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RE: Thirunakshathram of PoundarIkapuram ANDAvan : march 23, 1999

From the Bhakti List Archives

Madhavkkannan, Vasudevan • March 14, 1999 


Sri:

SrImathE Gopala Desika Mahadesikaya Namah:

Dearest Sisters and Brothers,

Always I relish (like you all) Sri Sadagopan's posts. This one, much more
so, due to its description of the king of Yathis, the great AchArya Srimad
Pounadreekapuram ANdavan Swami. His glory is well known to all Bhagwathas of
Srivaishnavam. It gives me nectarine enjoyment to write what I have read
about my AchAryan. Sri Sadagopan has written so nicely about the greatness
of my AchAryan. (aNNikum amudhu ooRum en naavukkE)

Please find below the translation of Pancharathnam (Five slOkas) on Srimad
Poundareekapuram ANdavan Swami written by Seva Swami and translated by OUR
DEAREST SRI ANBIL RAMASWAMY. (I seek his permission to place his translation
here!). It is adiyEn's BhAgyam to be one of the sishyas of this AchArya
Saarvabhouman Yathivara. 

"SRI GOPAALA DESIKA MAHAA DESIKA PANCHA RATHNAM"
				by
SEVA SRINIVASARAGHAVA SWAMI (who received President's Award for his services
to Religion and Sanskrit literature, the founder of Manimandapam temple at
Villiwakkam, Chennai and the Sri Vedanta Desika Research Center, Chennai). 

(English Translation by Sri Anbil Ramaswamy)

The poetic tribute in 5 verses (Pancharathna) dedicated to our Swami brings
out the qualities of our Aandavan Swami very clearly. We give below a rough
translation of the poem.

1. Sat Sampradaaya Siddhah Sthirathara Dhishanah Srotriyo Brahma Nishtah 
Sathvastha Satya Vaakhyo Suba Charitha yuthah Saadhu Siddhaantha Vrittih /
Dambaa Asooyaadhi Muktho Jitha Vishayagano Dheergha Bandhur Dayaaluh
Gopaalaaryo Yatheesah Sva Para Hitha Paro Desiko Braajathe Naha //	

(meaning)
ยท He is firmly rooted in Satsampradaaya (Sat sampradaaya Siddhah)
ยท His intellect is firm as the pole star (Sthirathara Dhishnah)
ยท He is well-versed in Sastras having heard from his Aachaaryas (Srotriyo)
ยท His mind is constantly fixed on Bhagavaan (Brahma Nishtah)
ยท His personality is pure Satvaguna( Sattvastha)
ยท He is always truthful ( Satya Vaakhyo)
ยท His conduct is immaculate (Subha Charitha Yuthah)
ยท His occupation is spreading the holy Siddhanta (Saadhu Siddhaanta Vrittih)
ยท He is devoid of ego and jealousy etc. ( Damba Asooyaadhi Muktho)
ยท He has conquered the senses ( Jita Vishaya Gano)
ยท He is like a long standing friend and relative ( Dheergha Bandhu)
ยท He is compassionate ( Dayaalu)
ยท He is concerned about the spiritual welfare of himself and others (Sva
Para
Hitha Paro)
ยท He is Gopaala, the King of Yathis who shines brilliantly on the firmament
(Gopalaarya Yatheesah Desiko Braajathe Naha)

2. Srimad Rangam Idham Chirantana Puram Dhyeyam Param Yoginaam
Drisyam Drisyathamam Bujangha Sayane Jaagarthi Divyam Mahah /
Thath Dhyaaneka Paro Mahaan Yathi Varo Gopaala Sat Desikah
Saasan Sva Aasritha Sishya vargam Atulo Vibraajate Bhaavukah //		

(meaning)
ยท Behold this is the Lord of Srirangam who lies on the serpent bed being the
only one worthiest to behold and one who is meditated upon by the great
yogis. He seems to sleep but no, he is ever awake. 
ยท Behold in this very Srirangam a Yathivara, Gopaala Desika by name who
forever meditates only on the Lord and one who is never tired of leading his
Sishyas who resort to him on the right path. 
ยท Both shine in their pristine glory in this Srirangam.

3. Traiyanthaarya Darsitena Su Pathaa Kaalam Kshipan Yoginaam
Aachaaram Paripaalayan Sumanasaa Dhyaayan Guroon Nispruhah /
Vedaanthoktha Pumartha Nirbharathayaa Nischinthayaa Desike
Nyastha Svaathma Bharo Vibhaathi Mudhitho Gopaala Desikah //		

ยท He spends his time meditating on the auspicious path laid down in the
Darsana of Swami Vedanta Desika (Traiyanthaarya), 
ยท He maintains wholeheartedly the Aachaaram laid down by the yogis of yore. 
ยท He has rid himself of the burden having placed them at the fee of his
Aachaaryas as laid down in Vedaantas. 
ยท Relieving the burden of his Sishyas similarly, he shines as a beaconlight
here in Srirangam.

4. Akshubdah Kali Kalmashair Athi  Tharaam Aachaara Viplaavakaih
Na Aakrishto Mathi Mohakai Kalushitaih Slaagha Aaravaarair Manaak /
Abhrashtas Samayaath Kadhaapi Guruvaryaad Ishtatho Dhishtatho
Hyaklishto Nivasan Vibhaathi Yathiraat Gopaala Sat Desikah //


(meaning)
ยท He is far far beyond all the blemishes characteristic of Kaliyuga. 
ยท His adherence to Aachaaram is well known throughout the Aasthika World.
ยท He is never drawn by any infatuation of mind. 
ยท His mind is never affected by praise or blame.
ยท He stands firm against heretical beliefs which can never affect him. 
ยท Always meditating on his Guruvaryas, he is free from all afflictions.
ยท He is Gopaala Sat Desika, an Emperor among Yathis ( Yathivaraat)

5.  Preethi Saadhu Samaagame Dhridatharah Raktir Yatheesokthishu
 Sraddhaa Svaasrama Dharma Vardhana Kritou Nishtaa Sva Vaak Samyame /
 Bhaktir Bhaagavateshu Desika Giraam Aamredane Sakthathaa
 Nityaa Modha Mudhanchayati Yathitharaam Gopaala Sath Desikah //

 (meaning)
ยท He delights in the company of Sadhus 
ยท He stands firmly rooted in the disciplines laid down for Sannyasis
ยท He is deeply interested in following and maintaining the Dharma
appropriate to his Aasrama
ยท His words are in unison with his conduct
ยท He takes pleasure in serving Bhaagavatas with devotion
ยท He is ever delightful and makes others delighted too.
ยท Such is the Swami, Gopaala Sath Desika, a Yathi par excellence.

AchAryan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

Narayana Narayana 

Narayana dAsan Madhavakkannan

P.S As Sri Sadagopan mentioned, there are lots of works carried out by
Srimad Poundareekapuram Andavan on the publication of books on Rahasyams, on
release of audio cassettes on Sri Swami Desikan's Sthothra nidhi . There is
a seven cassette release on Yathiraja Sapthathi (sponsored by Sri Venkat
kaumalla) -  A Superb upanyasam by Prakritham ANdavan on this great
sthOthram on Ramanujacharya by Swami Desikan and its description of Sri
Ramanuja sampradyam with lovely examples and anecdotes / simple narrations.
They can be understood and appreciated by any one - because even adiyEn
understood! There will be no DOUBT that Sri Ramanuja Sampradayam is the ONLY
ONE THAT HAS GOT SUCH AN ACCURATE INTERPRETATION OF VEDA SAASTHRAS /
UPANISHADS with no ambiguities and SRIYA: PATHIH SRIMAN NARAYANAN ALONE IS
PARATHVAM.- my request to everyone: Please buy this set of cassettes - I can
tell you where it is available. and let me write to you later as to how you
all CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THIS GREAT ACHARYAN who lives among us for HIS WORKS,
which will be of immense use to us and our future generations!)