A Triple Tragedy

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Dear Bhagavatas:

We have been struck by a triple tragedy in the passing away of three great

Acharyas of Bhagavad Ramanuja - Swami Desika Satsampradayam, all in such

bewildering succession. While we cannot afford to lose even one, we were

struck with three thunderbolts all at once leaving us aghast and speechless.

I do not know whether we can ever get over our grief. All we can do is to

derive some consolation in the thought that that they have all returned to

their permanent abode for performing Nitya Kainkaryam to the Divya

Dhampathis.

 

Someone drew a comparison between these 3 Acharyas with the 3 Mudal AzhwArs.

The difference, however, is that while the Mudal Azhwars were born on

successive 3 days, these 3 Acharyas left their mortal coils on successive 3

days. What a coincidence!

 

SRINIDHI SWAMI:

This grand old sire of Sri Bashya Simhasanam was verily a Maharishi.

In his heydays (until he got bedridden), no Srivaishnava event was complete

without his active participation. He was a great inspiration even for

Matadhipathis and Yathivaras in point of Jnana, Bhakti, Vairaghya and

Anushtana. Srinidhi Swami as his name indicates was truly a “Srinidhi”

(treasure) to our Sampradayam. He was an Aasu kavi - one, who could compose

marvelous poems instantaneously, an Aparavatara of Gatika satham Ammal who

is reputed to be capable of composing 100 verses in one “Gatikai”.

 

Sri V.S.Karunakaran Swami is an illustrious son and successor of the Swami

in all these aspects. He and his brother were constantly beside their father

looking after his comforts. Recently, during his discourse on “Kaliyan Kanda

Raghavan” at Tiruvellore temple, when someone paid rich tributes to him,

Karunakaran Swami acknowledged them saying that all the praise were due to

his father. This was in the manner in which Sri Govindan, the cousin brother

of Bhagavad Ramanuja acknowledged praise as belonging to Emperumanar.

 

SEVA SWAMI

Like Nammazhwar’s “Unnum Sorum, Parugu neerum, Thinnum vetrilayum ellAm

Kannan”, for Seva Swami, Swami Desikan was all this and more. His very

breath was Swami Desika; the one thing that filled his thought, word and

deed was “Desika, the whole of Desika and nothing but Desika”.

 

“Seva” means “Service” He was the very personification of service in the

cause of Srivaishnavam in general and Swami Desika in particular. During the

7th Centenary celebrations of Swami Desika, he took the silver bell (Ghanta)

throughout the length and breadth of the country, to propagate the glory of

Swami Desika. He named one of his sons as “Ghantamani” in deference to Swami

Desika known as “Gantavatara”. This G. Mani is a member of our “Sri Ranga

Sri’

 

Indefatigably, he wrote and discoursed day in and day out on Swami Desika

and his works and arranged to translate and release them in all the 13

languages of India so that all could appreciate the greatness of Desika and

become “Desika- minded” as he himself was. A prolific writer, there is no

subject which he had not touched but whatever he wrote bore the stamp of

Swami Desika.

 

It is said that “Vidya” and “Vinayam” never go together. But, in his case,

his masterly erudition was matched only by his easy and absolute

accessibility. His “Soulabhyam’ was such that anyone can approach him at

anytime to get doubts cleared. He would " stoop to conquer " our hearts!

I had the bhaghyam of moving with this Mahan very closely and consulting on

very many issues. He was verily a “ready reckoner” who can be trusted to

offer sage advice with appropriate Pramanams. Once, while I attended his

discourse in “Mani Mandapam”, he honored me by asking me to release his

popular “Sri Desika Seva diary”.

 

He called the temple constructed and maintained by him as “Mani Mandapam”.

From Mani Mandapam, he has graduated himself to adorn what he used to call

the “Thirumaa Mani Mandapam” viz Srivaikuntam.

 

We have great pride in publishing his Sampradaya lessons earlier in

“Saranagathi” and now in “Sri Ranga Sri” journals- a series that had drawn

appreciation from both kids to elders alike for being informative and

enlightening.

 

MUKKUR LAKSHMINARASIMHACHAR SWAMI

His depth of knowledge, courage of conviction and his powerful manner of

delivery, which could transform esoteric concepts as to be easily understood

by even lay folk like me - were the hall marks of this stalwart.

 

Of all the Upasanas, the one relating to Lord Nrisimha is said to be the

most rigorous, demanding as it does strictest adherence to Achara and

Anushtana. His incomparable Achara and Anushtana made him eminently

qualified to do this in an exemplary manner. I wonder whether there can be a

better Nrisimha Upasakar than this Swami. The innumerable Yagams, Yagnams

and Homams he has been performing for our benefit and the benefit of mankind

mark him out as a compassionate Srivaishnava – true to the essential traits

of a Srivaishnava.

 

I was an eyewitness to the occasion when H.H.Azhagiyasinghar " knighted " him

as the “AasthAna Vidwan” of Ahobila Matam. On his return to Madras from a

countrywide Sancharam, H.H. came to what he called a “homecoming” (Naan

pirantha agathukku vandirukkiren). He was about to commence his Anugraha

bhAshanam at the front yard of the Ahobila Matam at Triplicane, Madras.

 

Referring to the qualities of head and heart of Mukkur Swami, H.H. announced

the appointment and asked “Do you know the duties of an AasthAna Vidwan?”

and himself proceeded to reply that “inter-alia, he should keep himself

“eveready” (pun intended) to report to Acharya with utmost celerity,

wherever he happened to be at the moment and assist him on any subject on

which he may require consultation and produce suitable Pramanams in

support”. I believe that Mukkur Swami had never once failed in this.

 

He was not only majestic in appearance:there was also a peculiar majesty in

his voice. Once, I attended his series of discourses on Sri Vishnu

Sahasranamam at Venus Colony, Mylapore. He was expounding on just 2 words

“Viswam Vishnu” for over 2 hours daily for about a whole week. The

staggering volume of information and the sheer force of delivery held the

huge audience captive as if in a trance - much in the manner of how the

Gopis and cows were captivated by the sonorous and mellifluous music flowing

out of the flute of Lord Krishna.His books of 4 Volumes entitled " Kurai

Onrum Illai " will serve as immortal guides to any reader.

 

He was the youngest of the 3 Mahans who left us in bereavement. But, their

successive ascent to Paramapadam is an S.O.S. call to all of us not to be

complacent but to flock to the feet of Acharyas who are fortunately alive

and available to us today and hasten to learn our “swarupam”, resort to

“Prapatti” and “Save our Souls” right here and now. I believe, only this

will be a fitting tribute to the great Mahans.

 

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

 

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