Experiencing Swami Desika - 97

[Guest guest]

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 " !!

 

Swami Desika glorifies the exceptional greatness of Prapannas.

In Saranagathy Deepika, swami states that the mantras used by

Prapannas during the performance of Prapatti are based on

authoritative pramAnas.

 

" mantrairanusravamukheshvadhigamyamAnai:

swAdhikriyAsamucitairyadi vAnyavAkyai: !

nAtha tvadIyacaraNau sharaNam gatAnAm

naivAyutAyutakalApyaparairavApyA !! "

 

-- SaranAgathy Deepika (29)

 

Swami states that people who follow other paths can never be

equated to Prapannas who have surrendered at the Lord's feet.

They utter mantras appropriate to the upAsaka.

 

The mantras may be from Vedas, Pancharatra, other authoritative

pramAnas or the vAkyAs that have originated from Alvars and

poorvAcharyas. Swami's respect to Alvars and poorvAcharyas is

so great that Swami refers to their words as equal to the

Srutis and Itihasa-Puranas.

 

Swami's concern to us knows no bounds. Swami views every thing

from our position and gives us answers for all our queries.

There are a lot of false notions about Prapatti. The following

Sloka of SaranAgathy Deepika clarifies such false notions.

 

" dattA: prajA: janakAt tava dEsikEndrai:

pratyAbhinandya bhavatA pariNIyamAnA: !

madyE satAm mahitabhOgavishEshasiddayai:

mAngalyasootramiva bibrati kinkaratvam !! "

 

-- SaranAgathy Deepika (30)

 

In this Sloka Swami portrays Prapatti as an atma vivAha (wedding).

The wedding here is between the Jeevatma and the Paramatma. The

Jeevatma is the bride and the Lord is the bridegroom. This wedding

is performed by the Acharya who is the father. This father (the

Acharya) does kanyaadAnam to the Lord. Lord Vishnu, the bridegroom,

is extremely pleased with the gift and takes holds of the Jiva.

It becomes the duty of the Lord to Protect this Jiva just as how

a husband has to protect his wife!

 

Similarly, a wife (Prapanna) also has certain duties to be performed

(to the Lord). Even in the LowkikA life (as a wife), we have to

follow strI dharma, so as a Prapanna, we are expected to follow

Prapanna Dharma.

 

In the uttarakrutyam (after Prapatti), a Prapanna lives in the midst

of dedicated souls and engages oneself in service to the Lord, which

is like keeping the Thiru mAngalya safe and sound.

 

(This can be related to a married lady relating herself to her

husbands well wishers, serving her husband and his relatives)

 

A wife (Prapanna) tries to please her husband (the Lord) in all

possible ways. She tries to do only those that will please her

husband and will honestly try to desist from doing anything that

will not please him.

 

The most important thing that is expected of a wife is her chastity.

She should have chastity in devotion towards the Lord. Just as how

a wife expects all her requirements to be satisfied by her husband

alone, so also, a Prapanna should rely only on the Lord and should

not go behind anya devatas.

 

In the 72nd Sloka of Achyuta Satakam Swami Desika compares a true

devotee to a chataka bird. This is a species of bird which has got

a hole in its throat. This hole prevents it from drinking the water

of ponds and lakes. So this bird can quench its thirst only when

there is rain. The rain water can go into its stomach straight

through the upturned open mouth. So, mere gathering of thick clouds

will not quench its thirst. Even if heavy dew sets in it is of no

use to it.

 

Similarly, Swami states that, to a true devotee of the Lord, who

always looks up to the Lord to quench his thirst the other devas

- singly or put together can be of no help!!!

 

By explaining SaranAgathy as a wedding Swami has given rest to a

lot of questions that could arise because of ignorance.

 

Many people link SaranAgathy with death. They have a feeling that

if Prapatti is performed to a person he will die at once. They fail

to understand that during Prapatti, we can request the Lord for

reaching Srivaikundam at the end of this life. There are yet others

who say that Prapatti has to be performed immediately before death

because after Prapatti they have to become strictly orthodox and

cannot move freely in society as before.

 

Swami has hence portrayed Prapatti an atma vivAham which can bring

about happiness and a feeling of relief. Prapatti removes our burden

and is the only objective of every Jivatma!!!

 

It is an understatement to state that we are extremely fortunate to

be disciples of Swami Desika who has systematized Prapatti for our

sake. We should be eternally grateful to Swami!!!

 

The above write up is based on Shri R.Ramaswamy Aiyangar's

commentary on Swami Desika's SaranAgathy Deepika and Achyuta satakam.

 

" Kavi Taarkika Simhaaya Kalyaana guna SaalinE!

SrimatE VenkateshAya VedAnta Gurave nama !! "

 

....To be continued!

 

dEsikan tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

 

Praveena nAmni Ramanuja dasi

10th Sep 1999