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Sri Satyagalam and Swamy Deshikan - Part 3

From the Bhakti List Archives

Balaji CG • February 8, 2001 


ShrimatAm Sri VAdihamsAmbudAchArya samyami sArvabhouma divya katAksha labdha
sArvajna Shrimataam Shri Ghantaavataaram Kavitaarkikasimha Sarvatantra
Swatantra Vedaantaachaarya Sri Thooppul Nigamaanta Maha Deshikaaya Namaha

Part - 3 - 
Swamy Deshikar's life at Satyagalam and Swamy Deshikar's return to Arangam
	
Slokams in Abhitistavam with lot of historical significance
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Slokam 22 - This slokam tells us about the attack on Arangam by turushkAs
and yavanAs(foreigners)

kalipraNidhi lakshaNai: kalitashAkyalOkAyatai:
turushka-yavanAdibhirjagati jrmbhamANam bhayam |
prakrshta-nijashaktibhi: prasabhamAyudhai: panchabhi:
kshiti tridasharakshakai: kshapaya RanganAtha kshaNAt ||

May the spread of fear in this world due to anya mathams like boudhdha,
chArvAka (with kali purusha gooDhachAra lakshaNam) and also due to the
attack of turushkAs and yavanAs, be completely eliminated with the use of
your divya Ayudhams in a second.

Slokam 28 - This slokam gives us an impression of Swamy Deshikan's feeling
during the crisis period and what he really wished after Arangam was freed.

yatIshwara-bhAratI-rasabharENa nItam vaya:
prapulla-palitam shira: padamiha kshamam prArthayE |
nirasta-ripusambhavE kvachana rangamukhyE vibhO
paraspara-hitaishiNAm parisarEshu mAm vartaya ||

All my youth was spent in learning SribhAshyam and other works of Bhagavad
Ramanuja and they have brought me now to an advanced age, with my hair
completely white and my head completely filled with Ramanujar. My only
desire now is that you(Lord) should put me in a land like Srirangam or any
other divyadEsham free of enemies and amongst people who are mutually
compassionate towards each other.

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Note - Reference to Abhitistavam in works on Swamy Deshikar

Deshika Gadyam
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Haya-vadhana, dEva-nAyaka, achyutha, gOpAla, raghuveera-raNapungava, 
varada, nara-hari, yathOkta-kAri, deepa-prakAsa, dEhaleesa, vEnkatEsa, 
rangEsa, paksheesa, hEtheesa, ramA, kshamA, gOdhA- 
vishaya stOtra sudhA ranjitha sahridaya budhajana hridaya

This sentence gives the names of all those Perumaals, whom Swamy Deshikar
has sung in his works.

"rangEsa vishaya stOtra sudhA ranjitha sahridaya budhajana hridaya"

You have endeared yourself to like minded knowledgeable people 
through your delightful nectarine StOtras on rangEsa
The following stotrams were composed on Aranga - DasAvatara StOram, Bhagavad
DhyAna SOpAnam, Abheethi Sthavam, Nyasa Tilakam.
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	Swamy Deshikan stayed in Satyagaalam for 12 long years and during
his stay here, he used to perform penance sitting under two huge ashwaththam
trees on the banks of the river.  These twin ashwaththam trees came to be
known as 'jnaanaashwaththam'. This was also the place where he used to
deliver kaalakshepams on Ramanuja siddhaantham. Many thronged to have his
darshanam and to become his followers.
	On the banks of the river there was a Sri Koorma peeTam, a natural
rock or a stone slab in the formation of a tortoise (or koormam). It is said
that Swamy Deshikan used to perform japams sitting on this peetam during his
anushtaanams. Satyagalam is also the place where Swami Deshikan authored
many works on our siddhaantham.
	After his long stay here, he then moved towards
Thirunaaraayanapuram. After a few years in Thirunaaraayanapuram, he came
back to Satyamangalam. It was only later that Sri Rangam was freed by one
Gopannanaayaka, the head of the 'jinji' fort.
	Periya kovil was opened once again, utsasvar AzhagiyamanavALan was
brought back to Arangam from Tirupati and kainkaryams to Arangan started as
before. Swamy Deshikan upon hearing this news, rushed to Arangam to have
darshanam of his beloved Aranga again, feeling happy that his prayers in the
form of abhitistavam had been answered.

Swamy Deshikan back at Arangam
------------------------------

	By this time Swamy Deshikan was more than 90 years old. He was
revered by one and all as a paramAchAryan and his glories were famous in all
directions. At Arangam, the entire city awaited their AchAryA's arrival.
Swamy Deshikan was received with full temple honours and poorNakumbham. At
the sannidhi, Swamy Deshikan prayed to his beloved Aranga and with great
devotion composed the following verse in front of the Lord -

vidhivihita saparyAm vItadOshAnushangA-
mupachita dhanadhAnyA mutsavaistyA na harshAm |
swayamupachinu nityam rangadhAman swarakshAm
shamitavimatapakshAm shashwatIm RangalakshmIm ||

The treasure of Arangam should be relentlessly worshipped as per the rules
laid down by poorvAchAryas, it should be rich with lots of food, wealth
 and prosperity, it should be free from all defects and faults, it should
always have all utsavams and vaibhavams as per sampradAyam without any
break, it should forever be happy, it should be free from all troubles due
to enemies and should be eternally blissful. Saying so, he pleads to Aranga
to grant this boon of his and protect everybody.

	It was after this episode that Swamy Deshikan wrote his magnum-opus
"Srimad RahasyatrayasAram".

	Feeling very happy with the kainkaryam of Gopannanaayaka, Swami
Deshikan has wished him paripoorNa katAksham of AranganAthan in the form of
two sanskrit verses. These slokams can still be seen today on the outer wall
of the sanctum-sanctorum at Arangam.

Continued...

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vAzhi vyAkhyAmuddirak kai !!!

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           - SrImate rAmAnujAya namaH -
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