Tirunakshatram of Sri Rangapriya Mahadesikan

[Guest guest]

SrI:

Srimate rangapriya mahadeSikAya nama:

 

Dear Bhaktas,

 

This is to inform fellow disciples and admirers of

Sri Sri Rangapriya Mahadesikan that the revered acharya's

tirunakshatram is today, Friday, Feb 9, makha nakshatram.

Reproduced below is the taniyan of Sri Rangapriya Swami,

as well as a brief biography contributed by Sri A. Bharat

of Bangalore, a fellow sishya of Swami.

 

SrIvAsa-samyami-vareNya-nivishTa-bhARam

SrIranga-yogivara-divya-kRpAtta-yogam |

SrI-lakshmaNAkhya-yati-labdha-kRpAtta-cihnam

rangapriyam mama gurum SaraNam prapadye ||

 

In my guru Sri Rangapriya,

whose burden of protection was placed with

the Lord by the glorious sannyasi Sri Srinivasa

Mahadesikan;

who received instruction in yoga through the

divine compassion of the best of yogis,

Sri Srianga Mahaguru;

who was given the insignia of the sannyAsa-ASrama

through the compassion of Sri Abhinava Ramanuja

Mahadesikan.

I take refuge.

 

----

 

Sri Rangapriya Swami in his poorvasrama was known as Sri

H.S. Varadadesikacharyar and hails from Hedathale in Mysore

District. When he was five years old he was taken by his parents

to Sri Poundrikapuram Andavan, Sri Srinivasa Mahadesikan, who was

immediately struck by the tejas on the features of the little boy

predicted a great future for him in the spiritual field. HSV was

attracted to Sri Sriranga Mahaguru of the same town who possessed

great yogic powers and became his sishya in all spiritual

matters. Having no interest in mundane world affairs he became a

naishthika brahmachari. But he was taught by Sriranga Guru that

this world was as much a manifestation of the Lord's activities

as the inner world, and that one should not be relinquish it

completely but should try to bring it in line with the intention

of the Lord in creating it. The ancient rishis had evolved a way

of life and education on these lines and both Sriranga Mahaguru

and our Swami devoted all their mundane activities to bring back

that ideal society.

 

Having completed Vidwat in Sanskrit, he was for some time

teaching English in a school in Mysore District. After coming to

Bangalore he found that he needed an MA for eligibility to teach

in a college. So purely as a matter of form he obtained an MA in

Sanskrit from Sagar University, and taught Sanskrit at National

College until he retired. Then he took sanyasa and also took

over the spiritual activities of the Ashtanga Yoga Mandira

started by his guru.

 

I learnt Sanskrit and philosophy from him 35yrs back and have

been in touch learning the Visishtadvaita texts.

 

On the personal level, in knowledge, anushtana, compassion and

reasonableness there is no one to equal him. He has no enemies

and he has never spoken ill of anyone. he has however bewailed

the fights that go on between our sects and at various times used

his efforts to create more friendliness. He was offered the head

postion of Parakala Mutt but refused as it would have interfered

with his spiritual activities. His sishyas are legion and are

spread all over the world.