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Sri Satyagalam and Swamy Deshikan - Part 4

From the Bhakti List Archives

Balaji CG • February 13, 2001 


ShrimatAm Sri VAdihamsAmbudAchArya samyami sArvabhouma divya katAksha labdha
sArvajna Shrimataam Shri Ghantaavataaram Kavitaarkikasimha Sarvatantra
Swatantra Vedaantaachaarya Sri Thooppul Nigamaanta Maha Deshikaaya Namaha

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Note - Swamy Deshikan's slokams found on the eastern side of the outer wall
of the sanctum-sanctorum at Arangam.

AnIlAnIya shrungadyutirachita jagadranjanAdranjanAdrE:
chanchvAmArAdhya kanchitsamayamatha nihatyOddanuShkAmsturuShkAn |
lakshmIkshmAbhyAmubhAbhyAm saha nija nilayE sthApayan RanganAtham
samyakcharyAm saparyAmakrtabhuvi yasha: prApaNO gOpaNArya: ||

vishvEsham RangarAjam vrShabhagiritaTAdgOppaNakshONidEva:
nItvA svAm rAjadhAnIm nijabalinihitOtsiktatouluShka sainya: |
krtvA ShrIranga bhUmim krtayugarasikAm tam cha lakshmImubhAbhyAm
samsthApyAsyAm sarOjOdbhava iva kurutE sAdhucharyAm saparyAm ||

A king by name Gopanna, brought the Lord of the universe, Arangan, from
Tirupati (vrShabhagiri), to his capital, who with the power of his army
drove away the turushkAs and has made the land of Arangam blissful like
krtayugam. Having given lots of aishwaryam to both the lands of Tirupati and
Arangam, the nitya ArAdhanams to Arangan are being conducted in a manner as
if done by chaturmukha Brahma.
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Anubhavams of Thirukkudanthai Deshikan
--------------------------------------

Srimad GopAlArya MahAdeshikan, popularly known as Thirukkudanthai Deshikan,
has composed a beautiful work on Swamy Deshikar known as "Sri Deshika divya
sahasranAma stOtram". This great AchArya has celebrated all the works and
incidents in the life of Swamy Deshikan in this work. The slokams relating
to the episode of 'shruthaprakAshika' and 'abhitistavam' follow -

(Translations by U.Ve Dr. NSA)

Slokam - 339
shrutaprakAshikArakshA rakshitAdhyAtma bhAshyaka:
yAdavAchala bhadrAshAsanArtha gatibhAsura: ||

The protector of the eminent work shruthaprakaashika, which is an eminent
commentary on Sri Bhaashya of Bhagavad Ramanuja and who proceeded towards
Yaadavagiri for offering auspicious prayers to the Lord there.

Slokam - 340
abhItIstava sanjAtAbhIti rangapurIgati:
rangaprApita rangEsha gOpaNArya stutipriya: ||

He who proceeded towards Srirangam which was divested of all fear at the
instance of the hymn Abhitistava and he was all praise for Gopanaarya, who
re-established Lord Aranga at Arangam. 

Anubhavams of Srinivasa Ramanuja Mahadeshikan
---------------------------------------------

Srinivasa Ramanuja Mahadeshikan, popularly known as Mysore Andavan,
celebrates his anubhavams on these incidents in his work "SrimannigamAnta
MahAdeshika vaibhava shatakam" in the following way -

(Translations by U.Ve Dr. NSA)

Slokam - 81
Adou yEna sudarshanAryakalitA shrIbhAshyasuvyAkriyA
prakhyAtA shrutakAshikEtyabhidayA krchChrENa samraakshitA |
satpAtrEshu niyOjitA cha tadanu brahmOpadEsha: krta:
yAbhyAm you cha surakshitou budhasutou tam samshrayE dEshikam ||

He by whom the celebrated commentary composed by the great master Sudarshana
soori, which is eminently known as Shruthaprakaashika, was saved with great
difficulty and was initiated later amongst well deserving disciples and by
whom the two sons of that great scholar were well protected, that great
Vedanta Deshika, I seek refuge in him.

Slokam - 85
ramyAmatyadbhutArthAm parichitasarasAm ranganAthAtihrdyAm
janmAnAvruttihEtum duritavidalinIm sarvasoubhAgyadAtrIm |
shatrUnmAdApahartrImahishayanahitAshasanAbhItishamsyAm
chakrE yO vEdachUdAgururuditadayassantatam tam bhajAmi ||

I worship ever, that great master Sri Vedanta Deshika, ever compassionate,
who composed the hymn Abhitistava that is very beautiful, containing
wonderful meanings comprising of beautiful sentiments, very dear to Lord
Aranga, the cause of the termination of birth here again, the destroyer of
all sins, the bestower of all welfare, the destroyer of the pride of
enemies, the giver of fearlessness to those who obey the commands of the
Lord reclining on the divine serpant.

Slokam - 86
shrutvA gOpaNabhUmipO yamanibhAn jitvA turuShkAm bhuvi
shrirangAdhipatim svakIyavishayE samsthApya bhUya: kramAt |
pUjAm kArayatIti harshavachanam rangam prati prasthita:
yO dAraissaha dArakENa cha gurustam samshrayEsmannidhim ||

I seek refuge with that great preceptor who is our celebrated wealth, who
proceeded towards the holy Srirangam along with his wife and son after
having heard the delightful news that, the king Gopanna conquered the
turushkaas in battle and was causing the worship of Arangan after
re-installing Him there in the temple as before.

Satyagalam after Swami Deshikan
-------------------------------

	After the time of Swamy Deshikan, a sannidhi was built in Satyagalam
for him next to Perundevi Thayar sannidhi. Swamy Deshikan had promised Sri
Sudarshana Bhattar, that he would protect "Srutha prakaashika" at all costs
and that it shall always be close to his heart. It is for this very reason
that we always see Swamy Deshikan's archa swaroopam with his right hand
showing 'vyakhyaamudra' and his left hand holding 'shruthaprakaashika' close
to his heart. The archai of Swamy Deshikar at Satyagalam has another added
significance. The utsavar can be seen in 'ninra thirukkolam'. This basically
signifies Swamy Deshikan's eagerness to return to Arangam as soon as the
place is free of its captors.

Satyagalam in recent times
--------------------------

	The temple of Varada is still there, but in a very fragile state. It
has also been a victim of turushka invasion. The archais of mudalaazwars are
also special here, for the fact that there is no other divyadesham where one
can find the archai of Azhwars that are 3 feet high other than
ThirukkovilUr.
There is also sannidhis for Ramanujar, Thirumangai Azhwar and Lakshmi
Nrusimhar.
	The twin Ashwaththams (jnaanaashwaththam) on the banks of the river
kaveri can be seen even to this day, full of green leaves.
The koorma peetam on which Swamy Deshikan performed japams was existing at
the bank of the river. To ensure proper maintenance, this stone was removed
from that place and installed inside Swamy Deshikar sannidhi by H.H Srimad
Abhinava Ranganatha Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakaala Yatindra Maha Deshikan.
One also gets to see Swamy Deshikan's Thirumaaligai.

	There is a Ranganathar sannidhi close to Satyagalam. Here is where
the utsavars of VaradarAjar and Swamy Deshikar of Satyagalam could be seen.
The icons have been moved to this place due to security reasons. The place
could be reached easily from Bangalore or Mysore.

	All the achAryas who ever have come to the state of Mysore, have
done mangaLAshAsanam at Satyagaalam.
On purattAsi shrAvaNam, special utsavams for Deshikar and PerumAL are
conducted.

Please enjoy the following pictures attached -
Swamy Deshikan in ninRa thirukkOlam.
Swamy Deshikan's archai at Satyagalam and the picture of Sri koorma peeTam
below it.

kavitArkika simhAya kalyANa guNashAlinE
shrImatE vEnkatEshAya vEdAnta guravE namaha |

jayati kavi kathaka kanTeeravaha !!!
chiram jIyAt kavikathaka ghata kEsarI !!!
chiram vijayatAm sarvatantra swatantraha !!!
vAzhi thooppulpiLLaiyin thirunAmam !!!
vAzhi vyAkhyAmuddirak kai !!!

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