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SriRangaSri List Archive: Message 00039 Oct 2002

 
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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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