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Experiencing Swami Desika - 46

From the Bhakti List Archives

Praveena • November 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:

"SrimAn VenaktanAthArya: kavithArkika kEsarI!
VedAnthAchArya varyO mE sannidhatthAM sadhA hrudhi"!!

'Ruju' is the next auspicious quality of our Lord
as described by Shri AlavandAr. Our Lord creates
situations where he allows himself to be portrayed
as a "Mayan" or "Kapatan" [for ex., mAyA varAhan
or kapata vAmanan]. Swami Desika did not allow
himself to be portrayed with rajO or tamO gunAs and
hence our Swami is not referred with such relative
adjectives. Adiyal's guess is that some ardent
Swami Desika devotees will afford to keep our
Swami a step above the Lord, on account of this.

Our Swami stood an embodiment of virtue and conviction.
His thoughts, speech and action were always in sync and
he practiced what he preached. When we learn and under-
stand Swami's explanation of Gadya's we realise that our
Swami will never let down those who attain him.

Swami's divine qualities were known to the world through
his dialogues / arguments with Vidyaranyar. Lets see a
brief account on this fact:

Both Swami Desika and Shri Vidyaranya were contemporaries
and they knew each other. While our Swami perfected his
knowledge on the most important school - the visistAdvaita,
Shri Vidyaranya became an eloquent person on advaita.

Those were the days when scholars were respected and
regarded high and they were directly patronised by the
Royalty. While Shri Vidyaranya accepted the patronage
of the Vijayanagar King, our Swami - out of his sheer
vairAgya - lived a humble and simple life in Kanchipuram.

Shri Vidyaranya, out of compassion to his friend, i.e.,
our Swami, sent a message stating that he could also be
part of Royal patronage. Our Swami politely declined
and when further pressed by Shri Vidyaranya, expressed
his unwillingness. Our Swami, now we know why he is so
great, expressed his gratitude for Shri Vidyaranya's
gesture, and then poured his heart out in 5 superb Slokas,
while he added the 6th Sloka as his complement.

Thus came the "VairAgya panchakam" from our Swami. This
poem remains the shortest stotra and upon understanding
its meaning, we come to know, how well our Swami defined
"VairAgya". More importantly, our Swami defined, emphasised
and lived the life of a Sri Vaishnava and told us that
we need to lead a simple, contended life, devoid of any pomp
and glamour.


"Kavi Taarkika Simhaaya Kalyaana guna SaalinE!
SrimatE VenkateshAya VedAnta Gurave nama !!"

...To be continued!


dEsikan tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

Praveena nAmni Ramanuja dasi
20th Sep 1999