Experiencing Swami Desika - 71

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SrI:

Shrimate Shri Lakshmi Nrusimha Parabrahmane Namaha:

Shrimate Shri Seetha Ramachandra Parabrahmane Namaha:

Shrimate Shri Ramanujaya Namaha:

Shrimate Nigamantha Maha Desikaya Namaha:

Shrimate Shrivan Satagopa Shri Narayana Yateendra Mahadesikaya Namaha:

 

" SrimAn VenaktanAthArya: kavithArkika kEsarI!

VedAnthAchArya varyO mE sannidhatthAM sadhA hrudhi " !!

 

 

Many utterances of the Vedas praise Goddess SrI. Swami Desika

gives us the essence of these Vedic utterances in his SrIstuti.

Here, Swami brings forth the essential nature and the role of

Goddess Lakshmi.

 

Swami has described about the oneness of Divya Dampati in all

activities and Goddess Lakshmi's karunA towards all Jivas.

Goddess Lakshmi is the dispenser of all boons, material

and spiritual!

 

Swami also adds that all those who read the SrIstuti will enjoy

sovereignty, unlimited wealth and welfare. " Swami proved this

phala stuti true during his life time itself -

 

This incident happened when Swami Desika was at Kanchi. A bachelor

boy wanted some material help from Swami to conduct his own wedding.

Swami advised him to worship Goddess Lakshmi. Swami led him to the

peruNdevi tAyAr temple and taught him the SrIstuti. The bachelor

boy went round the sannidhi reciting the stotra, with his mind

focussed on the feet of Goddess. When he came to the sixteenth Sloka

of SrIstuti, 'YogArambhatvaritamanasO...', there was a regular shower

of gold coins. Swami says where ever Goddess Lakshmi's glance fell,

there was a flood of all desired wealth.

 

" ...Yasyaam yasyaam dishi Viharate

devi! drishtistvadeeyA

tasyaam tasyaamahamahamikaam

tanvatE sampadOgA: !! "

 

-- SrIstuti (15)

 

Wherever the glance of Goddess Lakshmi falls, in all those places

waves of wealth roll forth competing among themselves to bless him.

 

" ...tEshAm BhoomErdhanapatigruhAdambarAdambudhervA

dhArA niryAnyatyadikamadhikam VanchitAnAm VasoonAm !! "

 

-- SrIstuti (16)

 

People who approach the Divya Dampathi alone (and no anya devatas)

with undivided attention and utmost concentration, will be immediately

blessed with all desirable wealth. The wealth that such people want

would only be for a good cause. Swami says that the wealth so got would

be much more than what they expected!

 

This wealth was available From the earth (mother to Sita) as a hidden

treasure to Thirumangai Alvar, from the sky ie., Lord Vishnu's abode

as in Kuchela's incident, or from Kubera's mansion.

 

Our Goddess Lakshmi can thus confer upon us any kind of wealth that we

desire!!!

 

There are many other stotras in which Swami Desika mentions about

the greatness of Goddess Lakshmi.

 

 

For instance in the third Sloka of the NyAsatilaka, Swami Desika

performs Prapatti at the feet of Goddess SrI where in he says that

he follows Goddess Lakshmi's words (as found in Lakshmi Tantra).

 

" ...tadArambhtasyA giramavadadhanEna manasA

prapadyE tAmEkAm shriyamakhilanAthasya mahishIm !! "

 

-- nyAsatilaka (3)

 

Swami Desika surrenders at the feet of Goddess Lakshmi, the supreme

queen of Lord MahAvishnu, the God of gods. Swami says that he performs

Prapatti to her based on her advice only.

 

We know that our Lord is called Sriya:Pathi - the husband of

Goddess SrI. Similarly Goddess Lakshmi by virtue of being ever associated

with Lord Vishnu is known as Vishnupatni. Swami Desika incorporates these

in the first and second Sloka of yatirAjasaptati:

 

1. Vishnu is called KamalA gruhamEdhi and

2. Lakshmi is referred to as sahadharmacarIm saurE: .

 

Again, in the very first Sloka of dasAvatAra stotram Swami Desika

refers to the avatAra of Goddess Lakshmi as being ever in unison

with the avatAra of the Lord. Goddess Lakshmi assumed suitable

forms to the respective roles of the Lord. Goddess RanganAyaki

assumed the form of sItA, Rukmini etc when the Lord took the

role of rAmA, Krishna etc.

 

This shows the oneness of Divya Dampati in all activities!

 

" Kavi Taarkika Simhaaya Kalyaana guna SaalinE!

SrimatE VenkateshAya VedAnta Gurave nama !! "

 

....To be continued!

 

dEsikan tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

 

Praveena nAmni Ramanuja dasi

15th Aug 1999