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Experiencing Swami Desika - 39

From the Bhakti List Archives

Praveena • September 21, 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:

It is exciting to note that our Alvars and Acharyas
have made clear mention about the avataara of
Swami Desika and this clearly establishes the
qualities, and place of avataara of Swami.

Swami Desika inherited vital philosophy from our
Acharya and Swami not only exhibited the great
qualities in himself but also proved his poetic
genius, courage, conviction and unique devotion.

How does one refer our Swami? Many call him a
mahA Vidwan; some as mahA mEdAvi; a few as
mahA Kavi. Most accept our Swami as the greatest
mahAn of Visitadvaita, but the truth is that
none were able to find a single word to depict
our Swami's greatness.

Swami lived a life of complete simplicity and
austerity and he was totally indifferent to
material wants.

Swami Desikan, in his Subhasita Nivi, says that
an ordinary soul having submitted to an able Guru,
will gain true knowledge on Tattva, Hita and Purushartha...

Let us take this important lesson from our Swami
and prostrate with total devotion on to his Lotus Feet.

"asmad guru Venkatanaathaarya yathivara poorNau sayaamunam raamam
padmaaksha naatha satajith sEnEsa ramaa ramaapathIm vandhE !!"

Let us prostrate to the esteemed and foremost Acharyas of
Shri Vaishnavism viz., Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi,
Shri Vishvaksena, Shri Sadagopa, Shri Nathamuni,
Shri pundarIkaksha, Shri Ramamisra, Shri YamunAcharya,
Shri Mahapoorna, Shri Bhagavad Ramanuja and
Shri Vedanta Desika.

A number of 'Thanians' (laudatory dedicated verses) were
dedicated to him.

"Sriman Venkata Natharyah Kavitarkika Kesari !
Vedantacharya Varyo Mey Sannidhattam Sadaa Hridhi"!!

Swami Desika's son Varadacharya implores
"the great lion of poetics and dialectics and the
great preceptor of Vedanta (that Swami Venkatanatha was)
should reside in his heart always."

Once upon a time a Vidwan Shri Krishna Misra
challenged Swami if Swami could bring out a play
to match his own play called the 'Prabhoda SuryOdayam'.

Never to let down an opportunity to contribute, our
Swami instantly wrote a play called 'Sankalpa SuryOdaya'.
Our Swami took just a night to complete this play of
10 Acts in which various qualities [like Viveka, jealousy,
greed, etc., were personified].

"Kavi Taarkika Simhaaya Kalyaana Guna Saaline!
Srimate Venkatesaaya Vedaanta Gurave Namah !!"

Truly, Shri Krishna Misra was impressed and honored our
Swami with the title of "Kavi Taarkika Simham". Swami
stood a personification of Kalyana Gunas,

Kavitaarkikasimham- Vedanthacharyan, Sri Venkata Natha!
I pay obeisance to You..

It is a practice that when we start our daily prayers and
recitation of stotras, we start with the salutation to
our Swami, as:

""Sriman Venkata ...."

and when we complete we recite:

"Kavi Taarkika Simhaaya ....."

This is the greatest respect to our Swami and henceforth
this posting shall also start and end with salutations to
our Swami Desikan.

.......To be continued!


dEsikan tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

Praveena nAmni Ramanuja dasi
14th Jul 1999