Swami Sri Desikan's 733th Thirunakshatram

[Guest guest]

Sri: Srimathe Rangaramanuja

Mahadesikaya Namaha Srimathe Nigamantha Mahadesikaya Namaha

Srimathe Bhagavathe Bhashyakaraya Mahadesikaya Namaha Sri Ranganatha

Divyamani PadukabhyAm Namaha

Dear Bhagavathas,

 

Prathishtaapitha Vedantha: Prathishipthabahirmatha: |

Bhooyaa: Thraividhyamaanya: Thvam Purikalyanabhajanam ||

 

Swami Sri Desikan was thus blessed by Sri Nadadur Ammal (Vatsya VaradaGuru) the

nephew of Sri Ramanujar, when Swami Sri Desikan was five years old.

A free translation of this is "You will establish Vedanta on a firm basis

andrefute the doctrine of its opponents. May scholars well versed in theVedas

hold you in great esteem. May you be the recipient in a greatmeasure of all

that is auspicious." (Note: A mural depicting this incident can be seen on the

ceilings of Sri Varadaraja Swami Temple in Kanchipuram even today). Swami

fulfilled the blessings of his pracharya (acharya's acharya) andwent on to

establish himself as KAVITARKIKASIMHAM (the lion among poetsand logicians);

VEDANTHACHARYA (foremost in exponent of Vedanthicteachings) and

SARVATHANTRASWATANTHRA (full independence in allsciences). Swami Sri Desikan's

greatness in the field of Vedanthicliterature has no parallel. Swami has

composed over 127 works invarious languages including Sanskrit (67), Tamil

(24), Manipravalam(35), and Prakrit, a simple form of Sanskrit(1). Swami Sri

Desikan was a devout follower and systematic exponent of Sri Ramanuja

Siddhantham. It is in the works of Swami Sri Desikan that the system of Sri

Ramanuja Siddhantham shines in its philosophical glory and ethical excellence.

 

 

This year Purataasi Thiruvonum marks the 733rd thirunakshathram of Swami Sri

Nigamaantha Maha Desikan, one of the greatest acharya's of Sri Vaishnava Sath

Sampradhayam. This Thirunakshathram falls on Friday, September 28, 2001. To

commemorate the Thirunakshathra Celebrations, an "Acharya Vaibhavam Conference"

is being planned on September 29, 2001. Along with The Hindu Cultural Society

of Western New York and Swami Desika Darsana Satsangam (SDDS), Sri Ramanuja

Mission is pleased to invite all Bhagavathas to seek the blessings of the Lord

and our Acharyas during the Thirunakshathram celebrations to be held at

Buffalo, New York on Saturday September 29th. The program includes Bhagavad

Bhashyakara and Paduka Thiruvaaraadhanam, speeches, plays, and various group

recitals. The tentative program is as follows:

 

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

SWAMI SRI DESIKAN'S THIRUNAKSHATRAM

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH 2001.7.30 am to 8.00 am: Suprabatham.Playing Audio

recordings of the rare Hayagrivar Suprabatham and Swami Desika Suprabatham

composed by Thritheeya Parakala Swami+ Group recitation of Sri Venkatesa

Suprabhatham.8.00 am to 9.30 am: Sudarsana HomamA 10 minute talk on Sudarsana

Homam by Sri Vijayaraghavan Srinivasan + Group recital of Sudarsana

Ashtakam.9.30 am to 11.30 am: Tirumanjanam, Alamkaram and Poolangi SevaGroup

recital of Sikshavalli and Purusha Sooktham+ * At Tirumanjanam: Periyazhwar

Tirumozhi 2.4 "Neeraattal" containing "Vennai Alaintha kunungum",* At

Alamkaram: Nammazhwar's Tiruvoimozhi 4.3 "Kovai Vaayaal"containing "Poosum

Santhu enn nenjame" and* At Nivedanam: Andal's Nachiar Tirumozhi 9. "Sinddora

Sempodi containing"Naru Narum pozhil"11.30 am to 12.30 pm: Paduka Aradhanam

and Sattrumurai. A 10 minute talk on the importance of Paduka Aradhanam by Sri

Muralidhar Rangaswamy Group recital of Iyal sattrumurai, Vazhi Tirunamam,

Acharya Thanians andAcharya Sambhavanai.12.30 pm to 2:00 pm: Prasadham2.00 pm

to 2.30 pm: Keynote address on Sri Bhagavad Ramanujaby Sri Poondi

Vijayaraghavan Swami

2.30 pm to 3.00 pm: Keynote address on Swami Desika (to be finalized)

3.00 pm t0 3.20 pm: Talk (to be finalized) + Desika Mangalam.3.20 pm to 3.30 pm:

Break3.30 pm to 4.00 pm: Childrens' play arranged by "Hindu Cultural Society of

Western New York" (Host organization).4.00 pm to 6.00 pm: Kalyana Utsavam:

Group recital of "Varanamayiram"

6.00 pm to 7.00 pm: Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam - Group recital7.00 pm to 8.00 pm: Prasadham

8.00 pm to 9.30 pm: Kalakshepam of "Srimad Rahasya Traya Saram" by Sri Anbil

Ramaswamy + a Question and Answer group discussion, if time permits.

 

Nadadur Madhavadasan

Secretary, Sri Ramanuja Mission,

Srirangam Srimad Andavan Periashramam