SRI DEVANAYAKA PANCHASAT - Commentaries on Desika's hymn -The Hindu Book review - by Smt Prema Nandakumar-

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Commentaries on Desika's hymn

 

http://www.hindu.com/br/2006/05/02/stories/2006050200121400.htm

 

by PREMA NANDAKUMAR

 

SRI DEVANAYAKA PANCHASAT — Sanskrit commentaries by

Sri Raghava Patrachariar and Anbil Gopalachariar;

Tamil commentary by Kidambi Rajagopalachariar; English

translation and explanation by V.N. Vedanta Desikan;

pub. by Srimath Andavan Sri Poundarikapuram Swami

Ashramam, 43-A/13, Ashramam Road, Srirangam-620006.

Rs. 50.

 

Among the earliest of the hymns (Stotras) indited by

Vedanta Desika, Sri Devanayaka Panchasat is in praise

of the presiding deity of the Tiruvaheendrapuram

temple. It was in Tiruvaheendrapuram that Desika

performed penance and gained a vision of Lord

Hayagriva that led to a lifetime of scholarship

dedicated to the Supreme as Narayana. Vedanta Desika

has been hailed as a lion of logic and poesy

(kavi-tarkika-simha) because of his distinguished

commentarial and polemical works as also epic

creations.

 

These works are for the select few. However, his

Stotras are easily memorised and recited by all

devotees. Since they also contain deep layers of

significances, it is good to learn them along with the

commentaries that have been written by erudite

scholars in the past.

 

As the important works are not available at present,

the present pontiff of Sri Poundarikapuram Ashramam

has decided to give a new life to them. This Stotra

comes to us as a brilliant production thanks to the

tireless strivings of V.N. Vedanta Desikan.

 

This hymn in 53 verses covers almost all the important

theories and intentions of Srivaishnavism. Vedanta

Desika prays to the Divine Mother in the third verse

to speak on his behalf to the Lord.

 

Anbil Gopalachariar's Sanskrit commentary neatly

correlates the phrase `kinchit etad vijnapayate' with

the near-identical phrase in Rukmini's letter to

Krishna in the Bhagavata to bring home to us the

anxiety of Desika.

 

Linkages

 

 

Such linkages are present throughout the commentaries

making the volume a shoreless joy for the sahridaya.

From these writings we learn the elegances in the

poet's approach, as when he speaks of the 25 tattvas

propounded by Srivaishnavism as the

ornaments-armaments of Vishnu.

 

Getting absorbed in the explanations, the lover of the

Lord's image form will adore the descriptions and

photographs; the enthusiast of Sanskrit language will

be proud of its plasticity; the aficionado of Tamil

will be drawn to the charms of apt phraseology; and

everyone will be pleased that the English language has

been used assiduously to give a global spread to

Desika's prayer.

 

A perfectly produced volume, Sri Devanayaka Panchasat

is indeed a jewel for one's personal library.