Yethiraja Sapthadhi - Introduction

[Guest guest]

ri:

Srimathe Ramanujaya Nam

Srimathe Nigamantha Maha Desikaya Nama:

 

Dear Sri Vaishnavas,

 

On this Thirunakshathram of Bhagawat Ramanujar, we wish to

share with you all his greatness as expounded by Swamy Desikan in his

Sri Yethiraja Sapthadhi.

 

Sri Yethiraja Sapthadhi contains 74 slokas written by Swamy Desikan

about Sri Bashyakarar. Yethiraja means it is about Sri Bashyakarar

who is the greatest among all the sanyasis. Sapthadhi means 70 (+ 4)

slokas. This title was given by Swamy Desikan himself. The slokas in

this sthothram are organized in various different meters as in the

Dhayasathakam.

 

In the Tamil month of Chithirai (star – Thiruvadhirai), the

auspicious day when Sri Bashyakarar took incarnation on this Earth,

when Swamy Desikan was immersed in the divine beauty and divine

qualities, the other Sri Vaishnava scholars requested him to grace

them with a sthothram about Emperumanar so that they could also enjoy

a similar experience at all times. It has been mentioned in the Guru

Paramparai that Swamy Desikan graced this sthothram with the

blessings of Sri Bashyakarar.

 

This sthothram clearly exhibits the boundless Bhakthi that Swamy

Desikan has for the lotus feet of Sri Bashyakarar. Swamy Desikan pays

obeisance each and every Acharyan in our lineage of Acharyas with

Emperuman at the head of the lineage followed by Periya Piratti,

Vishwaksenar, Nammazhwar, Natha Munigal, Uyyakkondar, Manakkal Nambi,

Alavandar, Periya Nambi and others, until Sri Bashyakarar with an

exclusively dedicated slokam. Swamy Desika explains the greatness of

Sri Bashyakarar in the rest of the slokams in this sthothram.

 

This sthothram describes in detail the greatness of Sri Bashyakarar,

his divine beauty, the greatness of his Jnyana Mudhirai, his divine

works, the greatness of the sermons delivered by him, his theertha

kainkaryam to Lord Sri Varadarajan of Kancheepuram and other

information about his life.

 

Further, the views expressed in this sthothram about Sri Bashyakarar

are:

- He is the incarnation of the 5 divine weapons of Lord Narayana

- He is also as the incarnation of Lord Dathathreya

- He is the central attractive pendant in the Guru Paramparai which

is compared to a necklace

- His lotus feet is more significant than that of Emperuman

- The greatness of his divine works is unsurpassable

- He retrieved Emperuman from the dangers caused from other religious

sects

- Had he not taken incarnation on this Earth, the entire universe

would have been plunged into ignorance

- His compassion towards sentients (jeevans) is similar to the flow

of the river Ganga

- His sidhantham has neither a beginning nor is it a new philosophy

- He eliminated the accusations that were held against Sage Vyasa and

other maharisis

- Finding fault with his philosophy is equivalent to finding fault

with oneself

- His philosophy remains unaffected by other religious sects

- His divine works extricate the jeevans from the painful cycle of

rebirth and leads them towards the path to moksham

- Other religious sects cannot realize the greatness of his philosophy

- Those who follow his philosophy will never turn towards other

religious sects

- His philosophy will make its followers as Paramaikanthins

- Vaideekas adorn even the dust from his lotus feet on their heads

for protection

- One can attain ultimate bliss by following his philosophy

- His followers will not fall prey to kamam which did not even spare

the mumoorthis

- Those who learn and practise his philosophy can easily refute other

religious sects

 

This sthothram contains many more such great views.

 

Finally, Swamy Desikan, with the blessings of his Acharyan, having

modestly realized the divine works of Sri Bashyakarar claims that

other religious sects cannot dare to contest this philosophy with

him. He also claims that he wrote this sthothram after being directed

by Sri Vaishnava scholars thereby enlightening people from other

religious sects to seek refuge at the lotus feet of Emperumanar. This

sthothram helps gain knowledge about the two vibhoothis of Lord Sri

Narayana. Those who read and realize this sthothram will be capable

of subduing those who envy this philosophy.

 

 

In subsequent postings, we also intend to share the Tamil

prabandham "Yethirajar ThalMel Ezhubadhu" of U Ve Sri Hari.

 

Disclaimer: The source of this translation attempt is U Ve Sri

Ramadesikachariar Swamy's commentary on Swamy Desikan's sthothrams.

Any typos or errors in translation are unintentional.

 

Regards,

Ramanuja Dasan Vijaykumar