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Experiencing Swamy Desika -- #16


SrI:
Shrimate Shri Lakshmi Nrusimha Parabrahmane Namaha:
Shrimate Shri Seetha Ramachandra Parabrahmane Namaha:
Shrimate Shri Ramanujaya Namaha:
Shrimate Nigamantha Maha Desikaya Namaha:
Shrimate Shrivan Satagopa Shri Narayana Yateendra Mahadesikaya Namaha:

As mentioned in the 6th posting Shri Suka during
the purana Kala itself has mentioned about
Shri Nammalvar's avatara, in Kali Yuga.

Shri Nammalvar was such a great bhakta that
enjoying and experiencing Sriya Pathi flowed
in as hymns. Shri Nammalvar wrote not just in
tens and hundreds but in thousands about our
Emperumaan. Shri Madhurakavi Alvar on realising
the glory of Shri Nammalvar sang thus
"aruL koNdu aayoram inthamizh paadinaan.."

As mentioned in posting 5, Swami Desika felt that his
works on Padhuka Devi attributes to accomplishment
of his Janma. Here, Swami refers the Paduka to that
of Shri Nammalvar and thus his Padhuka Sahasram is
about Shri Nammalvar, and Swami treated this as his
Prathi Sambhaavanai to Shri Satagopa.

Shri Nammalvar has contributed extensively to our
Sri Vaishnava philosophy. Shri Nammalvar used
his hymns to promote the philosophy.

The names of our Alvar are indicative of
his fame, like:

"Nammalvar" was fondly given by Sri Ranganatha,
Alvar kept ignorance away from him and so was
called as "Satakopa". Shri Nammalvar was decked
by Lord of Sri-Nagari with Vakula flowers
as His blessings, and hence our Alvar is called
as "Vakula-bharanar"; Nammalvar destroyed the false
faiths by his revealed knowledge. He was a wielder
of the weapon of Lord Vishnu, hence the name "Parankusa";
Nammalvar's Love to Lord Krishna was intense. He was born
just 43 days after the exit of Lord Krishna from this world,
Nammalvar's love to Lord Krishna was so great that he was
called as "Krishna-Trishna" i.e., the Love incarnate of
Krishna; He is our "Kulapathi" and the Head of Prapannas -
"Prapanna-Jana-kootastar".

The 'Satari' placed on the heads of all devotees
in our Koil is Nammalvar himself. The Satari is thus the
link between us and God in the form of Acharya.

Shri Nammalvar has classified his works as follows:

Tiruviruttam [100 verses]
Tiruvai mozhi [1102 hymns]
Tiruvaciriyam [7 stanzas]
Periya Tiruvandadi [87 verses]

Shri Nammalvar longed for the communion with
the Lord. His works on Tiruviruttam primarily
focusses on the longing of soul for its
communion with the Lord.

Shri Nammalvar sings the glory and the kalyana gunas
of the Lord in Thiruvaciriyam. Also, Shri Nammalvar
describes the ways and means of attaining the Lord.

Shri Nammalvar enjoys and shares the anubhavam of
Lord's Saulabyam while establishing our Lord's
Paratvam.

That the fact that our Sriya Pathi is supreme and
all Jivas have to reach the Lord has been established
in Shri Nammalvar's Thiruvai mozhi.

The Visistadvaita Philosophy speaks of five doctrines,
viz.,

*** Brahman or God to be attained (Praapya);
*** the Jiva or the aspirant seeking God (praapta);
*** the saadhana or the means of attainment (praaptyupaaya);
*** the goal to be attained (Phala); and
*** the obstacles in the way of its attainment (praapti-virodhi).

Shri Nammalvar's Thiruvai Mozhi is a presentation
of the above five doctrines.

Swami Desika prostrates at the feet of this Great Alvar, whose
literature and Philosophical gems are the sure resting place for
the Sruti's.

...To be continued!

dEsikan tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

Praveena nAmni Ramanuja dasi