Vedanta Desika 111 part 4

. Vedanta Desika -111


Part 4



Sri Vedanta Desikan , the greatest star in the spiritual horizon of SriVaishnava sampradaya Visishtadwaita philosophy after Sri Ramanujar, has dedicated his life for this and acclaimed a lot. His main aim was to establish a firm ground for teachings of both Ramanuja and Nammalwar through his writings both in sanskrit and in Tamil in various forms of drama, poem, lyrics and even in commentaries. As in Taniyan before Desika Prabhandam recitation, ("Oronru thane amaiyadho Dharaniyil Vazhvorkku Vanerap PomaLavum Vazhvu " ) a person who desires to ascend up to the Heavens, even a single statement of the great Acharya, uttered by him for the benefit of humanity would be sufficient to lift him up to his desired goal . When Swamy Desikan authored many precious articles, we can try to understand something in brief every week in this article.





11.Kaamaasikashtakam



Kaamaasikashtakam is with 8 slokas on KamaasikaaNarasimhan(Mukunda Narayanan ) ,presiding deity in Thiruvelukkai.'Vel'denotes "by One's own will"'irukkai' is ' seated or located'. Since this place by His own will, it is called 'tiru vel irukkai. ' Kama ' means 'by His own will', Asika' is being seated, ashtakam is with 8 Slokas.In 9th sloka(palasruthi ) he states that if one chants this stotram even once with faith and devotion,he is sure to be forgiven of his sins even if it is huge like elephants, and he is to be bestowed with all benefits he seeks.



In the first sloka itself , Swamy Desikan's Mangala Sasanam conveying as Jeeyath ,says Lord with His lion face and human body and great full of wonders of neither a lion nor man described as 'Kascchith Ascchith Adhbhuta Kesaree ' and He being celebrated in upanishads (last part of vedas) as Srutheenaam Uttaram Bhagam .

He further says as Kaamaasikaa Narasimhan has three eyes, which are in the form of the Sun, Moon and Agni, and He is the only one who can remove our tapa-traya-s, of Adhyatmikam - (physically ill, fear ,anger, desire, fear, etc), Adhi bhaudikam (ills from animals and humans )Adhi daivikam (cold, heat, storm rain ). Lord is the only true relative we all have (bandhum akhilasya

jantoh).His hands compete with one another to protect devotees,

He appeared out of the Pillar in his palace with the frightening swirl for the injustices to His devotee, but with lotus eyes fell with mercy on Prahlaada, showing limitless compassion.

In 8th sloka Swamy Desikan even commands as Tvayi Rakshathi Rakshakai kim Anyai Tvayi Chaarakshathi Rakshakai kim Ananyai and questions as " When You are resolved to protect some one, where is the need to seek the protection of other Gods? When You are resolved not to protect some one, which other God is capable of protecting us? There is no one. Knowing this fundamental truth, I have resolved to offer my saranaagathi at your lotus feet alone that rest at the banks of Vegavathi river".

Thus Saranagathi is well expressed in this stotram in short and sweet.



12. Sri Sudarsana Ashtagam



Sri Sudarsanashtagam by Sri Vedanta Desikn is a great devotional, musical, remedial, meaningful stotram with 8 slokams and palasruthi as usual in the end.

The last The last lines of every verse as "Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana, Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana "(Victory and Victory to you, oh, Sudarshana,Victory and Victory to you, oh, Sudarshana,) is sure to give joy and inspiration to all persons while chanting. His prayers made in this stotra were answered and the place was freed from the epidemic and people resettled there as before. This stotram can be recited in homes, daily when some one has fever or illness of other kinds, and everyone should note all Prayers were answered to Swamy Desikan. In last verse itself He has quoted that if one reads he would be fulfilled with all desires ,removing any obstacles because of glorious boon granting powers of the Lord. In 7th sloka Mahita Sampath Sadhakshara ,Vihitasampath Shatakshara Shatarachakra Pratisishtita ,Sakala Tattva Prathishtita ,vividha sankalpa sankalpaka kalpaka ,vibhuda sankalpa kalpaka , He says, with the wealth of righteous knowledge, blessings with the unperishable wealth of Moksham when they seek refuge at HIS feet is possible. By recting the six letter mantra, one can get incomparable wealth. When Yantra of six corners formed by two intersecting triangles with His image in its epicentre is worshipped,He pervades and grant the boons. In general Swamy Desikan confirms in this stotra that devotees are benifitted in these ways.

1. worshippers cross 'shoreless' ocean of Samsara and free from cycles of births and deaths 2. All the sins of those who approach Him as their refuge gets minimised. 3. Sure of obtaining Blessings with the knowledge about the righteous conduct as in Vedas.4. Lord will Come to the rescue of those ,who seek His protection . 5. Growth of the evil-minded persons is arrested and destroyed down to their roots.6. Removal of false knowledge invading the minds of those ,who seek refuge in Him is possible.8. Great compassion shown to devotees , when they worship through Yantra and Mantra.



13. SRI ASHTA BUJASHTAGAM



Sri Ashtabujashtagam is ten slokas on Sri Ashtabujaperumal (God in eight hands ) of Kanchipuram, the holy temple called Attabuyakaram. Swamy Desikan praises Sriman Narayanan's Aiswarya, Sausilya, Moksham and there is nothing else and nobody else to attain moksha. This stotram conveys the basics of Prabatti . In the ten slokas, one sloka for each of the eight arms is praised, with palasruthi in the end.



In the very first sloka, Swami Desikan performs Saranagati with the prayer: "ashtabhujam prapadye". In the sloka, Gajendra raksha thvaritham bhavantham Swami Desikan quotes Gajendra being attacked by the crocodile and compare it with our lives being attacked and torn apart by our senses and dragged towards them on all sides like dragging by crocodiles. He sought the mercy and protection of God like Peyazhwar's pasuram in Moondram Thiruvandathi (99) 'Astabuyagarathan agnnanru kuttathu kol muthal ai thunja'.

In sloka 5 , bhayam kutah syat tvayi sanukampe, raksha kutah syat tvayi jataroshe. This again is one more reason for prapatti at the feet of Lord Narayana alone. None of the efforts that we may undertake, such as worshipping the anya devata-s, will be of any use if He does not offer His protection. If He decides to protect us, with Periya Piratti (Mahalakshmi) standing in support of us by His side constantly, it does not matter what other efforts we undertake (tvayi pravrtte mama kim prayasaih, tvayyapravrtte mama kim prayasaih). Thus He says in sloka 6 as above , is the only upaya, and there is no other upaya for moksha. In sloka 10 Vedanta Desika attributes the doubling of the Lord's hands (from four to eight) to the Lord's hurry and eagerness to afford protection to those who have sought refuge in Him. This stotra it is stated will be of help to those who have performed prapatti and become prapannas, and also to those who desire to become prapannas .Swami Desikan travelled to Sri Varadaraja's temple for his mangalasasanam from his home in Tuppul, he always passed through Sri Ashtabhujam and Sri Yathokthakari temples. The Lord of Ashtabujam thus felt happy for His bhakthan Swamy Desikan's Ashtabhuja Ashtagam stotram .

14. Sri Shodasayutha Stotram



Swamy Desikan composed this Stotram describing Sri Sudarshana holding 16 weapons in His sixteen hands (Eight hands on each side of His Body). That rare form of Sudarshanar responded to Swamy Desikan's prayer immediately and banished the poisonous fever from Tiruputkuzhi . This stotra elaborates the greatness and glory of Sudarsana by singing about the weapons which Sudarsana wields.

In the Shodasha Ayudha stotram, Desika refers to the 16 weapons adorning the Lord, the first among them being Sudarshana Himself. He seeks the protection of devotees and the destruction of their enemies. He concludes by describing Him as the source of all weapons.Sri Sudarsana has the following 16 weapons in His 16 hands.1)Chakram (2)Parasu/Mazhu/a type of axe (3)Lance /Kuntha:(4)Dhandam (5)Ankusam or goad (6) Sathamukhaagni (7)Sword(8) Spear (9)Paanjajanyam/Sankham (10)Bow (11)Noose/Paasam (12)Plough (13)Vajram (14)Mace/Gadhai (15)Pestle/Ulakkai and (16)Soolam .

This Stotram consists prayer to Lord in the form of second person as " May He (Sudrasanan) protect You!" .The first of the 19 slokams of Shodasha ayudha Stotram refers to the sixteen aayudhams (weapons) adorned by Sri Sudarsana . In the very first sloka itself He seeks as "May Sri Sudarshanan served by Sixteen weapons respond to your prayers for relief from the poisonous fever!". In 18th slokam Sudarsano viswam ayuthai shodasayuth tells how Sri Sudarshana is the source of all types of weaponry in the world and prays for His protection:



Acharya sarva bouman wrote a lot. I am trying to continue with HIS Grace........



Arumbuliyur Jagannathan Rangarajan

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