Experiencing Swami Desika - 8

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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:

 

In the first sloka of Yatiraja saptati Swami Desika

bows to Lord Sriman Narayana.

 

Swami Desika's works in many instances reflect

the words of Alwar's. Our Alwar's words (Divya

Prabhandhams) in turn is the essence of vedas.

 

Swami says that he could not comprehend the greatness

of our Lord. Even the Vedas could not explain our

Lord in full.

 

The same is reflected in Tiruvaymoli as

'Thanakkum Tan Tanmai arivariyan' and

in the Periya Tirumadal of Tirumangai Mannan

We see 'Thannai pirar ariya thathuvatthai'.

 

Swami Desika mentions that Goddess Lakshmi and

Lord Sriman Narayana runs a household. But then

this household, comprises of the entire cosmos.

This is, but a sport for our Divya Dampati!

 

Swami Desika further says that our lord has revealed

the vedas to us. After the Maha Pralaya, Lord

imparted the vedas to Brahma.

 

Again, when the vedas were lost, our lord rescued

it from Madhu and Kaitapa.

 

Lord Vishnu took the form of Matsya, Hayagreeva and

Hamsa to restore the vedas to us.

 

Because our Lord bequeathed the vedas first he is

regarded as the 'AdiGuru'.

 

Perialwar echo's the same in 'Arumarai thanthane

accho vaccho'!

 

Though Lords qualities are incomprehensible, Swami

Desika wants to start the Yatiraja saptati with

salutations to our lord because he is our first

Aacharya.

 

The Vedas as mentioned above have been revealed to us

by the grace of our Lord. On the other hand, the

Pancaratra Agamas is reckoned to be the words of

Sriman Narayana Himself.

 

Pancharatra Agamacharyam

Vandey Vaikunta Bhoo-pathim!!

 

Pancharatrasya Krustanasya

Vakttha Narayanaha Swayam!!

 

Anantha Prathamo Ratrow

Garudastu dwiteeyakey

truteeya ratrow Senesaha

Chaturtam Vedhasa srutam

Rudraha Panchama-ratram tu

Pancharatram prasasyate!!

 

-- Ananta Samhita, first Adyaya

 

Pancharatra Sastra was taught by the lord on the

first day to Anantha, Second day to Garuda, Third

day to Vishwaksena, Fourth day to Brahma and the

fifth day to Rudra.

 

Shri Yamunacharya wrote an extensive work 'Agama

Pramanya', and to further emphasise the authority

of Pancharatra Swami Desika wrote several works.

 

The following sloka of Swami Desika clarifies to us

that both Vaikanasa and Pancharatra are equally

venerable to Sri Vaishnavas.

 

Tvam Pancharatrika nayena prutakvidena

Vaikanasenacha pada niyadatikaraa: !

Samjna visesha niyamena samarchayantaha

Preetya nayanti palavanti dinani dhanyaha!!

 

-- Saranagati Deepika - Sloka 32

 

The fortunate ones worship Thee according to the

various and different systems in vogue in Pancharatra

Agama and according to the mode laid down in Vaikanasa

Agamas, respectively in which they are trained strictly

adopting the names of Thine, out of Love and there by

spending their days profitably.

 

....To be continued!

 

dEsikan tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

 

Praveena nAmni Ramanuja dasi

13th Jun 1999