Today (Purattasi-Pooradam) Oct 13, 2002 is the 303rd Thirunakshatram of Srimath Thirukkudanthai Desikan also known as Gopalarya Mahadesikan who is an important Acharya in the Munithraya sampradayam. This is a translation based on an article that appeared in Srimath Andavan Asramam publication "Srimath Thirukudanthai Gopalarya MahaDesikan's 301st birth Anniversary Mahothsava Malar" in Nov. 2000. This is part of the Guruparampara prabhavam written in Manipravalam by Veda Sasthra Kalpatharu, Ammasamudhram U.Ve Sri. Seshadri Acharya Swami over 100 years back. Ammasamudhram swami was a sishya to Sri Valayapatti Swamy known as Sri. Vedanta Ramanuja Maha DEsikan who was a disciple to Annarya Maha DEsikan. (One of the 4 disciples of Vazhuthur Andavan). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sri: [Image] Srimath Thirukkudanthai Desikan Sri Gopalarya Maha Desikan (1700 - 1781) Thirunakshatram: Purattasi Pooradam Thanian Sri Krishna Desika Padambuja Brunga rAjam VEdAntha lakshmana muneeindra kripatha bOtham Thraiantha dEesika yatheendra satari moorthim Gopala dEsika sikAmanim Aasrayamaha Meaning of Thanian: Like a bee which goes after the lotus for nectar, He went after the feet of Sri Krishna Desikan (who was his Father) and had his Pancha Samskaram and Veda Adyanam under him. He absorbed Vedhantha gnanam from Vedhantha Lakshmana Muni (Sakshath Swamy). He is an embodiment of three great acharyas Swami Desikan, Sri Ramanuja and Swami Nammazhwar. We seek refuge and prostrate such a great acharya Srimath Gopalarya Maha Desikan. Acharya Lineage: The foremost and first Acharyan of our sidhantham is Sriman Narayana. The Acharya lineage flows down to Sri Mahalakshmi. Sri Lakshmi Piratti gave upadesam to Vishvaksenar who chose Nammazhwar to continue the lineage at the start of Kaliyuga. Nammazhwar, by his yogic powers, gave upadesam to Sriman Nathamuni. From there our Acharya lineage continued through Uyyakkondar, Mannakkal Nambi, Alavandar, Perianambi, and on to Sri Ramanuja muni. Since the sampradayam was passed down by 3 muniswaras namely Sriman Nathamuni, Sri Yamunamuni & Sri Ramanujamuni, the sampradaya came to be known and respected as Munithraya Sampradhaya. It came down to Vedantha Desikan (1268-1369 AD) who through his literary works and compositions did a great service to Srivaishnava sampradayam. Through various Sadacharyas, the acharya lineage came down to Sri Thirukkudanthai Desikan (Vikrama Purattasi 1700 AD -Plava Karthigai 1781 AD) who was in many aspects reflecting the life of Vedantha Desikan and is regarded as Apaara Desikan. Sri Gopala Desikan's early years: Sri Gopala Desikan was born in Aathreya gothram in Sri Appullar's Vamsam (Swami Desikan's maternal uncle). The kootasthar of this Vamsam Sri Kidambi Aachaan (also known as madaippalli Aachaan) was doing the Madaippalli kainkaryam to Sri Ramanuja. Thirukkudanthai Gopala Desikan was the direct and fifteenth descendant of Appullar. Swami's Avatharam took place in Vikrama Varusham (1700) purattasi madham, pooradam star, sukla paksham, navami thithi in dhanur lagnam. His Father Sri Krishna Suri performed Jatha karmam to the child, offered Thiruvilachinai prasadham, and named him as Gopala Desikan. Anna Praasanam took place in his 6th month, Akshara Aarambam was performed in his 5th year and Upanayanam and BrahmaUpadesam took place in his 7th year as prescribed in Sastras. Swami received his pancha samaskaram and veda adhyanam from his father Sri Krishna Suri. From his father, he also learnt tharkam, vyakaranam, meemamsam, Divya Prabhandham, Desika Prabhandham & Sthothra paadams of Sri NigamAntha MahA dEsikan and became an erudite scholar. Sri Krishna Suri instructed his son Gopala Desikan that he must learn sath sampradhya granthas from the great acharya, gnana vairakya anushtana sevathi, Srimath Vedantha Ramanuja Maha Desikan, also known as Saakshaath swami. Saakshaath swami was performing grantha pravachanam at Srirangam. Sishya of Saakshaath Swami: As instructed by his father, Sri Gopala Desikan left for Srirangam. After offering mangalasasanam to Srinivasa perumal at Thiruvinnagar he went to Thirukkudanthai and offered mangalasasanam to Komala Valli thaayaar and Lord Sri Aparyaabhdha Amudhan (Aara Amudhan). Then he left for Srirangam. At Srirangam, Sri Gopala Desikan took his bath at North Kaveri, performed his nithya karmAnushtAnams and then went to Sakshath Swami's Ashram at the banks of North Kaveri. Reciting Saakshaath Swami's tanian "Sri Ranganatha Gurupadha Saroja Hamsam..." he offered his pranams at the holy feet of Saakshaath swami who glowed just like Sri Ramanuja as described by Swami Desikan in Yathirajasapthathi. Upaveethinam Oordhwa pundravantham Thrijagath punya phalam thridhanda hastham Saranagatha sArtha vAha meedE Shikaya sekarinam pathim yatheenam " Meaning:- I meditate and pray the chief of yatheeswaras who is adorned with yagnyopaveetham (the sacred thread), oordhvapundram (the sacred marks on his body), Thridhandam in his hand (the sacred 3 sticks), the shika which beautifies his head, the one who pursues, the highest grade of sanyasa Acharam, who administers saranagathy to the seekers and make them lead a satraic way of life. Sri Gopala Desikan requested Saakshaath swami to bless him and take him as a sishya. Saakshath swami, after testing his gnanam, anushtanam and bhakthi was immencely pleased and blessed him and accepted him as his sishya. Sri Gopala Desikan studied Srimath Rahasyathraya Saaram, Sri Bhaashyam, Geethaa Bhaashyam, Sri Paancharaathra Prabruthi, Anushtaana Granthas, Sruthaprakaasikaa, Thaathparya Chandrikaa, Sathadooshani, Thathva mukthaa kalaabaa, Nyasavidyaa Darpana and Sri Thathva Sidhanjanam under the holy feet of Saakshaath swami. Saakshath swami instructed Sri Gopala Desikan to learn Bhagavath Vishayam from his Satheerthar and disciple Sri Paduka Sevaka Ramanuja muni, who had learnt 24 Ayirappaddi earlier from Sri Saakshath swami. As instructed, Sri Gopala dEsikan studied Bhagavath Vishayam from Padhuka Sevaka Ramanuja muni and became a scholar in that too, and requested Sri Saakshaath swami for Bharasamarpanam. Saakshaath swami was very much pleased at his request and perfromed Prapatti for Sri Gopala Desikan at the sacred feet of Lord Sri Ranganatha through Acharya nishtai. Receiving the title "Thirukkudanthai Desikan": Under the orders of Lord Aravamudhan in his swapnam, Sri Gopala Desikan, with the permission of his Acharya, left for Thirukkudanthai for performing sath sampradhaya pravachanam . He travelled all the way to Thirukkudanthai via Thirupernagar, Thirukkandi, Thanjaimaamanikkoil, Thirukoodalur and Kapisthalam. After offering mangalasasanam to Thaayar, reciting AaviyE, AmudhE, and Aaraa Amudhe, Bhagavadhyana sOpAnam, Amalan Adipiran etc, he offered prayers with AparyabdhAmritha Dhyana slokam to Lord at Thirukkudanthai. Lord Aravamudhan appeared thru archakar and granted the name Thirukkudanthai Desikan and ordered him to do sath sampradhaya pravachanam from Thulasi-vanam of the temple at Thirukudanthai. He was performimg oonchavruthi everyday like Swami Desikan. At that time Sri Desika sampradhaya sishyas were all attracted by swami's tejas, and performed prostrations with niradhisaya prathibhakthi at his holy feet with the feeling as if they doing prostrations for Swami Desikan himself. One morning, when he was reciting Desika Sahasranamam at Swami Desikan sannadhi, He was instructed by Swami Desikan himself thru Archamukam to chant Lakshmi Hayavadhana Manthram every day at the Amudhan sannadhi From then on, he started chanting Lakshmi Hayavadhana Manthram, everyday at Amudhan sannadhi strictly abiding by the highest level of sincerity and devotion. On the 45th day, Lord Hayagreeva appeared thru Archamukam, blessed him and ordered to do His (Hayagreeva) vigraha pratishtai and perform nithya aradhana for the vigraha. Swami replied "Anugruhithosmi". When Thirukkudanthai swami performed vigraha prathishtai as per the niyamanam, there appeared a divya tejas, the mere sight of which made every Brammavith present there wondering and prostrating. It mixed with the divya mangala vigraha of Lord Hayagreeva and disappeared. Thirukkudanthai Desikan's Compositions: Saakshaath swami had earlier completed vyakyanam for Srimath Rahasyathrayam for 12 Adhikarams called as Poorva Saaraswaadhini. He was not able to complete the remaining 20 adhikarams due to his old age. Thirukkudanthai Desikan was instructed by his Acharya to complete Vyakyanam for the remaining 20 adhikarams. Sri Gopala Desikan was modest and was afraid that he might not be able to do it since he felt he did not have enough knowledge to take up the kainkaryam. But Saakshaath swami blessed him and said "Swami Hayagreeva will enter into you and will complete the task through you". Sri Gopala Desikan implicitly obeyed the orders of his acharya and started working on completing the vyakyanam started by His Acharyan. By the grace of his Acharya, Sri Gopala Desikan completed the vyakyanam for the remaining 20 adhikarams strictly following what Lord Hayagreeva made him write as per Swami Desikan's vaakyam in Adikara Sangraham "Vellai Parimugar Desikarai Viragal AdiyOm, Ullathu Ezhuthiyadhu olayil ittanam yaam". The second part consisting of 20 adhikarams was called as Uthara Saaraswaadhini. Other works of swami are Ahniga Grantham, Sri Desika sahasranamam, Nikshepa Chinthamani also known as Saranaagathi Saasthra Vivaranam, Sangraha Vyaakyaanams for Kanninun Siruththambu, Thiruppallandu, Sri Jayanthi Nirnayam, Aparyabdhamritha Dhyana sopanam on Araavamudhan (similar to Bhagavath Dhyana sopanam of Swami Desikan on Lord Ranganatha) (To be continued) dAsan, Srimath Andavan Thiruvadi. Shyamsundar Sreenivasan [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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