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HH The 44th Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt

From the Bhakti List Archives

V. Sadagopan • September 14, 1996 


Sriman Dileepan's posting symbolizing  his
Maha Viswaasam in  this  great Acharya was  
a moving statement . This Jeeyar's  efforts to initiate and 
complete the stupendous task of building 
the Raja Gopuram of Sri Ranganatha
is a subject of legends such as the Kaimkaryam of 
Thirumangai AzhwAr and the first Jeeyar of this 
Matam , Sri Adhi VaN Satakopa Yateendhra Maha Desikan .

The posting of Sri Dileepan reminded me of the First Nyasa 
Vimsathi slokam of Swami Desikan, where he describes
Acharya LakshaNam . The particular reference is to the 
section of the Slokam : " BHOOSHNU : -----------------------
DHEERGA BANDHUM DAYAALUM SKAALITYEH
                                                                **************
SAASIDHAARAM SVAPARAHITAPARAM DESIKHAM YEEPSETH " 
****************** 

Here Swami describes the qualities of  Acharya to be sought 
by a BHOOSNU ( a Sishya , who wants to gain the supreme 
and auspicious knowledge and the benefits of Prapatthi ).

He says that Acharya should be SKAALITEYH SAASIDHAARAM 
( ONE WHO CORRECTS THE SISHYA FIRMLY WITHOUT 
DAAKSHINYAM(IMPARTIALITY ) AND HESITATION  IN TIMES WHEN THE 
SUSHYA SWERVES FROM SASTRIC COMMANDS ) . This section OF
vIMSATHIreminds me of the occasions , when HH the Jeeyar displayed 
his well-documented outbursts of temper. I HAVE BEEN AT
THE RECEIVING END AND KNOW THAT HE WAS RIGHT 
IN HIS ANGER . 

Rest of the time , he was  the DHEERGA BANDHU 
( One had a caring , long term relationship out of
compassion for the sishya ), DAYAALU (most merciful
to pray to Sri Ranganatha and Malola for the well being
of HIs Sishya Vargam ) , SVA PARA HITA PARAM ( One , who 
sought the HITAM  of himself and His sishyas ) .

Swami Desikan concludes that one seeking Prapatthi as  a
Prapanna should seek such an Acharya ( Dayaalum (Tam )
Desikam Yeepseth ). 

HH the 44 th Jeeyar sought such a Desika himself in the 
frOm of the Most compassionate 43rd Jeeyar of DeavanaarviLagam
Sri Veeraraghava Yatindra Maha Desikan and was duly blessed 
to succeed him . 

In the second slokam , Swami Desikan points out  that
an exemplary sishya should worship his chosen Acharya 
as God Hinself (DEVAVATH UPAASYA SYAATH) . 
He points further that there is no way in which a sishya 
could reciprocate  the great blessings conferred by the 
Compassionate Acharya over any length of time  
( ACHARYA : ---APRATHYUPAKARANA DHIYAA  ---
 DEVAVATH UPAASYA: SYAATH ) . This is how the 
44th Jeeyar approached his Acharya, when he carried the 
bundle of fire sticks and the water pot on his head and 
hand  as he walked in front of the palanquin carrying the 
43rd Jeeyar . 

In his third slokam of this beautiful grantham , Swami Desikan
elaborates on the lakshaNam (attributes/charactrestrics) of
the ideal sishya and the duties of the ideal Acharya , who 
accepts the sishya as a link in  the golden chain of his 
Acharya Parampara . Fifteen lakshanas are described
for this sishya .

 The fourth slokam deals with the cardinal
and private (Ekaantha ) upadesam performed by the Acharya
to his sishya that approached him to recieve Prapatthi .

This Upadesam as revealed to us by Swami Desikan is :
LAKSHMI EESAM YEKAM --PALAM VIDDHI ---
ANYAM PRAAPYAM NA PRATHEEYAA-- ANYAM KANCHIDH
SARANATAYAA  NA CHA VRUNEEYAA -- TADH AJNYAAM
MAA UJJEE ( The saarartham here is as follows : Think 
only the Lord of Lakshmi as  the Lord of the chetanas and
achetanas   and seek HIM alone as the sole fruit of your efforts.
Do not seek any others as your means for salvation 
and follow the command Mamekam Saranam Vraja .
Do not behave in a manner that is opposed to the commands
prescribed by Him in the Saastraas ) .

Rest of this Vimsathi deals with the details of Prapatthi 
and the limbs of such a Prapatthi .

Acharyan Thiruvadigaleh Saranam

V.Sadagopan