Experiencing Swami Desika - 36

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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:

 

Swami Desika excels in using similes in all the four

quarters of the following Sloka.

 

"jayati sakalavidyAvAhinIjanmashaila:

janipaTha parivrutti srAntha visrAnti shAKI !

niKila kumatimAyA sharvarIbAlasoory:

nigamajaladivelApOrNachandrO yatIndra: !!"

 

-- yatirAja Saptati (28)

 

 

Shri bAshyakArar is a person with tremendous knowledge

and he is the only one who analyses all arts and while he

accepts the good ones, he reprimands others. Besides,

Shri bAshyakArar spreads the right ones across the world

for the benefit of others. Shri bAshyakAra's kaimkaryam

is like the flow of rivers that make the land prosperous

and this quality of Shri bAshyakArar has made him an

embodiment of total virtue.

 

All of us, when roaming around in the hot sun feel

completely exhausted and find the shade of a tree

a blessing to relax. In today's samsAra lOka our

continuous chain of birth and re-birth makes us

go through happiness and sorrow and various

suffering. As we exhausted souls are struggling,

Shri bAshyakArar - becomes the grand big tree -

that gives us shade.

 

EmberumanAr is not just a shade, he is also the

light for humanity. Just as the morning Sun spreads

light to clear away darkness, Shri bAshyakArar removes

the darkness of Ajnana [created by teachings of

other schools of thought] and provides brightness

into us.

 

Shri yatirAjA's important kaimkaryam is releasing the

world from Viparitha Jnana. Our Vedas, which is so

vast, gives room for many interpretations and when

there are many interpretations it gives room for

wrong and dangerous understanding. Humanity was,

in general, driven and directed by many who completely

misread the Vedas. The teachings by such people,

who misread the Vedas, just rocked the humanity.

 

Our Shri yatirAja understood the Vedas in the right

perspective and told the world in no uncertain terms.

Just as the oceanic waters raise on the sight of

full-moon, the Vedas just relish the very sight of

Shri Ramanuja interpreting and teaching the correct

understanding of the Vedas.

 

This makes Shri bAshyakArar the supreme amongst

everyone.

 

Here, Shri bAshyakArar is visualised as a mountain,

tree, Sun and moon. He is also referred as yatIndrA

and hence can be interpreted as being visualised

as indrA also!

 

Swami Desika's above Sloka is a jaya gOsham with the

following meaning:

 

May Victory be unto yatirAja, who is the mountain

where from perennial rivers of Vedas flow always,

who is the grand tree offering solace to the tired

pilgrims of samsAra; who is the rising sun dispelling

the snows of Mayavadins; who is the full moon gladdening

the waves of Vedas!

 

Whatever, Adiyal is able to understand and share

with you are from the works of Swami Desika. This

little knowledge gained from Swami's works gives

immense pleasure and depth of Shri yatirAjA's

greatness! The words are limited to detail and

enjoy Shri yatirAjA's efforts and knowledge.

 

Let us recite and relish Thiruvarangatthamudhanaar's

rAmAnuja nootrandAdhi, in which he pours out thus

 

"kaNdukoNdEn emraamaanusanRannai kaaNdalumE

thoNdukoNdEn avan thoNdar poR RaaLil en thollai ven^n^Oy!

viNdukoNdEn avan seerveLLa vaariyai vaaymaduththin

RuNdukoN dEn,innam uRRana Othil ulappillaiyE!!"

 

"Now, I have seen my Ramanuja; what a sight it

is indeed!It makes me seek to serve the golden feet of

his devotees; Now I take just a sip from this ocean of

auspicious qualities and all my past karmaas are

destroyed, No, there is no end if I start to say more."

 

Having enjoyed Shri Ramanuja, though in a small effort,

it is time for us start enjoying the glory of our

Swami Desika. There have been Oracles on Swami Desika's

arrival (even before Swami's actual advent) to our loka

for our upliftment. Shri yatirAja himself had hinted

on this........... Tomorrow!

 

 

yatirAjar tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

 

dEsikan tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

 

Praveena nAmni Ramanuja dasi

28th Aug 1999