Experiencing Swami Desika - 74

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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 " !!

 

 

In the SrI stuti, the auspicious quality of Goddess Lakshmi is

mentioned in the very first Sloka. " SrI " has been referred to as

" mangalam mangalAnAm " ie., She is auspiciousness to auspicious " !

 

It is interesting to note that Goddess Lakshmi is mentioned in the

first Sloka of SaranAgathy Deepika also. Here, Goddess Lakshmi is

addressed as PadmA, denoting her auspicious quality.

 

PadmApati is Sriman nArAyaNA. Swami repeatedly establishes that

SrI and nArAyaNA form the ultimate truth - paratattva. Swami Desika

stresses and emphasises the inseparable nature of the union.

 

Swami Desika is " tanja paragatiyai tandarulvOn " . Swami established

the doctrine of Prapatti for us. In Srimad Rahasyatraya Sara, Swami

deals elaborately with the doctrine of Prapatti. SaranAgathy Deepika

is a brief in verse of Rahasyatraya Sara.

 

SaranAgathy Deepika is conceived in praise of Divya Dampati.

Lord Deepa prakAsa presiding over Thirutanga in kAncheepuram is

celebrated in the stotra. Swami gives the connotation of

Deepa prakAsa in the following Sloka:

 

" deepastvamEva jagatAm dayitA rucistE

dIrgham tama: pratinivartyamidam yuvAbyAm ! .... "

 

Swami explains that our Lords is the Lamp and consort Lakshmi is

the luster of the lamp. Together they drive out the darkness of

ignorance which has been there for a long time. Ignorance in this

world can be of three kinds viz. utter inability to know anything,

understanding in a wrong way and viparItha jnanam. All these are

dispelled by the lustrous lamp!

 

Swami boldly states that mere nArAyaNA is like an unlighted lamp

and only when He is in association with Goddess Lakshmi, Lord nArAyaNA

is a lustrous lamp. Hence our Lord is a light in its full sense

(Deepa prakAsa) only when He is inseparably associated with pirAtti.

 

In the 54th Sloka of SaranAgathy Deepika " rakshyatvayA tava... " , Swami

imagines a situation where our Lord refuses to overlook our sins and

denies protection to us. Swami's explanation consoles us -

 

Our Lords grace was instrumental in us approaching and surrendering

to Him. We have never uttered the words of surrender to our Lord in

any of our previous janmAs. We have been in the cycle of births and

rebirths from time immemorial but have not surrendered to our Lord.

Elders say that even the number of sand in a sea shore can be counted

but it is impossible to count the number of births taken by us!!! It

is a pity that we have not surrendered to our Lord in all our previous

births. Had we surrendered we would now be in Srivaikundam enjoying

nithyakainkaryam. So, it is very clear that it is primarily our Lords

grace that makes us perform Prapatti. Even now, the words of surrender

may not be completely from our heart, it might be just from our lips.

It is because of our Lords sankalpam that these words pass atleast

through our lips.

 

Now, Swami Desika says that our Lord has done so much for us. After

taking so much of effort if our Lord does not accept us as saranAgathas

(for the reason that we are sinners), all the efforts of our Lord

would become a waste. Not just that, our Lord cannot permit our sins

to over power his Superior qualities. So, Swami makes a request to our

Lord to complete His task since He has put in so much of efforts towards

it. Swami tells the Lord that the task which lies ahead is not much

compared to what has been achieved!

 

Swami Desika now reminds the Lord that the Prapatti as per dwaya mantra

takes in both the Lord and Goddess Lakshmi. Swami threatens the Lord as to

what will happen to the Good impressions that Goddess Lakshmi has for Him

if the Lord allows His great qualities to be defeated by our sins?

 

Goddess Lakshmi is a dayAroopi. Swami Desika states that even if the Lord

for some reason fails, Goddess Lakshmi will come to our rescue. She will

Protect us and even grant us Moksha !!!

 

 

" Kavi Taarkika Simhaaya Kalyaana guna SaalinE!

SrimatE VenkateshAya VedAnta Gurave nama !! "

 

....To be continued!

 

dEsikan tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

 

Praveena nAmni Ramanuja dasi

18th Aug 1999