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Experiencing Swami Desika - 27

From the Bhakti List Archives

Praveena • July 7, 1999 


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:

Shri Yamunacharya's knowledge and commitment to
the Lord, resulted in eight excellent works, viz.,

Atmasiddhi
Isvarasiddhi
Samvitsiddhi
GitArthasangraha
AgamapramAnya
Chatussloki
Stotra Ratna and
MahApurusha nirnaya

In these he clearly establishes the Sri Vaishnava
school and refutes other schools. Shri Yamunacharya
was particularly upright when denouncing about Saivism.

Shri Yamnuacharya's work on Siddhittraya is simply
outstanding where the existence of God and the nature of
self are clearly established. More importantly,
Shri Yamunacharya refutes the doctrines of Advaita and
other systems with authority.

Shri Yamunacharya brought out the Gitartha Sangraha -
an abridged version of the Bhagavad Gita in just 32
slokas - an effort of "Gita made easy" in those days.

Shri Yamunacharya's Agamapramanya proves the validity
of ancient Pancharatra Agama and its antiquity.

Shri Yamunacharya's splendid slokas called Shri Chatussloki
eulogised the importance of Goddess Lakshmi and her
relationship with humanity.

It is also believed that Yamunacharya wrote the Stotra Ratna
to enable the devotees to understand Nammalvar's Tiruvaymozhi
and benefit from Alvar's works.

Let us enjoy a glimpse of Thiruvaymozhi Vs Stotra Ratna.

We saw in our 25th posting, Alavandar's Stotra Ratna thus:

"Tvadangri muddisya kadapi kenachit
Yada tadha vapi sakrut krutonjalihi
Tadaiva mushnat ashupanya sheshathaha
subhani pushnani na jathu heeyate!!"

Here, Shri Alavandar stresses on the importance of
meditating on the Lotus feet of our Lord. He says that
a single performance of Anjali namaskaram is sufficient
to destruct all sins, increase the Bhakti, and give
prosperity.

This can be equated to Shri Nammalvar's
Tiruvaymozhi(1.3.8) thus:

nAlum ninradu nama palamai am koduvinaiy-udane
mAlum, or Kuraivillai;manan-akam malam arak kaluvi
nAlum nam tiru vudaiy-adigal-tam nalam galal vanangi
MAlum or-idattilum vanakkodu malvadu, valame

Shri Nammalvar reminds us that our sins get cumulated
every day, and the only way out for us to get rid of
our sins is by holding Our Lord's feet. This, cleanses
our inner self and removes all our short comings.
Nammalvar adds that salutations leads to prosperity!

Shri Yamunacharya, is said to have performed pushpa
kainkarya to Lord Venkateshwara in Tirumala. This is
mentioned in  Sri Venkatachala Itihasamala. May be,
this is the reason why that place is even now known
as 'Yamunaiththurai'!

At the holy shrine of Varadaraja, Yamunacharya spotted
out the glittering Ramanuja amidst the pupils of
Yadavaprakasa.

Shri Yamunacharya blessed Shri Ramanuja thus:
'Am Mudalvan'! meaning, The cheif personage.
He identified Shri Ramanuja would become his
edifying force in the spread of Visistadvaita.

Swami Desika offers salutations to this great Acharya thus:

Vigahe Yamunan tirtham Sadhu brndavane sthitam
Nirasta-jihmagasparse yatra Krshnah Krtadarah!!

Let me plunge into the holy and ocenic teachings of
Sri YamunAcharya (Alavandar) who has been steadfast
in protecting the righteous persons and who has
defeated the alien systems of thought (in Indian
philosophy) by pointing out the errors/fallacies in
their principal viewpoints.

Swami Desika states that Lord Krishna
(i)   has protected the pandavas
(ii)  chased away kAliyan serpent from the Yamuna river,
(iii) along with cowherd damsels sported in the Yamuna river.

Having highlighted the Greatness of Shri Krishna as
mentioned above, Swami Desika says that Shri Yamuna
is similar to Lord Krishna.

......to be continued!

AlavandAr tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

dEsikan tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

Praveena nAmni Ramanuja dasi
7th Jul 1999