Guest guest Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 SrimatE Raamaanujaaya Namaha // SrimatE Nigamaanta Mahaa Desikaaya Namaha // SrIman! SrI Ranga Sriyam anupadravam anudhinam Samvardhaya/ SrIman! SrI Ranga Sriyam anupadravam anudhinam Samvardhaya// KAvEri VardhathAm kAlE, kAlE varshathu vAsava: / SrI RanganAthO jayathu Sri Ranga Sri cha VardhathAm// =========================================================== SRI RANGA SRI VOL.06 / ISSUE # 01 dated 24th SEPTEMBER 2004 =========================================================== Dear Bhagavatas: EDITORIAL 8th ANNUAL REPORT OF SWAMI DESIKA DARSANA SATSANGAM (SDDS) & 4th ANNUAL REPORT OF “SRI RANGA SRI” (SRS), ITS ELECTRONIC JOURNAL ==================================================== Today is TaaraNa Samvatsara, Kanya Maasa, SravaNa Nakshatram. Today, we celebrate the Tirunakshatram of Tiruvenkatam Udaiyan. Today, we celebrate the Tirunakshatram of Swami Vedanta Desikan. Today, we celebrate the Tirunakshatram of BrahmaTantra Swatatantra Parakala Maha Desikan (the founder of Sri Parakala Matam) Such an auspicious day also marks the beginning of - - The 9th Anniversary of “Swami Desika Darsana Satsangam”(SDDS) (founded in 1996) and - The 5th Anniversary of “Sri Ranga Sri”, its Electronic journal (founded in 2000) - The 3rd Anniversary of the formation of Board of Advisory Consultants (BAC) for “Sri Ranga Sri” (formed in 2002) - on the Tirunakshatram day in the respective years. - The 2nd Anniversary of “Internal Resources Panel for SRS” (IRP) (formed in 2003) consisting of distinguished members of SRS. SRIVAISHNAVAM TODAY! Way back in the 1980s during my first visit to the USA, whenever I mentioned the word “Hinduism”, the first response of the Westerner (and even our own people who had lost their moorings to our traditions having settled here for long, not to speak of kids born and brought up here without an iota of exposure to our Satsampradayam was “Oh! I know. You are talking about Buddha”. These people did not know that Hinduism and Buddhism were poles apart. The next best bet was “Oh! I know! You are talking about Adhi Sankara”. This second category seems to have closer familiarity with “Hinduism”, thanks to aggressive marketing of vested interests, equating Hindu philosophy with just the Advaita philosophy. In the last few years, however, world populations have come to know about our great Acharyas like Bhagavad Ramanuja and Swami Desika as formidable forces to be reckoned with, recognized and revered. A very heartening news is that people who never ever heard of these names before now come together to celebrate Acharya Vaibhavam Conferences in different cities (and temples, in particular) especially in USA, Bahrain, Kuwait, England, Indonesia, Singapore and other places on the Tirunakashatram days of these Acharyas. And, in this month, we witnessed the PratishTaapana celebrations of Sri Rukmini Sathyabama sameta Sri Venugopala Perumal organized by Sri Ramanuja Mission in New Jersey. Participating in the study of Vedas, Saastras, StOtras and Azhwars’ Divya Prabhandams etc. organized by different SrivaishNava groups has become a routine these days. This is in no small measure due to the efforts of these various SrivaishNava groups that have been straining every nerve to disabuse false impressions and familiarize them with the life histories and works of these great Savants and the lineage of Acharyas of Sri VaishNava Satsampradayam to which they belong. We are happy to submit that we at SDDS and SRS have been doing our little bit in this direction, like the proverbial squirrel in Srimad RamayaNa. Since the early settlers from India and their kids seem to have forgotten what is “Hinduism”, Bhaagavatas in Kuwait published my book “Hinduism Rediscovered” – a nearly 1000 pages book elegantly got up. This was released by His Holiness Srimad ParavakkoTTai Andavan, Poundarikapuram Swami Asramam at Sri Rangam on the occasion of his 84th Tirunakshatram on 28th March 2004 in the presence of H.H. Rangapriya Maha Desikan and an overwhelming audience comprising of all well known Acharyas and Scholars of our Satsampradayam. We are glad to present in this Issue “Vichitra VeeNa” - a write up by Sriman Sadagopan Iyengar, Srikaryam Swami of SRS as a tribute to our very own Swami Desika on the occasion of his Tirunakshatram May Swami Desika bless that this trend to grow from strength to strength in the days ahead and result in the phenomenal growth of Aastikyam, everywhere. --------- GROWTH OF MEMBERS OF SRI RANGA SRI Thanks to the blessings of YathisrEshTas and Acharyas of Bhagavad Ramanuja – Swami Desika Satsampradayam and the encouragement of - Moderators of sister Internet groups who hosted our Editorials in their sites. - Editors of Religious Journals in India who kindly provided us due publicity in their publications. - Recommendations of existing members for admitting their friends. - The new members who joined out of their own volition. Our membership has burgeoned to about 4200 (including about 3000 Active members and over 1200 others whose mails bounce temporarily due to limited capacity of their mailboxes). It is needless to say that this is ample testimony to the popularity of your Journal. ----------- ISSUES RELEASED About 150 Regular issues of SRS have been released, so far (besides several Special Issues) – including: 27 Issues of Vol. 1 15 Issues of Vol. 2 42 Issues of Vol. 3 35 Issues of Vol. 4 and 28 Issues of Vol. 5 This works out to about 40 issues per year and more than 3 issues per month. Our ambition is to release at least once a week. -----------FEE\ D BACK Although we receive feedback now and then, this does not seem to be sufficient. It is worth remembering that the authors who contribute do so out of their dedication and anxiety to share their knowledge and there is absolutely no commercial motive in their efforts. The only reward they may expect is a feedback of constructive criticism and words of encouragement which we feel they richly deserve. Nothing sustains their efforts more than this recognition by readers and nothing puts them off more than the seeming apathy of readers, as evidenced through the absence of such appreciation. This disappointment is not confined to Contributors to SRS only but also to all other Internet groups. In the absence of such input, there is no way for them to improve their output! So, please “Be honest in your appreciation and constructive in your criticism”. To help you do this, we have catalogued the topics and shown the respective Volume / Issue in which they have appeared. Most of you would have perused them. If you have not done so or would like to re-view the same, you may do so NOW and give us the benefit of your valuable comments. You may indicate which serials or which articles you liked most and where you would like to offer suggestions for improvement. This will go a long way to help in improving the quality and content of your journal. Please send your response to -owner (And NOT to ) --------- GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS Time and again, we invite kind attention of contributors to the guidelines in “Sri Ranga Sri” Issues 04/24 dated 06/05/03 and 04/25dated 06/06/03 and the amendment in 04/28 dated 07/29/03 (archived at Messages 2678, 2691 and 2903). WE EARNESTLY REQUEST THEM ONCE AGAIN TO GO THROUGH THESE BEFORE SUBMITTING THEIR ARTICLES FOR PUBLICATION IN “SRI RANGA SRI”. In particular, we would like to reiterate- NO DISCUSSIONS will be allowed in the JOURNAL even on matters featured in the regular Issues of the JOURNAL. ============================================================================= SRS TOPICS FEATURED FROM 2000 TO 2004 ============================================================================ SRIMUKHAMS FROM YATHIVARAS 1.01 SRIMUKHAMS FROM ACHARYAS 1.02, 2.13 =========================================================================== BOARD OF ADVISORY CONSULTANTS (BAC) 4.01 & 4.10 Dr. Vasuda Narayanan joins BAC 4.32 During this year, the following have joined our Board: 5.18 Sri V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swami Sri Anantha Narasimhachariar Swami (Srikaryam of Poundarikapuram Asramam) Smt Vishnupriya Chari and Sri Chari Swamin of Pondicherry ------- INTERNAL RESOURCE PANEL (IRP) 4.10 ========================================================================== SRI RANGA SRI POSTING GUIDELINES 3.21 A NOTE TO MEMBERS, CONTRIBUTORS & MODERATORS 3.32 GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS TO SRI RANGA SRI 4.25 AMENDMENT TO GUIDELINES 4.28 ========================================================================= TOPICS PRESENTED AS SERIES OF ARTICLES AND CONCLUDED ========================================================================= SRIRANGA VIJAYAM- (Purisai Swami Tr. Anbil Ramaswamy) 1.03 to 1.20,3.03,3.04,3.05 ACHARYA VAMSA VRUKSHAM (Anbil Ramaswamy) 1.03 to 1.16 SEVA SWAMI’S SAMPRADAYA LESSONS – Grade 1 Lesson 8 to 15 Tr. Anbil Ramaswamy 1.03 to 1.15, (Lessons 1 To 7 have been archived at www.srivaishnava.org/sgati) SEVA SWAMI’S SAMPRADAYA LESSONS – Grade 2 Lessons 1 to 20 Tr. M.K.Srinivasan Swami 2.01, 2.02, 2.04, 2.06, 2.07, 2.10, 2.15, 3.03 to 3.09, 3.11 to 3.13 SRI VAISHNAVA SAMPRADAYAM (Uruppattur Sri D. Soundararajan Swami) 1.03 to 1.08 GREATNESS OF RAMANUJA DARSANAM (Anbil Ramaswamy) 1.18 t0 1.25 SWAMI DESIKA’S SIMILES (UPAMA) (Anbil Ramaswamy) 3.22 to 3.37, 3.41, 4.02, 4.04 to 4.09, 4.13, 4.13A, 4.14, 4.17 to 4,20 RAMAPIRANAI KARPOM Vol. (H.H.Paravakkottai Srimad Andavan – Tr. Anbil Ramaswamy) 3.22 to 3.37, 3.40, 3.41, 4.02, 4.04 to 4.09 and 4.12 SRIMAD GOPALA DESIKA MAHA DESIKA VIMASATI By Sri C.G. Balaji Swami from Bangalore 3.26 to.3.37, 3.41, 4.02, 4.04 to 4.08 SAPTA SARGA PAARAAYANAM (Anbil Ramaswamy) 4.09, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.17 to 4.21 GITAMRUTHAM & GODHAMRUTAM (Anbil Ramaswamy) 1.11 RAMAMRUTAM & KRISHNAMRUTAM (Anbil Ramaswamy) 3.38,3.39, 3.40 HAMSA SANDESAM (Dr.M.Narasimhachary) 4.19 to 4.23, 4.26 to 4.28 and 4.31 GOTRAS AND PRAVARAS (Anbil Ramaswamy) 4.09, 4.12 to 4.14, 4.17 to 4.20, 4.23, 4.26 to 4.28, 4.31, 4.32, 4.35, 5.02, 5.04, 5.06, 5.08 to 5.14, 5.19 to 25. PANCHARATRA (Sri N. Krishnamachariar) 5.11 to14, 5.19 to 21 ====================================================================== DESIKA STOTRAMS ===================================================================== Ashtabujaashtakam (Anbil Ramaswamy) 1.10 Dasavathara Sthothram, (Anbil Ramaswamy) 3.05 to 3.09, 3.11 to 3.20 ===================================================================== OTHER STOTRAMS etc ==================================================================== Dhruva Stotram (Anbil Ramaswamy) 1.18 and 1.19 Dhyana Slokas of Ashtaksharam, Dhvayam and Charama Slokam (Anbil Ramaswamy) 3.07 Mukunda Mala of Kulasekara Azhwar (Anbil Ramaswamy) 3.18 Oordhva Pundara Dhaarana Dhyana Slokas (Anbil Ramaswamy) 3.18, 3.19, 3.20 ========================================================================= INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES FEATURED ======================================================================== DESIKAMRUTHAM Why Swami Desika is “Srimaan”? (Sri Seva SwamigaL-Tr. Anbil Ramaswamy) 1.09 Thanja Paragathiyai Thantharulvon (Tillai Sri S. Govindarajan Swami) 1.09 Vedantha Desika Vaibhavam (Sri A.Sampath Swami) 1.10 Greatness Of Desika Darsanam (Uttamur-Tr. Anbil Ramaswamy) 1.18 Ramanuja and Swami Desika (Sri M.R. Rajagopala Iyengar Swami) 2.04 A True Srivaishnava - (Sri T. Ramaswami Iyengar Swami) 2.06 The Great Personage And The Great Poet” (Anbil Ramaswamy) 2.07 Who is Pradana Acharyan?(Sri S. Govindarajan Swami) 2.15 Terror Strikes Swami Desika (Anbil Ramaswamy) 3.31 Swamy Desikan - A Tribute (Sri Sadagopan Iyengar) 4.01 Humility of Swami Desika-2 Footwear Stories (Anbil Ramaswamy) 4.32 Who is this Azhwar? 5.28 (MANY MORE TO FOLLOW) ========================================================================= AZHWARS ========================================================================= KULASEKARA AZHWAR (Anbil Ramaswamy) 1.26 TIRUMAZHISAI AZHWAR AND SWAMI DESIKAN (Anbil Ramaswamy) 1.20, 3.16, NAMMAAZHWAAR (Anbil Ramaswamy) 2.05 PERIYAAZHWAR (Anbil Ramaswamy) 2.08 ANDAL-SPECIAL ISSUE 2.12 - THIRUVADIPOORAM SPECIAL REPORT 4.29 - Glory of Tiruppavai (Sri Rangaswamy Muralidhar) 4.29 - Andal (Sri Madhava Kannan) 4.29 TIRUMANGAI AND TIRUPPAAN AZHWARS (Anbil Ramaswamy) 5.07 ======================================================================= KNOW THIS ACHARYA: ======================================================================= Sri Koorathazhavan (Anbil Ramaswamy) 1.17,3.16 Puraana Desika and Abhinava Desika (Anbil Ramaswamy) 1.17 Lineage Non-pareil (PA) Justice Sri M. Srinivasan Swami) 1. 19 Embar (Anbil Ramaswamy) 1.20 Agnihotram Tatachariar Swami (Anbil Ramaswamy) 1.21 Madhurantakam Tirumalai Eechambadi Veeraraghava Maha Desikan (Anbil Ramaswamy)1.22 Tirukkachi Nambigal, (Anbil Ramaswamy) 1.26 Srimad Periya Andavan, (Anbil Ramaswamy) 1.27 Sri Veeraraghava Mahadesikan, (37th) (Anbil Ramaswamy) 1.27 Sri Manakkal NambigaL (Anbil Ramaswamy) 1.27 Sri Srinivasa Mahadesikan, (19th) (Anbil Ramaswamy) 1.27 Sri Panchamatha Bhajamnam Swami (Anbil Ramaswamy) 1.27 Sriman NathamunigaL-SPECIAL ISSUE (Anbil Ramaswamy) 2.09 PPA-Srinivasa Maha Desikan SPECIAL ISSUE (Anbil Ramaswamy) 2.14, 4.23 Debt & Deliverance (Sri Sadagopan Iyengar) (3.42) (MANY MORE TO FOLLOW) ======================================================================== TOPICS PRESENTED AT CONFERENCES ======================================================================== Sri Sannidhi and Sri Vaishnavam Anbil Ramaswamy) 3.02,3.03 and 3.04 Thiruvenkatamudayanum Azhwargal Anubhavamum, (Anbil Ramaswamy) 3.05 to 3.09,3.11 to 3.14,3.16 & 3.17 Maha Sudarsana Homam at Cleveland (Anbil Ramaswamy) 3.42 Sapta Sarga Parayanam of Sundarakandam 4.09 Significance Of Brahmotsavam 4.22 Part 1 of message for Achaarya Vaibhavam Conference: at Washington DC area on 30th and 31st August 2003 "Perumal and Periya Perumal" (Anbil Ramaswamy) 4.33 Part 2 of message for Achaarya Vaibhavam Conference at Washington DC area on 30th and 31st August 2003.4.33 "The Lord regrets!" (Anbil Ramaswamy) 4.33 (MANY MORE TO FOLLOW) ======================================================================= REPORTS OF CONFERENCES & CELEBRATIONS ======================================================================= REPORT ON Ranga SamprokshaNam (Anbil Ramaswamy) 2.03 Report on Ramanuja Jayanthi celebrated at Siva-Vishnu Temple, Maryland on 21st April 2002-3.26 Report on Bhagavad Ramanuja Jayanthi 4.21 Report on Sri Nrisimha Jayanthi 4.22 Report on Acharya Vaibhavam Conference at Washington DC area on 30th and 31st August 2003 (Ms. Chitra Malolan) 4.34 Report on Celebration of TN of SVD on 19th October 03 at Atlanta 5.03 7th Annual Report of SDDS 5.01 Report on my Visit to India for the release of “Hinduism Rediscovered” book function at Srirangam 5.17 Invitation for Ahobila Matam Acharya Vaibhavam Conference at Virginia 4th and 5th September 2004 and PraaNa PratishTaapana of Sri Venugopala PerumaL at NJ under Sri Ramanuja Mission 1st to 11th September 2004 5.27 Report on the above two functions 5.28 ============================================================================ ARTICLES SUBMITTED TO SOUVENIRS ============================================================================ U.Ve. Perukkaranai Swami Satabishekam Special 4.15 - Kulamani Desika on Viswambhara and Sudarkodi (Anbil Ramaswamy) 4.15 - Veda Nool Pirayam Nooru, (Sri Sadagopan Iyengar) 4.15 - Bhagavad Ramanuja (Sri Madhava Kannan) - Yentharo Mahanubhavulu (Sri V.Satakopan) 4.16 (MANY MORE TO FOLLOW) =========================================================================== SPECIAL ISSUES =========================================================================== “Triple tragedy”-Homage to Sri Srinidhi, Sri Seva, and Sri Mukkur Swamis (Anbil Ramaswamy) 2.01 Homage to Mukkur Swami (Sri M.K.Sudarsan Swami of Kuwait) 2.02 Hanumat Jayanthi Special Issue (Anbil Ramaswamy) Chandra Grahanam, 4.22 Subanu Samvatsara Upakarma Procedure (Special Issue) 4.30 TaaraNa Samvatsara Upaakarma Procedure 5.25 and 26 (MANY MORE TO FOLLOW) =========================================================================== QUESTION BOX & QUIZ PROGRAMS =========================================================================== Question Box Qns/Replies (Anbil Ramaswamy) 1.21, 1.22, 2.11, 3.09,3.14, 3.15, 3.24, 4.11, 4.13A (MANY MORE TO FOLLOW) ========================================================================== GREETINGS ========================================================================== Deepavali Greetings 3.01, 4.03, 5.03 New Year Greetings 4.08, Sankaranthi Greetings 3.10, 4.09, 5.11 PuthanDu Greetings 4.19, 5.16 ========================================================================== REVIEW OF BOOKS, CDs etc ========================================================================== Sri Mukkur Swami's CD on Sri Nruhari Hridayam 3.02 “Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram” by Sri M.S. Parthasarathy Iyengar Vedanta Desikar Vaibhavam - Sravana Upanyasams- Smt. Hema Rajagopalan 3.17 (MORE TO FOLLOW) ========================================================================== PANCHANGA SANGRAHAM etc. ========================================================================== Important Days in Subanu Ani 4.26 Important Days in Subanu Adi 4.27 Important Days in Subanu Avani 4.31 Important Days in Subanu Purattasi 4.33 Important Days in Subanu Aippasi 5.02 Important days in Subanu Karttigai 5.05 Important days in Subanu Margazhi 5.08 Important days in Subanu Thai 5.11 Important days in Subanu Maasi 5.14 Important days in Subanu Panguni 5.15 Important days in TaaraNa Chittirai 5.16 Important days in TaaraNa Vaikasi 5.19 Important days in TaaraNa Ani 5.21 Important days in TaaraNa Adi 5.23 Important days in TaaraNa Avani 5.25 Important days in TaaraNa Purattasi 5.28 =========================================================================== TOPICS PRESENTED IN SERIES OF ARTICLES (TO BE RESUMED) =========================================================================== SRI BASHYAMRUTHAM (Anbil Ramaswamy) 1.03, 1.08,2.01,2.02, 2.04, 2.06, 2.07, 2.10, 2.13, 2.15 BHAGAVAD GITAMRUTAM (Anbil Ramaswamy) 1.13-1.15, 2.01, 2.02, 2.04, 2.06, 2.07, 2.10, 2.13, 2.15 =========================================================================== CURRRENTLY ONGOING SERIES (TO CONTINUE) =========================================================================== SWAMI DESIKA’S SRIMAD RAHASYA TRAYA SARAM (SRI SADAGOPAN IYENGAT SWAMI) 3.22 to 3.29, 3.31, 3.33, 3.34, 3.36, 3.37, 3.41, 3.42, 4.01, 4.02, 4.05 to 4.09, 4.12 to 4.23, 4.26 to 4.28, 4.31 to 4.33, 4.35 5.02, 5.04,to 5.06, 5.09, 5.10, 5.12, 5.13, 5.18, 5.20, 5.22, 5.5.23, 5.25, 5.28 --------- FROM THE MAHABHARATA: YAKSHA PRASNAM (M.K.Ramaswamy Iyengar Swami) 3.26 to 3.37, 3.41, 4.04, 4.05, 4.07, 4.08, 4.13, 4.13A, 4.14, 4.17 to 4.20, 4.23, 4.26 to 4.28, 4.31, 4.32, 4.35, 5.02, 5.04 to 5.06, 5. 08 to 5.14, 5.19 to 5.25 --------- NAMMAZHWAR SNIPPETS: (Anbil Ramaswamy) 5.21 to 5.25 =========================================================================== “Vichitra Veena”- A Tribute to Swami Desika Sri Sadagopan Iyengar, Coimbatore, Srikaryam Swami of “Sri Ranga Sri” --------- Vichitra Veena There are a number of musical instruments—we have the Veena, the Violin, the Flute, the Guitar, the Nadaswaram, the YAzh of yore, percussion instruments like the Mridangam, the Tabla, the KanjirA, etc. Though each connoisseur of music has his own favorite among these and each instrument is unique in the melody it produces, yet, one of these is much “more complete” than the others. It is the most comprehensive musical instrument, is quite ancient and requires utmost care in its playing. It has a graceful and majestic look and generates the best of strains, which are manna to the music lover’s ear. This beautiful and melodious instrument is the Veena. Doesn’t the name itself sound short, sweet and musical? There would perhaps be none amongst us who has not heard the sweet strains of this instrument, some time or the other: and all fair-minded music-lovers would be unanimous in their high opinion of the Veena’s magnificent stature and melodious nature. The Veena has the distinction of being (perhaps) the only musical instrument to find a mention in the Vedas. “BrAhmaNou Veena vAdinou gAyEta” says the Shruti, referring to Brahmins playing the instrument. It is no mean honor for the Veena to find a place in the exalted Shruti vAkyAs and indicates its ancient and exalted place, in its class. The Goddess of Learning Saraswati, (who derives her wisdom and glory from Sri Hayagriva) is always picturized with a Veena in her hand—“MANickya VeenAm upalAlayantIm”. And Sage Narada, the pre-eminent among Vishnu-bhaktAs, goes about singing the Lord’s praise, to the accompaniment of the melodious strains of the Veena. Srimad Ramayana also mentions the Veena, telling us that the sweet verses of the epic could be played on the instrument. The ChAndOgya Upanishad glorifies the Veena by indicating that all that is played on the instrument is indeed in praise of the Lord. There is thus no dispute about the greatness and glory of the Veena. This piece, however, is not about Veenas in general—the subject is a Special Veena, unheard of anywhere, strange and splendorous—A Vichitra Veena. This Veena is not an inanimate instrument, but an extremely vocal one, having produced thousands of sweet and singular strains, over a century. This particular Veena is extremely dear to the Lord and His Consort, so much so that the only player, who ever handled this instrument, is the Lord Himself. Untainted by the touch of human hands, this Veena produced delightful and divine melodies, dexterously played by the fingers of the Parabrahmam itself. In his glorious work, Sri DayA Shatakam, which has inspired and moved countless devotees over several centuries, Swami Desikan refers to this Vichitra Veena— “VEdantA DEsika padE vinivEsya bAlam, dEvo DayA Shatakam Etat avAdayan mam vaihArikENa vidhinA samayE griheetam VeenA visEsham iva VEnkata shaila Natha:” In this beautiful slokam, Swami Desikan tells us that the magnificent Stotram of DayA Shatakam was not his own composition, but that of the Lord Himself. The Master VaiNika that He is, the Lord produced the sweet and singular melodies of the Stotram, using Swami Desikan as the Veena. Following in the footsteps of Sri Nammazhwar, who ascribed the composition of Tiruvaimozhi to the Lord Himself (“paNNAr pAdal in kavigaL yAnAi tannai tAn pAdi”), Swami Desikan too submits the entire credit for the composition of the DayA Shatakam at the Lord’s lotus feet, considering himself to be a mere instrument, used by Emperuman to bring out His own melodies. Not a single word or phrase of Tooppul Pillai is redundant or bereft of significant purport. Here too, his comparison of the Veena to himself is extremely suggestive. When we consider the matter, we come up with the following similarities between the venerated Acharya and the versatile instrument. 1. Comprehensiveness — As we saw above, the Veena is the most comprehensive of musical instruments. While other such devices need separate accompaniment and beat, the Veena has an in-built string for keeping beat, setting it apart in its class. It is perhaps the only musical instrument where “layam”(“TALam”) aspect is also taken care of. Similarly, Swami Desikan was the sole repository of all attributes essential in an Acharya. This is evident from the honorific, “Vedanta Desikan”, conferred upon him by Sri Ranganatha. The fact that only this Acharya has been called “Desikan”, (which is a synonym for an Acharya par excellence) is proof positive that Swami Desikan is the most complete Acharya ever born or to be born. 2. Vaidikatvam — As indicated above, the Veena could be termed a “Vaidika” instrument in many ways. It merits quite a few mentions in the Vedas, and specifically in the ChAndOgya Upanishad too. Swami Desikan too is a Vaidika of the first order, never deviating even a little from the dicta of the Shruti. If, till today, our Sampradaya flourishes unchallenged, it is due in no small measure to the firm Vedic foundation on which Swami Desikan re-established our Sampradaya, which was facing stiff challenges from opposing faiths. 3. Melody - There is really no parallel to the sweet strains of the Veena, as any connoisseur of music would attest. The strings of the Veena emit such soulful and haunting melodies that no other instrument can hold a candle to it. Swami Desikan’s incredibly sweet and nectarine verses by far exceed any melody that can be created by any instrument, including the Veena. 4. The Tirumala Connection — Till date, Tiruvenkatamudayan adorns Himself with a Veena, apparently playing it with élan, during BrahmOtsavam. The sight of the Lord resplendent with a gem-studded Veena in His hands, is a sight for jaded eyes. Swami Desikan too enjoys an extremely close connection with Tirumalayappan. The Acharya is acclaimed to be an incarnation of Srinivasa’s Bell. It is Srinivasa, whose single magnificent trait of Daya brought forth a veritable flood of a hundred verses from Swami Desikan. Further, the Acharya was born on the concluding day of the Lord’s Brahmotsavam at Tirumala, under the aphorism of TiruvONam, the star very dear to Emeperuman. To cap it all, Swami’s given name was “Venkatanathan”. 5. Good Looks — The Veena is extremely graceful and beautiful to look at, with two symmetrical pot-like structures on either side. The descriptions of Swami Desikan that we find in “Vedanta Desika Vigraha DhyAnam”(of Sri Kumara Varadacharya) make us wonder whether Sri Valmiki might have addressed to the Acharya, the same accolade that he did to Sri Rama, viz., “PumsAm drishti chitta apahAriNam” (one who makes even males crazy with his beauty). 6. The Strings — The Veena has four strings stretched taught between the two bridges on the top, by playing on which delightful melodies are produced. All of Swami Desikan’s works too are founded firmly in the four Vedas, so much so that all his compositions bear the fragrance of the Shruti—“nigama parimaLam” 7. Darling of Saraswati — The Mahakavi says that Sri Saraswati lovingly totes a Veena in her hands—“MANickya VeenAm upalAlayantIm”. In fact, it is impossible to see a picture of the Goddess of Learning, without a Veena adorning her hands. If we take “Saraswati” to mean wonderful wisdom and scholarship (which is an alternate meaning for the word), we find that all wisdom and scholarship found a repository for themselves in Swami Desikan, making the Acharya an apple of the eye for all Shastras and Scriptural Wisdom. 8. The Support — To enable it to rest evenly on the ground and to enable production of melody, the Veena has on its either side, beautiful pot-like structures. So too, for Swami Desikan, the two branches of Vedanta, viz., Samskrita Vedanta and DrAvida Vedanta, formed the twin bases on which his entire citadel of Samrpradayic philosophy was built. 9. “As the player, so the music”— While in the hands of the expert player, the Veena produces extremely sweet strains, all an inexpert exponent can coax out of the instrument by strumming are “apaswaram” or jarring notes. Similarly, Swami Desikan, prompted by the Lord Himself, produced eminent works of devotion and dogma. However, his opponents evoked from him harsh and humbling responses, in the form of polemic works. 10. Kainkaryam to Ranganatha — The Veena enjoys the unique privilege of being played both in the morning to wake up the Lord of Srirangam and in the night, to put Him to sleep. No other musical instrument is favoured with such an honour, at Srirangam. Its service to this Lord is hence extraordinary. Swami Desikan’s kainkaryam to Aranganagarappan too is unique and unparalleled in the history of devotional literature. His composition of a thousand slOkAs in praise of the Lord’s pAdukAs, his Abheetistavam praying for early return of the Lord to Srirangam after being spirited away from harm’s way due to the Muslim invasion, his NyAsa Tilakam, the Bhagavat DhyAna SOpAnam offering close competition to TiruppANAzhwar in the mouth-watering description of the Lord’s boundless beauty—all these stotras stand eloquent testimony to Swami Desikan’s extremely close association and myriad kainkaryams to Sri Ranganatha. It is this “Vichitra Veena” which we remember with gratitude and devotion, on this holy day of PurattAsi ShravaNam. But for the magnificent melodies of this glorious Acharya, our Sampradaya would never have survived the onslaught of persuasive but poisonous faiths. If, after seven long centuries, the strains from this Vichitra Veena continue to enthral, entice and enchant us, need we say more about Swami Desikan and his glory? ======================================================================== xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ======================================================================== Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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