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Experiencing Swami Desika - 30

From the Bhakti List Archives

Praveena • July 24, 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 Peria Nambi, as per the instructions of our lord,
initiated all the mantras to Shri Ramanuja (YatirAja),
and so Shri Ramanuja is the next in our Guru Parampara.

Swami's devotion to Shri rAmAnujAchArya - also known as
Shri YatirAja - is well-known and unparalleled. Swami wrote
an exclusive work - the YatirAja Saptati - dedicated to
Shri rAmAnujAr. In this, Swami defines, describes
and details the greatness of Shri Ramanuja and tells
the world the greatest contributions rendered by
Shri Ramanuja to Visishtadvaita. Shri Ramanuja has
defined and spread Visishtadvaita and more importantly
refuted other schools with such power that one has
no doubts in mind.

Let us enjoy the flavour of the yAtIrAjA Saptati through
couple of Slokas:

"PranAmam Lakshmanamunih pratigrahnatu mamakam !
prasadhayati yatsuktih sVAdhInapatikam srutim !!"

-- YatirAja Saptati

Swami offers his salutations to the Great Acharya Ramanuja.
Swami says that Shri Ramanuja's teachings have been perfect
and accurate interpretations of the Vedas (Sruti).
It is interesting to note that Swami says that She (Sruti),
has hence become sVAdhInapatika.

SVAdhInapatika refers to a heroine (nAyika), who has
got back her Lord with in her control.

Information regarding God, nature, practices etc are
contained in the Vedas. As Vedas are so vast, all the
information is not found at one place.
This gives room for independent interpretations by
different saints, scholars and others involved in
understanding the Vedas. This gives an impression
as 'conflict' though when viewed in total we get
the correct and complete picture.

Now, lets take a brief look into the schools of thought

The Dvaita School:

The Dvaita School as propagated by Shri Madhva - who
interprets Vedas from "bheda Sruti" perspective, states
that the "Jivatman" and "Paramatman" as totally different
and also adds that these two could never be the same.

The Advaita School:

The Advaita School as propagated by Shri Shankara - who
interprets Vedas from "abheda Sruti"  perspective, states
that the "Jivatman" and "Paramatman" are one.

The Visistadvaita School:

The greatest Acharya Shri Ramanuja, professed the theory
where he established that the "Jivatman" and "Paramatman"
are two different entities being in unison- with the Jivatman
being the property of Paramatman.

Shri Ramanuja, establishes this school of thought with
the example of body - soul relationship. By this
Shri Ramanuja states that, the body and the soul act
as one and are in unison, but they are totally different.
The body is the vehicle for the soul. The Paramatma
abides in the soul and pervades it within and without.
Shri Ramanuja uses "Ghatakasruti" principle to establish
a common ground between Bheda & Abheda Sruti.
Shri Ramanuja states that the body is subordinate to the
Jiva and the Jiva the subordinate of the supreme. The Jiva,
Sarira and Iswara are thus inseparable.

Since Shri Ramanuja interpreted the Vedic texts in the
right perspective as mentioned above, Swami Desika
states that the Veda mAtA got back our Lord within her
bounds - SVAdhInapatika!

......to be continued!

yatirAjar tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

dEsikan tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

Praveena nAmni Ramanuja dasi
24th Jul 1999