Swami Desikan's Tirunakshatram

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Sri:

 

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

 

Adiyen read with extreme delight the superb posting by Sriman

Madhavakkannan Swamin. The following is merely adiyen's childish

prattle for which he seeks forgiveness from the learned scholars of

this group.

 

Swami Desikan, is verily the Kavitarkika Simham-the like of one that

has never been seen before nor after. Adiyen wishes to point out that

Swami Desikan places a premium on PramANas in all of his works. A

unique characteristic of all of his works is a verbatim reproduction

of important Vedic hymns. For example the Hayagriva Stotram commences

with jnAnAnanda Mayam Devam, which mirrors the upanishadic

description of Brahman as jnAna mayam and Ananda mayam. So too the

Sri Stuthi salutation " asyEshana tvamasi jagata: samshrayanthI

Mukundam.... VishNu pathnIndirEthi " , reflects the NeeLa Sooktham

salutation " pruthivyA asyEshAna jagathO vishNu pathni " , while the

Padhuka Sahasram salutation " ahamannAdha ithIva gayasi thvam " echoes

the Taittriya upanishad vakyam " AhamannAdhO... "

 

The number of verses too employed by Our Paramacharyan in his

Stotrams are significant. Specifically, the Hayagriva Stotram has 32

verses, denoting the overlordship of Bhagavan Hayagriva over the

Brahmavidyas. Similarly the Yatiraja Sapthathi contains 74 verses in

keeping with the fact that Sri Ramanujacharya blessed us with our

wonderful Kula Dhanam (Bhagavad Ramanuja Darshanam) through the 74

SimhAsanAdhipatis. The Sri Stuthi contains 25 verses due to the fact

that Ma, the EkAksharam for Piratti is the 25th letter of the

Sanskrit Alphabet. Also due to His eternal association with Sri, the

Lord begets the name Madhavan. Furthermore, the Dvaya Mantram, which

advocates unconditional total Surrender to the Feet of Lord Narayana,

who is never separated from Sri, contains 25 aksharams. Since all

these aspects are alluded to in the Sri Stuthi, 25 delectable verses

are employed. Finally, the AshtabhujAshtakam is set in 8 verses due

to its overwhelming connections to the AshtAkshara Mantram.

 

It is also important to note Swami Desikan's exemplary humility in

that He composed only one Stothram in praise of Lord Srinivasa. This

is due to the fact that Swami Desikan was an avataram of Lord

Srinivasa. The salutation " VenkatEshAvatArOyam tath GhantAm

SothavABhavEth " from the Desika Mangalam provides eloquent testimony

to this fact. Therefore, Swami Desikan chose not to sing about

himself but instead extensively glorify Lord Varadaraja, Lord

Devanayaka, and Lord Ranganatha.

 

Speicifically, it is important to note Swami Desikan's Sattvika

tyagam in verse 104 of the Daya Shatakam where he notes that " vedAnta

Desika padhE vinivEshya bAlam dEvO dayA shatakamEthadha vAdha yanmAm

vaIhArikENa vidhinA samayE gruHithvam vINA vishEshamiva vEnkata

shaIlantha: "

 

Meaning:

" Although I have been accorded the title of Vedanta Desika, I deserve

no credit for it. This is entirely due to Your grace.

I am merely a stringed instrument in Your hands, which you have used

to produce the verses of the Daya Shatakam "

 

Another unique facet of Swami Desikan's work is that his Stothrams

embed the essence of the Mantrams of the respective deties that are

glorified therein. For example, verses 11-15 of the Hayagriva

Stothram contain the essence of the Hayagriva Mantram, while the Sri

Sthuthi embeds the Lakshmi Mantram. Similarly, verse 2 of the Gopala

vimshati has in succinct form the Gopala Mantram and the Devanayaka

Panchasath carries the most powerful Mantram for Lord Devanayaka. The

Garuda Panchasath too contains in cryptic form the Garuda Mantram in

verse 2. It is important to note that while the mantrams have

restrictions in terms of time, place, and persons for their prayogam,

Swami Desikan's works have no such requirements. They are meant for

all, regardless of caste, creed, sex, or affiliation.

 

May our Paramacharyan's works continue to enrich our lives and bless

us with more Bhagavad, Bhagavata and Acharya Kaimkaryam.

 

Namo Narayana,

 

SriMuralidhara Dasan