opportunity so far, will do well to mark their

calendar and program a visit to this Maharishi, if and when they go to India.

It will be an experience of a whole lifetime to see how an astute ascetic

living in the 21st century can still lead a life in strict conformity with the

eon-old values and prove how these values are still valid.

 

Yet, he is not out of date or anti-deluvian. It is amazing to see how in spite

of his being strict on himself, he tenders practical advice that blend the old

world values with modern compulsions and how we can preserve our traditions in

spite of the baffling technological advancements that present seemingly

insurmountable imponderables.

 

His Tanian reads as follows:

"Srivasa Ranga Parakaala Munitrayaatha

Lakshmaathma Rakshana yathitva yugaaga maantham /

Aachaarya bhakti Paribhootham Anarga Seelam

Gopaala Desika Muni Aasrayaamaha //"

meaning

" We seek refuge at the sacred feet of our revered Acharyan, Sri Gopala Desika

Maha Desikan, who received the sacred rites of Samasrayanam, Bhara Samarpanam,

Thureeya Asramam and the wealth of Ubhaya Vedantam from the three great

Acharyas, Srinivasa Maha Desikan, Sri Ranganatha Maha Desikan and Parakaala

Matam Swami. He shines with illustrious sadaachaaram and is resplendent with

his limitless Acharya Bhakti."

(Translation: Courtesy: Sri V. Sadagopan)

 

The intensity of his Acharya Bhakti is comparable to that of Madhurakavi Alwar

for his Acharya, Swami Nammalwar. If Madhurakavi Alwar was overwhelmed by his

Acharya Bhakti so much that he declared "Thevu Matru Ariyen,I know no God

other then my Acharya, this Swami's Acharya Bhakti was literally brimful and

overflowing 'Acharya Bhakti Paribhootham" that he was rendered speechless even

to declare. The word "Munim" in "Gopala Desika Munim" is significant. The word

"Muni" is derived from "Mounam" -"silence." If Madhura kavi Alwar was

"spotless" -"Thunbatra Maddhurakavi" in the words of Swami Desikan, our Swami

is "Anargha Seelam" (blemishless in character).

 

On this holy occasion, we offer a companion write up on how Swami Desika's

Tamil prabandha pasuram "Inbattil Irainjuthali" in the "Guru Parampara Saram"

of "Srimad Rahasya Traya Saram" relates to the 10 aspects brought out by

Madhurakavi Alwar in his "Kanni nunn Siruthaambhu" prabandham. We

reverentially dedicate it at the lotus feet of our Acharyan, Paravakkottai Sri

Gopala Desika Maha Desikan.

 

Please visit the Home Page of this Maharishi at - the URL :

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Troy/9878/index.html

 

Let us offer our prayers to the Saranya Dhampathis that this beacon light of

an Acharya should live forever and in pink of health to guide us on the right

path.

 

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy