Experiencing Swami Desika - 4

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SrI:

Shrimate Shri Lakshmi Nrusimha Parabrahmane Namaha:

Shrimate Shri Seetha Ramachandra Parabrahmane Namaha:

Shrimate Shri Ramanujaya Namaha:

Shrimate Nigamantha Maha Desikaya Namaha:

Shrimate Shrivan Satagopa Shri Narayana Yateendra Mahadesikaya Namaha:

 

Shri Pillai Lokaachaarya announced thus:

 

Seeronru Tooppul Tiruvenkata mudaiyan

Par onra chonna pazhamozhiyul !

OronRu thane Amaiyado Dharaniyil

Vazhvorkku Vanerap Pomalavum Vazhvu !!

 

A single statement of the great Acharya, Tooppul

Tiuvenkadamudaiyan (Our Swami), uttered for the

benefit of humanity, is enough for a person who

desires to ascend up to the Heavens and this will

itself lift him/her up to desired goals.

 

It is very clear that our Swami Desikar was an

 

abode of knowledge;

a person of Vairagya;

establisher of Vedanta on a firm basis;

master of all arts, crafts and artefacts;

establisher of Shri Bhagavad Ramanuja's philosophy;

Lion of both poets and logicians.

 

Swami, as Adiyal had mentioned in the first posting,

is the true "Vallal". Swami has given the humanity

enormous amount of works so that all Jivatmas can

realise the Paramatma and surrender to Sriya Pathi.

 

Our Swami has given us

 

Sthotra granthas

Kavya granthas

nataka granthas

vedantha granthas

vyakyana granthas

anushtana granthas

rahasya granthas and

tamil prabhandams

 

Swami used Sanskrit, Tamil & Prakritam to build

his works and he gave as much as 124 grantas.

 

Swami's works are extensive and exhaustive. Swami

has given us simple to complex renderings. Take,

Gopala Vimshati - for example. This looks simpler

when compared to Srimad Rahasyathraya Saaram or

Paadhuka Sahasram for that matter.

 

However, there is no doubt each one of them is a

rare gem that needs extreme care and devotion in

handling and understanding. Swami, has provided

us opportunity to go closer to our lord by including

Bheedakshara in his works.

 

A special mention needs to be made as to how our

Swami brought in the Paadukaa Sahasram. Swami wrote

Padukasahasram in just one yaama. However it is

interesting to note that each verse has abundance of

meanings, which may take us years and years to

comprehend and fully enjoy.

 

Swami Desika's works make us learn, understand and

enjoy Baghavad Anubhavam. Above all Swami's works

stress the importance of 'Nyasa' thereby help us

reach the abode of Sriya Pathi to perform eternal

Kaimkaryam.

 

Swami's works - while emphasising Parathvam - uses

the authority of the Vedas, Ithihasas, Puranas and

strong logic to support our Sampradaya.

 

Swami exposes the defects of the other schools of

thought and his establishment of Visistadvaita is complete.

Swami consolidated the philosophy of Visistadvaita based

on Bhagavad Ramanuja's teachings.

 

Swami Desika has furnished all the technical details

on our sampradaya with matchless insight and precision.

 

Our Swami was the greatest acharya yet he was a

humility personified.

 

Swami with all his unparalleled qualities was the

most devout disciple. His Acharya Bhakti too is

unparalleled. More on this tomorrow.....

 

Shri Ranganayaki Sametha Shri Ranganathan Parabrahmane Namaha:

 

dEsikan tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

 

Praveena nAmni Ramanuja dasi

9th Jun 1999