Vedanta Desika 111 part 3

Vedanta Desika -111




Part 3

Nyasa Dasakam, Thilagam, and Vimsathi

The doctrines of self surrender receives treatment in his three works namely Nyasa Dasakam, Nyasa Thilagam , and Nyasa Vimsathi thilagam. Appeal to the deity for shelter is found in Nyasa Dasakam. Nyasa Thilagam is just admissibility and practice of Saranagathi. Nyasa Vimsathi deals with the attainment and qualifications of the preceptor and pupil treating the doctrine of prapatti from the point of acceptability, refuting objections that are raised against it, and the way of life which one who had adopted the course shall practice.

Nyasa Dasakam

Nyasa Dasakam is just ten slokas on Prapatti, supposed to render in Tiruvaradanam. Swamy Desikan rendered as Prabathi to Lord Varadaraja of Kancheepuram. All the slokas are directly addressed to Lord by Swami Desikan and so quotes as Aham mathrakshana , mam svayam, twath paavam, mam mathiyam etc are in the form of "I surrender to you", "I pray to you", etc. The purposes ,prayers, and aims of our daily prayers is self explanatory in this ten slokas.

1.In following Prapatti consisting of three steps of surrendering one's atma, praying for protection, and dedicating benefits to Him. (Svarupa samarpanam,bhara samarpanam,phala samarpanam).

2. In surrendering for our protection to the Lord by observing the following five angas of prapatti ( Anukulya samkalpam, pratikulya varjanam, karpanyam, maha visvasam, goptrtva varanam)

3. In realizing whatever knowledge we have, whatever we do, whatever effects they have, whatever benefits they result are all His acts.

4. In praying the lord to have the full confidence at the time of the end of his body's life in this world for getting moksham .

5. In seeking guidance, firmness and for uninterrupted service to the Lord during the life period with a goal to attain Him.

6. In longing to do flawless service to please Him who is in the company of Sri Devi, Bhudevi and Nila Devi.

7. In dedicating everything he possesses including his self , and all including living and non-living things that belong to him.

8. In entrusting the responsibility for his protection, and adhering not to indulge in any sinful act, and in any sins.

9.In begging to forgive all the sins that have been committed and for performing forbidden acts in Sastras.

10. In devoting the rest of life in the bliss of kainkaryam to Him and to derive the joy of Sri Vaikuntham in this world itself.

Nyasa Thilagam



Nyasa means laying down of the burden and Tilaka means a jewel of ornament which beautifies prominently in the face.Swamy Desikan composed Nyasa Thilagam with 32 slokas , as he likes this number 32 and so adopted in 32 paddathis in Paduka Sahasram and 32 Adhikaras in Rahasya Traya saram .

Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam is the Deity in whose praise this stotra is conceived in almost all slokas found such as rangesa, rangapathe, ranganatha, rangesa, rangathurya, ranginnyasa, rangasayee, etc. It concerns with the mentality that should prevail in post prapatti period. In the second sloka itself starting as Praya prabhatane pumsam Swamy Desikan assures that bountiful blessings are sure even after the very first surrender to almighty Sriman Narayana. It can be said that Swamy Desikan followed Saranagathi Gadyam of Ramanuja. The slokas 3 and 4 after invocation one is similar to Saranagathi Gadyam does. Sloka 22 is about Lord Ranganatha refers to His sayings as Rama and Krishna addressed to Vibishana and Arjuna, in order to convince Ramanuja that his Saranagati has borne fruit is also in line with Gadyam.



This sloka 20 saying as ' Like the blind man led by the man with good vision, like the same man who is enabled to cross a stream and reach the other shore by the ferry -- man, and like the child of a King's valet which enjoys the best pleasures of life, we too can obtain redemption by the Acharya's grace, though we lack gnana or Sakti or both' is sure to invoke Bhakthi by one and all.



The stotra concluding as swa paryanke sevam thisathi pani paryanka rasika is his fervent prayer for getting the title of "Servant of the Lord and His Sri" is gem of this slokam. Various aspects of Prapatti and total surrender only to Sriman Narayana are described in detail in this stotram.



Nyasa Vimsathi

Nyasa Vimsathi with 22 Slokas , on Nyaasa- the score of self surrender and exposition on it, dedicating to Lord Varadaraja of Kancheepuram ,.The qualifications an acharya should possess are set out in the first sloka, and he should be worshipped as if he were God Himself in sloka 2 , and the traits the sishya must possess are mentioned in sloka 3. Sloka 7 explains unshakable faith in the efficacy of prapatti .A sense of security and fearlessness to who performs prapatti is detailed in last sloka. Vyakyanam for this is done by none other than our swamy Desikan himself is plus point in this. He has done with the anugrahams of Lord Ranganatha of srirangam, and his commentary is there for Tattva muktha kalapa for the tattvas [reals],

This' prapatiraksha' describes how an achrya should be respected, observances to be followed by student, qualifications for Bhakthi , importance of prapatti, remedies for violations in the rules or requirements of prapatti etc. Swamy Desikan says that Acharya should be held and worshipped in the same position as God by students ,and he says 14 qualities of Acharyalakshanam as siddham saathsampradaye sthirathiya manaham srothriyam brahmanishtam sathvastham sathyavasam samaya niyadaya sadhu vrudhaya samedam in sloka 1 ,and in sloka 2 he gives 8 reasons how God and teacher can be placed in same position as Acharya sathprabrath yubakarana diya devavath syathu basya .In sloka 3 deals with sishya lakhanam as one with sincere interest in learning, trust in sastra, rules , control of indriya-s. He stresses Sriman Narayana is the sole owner and controller of everything moving and non-moving, and He is the only objective for all of us in life to attain and there is none other. Slokam 4 is on Bhakti and Prapatti as two Independent Means for Moksha.Sloka 5 on greatness of prapatti, 6 on intense faith ,7 0n prapanna's proper way of life, 8 to 19 different kinds of prapatti, with particular reference on Lord Varadaraja of Kanchi and concluding 21 and 22 sloka on fruits to be obtained on following prapatti.

The concluding sloka Samsaravarta vega prasamana Subha-drik desika prekshito ham

is included as part of the nitya-anushandhanam at the end of the Nyasa dasakam which is recited during the Thiruvaradanam.

I have written just few lines written on every stotram ,with my little knowledge. Readers may offer their suggestions .

To be continued ....



Arumbuliyur Jagannathan Rangarajan