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Experiencing Swami Desika - 36

From the Bhakti List Archives

Praveena • August 28, 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:

Swami Desika excels in using similes in all the four
quarters of the following Sloka.

"jayati sakalavidyAvAhinIjanmashaila:
janipaTha parivrutti srAntha visrAnti shAKI !
niKila kumatimAyA sharvarIbAlasoory:
nigamajaladivelApOrNachandrO yatIndra: !!"

-- yatirAja Saptati (28)


Shri bAshyakArar is a person with tremendous knowledge
and he is the only one who analyses all arts and while he
accepts the good ones, he reprimands others. Besides,
Shri bAshyakArar spreads the right ones across the world
for the benefit of others. Shri bAshyakAra's kaimkaryam
is like the flow of rivers that make the land prosperous
and this quality of Shri bAshyakArar has made him an
embodiment of total virtue.

All of us, when roaming around in the hot sun feel
completely exhausted and find the shade of a tree
a blessing to relax. In today's samsAra lOka our
continuous chain of birth and re-birth makes us
go through happiness and sorrow and various
suffering. As we exhausted souls are struggling,
Shri bAshyakArar - becomes the grand big tree -
that gives us shade.

EmberumanAr is not just a shade, he is also the
light for humanity. Just as the morning Sun spreads
light to clear away darkness, Shri bAshyakArar removes
the darkness of Ajnana [created by teachings of
other schools of thought] and provides brightness
into us.

Shri yatirAjA's important kaimkaryam is releasing the
world from Viparitha Jnana. Our Vedas, which is so
vast, gives room for many interpretations and when
there are many interpretations it gives room for
wrong and dangerous understanding. Humanity was,
in general, driven and directed by many who completely
misread the Vedas. The teachings by such people,
who misread the Vedas, just rocked the humanity.

Our Shri yatirAja understood the Vedas in the right
perspective and told the world in no uncertain terms.
Just as the oceanic waters raise on the sight of
full-moon, the Vedas just relish the very sight of
Shri Ramanuja interpreting and teaching the correct
understanding of the Vedas.

This makes Shri bAshyakArar the supreme amongst
everyone.

Here, Shri bAshyakArar is visualised as a mountain,
tree, Sun and moon. He is also referred as yatIndrA
and hence can be interpreted as being visualised
as indrA also!

Swami Desika's above Sloka is a jaya gOsham with the
following meaning:

May Victory be unto yatirAja, who is the mountain
where from perennial rivers of Vedas flow always,
who is the grand tree offering solace to the tired
pilgrims of samsAra; who is the rising sun dispelling
the snows of Mayavadins; who is the full moon gladdening
the waves of Vedas!

Whatever, Adiyal is able to understand and share
with you are from the works of Swami Desika. This
little knowledge gained from Swami's works gives
immense pleasure and depth of Shri yatirAjA's
greatness! The words are limited to detail and
enjoy Shri yatirAjA's efforts and knowledge.

Let us recite and relish Thiruvarangatthamudhanaar's
rAmAnuja nootrandAdhi, in which he pours out thus

"kaNdukoNdEn emraamaanusanRannai kaaNdalumE
thoNdukoNdEn avan thoNdar poR RaaLil en thollai ven^n^Oy!
viNdukoNdEn avan seerveLLa vaariyai vaaymaduththin
RuNdukoN dEn,innam uRRana Othil ulappillaiyE!!"

"Now, I have seen my Ramanuja; what a sight it
is indeed!It makes me seek to serve the golden feet of
his devotees; Now I take just a sip from this ocean of
auspicious qualities and all my past karmaas are
destroyed, No, there is no end if I start to say more."

Having enjoyed Shri Ramanuja, though in a small effort,
it is time for us start enjoying the glory of our
Swami Desika. There have been Oracles on Swami Desika's
arrival (even before Swami's actual advent) to our loka
for our upliftment. Shri yatirAja himself had hinted
on this........... Tomorrow!


yatirAjar tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

dEsikan tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

Praveena nAmni Ramanuja dasi
28th Aug 1999