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Experiencing Swami Desika - 15

From the Bhakti List Archives

Praveena • June 20, 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:

Lord Vishvaksena did panchasamskara to
Shri Nammalvar and taught him our
Philosophy. So, next in the hierarchy
of our Guru's is Shri Nammalvar.

In our Guruparampara, Shri Nammalvar
is the first Guru who appeared in the
human form. He is our Kula Pati!

He was an amsa of 'Sriman Narayanan'
and 'Senaimudaliyar'.

Just as how, the word 'Desika', by default
refers to Swami Desika, so also the word
Alvar refers to Shri Nammalvar.

Lord Krishna in Bhagavat Gita says, it is very
rare for to see a person who sees Vasudeva
in everything!

Our Nammalvar was such a rare person. Shri Nammalvar
lived thus: "Unnum soorum", "Parugum Neerum", "Thinnum
Vetrilaiyum" yelam kannan!

Alwar also regretted that he should have been born a
little earlier so that he could have enjoyed Kannan
directly!


Swami Desika says

Yasya sarasvatam sroto
  Bakula-amoda-vasitam!
Srutinam visramaya-alam
  satharim tam-upasmahe!!

-- Yatiraja saptati (4)

May I prostrate at the lotus feet of
Sri Sathakopa (Sathari) i.e Nammalvar or
Parankusa whose master-pieces of literary
and philosophical gems are full of the divine
fragrance of Bakula flowers (worn by him),
his works are the sure and sufficient resting
place for the divine sanskrit Vedas (Sruti).

Shri Nammalvar always wears Bakula flowers
(Magiyam poo) blessed by Lord. So, even the
literature that comes from his mouth has the
fragrance of Bakula flowers.
Shri Nammalvar poured out the essence of
Vedas in Tamil. Whenever there is confusion,
in understanding Upanishads, the ready reckoner
is Nammalvar's Sri Sukti's. Swami Desika says,
Since Alvar's sri Sukti's reflect the Vedas,
the Vedas can take rest and relax.
This way, Shri Nammalvar blessed us with such great
Sri Sukti's which could benefit the whole world.
Swami Desika says that we should think of
Shri Nammalvar constantly.

Alvar contemplates on Perumal and gets intimate with
the Lord. So, the fragrance of Alvars Bakula flowers
spread to the Lord, and our Alwar smells of Lords
Thiru Thulai fragrance.

Swami Desika meditates on the Alvar who enjoys Perumal,
so in Swami Desika's Sri Sukti's we see the fragrance of
both Bakula flowers and Thiru Thulai!

...To be continued!

dEsikan tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

Praveena nAmni Ramanuja dasi
20th Jun 1999