LET US KNOW OUR ACHARYAS
SWAMI DESIKAN
1. BIRTH :
Our Swami Desikan was born to Sri Ananthasoori and Sow Thotharamba.. Desikan’s forefathers were Anantha Somayaji and Pundarikaksha Dikshathar, They were all well versed in Vedas and sastras particularly Ramanuja’s Vaishnava Texts and scriptures.
Desikan’s mother-Thotharamba was the daughter of the great Sri Vaishnava savant-Kidambi Rangarajachariyar and sister of the famous Kidambi Appular-a great scholar.
Desikan’s parents were living in Thoopul- also called Thiru Thanga- a small village near Kanchi. Here Brahmins from Viswamithra Kula sect were living and our Desikan belongs to this sect. This place is surrounded by Pure Grass ( Holy Grass ), hence Thoopul was derived.
The couple- Desikan’s parents were living in this village for long time worshipping the Lord of the village DEEPA PRAKASA and performing all the daily rituals and practices. They were very pious and humble but not blessed with child for longtime. They prayed their family deity Thiruvenkadanathan to bestow them with a child.
day the Lord appeared in their dream and asked them to visit Venkadam to accomplish their wishes. Accordingly they went on a pilgrimage to Tirupathi. They stayed in a camp. First they had a holy dip in the pushkarini. Our Ananthasoori performed all the Nithyakarmanushtanas and later visited the temple-had full dharshan of Lord and returned to the camp. That night Lord appeared in their dream as a divine boy- bringing along with Him a bell and with that sanctified him-saying that he soon will have a son who will be famous a scholar and Acharya-well versed in Vedas and Vishistathvaida propounded by Ramamnuaja
They have to wait for another 12-years to realize their dream. On Vibhava Tamil NewYear, in the month of Purattasi, on the day of Shravana Star Thotharamba got a hadsome son ( 27th Sept 1268 AD ) Incidentally this day happened to be the birthday of Lord Venkataramana and the concluding day of Brahmotsavam at Tirumalai Hills. As the son was born on this day by the Grace of Lord Venkatesa the couple named the child as Venkatanatha.
The child grew in perfect environment and by custom Annaprachanam, apthapoorthy were performed at appropriate periods. On the first birthday the couple took the child to Kanchi and Lord Varadaraja- the great Boon Benefactor and Thayar-Perundevi Thayar.
On seeing the child the temple priest was astounded by the brilliant countenance of the child, admired the radiance and predicted that the boy would become a great master like Yathi Rajar and further consolidate and promote the Sri Sampradaya.
the couple were very pleased and returned home to continue their journey.
Thus Lord’s bell was born in this earth as an incarnation to enlighten the people
Vishitatwaida propounded by Bhagavat Ramanuja followed by Swami Desikan is the only true philosophy to understand this Supreme Lord, His Power and Stature.
Sriman Narayana alone is the Supreme Almighty.
Swami Desikan showed us the easy path of reaching to Lord and His Abode.
Even the Most Sinner among the Sinners will be relieved of his sins and will be taken to heaven if an unconditional surrender at His Lotus Feet
Swami Desikan in his Sarnagathi Deepika writes:
To attain Moksha there are two paths: Bakthi Yoga and Prabathi Yoga.
Bakthi yoga is very difficult to practice and any small mistake can make this path ineffctive.
In Prbathi Yoga there are 4-divisions- Swanishtai, Ugni Nishtai, Acharya Nishtai and Baghavatha Nishtai.
Swanishtai: Those who have special Gyana ( intellect ) approach God directly and do Prabathi.
Ugni Nishtai: Utter the words of Acharya- on Prabathi and repeat the same.
Acharya Nishtai: Included in the words of Acharya
Bhagavatha Nishtai: those who cannot get acharya approach Bhagavathas and included the Prabathi in their word.
( to be continued in next Blog )
Dasan Jagannathan
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