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Sriman Krishnamachari's Kaimkaryam-Desika Stotrams

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muralidhar rangaswamy • April 23, 1998 


Dear Bhaktas,

I thank Sriman Krishnamachari for his wonderful Kaimkaryam of 
sharing with us his excellent insights on Swami Desikan's Stotrams 
and the Daya Shatakam in particular. It is only due to the Daya of 
NammaAzhwar and Swami Desikan that we are even able to get a glimpse 
of their colossus through the outstanding posts of Sriman 
Krishnamachari. I wish to share a few related observations in this 
post.  

The role of NammAzhwar in bringing to us our wonderful Sampradayam 
cannot be glorified enough. It was this great Mahan who instructed 
Nathamuni in the holy collects. This marked the founding of our 
Kula Dhanam. Swami Desikan celebrates this aspect of NammAzhwar in 
both the Padhuka Sahasram and the Daya Shatakam. Specifically, in the 
Guru Parampara salutation of the Daya Shatakam, Swami Desikan traces 
the origin of our Sampradayam to the ocean of mercy known as Lord 
Srinivasa and salutes the Guru Parampara through the cool waters of 
this ocean of mercy. Focussing on the feet of this ocean of mercy 
(Satakopatvam), it becomes clear that had NammAzhwar not instructed 
Nathamuni in the holy collects, there would be no Guru Parampara 
to salute! NammAzhwar's outpourings had a profound impact on Swami 
Desikan and Swami Desikan spares no opportunity to express his 
gratitude to Sri Satakopan of Tirukuruhoor.

Sri Krishnamachari brilliantly glorified the role of Daya and 
pointed out that in the absence of Daya, all the Kalyana Gunams 
of the Lord are shorn of lustre. It is precisely this quality 
that is responsible for the Lord granting Moksham to Baddha JivAtmas. 
This attribute is shared by the Lord and his consort. Swami Desikan 
salutes this aspect of Lord Srinivasa in the Daya Shatakam as 
"BhAvitam SrinivAsasya Bhaktadosheshvadarshanam". In the Sri Stuthi, 
Swami Desikan extols Periya Piratti as "Kapi KaruNya Seema" and 
"Grama SeemAntha RekhAm". In the Sri Ranganatha Gadyam Sri 
Ramanujacharya salutes this aspect of the Lord as "Ashrita 
VaTsalyaika MahodadhE". It is this unbounded ocean of mercy which 
is responsible for the Lord overlooking the faults of the Baddha 
JivAtma and blessing the Prapanna with the boon of Moksham. In this 
respect, the Lord's love is pure, unbounded and untainted like that 
of a cow for its calf. In another Daya Shatakam salutation, Swami  
Desikan describes the attribute of Vatsalyam as being akin to the 
love of a mother for her retarded son "Manye Mata Jada Iva SutE".

It is precisely this Daya which is responsible for the attributes of 
Pida Pariharam (for Bhaktas) and Pida Pradanam(for Dushtas). 
Swami Desikan excels at the description of these attributes in all 
of his works. In the KamasikAshtakam, Swami Desikan describes 
the hands of Bhagavan Narasimha competing with one another to 
grace the Bhakta Prahlada and destroy the evil HiraNyakashipu. 
The Lord was furious at HiraNyakashipu for the Bhagavata 
Apacharam to Prahlada and punishment meted out for this Apacharam 
paved the way for HiraNyan's redemption. The eyes of Bhagavan Narasimha 
simultaneously striking terror in HiraNyan and radiating 
compassion for Prahlada is another description of the Pida Pradanam 
and Pida Pariharam. The Sudarshana Chakram's protection of 
Ambarisha and relentless pursuit of Durvasa, the slaying 
of the crocodile in the Gajendra Moksham represent further examples 
of the Lord's Daya. Although, Vamana set out to restore Indra with 
his kingdom, his blessing of Narayana Sayujyam to Mahabali was far 
better because it granted the latter Moksham. The bow twang of Lord 
Rama warning Ravana of his impending doom, described in the Raghuveera 
Gadyam with consummate effect is another magnificent reflection of 
the Pida Pradanam and Pida Pariharam. The salutation is "Vepathu 
Lasya LeelOpadesha Desika DhaurjyAgosha". In it Swami Desikan 
points out that the twang of Lord Rama's bow struck fear in the 
hearts of the Rakshasa clan causing their women to dance to a rhythm. 
Yet this same bow twang was sweet music to the ears of Sita Piratti-an 
ultimate vindication of her MahAvishvAsam.  

Thanks again Sri Krishnamachari for an excellent summary which 
stimulated these reflections. I seek forbearance of all readers for 
my indulgence.

Namo Narayana,

Muralidhar Rangaswamy

       

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