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Experiencing Swami Desika - 11

From the Bhakti List Archives

Praveena • June 16, 1999 


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:

This is another interesting episode from Ramayana,
portraying the 'Daya' of our mother. In this goddess
Sita saves Kakasura - the demon crow, even though
Kakasura had painfully hurt her.

Swami Desika reminds us of this beautiful incident
in 'Adaikkalap paththu'.

Kaakamirak kathanmannar kaathalikath thirapanthu!

She is ever united with our Lord and ensures the
proper execution of the saranagatha samrakshana
dharma of our Lord, to protect all those who have
surrendered to them.

It is to Our Mother, Sri Ramanuja makes saranagathy
first requesting her to bless him in his efforts to
perform saranagathy at the feet of the Lord. This
confirms her role as "Purushakara" or mediatrix.

Goddess Lakshmi appeals to her lord to be ever
considerate to the Jivas.

A mere glance of our mother is enough to make
people devout, virtuous and wealthy.

There are a lot of incidents in support of this
statement. Shri Rama's introduction of Sita to
Guha, Shri Krishna asking Rukmini to have a glance
at the direction of Kuchela's kudil...

When a Bachelor boy requested for some material
help from Swami Desika, Swami led him to the
temple of Mahalakshmi and taught him the Sri Stuti.
The boy went round the temple reciting the stotra,
with the feet of the Goddess in his mind.

And well, the boy got what he wanted! Yes, there was
a regular shower of Gold coins.

In fact wherever the glances of our mother fell, Swami
Desika says, there was a flood of all desirable wealth.

"Yasyaam yasyaam disi Viharate
Devi ! drishti-s-Tvadeeya
Tasyaam Tasyaam aham - ahamikaam
Tanvate Sampad - oghaah."

-- Sri stuti(15)

Oh! Goddess! In whichever direction Thy glances
fall, in all those places, leaps of wealth flow
competing among themselves, to be the first to
bless.

In the Catuhsloki, a short hymn composed by Sri
Alavandar, 'Sri' is described as the Goddess of
plenty, prosperity, compassion and paramount
authority. All other gods and goddesses are
subordinate to her. She stays in Nithya-Vibhuti
(Sri Vaikuntha) along with her Lord. Lord or
Herself do not know Her Greatness in full.
Without her Grace, none can aspire for any
welfare either in this world or the other.
Being an Acharya, even Liberation can be got
only through Her grace.

Our mother is all-pervasive like our lord. Goddess
Lakshmi stays in the highest abode (Srayate) i.e,
Paramapada. Adiyal had mentioned five connotations
for the word 'Sri' in the first posting on Goddess
Lakshmi. In fact Srayate is another connotation for
the word Sri. Like Bhagavan she is Omnipresent,
Omni-scient and omni-potent.

She grants us every thing starting from the
materialistic desires to the ultimate liberation
Viz., Granting of Moksha!

Goddess Mahalakshmi, teaches the philosophy of our
system to Shri Vishvaksena.

Swami Desika bows this unequalled mother!

...To be continued!

dEsikan tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

Praveena nAmni Ramanuja dasi
16th Jun 1999