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Experiencing Swamy Desika -- #80


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:

"SrimAn VenaktanAthArya: kavithArkika kEsarI!
VedAnthAchArya varyO mE sannidhatthAM sadhA hrudhi"!!

Swami established that the ultimate essence all knowledge
is to understand that Goddess SrI is inseparable from the Lord
and there is no one equal or superior to the Divya Dampathi!!!

The Divine couple is inseparable. They are not separated even
when they manifest as avatar's. We saw this in our 9th posting
where in we dealt with the following Sloka from Vishnu Puram.

"Raghavatway-abavat Sita, Rukmini Krishna janmani !
Anyeshu chavatareshu Visho-resha-yanapayinee !! ..."

-- Vishnu Purana, 1 -9-144&145

Goddess Lakshmi is forever united with Lord Vishnu. So, when our
Lord becomes Rama, Sri becomes Sita, .... Goddess Lakshmi thus
adjusts herself according to the embodiments of Lord Vishnu.

Now, the question is, how is it that during the rAmA avataaram,
Lord Rama accepted saranAgathy (e.g. SugrIva, vibhIshanA etc.)
even in the absence of sIta?

Here we should understand that though sIta was physically not
next to rAmA, she was really with Him.

We saw this even in the trivikramA avatAram, though our Lord was
a bachelor in this avatAram, being without Goddess Lakshmi was
inconceivable and so Goddess Lakshmi was hidden in his Krishnajinam!!!

Swami Desika has emphasised this in the paramArthastuti.
ParamArthastuti is a stotra on Lord Vijayaraghava in Thirupputkuzhi,
near Kanchi. Thirumangai Alvar refers to this Lord as 'Por-eru'.

The context of the following Sloka plays an important role here.
This is the fifth Sloka, after which Swami deals with the
saranAgathy of sugrIva, vibhIshanA and the like which happens
during the physical absence of sIta. So, swami as a precautionary
measure clarifies that the Divya Dampathi always stand united!
Swami gives prominence to the JatAyu episode of rAmAyanam, especially
his supreme service at the cost of his life in this stotra.


"kamalA nirapAya dharmapatnI
karuNAdyA: svayamrtvijo gunAste
avanam SrayatAm ahInamAdyam
sa ca dharmastvadananya sEvanIya: !!"

Swami says that the ritual performed by our Lord is to protect
saranAgatas. Any yAgam has to accompanied by ones wife. Swami
says that since periya pirAtti is always united with the Lord,
our Lord performs this jAgam. The Lords compassion and such gunas
itself accompany the Lord as priests.

Swami adds that the ritual of protection should be performed
continuously by our Lord like "ahInam" - which continues always
without limitations. No body else can perform this ritual other
than our Lord !!

The quality of mercy of Lord rAmA has been exhibited in a lot
many places. For instance Our Lord accepted vibhIshanA saranAgathy
and declared that he would accept even rAvanA's saranAgathy.
"...dattamasyAbhayam mayA vibhIshano vA sugrIva vA rAvanasvayam".

Swami Desika has dealt with vibhIshana saranAgathy in Abhaya pradAna
sAra in manipravAla style. Swami calls Valmiki rAmAyanam as a
SarangAgathy Vedam and says the Principle of surrender is the
connecting thread of all the six kAndAs.

In the eighth Sloka of ParamArthastuti "saranAgatha rakshana vrati mAm..."
Swami speaks of Lord rAmA's declaration "sakrdeva prapannAya tavAsmitica
yAcate..."

Swami Desika says "Since Lords protection extends even to a wretch like
rAvana, surely I will not be forsaken or excluded however sinful I may be".
This is to give us reassurance that our Lord will definitely protect us.

ParamArthastuti of Swami can be termed as a short rAmAyana. Swami Desika
himself calls it ramanIya (beautiful). This is because of the blessings
of Lord Vijayaragava.

Swami Desika's has given us the epic of  24,000 verses in just
ten verses => Paramaarthastuti!!!


"Kavi Taarkika Simhaaya Kalyaana guna SaalinE!
SrimatE VenkateshAya VedAnta Gurave nama !!"

...To be continued!

dEsikan tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

Praveena nAmni Ramanuja dasi