Experiencing Swami Desika - 39

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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:

 

It is exciting to note that our Alvars and Acharyas

have made clear mention about the avataara of

Swami Desika and this clearly establishes the

qualities, and place of avataara of Swami.

 

Swami Desika inherited vital philosophy from our

Acharya and Swami not only exhibited the great

qualities in himself but also proved his poetic

genius, courage, conviction and unique devotion.

 

How does one refer our Swami? Many call him a

mahA Vidwan; some as mahA mEdAvi; a few as

mahA Kavi. Most accept our Swami as the greatest

mahAn of Visitadvaita, but the truth is that

none were able to find a single word to depict

our Swami's greatness.

 

Swami lived a life of complete simplicity and

austerity and he was totally indifferent to

material wants.

 

Swami Desikan, in his Subhasita Nivi, says that

an ordinary soul having submitted to an able Guru,

will gain true knowledge on Tattva, Hita and Purushartha...

 

Let us take this important lesson from our Swami

and prostrate with total devotion on to his Lotus Feet.

 

"asmad guru Venkatanaathaarya yathivara poorNau sayaamunam raamam

padmaaksha naatha satajith sEnEsa ramaa ramaapathIm vandhE !!"

 

Let us prostrate to the esteemed and foremost Acharyas of

Shri Vaishnavism viz., Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi,

Shri Vishvaksena, Shri Sadagopa, Shri Nathamuni,

Shri pundarIkaksha, Shri Ramamisra, Shri YamunAcharya,

Shri Mahapoorna, Shri Bhagavad Ramanuja and

Shri Vedanta Desika.

 

A number of 'Thanians' (laudatory dedicated verses) were

dedicated to him.

 

"Sriman Venkata Natharyah Kavitarkika Kesari !

Vedantacharya Varyo Mey Sannidhattam Sadaa Hridhi"!!

 

Swami Desika's son Varadacharya implores

"the great lion of poetics and dialectics and the

great preceptor of Vedanta (that Swami Venkatanatha was)

should reside in his heart always."

 

Once upon a time a Vidwan Shri Krishna Misra

challenged Swami if Swami could bring out a play

to match his own play called the 'Prabhoda SuryOdayam'.

 

Never to let down an opportunity to contribute, our

Swami instantly wrote a play called 'Sankalpa SuryOdaya'.

Our Swami took just a night to complete this play of

10 Acts in which various qualities [like Viveka, jealousy,

greed, etc., were personified].

 

"Kavi Taarkika Simhaaya Kalyaana Guna Saaline!

Srimate Venkatesaaya Vedaanta Gurave Namah !!"

 

Truly, Shri Krishna Misra was impressed and honored our

Swami with the title of "Kavi Taarkika Simham". Swami

stood a personification of Kalyana Gunas,

 

Kavitaarkikasimham- Vedanthacharyan, Sri Venkata Natha!

I pay obeisance to You..

 

It is a practice that when we start our daily prayers and

recitation of stotras, we start with the salutation to

our Swami, as:

 

""Sriman Venkata ...."

 

and when we complete we recite:

 

"Kavi Taarkika Simhaaya ....."

 

This is the greatest respect to our Swami and henceforth

this posting shall also start and end with salutations to

our Swami Desikan.

 

........To be continued!

 

 

dEsikan tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

 

Praveena nAmni Ramanuja dasi

14th Jul 1999