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Swami Desikan"s Dhayaa Satakam: Part 2

From the Bhakti List Archives

V. Sadagopan • April 5, 1996 


In the very first sloka ,Swami Desikan states
precisely his goal in composing this Grantham 
and  describes the object of his salutations  this way:

PRAPATHYEH TAM GIRIM PRAAYA: 
SRINIVAASAANUKAMPAYAA  I
IKSHUSAARA SRAVANTHYEVA 
YANMOORTHYAA SARKARAAYITAM  II

Here he compares the Lord"s Dhayaa as 
the sweet flowing river of Cane sugar juice,
which has solidified to become the mountain of 
Thiruvenkatam. Swami States that he offers his
Prapatti to that  mountain , which has become the 
embodiment of the Lord"s Dhayaa . 

The first theme covered  by the  first ten 
slokas revolves around the fact  that the 
Lord of Thiruvenkatam (SravaNa Venkatesan )
is eminently suitable for worship and adoration.
The reason is that He is an ocean of Mercy (Dhayaa).
He serves as the treasure for those , who have no 
riches to speak of . He is the field out of which grows the 
four fruits of human life (Purushaarthams). That concept of 
blemish-free mercy makes Him the supreme object of
contemplation and worship as described below:

AKINCHANA NIDHIM SOOTHIMAPAVARGHA TRIVARGAYOH :
ANJANAADHRI ISWARA ABHISHTOWMI NIRANJANAAM

The above sloka is the last of the first group of ten.  
In earlier verses, Swami desikan offers his salutations 
to Guru Paramparaa and Azhwaars. In the beautiful
second verse , he says: 

vigaahe teertha bhauLaam seethaLAm guru Santathim I
Srinivasa Dhayaambhodhi pareevaha paramparaam II  

The key words are: SeethaLAm Guru santathim 
Srinivasa Dhayaambhodhi Pareevaha  Paramparaam
Vigaahe . He says that he immerses in the cool waters 
of the flowing stream of Guru Parampara that
originated from the ocean of Mercy  known as Srinivasa. 

The SECOND  essential theme of Dhayaa sathakam is that 
Sri Venkateswara is eminently enjoyable in terms of  
Bhagavat Anubhavam .This theme is met in Sloka 19 :

ROOTAA VRUSHACHALA PATEH:
PAADEH MUKA KANTHI PATRALACCHAAYAA 
KARUNEH SUKAYASI VINATAAN
KATAKSHA VITAPAI: KARAAPACHEYA PALAI: 

Here, Swami desikan says that Dhayaa Devi is standing
tall in Thirumalai representing the merciful aspect of  
Sri Venkateswara. She grows at the feet of the Lord of Venkatam 
and serves as His kalpaka tree that fulfills the wishes of those
who pray to Him. His cool glances at the sight of His devotees
cause the tree of Dhayaa Devi to send out tender shoots and 
ripe tasty fruits. Those, who worship at the sannidhi of 
Sri Venkateswara become  beneficiaries of His Dhaya and enjoy
the fruits of that Kalpaka tree. Hence, Swami Desikan 
says that the Karunaa Katakshams  of the Lord of Thiruvenkatam
 yield indescribable riches to the devotees . .
 His Dhaya makes Him eminently enjoyable ..

The THIRD essential theme of Dhayaa Satakam is that 
He has the most beautiful Divya Mangala Vigraham and 
to feast on Him with our eyes is equivalent to tasting the 
divine nectar. The sloka corresponding to this theme is
as follows: 

KALASODHODHITI SAMPADHO BHAVATHYAA:
KARUNEH SANMATHI MANTHA SAMSKRUTHAAYAA :
AMRUTAAMSA MAVAIMI DIVYA DEHAM
MRUTHA SANJEEVANAM ANJANAACHALA INDOH : 

Here, Swami Desikan says that the churning of the Ocean of 
Dhaya of Sri Venkatesa  yields the nectar, which is the divine
and auspicious vigraham of Srinivasan. That Vigraham 
made entirely of Suddha Satvam is standing on top of
Thirumalai. This most beautiful Archaa Vigraham removes 
the fear of Yama to Prapannaas and gurantees them 
the fruits of Moksham.Such is the power of this auspicious 
and beautiful Archaa Murthy of the seven hills. 

The FOURTH essential theme of Dhayaa satakam is that 
the Sri Venkatesa concept is the most delectable experience 
to enjoy among all delectable experiences that the human
beings can hope to enjoy . His blue effulgence radiating from
 the top of Thirumala hills and its sacred associations provide 
the richest item for the enjoyment of  the chetanas . Here, the 
divya Mangala Vigraham is not the object of reference , but the 
holiness of the Venkateswara Tattwam , which is the highest 
concept that Vedas can proclaim. The sloka corresponding to
this theme is as follows: 

PARIMITA PALASANGHAATH PRAANINA: KIMPACHAANAA:
NIGAMA VIPANI MADHYEH NITYA MUKTAANUSHAKTHAM
PRASADANAMANUKAMPEH PRAAPTAVATYAA BHAVATYAA
VRUSHAGIRI HARINEELAM VYANJITHAM NIRVASANTHI 

The FIFTH central theme is about the blessings that one 
accrues form the Kataksham of Srinivasan of Thirumalai. 
Swami Desikan says that the auspiciousness of that glance
can result in freedom from the three debts that human beings 
are subject  to in this world. These three debts are to Devas, Rishis
and one's ancestors(Pithrus). Normally, one gets rid of these 
debts with great diffculty. The debt to the Devas is normally
discharged thru the performance of Yagaas and the offering of 
Havis. The debt to Rishis is discharged through Veda Adhyayanam.
The debt to the  Pithrus is discharged thru progeny. These three 
debts are instantaneously discharged by the mere glance of 
Sri Venkatesa resting for a moment on the Prapanna. The blessings
arising form that merciful glance not only makes the Prapanna 
free from these three debts, but it also results in obtaining the
boon of Moksham thru the Devayana path at  the time of leaving this
earth. Prior to that, the glances of Sri Venkatesa confer immense 
wealth in this universe. The sloka containing these thoughts is the 
fourty ninth verse of Dhayaa Satakam :

SREYA: SOOTHIM SAKRUTAPI DHAYEH
SAMMATHAAM YA: SAKEEM TEH 
SEETHODHAARAA MALAPADHA JANA:
SRINIVAASASYA dHRUSHTIM  I
DEVAADHEENAA MAYA MANRUNUTHAAM
DEHAVATTVEAPI VINDHAN
BHANDHAAN MUKTHO BALIBHIRANAGAI:
POORYATEH TATPRAYUKTHAI: II