Experiencing Swami Desika - 26

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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:

 

Stotra Rathna, containing 65 slokas, is the first of

its kind in our Vaishnavism giving us the essence and

as rightly claimed is a gem among stotras. In the

Stotra Rathna Shri Alavandar has defined the nature of

our Lord, his attributes and has enjoyed the beauty.

Shri Alavandar brings out the three tatwas, viz.,

Chit, Acit and Iswara as seen by Shri Parasara in the

Shri Vishnu Purana.

 

Shri Alavandar's deep understanding and bound-less

Acharya Bhakthi brought out Prapatti in this soul

stirring stotram.

 

As seen in our posting of yesterday, let us enjoy

few more parallels between our Swami and Shri Alavandar

and towards this let us take the penultimate stotra

in the Stotra Rathna

 

"Nanu prapannas sakrudeva nadha

Tavahamasmidhicha yaachamanaha

Tavanukampya smarataha pratignyam

Madeka varjam kimitam vratam tey ?"

 

In the above stotram, Shri Alavandar prays to

Sriya:Pathi, for protection. Towards this

Shri Alavandar quotes our Lord's declaration in

his Ramavathara, where he had declared that

anyone surrendering to him will be protected.

 

Shri Alavandar states that since he has now

approached the Lord for protection, the Lord

should give him "Abhaya" as the Lord's

pratignya does not exclude me [shri Alavandar].

 

Our Swami reflects similar sentiments in the

45th sloka of Saranagati Deepika:

 

"yam poorvamaashitajaneshu BavAn yaTavat

Dharmam param praNijagau swayamaanushasyam ! ...."

 

Swami Desika in the sloka, incorporates Sita devi's words,

 

"Aanrushamsyam parodharma: tvatta yeva mayA shuta:"

 

In this Swami says that Piratti Sita Devi has said

"compassion is the highest among Dharmas and I have

heard it from you [the Lord] only"

 

Swami, as quoted says, "My Lord! a helpless being

like me is standing before you, reminding you of

your pratingya and you, Shri Rama, are known for

your truth and uprightness. Please protect me!"

 

At this juncture we are also reminded of "MitraBavena samprAptam..."

and "sakrudevaprapannaya" !

 

Shri Alavandar in the last line of the above mentioned

Stotra Ratna sloka asks - "Madeka varjam kimitam vratam tey ?"

what is this vow of yours which takes in the whole

world and leaves out me alone?

 

In the very next sloka [46th Sloka of Saranagati Deepika],

Swami Desika thinks of forbearance, the Great quality of

the Lord, and hopes that in his case also it will help

to pardon if not over look his sins. Swami Desika says

there is no reason why he alone should be an exception

to the rule of reprieve.

 

This gives an amazing feel when you look at the

similarities of thought between Swami Desika and

Shri Alavandar.

 

.......to be continued!

 

AlavandAr tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

 

dEsikan tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

 

Praveena nAmni Ramanuja dasi

1st Jul 1999