Swami Desikan's Sri VaishNava Dinasari: Part 2.1

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Paasurams 1 & 2 of Sri VaishNava Dinasari (Abhigamanam):

 

(1)The dear devotees of Sri VaradarAjan's sacred feet

recite Hari, Hari, Hari,Hari, Hari , Hari , Hari

(a total of Seven times )with Bhakthi immediately after

waking up from sleep at dawn . This way , their mind becomes

tranquil . This is an ancient prctise observed by

Sri VaishNavAs.

 

Comments: Swami Desikan states that the darkness of sleep

had enveloped us during the night and after that is chased

away , we should recite with reverence and affection the name

of Hari seven times .

 

(2)Abhigaman Prapatthi: The just awakened BhagavathAs have

nirvEdam (repentance) over the time wasted due to the power

of the KarmAs and compose themselves first and then pray

to the Lord to bless them with the boon of uninterrupted

Kaimkaryam to Him during the rest of the day . They seek

tranquility and seelk refuge at His sacred feet with

Manas , Vaak and Kaayam (Mind, Speech and Body)in the Vedic

manner to derive solace and joy.

 

Comments: The exact words used by Swami Desikan here are:

" Mahizh maRai neRi kodu tani mudaladi iNai adaibhavar TamarE " .

The HaridAsAs are sluted as Thamars or Bhagavathars.

Their method of approach of the Lord is the Veda maargam,

that generates Joy . The tools that they use to perform

this Abhigamana prapatthi are their Mind , Vaak and Body.

 

(3)UpAdhAnam :The Sri VaishNavan collects flowers , prasAdham

(naivEdhyam ) and water for Thirumanjanam , arkhyam, aachamaneeyam,

paadhyam for the AarAdhanam of the Lord and understands clearly that

all of the SaamagriyAs acquired by him are to please the Lord and

not for them (na mama).

 

Comments: Swami Desikan says in this context: " Malar mathi

adiyavar yemathu ala yena aRibavar " . He explains that

the Bhagavatha Sri VaishNavan marked by fully blossomed Jn~Anam

becomes joyous over the thought that all the AarAdhana SaamagriyAs

collected by him with Love is for the arpaNam to the Lord and

not for him .

 

(4)UpAdhAnam:The dhArmic way to acquire the AarAdhana SaamagriyAs:

The acquisition of the material for the AarAdhanam of the Lord

has to be done by the strict ways laid out by the SaasthrAs .

Following these injunctions, Sri Vaishnavan will not ever receive

any offering for AarAdhanam from one , who has swerved from

the righteous ways .He will not acquire the material for

AarAdhanam by pursuing unrighteous ways.

 

Comments: Swami's words here are: " aRa neRi ilan yevan

aNuhilum aNuhilar " ( The Sri VaishNavan will stay far away

from adharmic persons , when they approach him and offer

material for Bhagavath AarAdhanam ). " thuRai alathu yenum

oru thuRai paDuhilar " ( They will not travel in any path

that is not righteous during their upAdhAnam realted activities ).

 

(5)Ijyai:The Sri Vaishnavan will perform Thirumanjanam

for Sri VaradarAjan and offer all other upachArams according

to their sakthi (ability )in the proper manner prescribed by

the Aagamams and present to Him naivEdhyams ( different kinds

of tasty food and drinks )that would please the heart of th Lord.

 

Comments: Swami Desikan salutes these BhagavathAs as " Sezhu

mathi adiyavar " ( The bhagavathAs with fully developed Jn~Anam).

These BhagvathAs will peform " kuLi mudhal kirisaikaL "

( UpachArams like Thirumanjanam ) and offer " teLi punal

amudhu " ( Sweet and pure water as well as adisil/paayasam

et al ).

 

6. Ijyai: The flood of Affection during Bhagavath AarAdhanam

 

When BhaagavathAs perform AarAdhanam for the Lord ,they

invite Lord VaradarAjan as the dearest relative (Bhandhu)

and are elated over that thought .They will offer salutations

and upachArams to Him as though He is the young Prince , who

rules the entire land .They will express their affection to

Him as a parent , who relates to his son , who was born after

a long period of penance (tapas).They will be elated like the one,

who sees a majestic male elephant in rut inthe forest .They

will be filled with pride like the owner of a rare and prceious

gem stone.With all these joyous feelings gushing out of every

fiber of their body and mind , the Sri VaishNavAs present

SaamagriyAs acquired in the most sAstraic manner to their Lord

and offer upachArams and NaivEdhyams. This manner of performing

AarAdhanam is known as ijyA .

 

Comments: The moving words used by Swami Desikan to describe

the Lord , who has arived at the Sri VaishNavan's house

to receive the AarAdhanam is " aruhu aNai iRaivan " ( the Lord

who sits right next to the BhAgavathan in response to his

invitation to accept his AarAdhanam with ease

and grace).

 

The great poet that Swami desikan is in Tamil,

Sanskrit and PrAkrutham rhymes his salutation

to this " aruhu iNai iRaivan " in this paasurm as

" aru vilai maNi yena adiyavar adaibhavar

aru kaNai iRaivanai aru kaNaiudanE "

 

Swami points out in a state of joy over the thought

of the AarAdhanm performed by the adiyavars (VishNu dAsAs)

and his words match beautifully. The Lord is the priceless

gem ( aru vilai maNi ); He is the Soulabhyan (easy of

access) sitting with grace and ease next to the Sri VaishNavan

to accept his AarAdhanam (aruhu aNai iRaivan). He is

the aruhil amarnthuLLa EmperumAn . Swami Desikqan rhymes

further and says that the Sri VaishNavan surrenders himself

at the sacred feet of the Lord with the SaamagriyAs

acquired with love for the ThiruvArAdhanam ( arukaNai

udan adiyavar adaibhavar).The " aruhu iNai iRaivan '

is approached with " arukanai " by the ecstatic Sri Vaishnavan

during his AarAdhanam .ArukaNai means the vasthus

assembled with love for the ThiruvArAdhanam (ijyai).

 

(To be continued)