Vedanta Desika 111 part 2

Vedanta Desika -111




Part 2











In the last issue Vedanta desika's 4 slokas were discussed. Three more are in this.



Swamy Desikan follows SriRamanuja's path in Prapatthi for the three Thayars of the Lord in his Sthuthis ( Sri Sthuthi, Bhusthuthi and Godha Sthuthi). " Sriyam asarana: thvAm Saranyaam prapathye".in .Sri Sthuthi " Visvambharam asarana: Saranam prapathye "..in Bhu Sthuthi and " Godham ananya sarana: saranam prapathye "..in Godha Sthuthi.







5. SriSthuthi







SriSthuthi contains 25 slokas depicting Sri Thayar's swaroopam, soundaryam, kalyanagunams, vibhavam, archam, and iswaryam. All 25 slokas have got its own power to grant our requests One need not go to different Gods (as of present day style) for different prayers if SriSthuthi is fully recited. SriSthuthi is sure to help everyone for enhancing happiness of mind, for enrichment with high position, removal of fears, sins, physical and mental illness, and for gaining Moksham, health, soubhakaryams, . Similar to Adhi Sankara's KanakaDhara Sthothram ,our Swamy Desikan's Sristhuthi is Amirthavarshini of Sahala Sowbhaghyam.







One day a poor brahmachary , who had completed Veda Parayanam came to Swamt Desikan's house at Thoopul. He prostrated before him and told that he could not get married to a suitable bride due to poverty. Swamy Desikan then took him to Sri Perundevi Thayar Sannadhi at Sri Devarajaswamy temple in Kancheepuram . He started praising Sri MahaLakshmi Thayar with a poem called SriSthuthi. After completing this poem a rain of gold coins poured before Swamy Desikan. That Brahmachary then collected all the gold coins, and offered his prayers to both Sri Devaraja Perumal And Thayar . Later he found a suitable bride for him and conducted his marriage happily. Such is the glory behind this slokam.







In the very first sloka starting as Maanatheetha pratitha vibhavam MangaLam MangaLanam

He tells Mahalakshmi is the refuge of all beings in the world, with limitless wealth, auspicious embodiment of all Mangalams. One can get Her Anugraham both in this and the other world as She is of boon granting nature.



In 7th sloka Madhye kruthya thriguna phalakam nirmitha-sthanabhedham

Visvadheesa Praayini Swamy Desikan says "your lord is Sarveswaran and you are sarveswari and both are equally matched with astonishing Vathsalya subhavam. But both of You are playing a game of chess with the chess board clearly marked by the three gunams of Moola Prakruthi (Satthva, Rajas and Tamas). Its sixtyfour squares are alternatively painted with the colors of white or Red or Black. The dices are the Karmas of the Devas. As a result of the roll of the dices, the positions of devas go up or down or sideways and they attain new positions based on the sweep of their Karmas. The Dhivya dampathis play this game with great amusement .Both of You get amusemet by assigning Brahma, Siva, Indhradhi Devas in appropriate positions.







In the middle 13, 14, and 15 slokas, coronation of Lakshmi in the presense of the Lord , devas and their chiefs together with their wives regaining leadership, begging the Lakshmi kataksham , riches and wealth vie with each other to stay with Lakshmi are detailed.







In 24th sloka Kalyananam avikala-nidhi: kaapi Kaarunya seema

saishA devee sakala bhuvana prarthana Kaamadhenu:, Swamy says as She is the boon-granting Kaamadhenu responding to the pleas for anugraham from all the beings of the world. Thayar is undiminished and eternal abode of all Mangalams, treasure house of Compassion (KaaruNyam) and the boundary for the same. She is Mandhara maalai for the head of Vedas known for their eternal fragrance. She is the precious wealth of the Lord, who destroyed the asuran with the name of Madhu.



In concluding verse he says as Those who recite this hymn will become emperors and enjoy unlimited all round welfare and get all Mangalams through the performance of Prapatthi to Her . They will then cross the boundary of earthly Mangalams to enjoy the nithya Mangalam of Moksha Sukham in Sri Vaikuntam.







6.SRIBOOSTHUTHI





Swamy Desikan composed 33 slokas in praise of Bhoomi devi in Sri BhooSthuthi.



In the first sloka he said that he is surrendering to Bhoodevi as sarana saranam prabhatye she is the symbol of tolerance, beloved wife of Vishnu in Varaha Avatara,and she is Kamadhenu who have no supports, and a mother responsible for creation and saviour of the world.



In the second sloka, he said Vishnu is Pranava mantra,and the first word Bhoo is Nachiar. Lord Vishnu is called as Viswarambaran. ,.Similarly Nachiar is Viswambarai.



In 6th sloka Sarvam sahethyavaniri thyasalethi matha viswarambethi vibhulethi vasundarethi ,Swamy Desikan says as 'tolerating even the accused , Giver of food and water ,Having everlasting strength, savior of entire people, omni present, omni potent, showering all wealth'. There is no sloka other than Boosuktham and so Swamy Desikan’’s Sri Boosthuthi is a great boon.





Bhoodevi was born as Satya bhama daughter of Satyajith, and married Krishna. As people suffered a lot in Narakasura’s worst ruling, Krishna came in garuda with Satyabama and killed Asura. One may wonder why SatyaBhama went with Krishna during war. Vishnu, in Varaha Avatara, brought Bhoodevi in pralaya ocean through his hard teeth. Thus born a male child to them and that was narakasura. , who had demon character and who caused all sorts of trouble to all people. Vishnu then told that he may have to kill him, one day in her presence. For this reason she accompanied Vishnu. in war with Narakusara. .Once she went inside an ocean, as she found very difficult with the cruel nature of Hiranyakshagan, .Brahma then wondered as how this happened when people depend on her to save them, from the clutches of family life .Then Brahma prayed Vishnu to find a solution. Vishnu then searched for Bhooma devi. But as she was in a pitiable condition, he married her immediately. Desikan said the sounds of sea waves gave auspicious sound of Mangala vadhyam for this marriage.







7. SRIGODHASTHUTHI



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"Sri Gothasthuthi" of Swami Desikan on Sri Andal is speciafically sung before the procession of Sri Andal and Sri Renga Mannar During Vasantha Uthsavam Festival in Srivilliputhur is an Remarkable one.Swamy Desikan had plans to go to Andal sannadhi for Mangala Sasanam after Pradosham Mouna vratham.But to his surprise Andal deity uthasava moorthy came in procession before the house he stayed. Though that house is not in prakaram of Purappadu, route was temporarily changed for a day due to some death. This made Swamy Desikan to feel as "Aho Bhagyam" and his Parama Bhakthi towards Andal and recited 29 verses in Sri GodaSthuthi with two Sanskrit poetic metres of Vasantha Thilakam and Maalini.







Swamy Desikan's 28 Sthothra granthams had 862 slokams totally. Vasanthathilakam is found in slokas 2 to 28. The first and concluding Palasruthi slokas had Maalini metre.



Dhyana Slokam of Godha is 28th one as sathamakamaNineelA charukalhArahasthA sthanabharanamithAngi saandhravaatsalya sindhu : I

aLkavinihithAbhi: sragbhirAkrushta naathA vilasathu hrudhi GodhA VishnuchittAthmajA na : I/describes Andal as

who incarnated as the daughter of Periyazhwar has the hue of the blue gem , Indra Neelam, stands sporting a beautiful Senkazhuneer in Her hand . She is slightly bent from the weight of Her breasts. She is the One, who showers Her Daya on us and forgives our trespasses. She is the One , who presented to the Lord the garlands worn by Her first on Her beautiful tresses and overpowered Him by Her beauty and got Him under Her control .May Godha Piratti of these celebrated auspiciousness reside in all our hearts always .







To be continued...







Arumbuliyur Jagannathan Rangarajan