Sri Srinivasa Vaibhavam- Daya sathakam and Venkatesa Suprabhatham

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SrI:

SrImathE Gopaladesika mahadesikaya namah:

 

Dearest Srivaishnavas,

Continuing on the glory of Tirumala Sri Srinivasa

perumAL:

 

AchArya saarva bhouman – Swamy Nigamantha Mahadesikan

composed a wonderful 108 verses on the daya of Sri

Venkatesa. The sthOthra is a gigantic celebration of

the Lord’s matchless and limitless Daya GuNam. Almost

every subsection of Daya sathakam echoes the mood of

celebration of Lord's AnukampA and KaruNA. This

stotram celebrates the auspicious Quality (Kalyana

Guna ) of Mercy (Dhayaa) of the Lord of

Thiruvenkatam. Of All the Kalyana Gunaas of

Venkataadhri Sekhara Vibhu. His Dhayaa is the most

important one for the uplift of the Chetanaas.

The concept of Prapatti and Thiruvenkatamudayaan’s

Dhayaa to realize the fruits of that Prapatti is the

subject of Venkatanatha Kavi in this "Satakam".

 

Sri Sadagopan Swamin writes in his post on Daya

sathakam:- The structure of this stotram containing

108 slokas (one for each of the Divya Desa Archaa

Murthys of Sriman Narayana perhaps) is extraordinarily

impressive even by Swami Desikan’s standards of poetic

excellence.

 

Our Acharya has used ten plus different meters to

compose the ten groups of slokas, each of which house

" ten" slokas.The numbers of slokas and their poetic

meters are as follows:

 

1. Slokaas 1-10 : Anushtup meter

2.Slokaas 11-20 : Aryaa meter

3.Slokaas 21-30 : Oupacchandhasikam

4.Slokaas 31-40 : Maalini

5.Slokaas 41-50 : Mandhaakraanthaa

6.Slokaas 51-60: Nathkutakam

7.Slokaas 61-70: SikariNi

8.Slokaas 71-80 : HariNi

9.Slokaas 81-90: Pruthvee

10.Slokaas 91-104: Vasantha Tilakaa

11. Slokaas 105& 106 : Maalini again

12.Slokaas 107& 108 : Sardhoola Vikriditham

 

In the tradition of Sri Ramadesikachariar, each set of

the ten slokaas have the essence of the ten Patthus of

Thiruvaimozhi of Nammazhwaar. According to this

tradition , every set of ten reveals a particular

meaning, which together covers the ananatha KalyaaNa

GuNaas of the Lord of Thiruvenkatam. The ten meanings

associated with the ten sets of ten slokas have been

summarized by Srirama Desikaacchaar Swamy this way:

 

1.The Lord of Thiruvenkatam is the one , who can

give Mokshaanugraham .

2.He comprehends everything and He is capable of

carrying out whatever He chooses to do.

3.He destroys the enemies of those, who surrender

unto Him and thereby seek His help.

4.He is the means for attaining ALL worthwhile goals.

5.He is the fruit of ALL worthwhile endeavours.

6.He can be reached easily thru the glorious means

of Prapatti.

7.He will rush to the help of the lowest and the

highest

with same speed, when they appeal to Him sincerely for

help.

8.He is the Supreme principle standing on top of

Thiruvenkatam.

9.He is the one, who took the incarnations of Rama and

Krishna.

10.He is the one, who can offer the happiness

associated with Moksha right here on this earth.

 

Swami Desikan goes on to describe in detail the

Anantha Kalyana Gunaas of Sriman Narayana in his

Taatparya RatnaavaLi and Dramidopanishad Saaram . He

is thus paying his tribute to Nammazhwaar"s

Thiruvaimozhi in all of these three works .We will

illustrate the ten essential meanings of Daya Satakam

in the subsequent sections as revealed by Srirama

Desikaacchaar Swamy in the tradition of

his Achaarya, Navaneetham Krishnamaacchaar Swamy of

Oppiliappan Koil.

 

In the very first sloka ,Swami Desikan states

precisely his goal in composing this Grantham

and describes the object of his salutations this

way:

 

PRAPATHYEH TAM GIRIM PRAAYA:

SRINIVAASAANUKAMPAYAA I

IKSHUSAARA SRAVANTHYEVA

YANMOORTHYAA SARKARAAYITAM II

 

Here he compares the Lord"s Dhayaa as

the sweet flowing river of Cane sugar juice,

which has solidified to become the mountain of

Thiruvenkatam. Swami States that he offers his

Prapatti to that mountain , which has become the

embodiment of the Lord"s Dhayaa .

 

The first theme covered by the first ten

slokas revolves around the fact that the

Lord of Thiruvenkatam (SravaNa Venkatesan )

is eminently suitable for worship and adoration.

The reason is that He is an ocean of Mercy (Dhayaa).

He serves as the treasure for those , who have no

riches to speak of . He is the field out of which

grows the four fruits of human life (Purushaarthams).

That concept of blemish-free mercy makes Him the

supreme object of contemplation and worship as

described below:

 

AKINCHANA NIDHIM SOOTHIMAPAVARGHA TRIVARGAYOH :

ANJANAADHRI ISWARA ABHISHTOWMI NIRANJANAAM

 

The above sloka is the last of the first group of ten.

In earlier verses, Swami desikan offers his

salutations to Guru Paramparaa and Azhwaars. In the

beautiful second verse , he says:

 

vigaahe teertha bhauLaam seethaLAm guru Santathim I

Srinivasa Dhayaambhodhi pareevaha paramparaam II

 

The key words are: SeethaLAm Guru santathim

Srinivasa Dhayaambhodhi Pareevaha Paramparaam

Vigaahe . He says that he immerses in the cool waters

of the flowing stream of Guru Parampara that

originated from the ocean of Mercy known as

Srinivasa.

 

Thanks to Sri Sadagopan Swamin for granting permission

to enjoy here. There should be another series to enjoy

all verses of Daya sathakam [perhaps next year]

 

Let us now enjoy the popular Sriu Venkatesa

Suprabhatham [reference book: Balaji- Venkateswara-

Lord of Tirumala- Tirpuati- An introduction written by

Nanditha Krishna]

 

Special slokas have also been composed in celebration

of Lord Venkatesa. They are recited regularly every

day inside the temple and at home by the devotees.

 

Sri Venkatesa Suprabhatham- These are the verses for

invocations with which the daily aradhanas are begun

in Tirumalai. They are made up of four parts.

 

Suprabhatham- meaning good dawn to You; a prayer

awakening the Lord early in the morning. It is made up

of 29 verses, the first four addressed to Rama,

Govindha, and Shree Mahalakshmi. The next 24 verses

eulogize the Lord Srinivasa and address Him by various

names. The last stanza says that whomsoever recites it

everyday will get happiness, peace and the highest

state i.e. mOksha or eternal service at His Lotus

feet.

 

Stothram- or entreaty – made up of 11 verses, the

devotee prays for Lord Venkatesa’s protection, saying

that he comes from far away to worship the Lord’s

Lotus feet; his occasional visits and adoration may be

favoured with the same rewards as those received from

daily worship.

 

Prapatti: meaning- Saranagathi- this 16 verses prayer

to Lord Sri Sriniavasan starts with a salutation to

Sri Mahalakshmi who always resides in His divine

chest; and goes on to surrender at the feet of the

Lord. In the tenth verse, it refers to Rg vedic

description of Vishnu’s Lotus feet as the most exalted

place of attainment, and in the 11th verse to the

Bhagawath Gita where the Lord as Parthasarathi showed

Arjuna, His Lotus Feet as the place for unconditional

and unreserved submission. The shloka makes the point

that Lord Venkateshwara will protect the devotee who

totally surrenders himself to the Lord.

 

Mangalaasaasanam: meaning a prayer for glory and all

auspiciousness, it promises that those who go to see

Lord Venkateshwara will desire to stand in his

presence forever and continuously gaze at His handsome

and attractive divine form.

 

Vinaa vEnkatEsaam na nAThO na nATha

Sadhaa vEnkatEshaam smaraami smaraami

harE vEnkatEsha prasiddha prasiddha

priyam vEnkatEsha prayaccha prayaccha

 

There is no Lord for me other than Lord Venkatesa

I [utter] think of Lord Venkatesa all the time

May Lord Venkatesa be happy with my prayers

May Lord Venkatsa be pleased to bless me forever

 

Let us begin to enjoy the nectarine AzhwAr’s verses on

Thirumala now in next posts

 

SrI PadmaavathI samEtha Sri Srinivasa ParabrahmaNE

Namah:

Acharyan ThiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

Regards

Namo Narayana

dAsan