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HAMSA SANDESAM: SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE --PART 2

From the Bhakti List Archives

V. Sadagopan • March 30, 1996 


" But, by far the greatest acheivement of Desika
in this kavyam is the praise of the lovely EmperumaanArs 
of the various Divya Desas.Desika"s great attachment 
to the Archa forms of the Lords that preside over the 
several shrines is revealed to us by the excellent 
stotras in praise of Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam,
Lord Srinivasa of Thiruvenkatam, Lord Varadaraja
of Kanchipuram , Lord Sundararaja of Thirumalirumccholai
and Lord Semthaamarai Kannan of ThiruveLLarai . These five
Archa Murthys have captured the raptourous attention of Swami 
Desikan and captivated his love-lorn mind. Not content with
his own praise in other slokas and Prabhandhams, Desika 
struck on a very fine idea for effectively establishing the greatness
and glory of Archaavataaras in his Hamsa Sandesam.   

Rama noted for His own exquisite beauty (Atheeva Priyadarsanam )
is made to praise ,nay, wonder at the beauty  of several Archa forms. 
Only  a Sarva Tantra Svatantrar can think of eulogizing 
Archavataara and establish its greatness and glory through 
a Vibhavavataara Emperumaan. The first Aaswasa  is full of
praise for the Divya Desa Archa Murthys . The Second Aaswasa
shows to us the intensity of Rama's love towards Sita.

In the slokas 23 to 35 in praise of Kanchi's Lord Varadaraja ,
Rama is made to share Desikan's great infatuation for that
Lord"s beauty and grace. But, By far,the best beauty spot in 
this Kavyam is where Rama is shown to enjoy the greatness of 
Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam, who is Periya PerumaaL (Rama
Himself is PerumaaL) .In sloka 46, Rama at  the mere mention of 
the Sesha Peetam on the banks of Chandra Pushkarini frogets 
Himself for a moment and is unable to proceed with his thoughts 
further; His mind travels in a trice (Chetoh Daawati ) to distant 
Ayodhya and revels on the beauty of the Ishvaaku Kula Daivam
(Sri Ranganatha) , who is lovingly known as Azhagiya MaNavALan,
who reclines softly on Adisesha. PERUMAAL BECOMES AZHWAAR
FOR THE NONCE. "

Such is the rich repast of poetry and Philosophy offered
by our Vedaanthaacharya  in his Exquisite Hamsa Sandesa 
Kavyam.

Sri Nigamantha Maha Desikan Thiruvadigaleh Saranam,

Oppliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan