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Experiencing Swami Desika - 3

From the Bhakti List Archives

Praveena • June 8, 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:

So, why is it that Venkatanatha is being addressed
as Desika? What does Desika mean?

Well, Desika usually refers to an Acharya. This could
be 'one who orders', 'guides' or 'advises'.

In Sanskrit, the term

'DE' refers to Devanugraham;
'SI' refers to Sishyanugraham and
'KA' refers to Karuna.

When these three letters are combined it results
in 'DESIKA'. This is reflected in the following Sloka:

Devanugraha Dharidvaath Sishyaanugraha Kaaranath
Karunaamaya-roopathvath Desika: kathyathe Bhootai:

No wonder that the term 'Desika' is always used to
refer our Swami only.

If you look for meanings for 'Desika' in Tamil,
you get the following:

a king
a beautiful person
a Guru
one who teaches Vedas
father etc.

Only our Swami can fit all these definitions.

Swami Desika is an all-encompassing personality - he
is the best. More importantly, he emanates the
right waves.
Swami is a vedantin among vedantins;
a vidvan among vidvans;
poet among poets;
an acharya among acharyas;
an avatar among avatars;

a perfect personality
and on the whole the greatest !

Our Lord's parathvam is characterised by six gunas,
viz., Gnana, Sakthi, Bala, Iswarya, Veerya and Thejas.

Gnana of Swami Desikar is clear from 'Sarvagnyathvam
Thatvamuktakalape'. Our Swami produced Padhukasahasram
in one Yaama, which shows his Shakthi, we see our
Swami's Balam when he refutes the doctrines of opponents.
We can very clearly see the Richness when Swami establishes
Vedanta on a firm basis

Vishesha vitparishadheshu natha
Vidhaktha khoshti samaranganeshu
Jigheeshatho me Kavitarkikendran...

The above verse recited by Swami part of Hayagriva Stotram
shows the Veerya guna of our Swami.

By virtue of being celebrated as ' Venkateshahvayam mahaha'
swami's Thejas can also be observed.

Isn't it true that we enjoy our Lord in our Swami?!
Not only that, our Swami brings out the 'Desika' in
all those who surrender.

..... more on Swami's greatness, tomorrow.

Shri Ranganayaki Sametha Shri Ranganathan Parabrahmane Namaha:

dEsikan tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

Praveena nAmni Ramanuja dasi
8th Jun 1999