SrI: SrImathE Nigamantha Mahadesikaya namah: SrImAn venkatanAthAryaH kavitArkika kesarI | vedAntAcArya-varyo me sannidhattAm sadA hRdi ||May the glorious Venkatanatha, the greatest of teachers of Vedanta, and the lion among poets and debaters, reside forever in my heart.
Dearest Srivaishnavas,Let us begin to enjoy the sthOthra granthas of Swamy Desikan [in alphabetical order]
The second that comes is ACHYUYA SAYAYAM..Acyuta Satakam in 101 Verses is a stotra in the Praakrit Language (that is spoken by women-characters in the Sanskrit Dramatic Literature). Sri Vedanta Desika himself has given the Sanskrit rendering of the Praakrit slokas for the benefit of those who may not be familiar with that language. This stotra gives in brief all the doctrines of Visishtaadvaita and of the Vaishnavism as portrayed by the Alwars. It is the out pouring of Sri Vedanta Desika (Venkatanatha) who, on account of his passionate love for acyuta (Lord Devanatha), has become transformed into a bride, probably donning the name of Venkatanaayikaa.
1-7 In the first seven slokas after a prayer to Lord Devanaayaka, the poet makes an apology for beginning to eulogize the Lord who is beyond the region of thought and word.
8-25 The magnificence and greatness of the Lord as revealed by the Upanishads- the Lord who is the Universal cause (7-9) who is in full form in all things, small or great, and who is the one that is ?Prati-vastu-Poorna(10). He is the Over-Lord who supports, controls and rules all the objects in the world as the Antar-yaami. So all the words denoting all the objects connote the Lord also. (Sarva-sabda-vaacya)(11). He is the material cause (upaadana kaarana) with Prakriti as his body; the Nimitta-kaarana (sentient cause) by His sankalpa, the Sahakaari-kaarana (Auxillary cause) by other useful objects in the world which also are His body (12-13). Bhagavan and Lakshmi are the Divine Couple who rule over all the male and female species (Seshi-Dampati) (14). He is without an equal or superior (Sama-abhyadhika-rahita) (15). He is the Supreme Deity who is worshipped by the observance of all the religious duties that have been ordained (Sarva-karma-samaraadhya) (16-18). He is impartial by nature and comes to the succor of all without distinction (19-22). Bhagavan along with Lakshmi as the second is the means for Salvation (Mokshopaaya) (24-25). Bhagavan in all His manifestations is endowed with endless auspicious qualities. His lovely form has all the elements which adorn Him as weapons and jewels (Astra-bhooshanaatmaka-sareera)(26-30) the mystic nature, time and purpose of His Incarnations(Avataara-rahasya). (31) The Lord, even in the Archa-form with Lakshmi and Bhoomi is the fountain of Mercy and Saviour (Saranya-Danipataa).(32-33) description of the Lord Devanatha from head to foot(34-34) curly locks of hair (34) lovely face with lotus eyes(35) broad chest as the throne of Lakshmi(36) the shoulders (37) the stomach that is lean though it contains the entire universe (38). His lotus like Navel as a foot-stool for Lakshmi and the birth place of the four faced Brahma(39) the enchanting girdle(40) the thighs and the shanks(41,42) the foot, the source of the Ganges (43) the medicinal herb in the Oshadhi-hill(44) Bhagavan dispels ignorance and reveals the hidden mine of wealth(45-46) the greatness of His devotees in general(47-54) and of the Prapanna to Sri Vaikunta (Arciraadi-gati)(61-73) the poet?s prayer to the Lord to forgive his sins and save him(74-82) Sri Vedanta Desika is no longer Venkatanatha but has become Venkatanaayakee, the bride of the Lord. She prays for release from the worldly bondage (84). Her desire to cross the virajaa River and enter Paramapada where she will be welcomed by the Eternal Damsels and taken to the mansion of the Lord where she will regain her place on His chest as Kaustubha and do endless service.
Sri Vedanta Desika as Venkatanaayaki concludes this stotra as a representative for individual souls who has been pining in separation. She prays that she, the eternally youthful bride should become united with the eternally youthful bridegroom Sriman Narayan. [From the Life and works of Sri Nigamantha Mahadesikan- by Prof Sri A Srinivasaraghavan]
Swamy Desikan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam Regards Namo narayana dAsan kavi-tArkika-simhAya kalyANa-guNa-SAline | Srimate venkateSAya vedAntagurave namaH ||Salutations to Sri Venkatesa, in whom all perfections reside, who is the teacher of Vedanta and the lion among poets and debaters
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