Swami Desikan-continuation

VENKATANATHA-BOYHOOD AND MARRIAGE

Very few people are blessed with learned Fore Fathers. Those who are benefited with .such Parampara are not able to utilize such opportunities to learn the Vedas, granthas and Sri Bhashyam etc. Adiyen also one such unfortunate person. My Grand Father Allundu Srinivasa Ramanujachar in his days was well versed in all the above and wanted to us to learn those things-but the attraction of Anglo culture closed our eyes and we missed great opportunity.

Contrary to this Venkatanatha got the best knowledge in all the above. When he attained the age of 5 his father decided to teach the alphabets. Sri Appular- maternal uncle one day took him to Kanchi Varadan temple. At that time the seat of Sri Bhashya was occupied by Nadathur Ammal- a renowned Scholar. Nadathur Ammal used to give discourses about our Scriptures

Appular wanted to attend the discourse and along with Venkatanathan visited Nadathur Ammal.. On seeing this divine boy-Ammal stopped the lecture and asked about this boy. On being told that he was the nephew of Appullar- Nadathur Ammal got up and embraced the boy –when he wanted to continue the lecture he could not proceed further-he forgot the line-when Venkatanathan told the stage at which he stopped. Ammal marveled at the intelligence of Venkatanathan and asked Appullar to teach all the sastras and granthas. To this boy-whom he forecasted to lead the Ramanauja Paramparai.

At the age of 7-upanayanam was performed and the panchasamskara was initiated. Venkatanatha was taught Jatai, Vyakaranam, Tarkam, Meemamsam, Vedangas Sri Bhashyam, Geetha Bhashyam and other Achareya Suktees. By the age of 20 Venkatanatha mastered all other scriptures including Ithihas, Puranas, philosophies like advaitha, Dvaitha, Bheda Abedha shruthi, Pasupada, Saktha, Charvahana, Jaina and Budhism

Ananthasoori wanted to perform marriage for Venkatanatha. A chaste, sober, spiritual and traditional girl-Thirumangai was chosen and Venkatanatha married her. Though married Vankatanatha was much interested in enriching and propagating Ramanuja Dharsana

Later Appular who occupied the seat of Sri Bhashya after Nadathur Ammal became old and felt that his last days were nearing –called Venkatanathan and acquainted him the sacred Vainadeya Mantra to get well protected from all evil designs against him.. Appullar presented to Venkatanathan the Sandals of Ramanuja and his own, the cast die of Chakra and Sangu used to perform Pancha Samskaras.

When Appullar attained Acharyan thiruvadi, Venkatanathan took over the seat.

Swami Desikan in his Achutha sathakam firmly affirms that those who totally surrendered at the feet of Narayana- need not fear about Yama Loka or Hell. Sometimes some persons who undergone Prabathi might have forced to do some sins. In such cases Bhagavan punishes them lightly according to the intensity of the sins-but in all cases he takes them along with Him to His Abode.

Some of us however got entangled ourselves in this world in its pleasures. We try our best to come out of this shackles but due to attachment or bondage could not reach to Him though he is very nearer to us-just like the sky looks nearer to us but could not reach it.

Those who underwent Prabathi are not afraid of Death – they think it is a welcome guest since they are very sure that after death they will reach Narayana’s abode.

Those people who think that their body is itself Athma-not under the feet of Narayana-are independent- face innumerable obstacles. All bad qualities enter in their bodies. Egoism, no body equals to them, jealousy, cheating, Anger, miser etc

Swami Desikan further says in his Daya Sathakam:

1. Lord Narayana alone can give you Moksham.
2. He knows every thing, He can do and undo.
3. He destroys those who give troubles to his Bakthas.
4. He is the karana for every thing.
5. He can be reached by total surrender unto Him.
6. He moves among all –rich and poor alike
7. He stands as the Supreme God.
8. He gives Moksha in this janma itself to those who surrendered at his feet.


(To be continued in next Blog)

Dasan Jagannathan.