Sri Satyagalam and Swamy Deshikan - Part 1

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ShrimatAm Sri VAdihamsAmbudAchArya samyami sArvabhouma divya katAksha labdha

sArvajna Shrimataam Shri Ghantaavataaram Kavitaarkikasimha Sarvatantra

Swatantra Vedaantaachaarya Sri Thooppul Nigamaanta Maha Deshikaaya Namaha

 

The celebrated acharya kshetram of Sri Satyagalam, a small village

at about 150 kms from Bangalore is very significant and holy place in the

Sri Vaishnavite world. This because of the fact that Swamy Deshikar, the

greatest vaishnava acharya after Bhagavad Ramanuja lived in this village for

many years. A small history of Swamy Deshikar's association with this

kshetram is presented below.

 

This is a mini series with three parts.

Part - 1 - Background

Part - 2 - Swamy Deshikan's visit to Satyagalam and Abhitistavam

Part - 3 - Satyagalam after Swamy Deshikan and in recent times, along with

photographs of "ninRa Swamy Deshikar" and "Sri Koorma PeeTam"

---------------------------

 

Part - 1

 

Background

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It was 1327 A.D, a black year in the history of Arangam. The temple

town of Thiruvarangam was about to be attacked by Malik kafur, the head of

the army of the Sultan.

Fear spread among the vaishnavites in the town, regarding the safety

of the archai of their beloved Aranga. It was a time when the acharya peetam

of SriRangam was headed by Sri Sudarshana Bhattar. Sri Pillai lOkaachaaryar

and our beloved Swami Deshikan were also present in Arangam at that time.

Plans were made to safeguard the temple and its belongings even at

the cost of one's life. Their main aim was then to rescue the archai of

Aranga from the wicked attackers.

As per the plan, utsavar Azhagiya manavaalan was moved out of the

sannidhi. A huge wall was raised in front of the reclining archai of Aranga.

A dummy look-alike was created and placed in front of that wall. At the

thaayar sannidhi, the icons were placed in a huge pit dug in front of the

sannidhi and dummies were put in place of the originals.

 

The second plan of action was to move the utsavar Azhagiya

manavaalan from Arangam to Thirupathi. Though our Swami Deshikan wanted to

accompany Aranga to Thirupathi, he could not do so, as he had to execute the

third and very important plan of action. He had to protect the great work

"Shrutha prakaashika", a work comprising of hand written notes on Sri

Bhaashyam, recorded by Sri Sudarshana Bhattar on palm leaves and was the

only authentic commentary available on the Sri Bhaashyam of Bhagavad

Ramanujar at that time.

 

--

Note - Shrutha prakaashika is a great work done by Sri Sudarshana Bhattar.

Sri Sudarshana Bhattar was a student of Sri Nadaadoor Ammaal. Sri Nadadoor

Ammaal used to deliver Sri Bhaashya kaalaksepams along the inner praakaaram

of Sri Varadaraja Perumal sannidhi at Kanchipuram. Sri Sudarshana Bhattar,

used to take down notes during these kaalakshepams and later compiled them

into a great work called Shrutha prakaashika.

--

 

Swamy Deshikan also had to protect the two young sons of Sri

Sudarshana Bhattar, Sri Paraankusha Bhattar and Vedaachaarya. Swamy Deshikan

then took the manuscripts of Shrutha prakaashika from Sri Sudarshana Bhattar

and promised him that he shall at all times protect that manuscript and it

shall always be close to his heart. Many people like Sudarshana Bhattar etc

could not leave Arangam due to old age. Sri Sudarshana Bhattar had advised

Swamy Deshikan to protect himself and the manuscripts at any cost. He wished

that there should be atleast one person who could continue to light the

world with the wisdom of Ramanuja.

Along with the sons of Sri Sudarshana Bhattar and many other

desciples our Swami Deshikan then begins journey northwards. But by that

time, the army had already entered the temple town. Many great people were

massacred. The temple town was looted and ransacked. Swamy Deshikan and his

followers spent the night by hiding among corpses and at day-break made

their way out of Arangam. On the way they hid the great work Shrutha

prakaashika of Sri Sudarshana Bhattar in a pit dug along the banks of river

Kaveri and marked the place so that they could retrieve it later.

 

--

Note - This incident where Swamy Deshikan successfully rescued the great

work Shrutha prakaashika, has been celebrated in many of the works on Swamy

Deshikar.

 

Deshika Mangalaashaasanam

-------------------------

 

shrutaprakAshikA bhUmou vyEnAdou parirakshitA

pravartitAcha pAtrEshu tasmai shrEshTAya mangaLam

 

When there was disturbance due to Thurushkars (Muslims) Swamy Desikan not

only protected the Sruthaprakaasika - the commentary on Sri Bhashyam,

written by Sri Sudharsana bhattar, Swamy Desikan also propagated the same

through learned scholars (by teaching them). MangaLam to Swamy.

 

Deshika Gadyam

--------------

 

sudarsana-soori virachitha srutha-prakAsikA pari-rakshaNa

pari-sodhana prathi-pAdhana pari-bruTa

 

You carefully protected, critically reviewed and clearly explained

the contents of "Srutha prakAsika", the great work of Sudarsana Soori.

--

 

Continued...

 

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vAzhi vyAkhyAmuddirak kai !!!