Tiukkudantha Desikan's Tirunakshatram, 24/09/2012, Purattasi, Pooraadam
Sremathe RangaRamanuja Mahadesikaya Namaha
Sri:
SrimathE Ramanujaya Namah:
Sri Krishna Desika Padambuja Brunga rajam
Vedantha lakshmana munindra kripatha bodham
Thraiantha desika yatheendra satari moorthim
Gopala desika sikaamanim 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.
In this posting on Sri Gopalarya Mahadesikan's vaibhavam,
adiyen has attempted to reproduce an excellent comparison of life of two
great Acharyas in our sampradayam, Swami Nigamantha Desikan and Srimath
Thirukkudanthai Desikan also considered as Swami Desikan's avathaaram.
This was written by Sri U.Ve. Navalpakkam Vasudevachariar in an article
titled "Thoopul Vallalum Kudanthai Vallalum" and was published in March
2001 issue of Sri Ranganatha Paduka. Any mistakes in this writeup is
solely adiyen's and adiyen seeks your pardon before hand.
Regards
namo narayana
dAsan, Madavakkannan
Sremathe RangaRamanuja Mahadesikaya Namaha
Sri:
SrimathE Ramanujaya Namah:
Dearest all
Continuing on the glory of our unparalleled Sampradayam and Acharyas and commemorating the forthcoming
Continuing on the glory of our unparalleled Sampradayam and Acharyas and commemorating the forthcoming
1000th year anniversary of
EmperumAnAr.
Thirunakshatram: Purattasi Pooradam
Thirukkudantahi Sri Gopaladesika Maha desikan (1700-1783 CE.), an all time great savant
was reverentially called as Tirukkudanthai Desikan, by virtue of his having
settled down in Tirukkudanthai (Kumbakonam). Considered as a reincarnation of
Vedanta Desika, he engaged himself in propagating Vaishnavism through his
prolific writings and through his illustrious disciples, who carried the torch
forward.
Today is Swami's Thirunakshathram. Let us meditate on his
lotus feet and his padhukas.
Reproduced below is from Sri Shyam Srinivasan Swami's
write up few years ago: (Thanks for his permission)
Thanian
(Dedicatory verse)
Sri Krishna Desika Padambuja Brunga rajam
Vedantha lakshmana munindra kripatha bodham
Thraiantha desika yatheendra satari moorthim
Gopala desika sikaamanim 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.
In this posting on Sri Gopalarya Mahadesikan's vaibhavam,
adiyen has attempted to reproduce an excellent comparison of life of two
great Acharyas in our sampradayam, Swami Nigamantha Desikan and Srimath
Thirukkudanthai Desikan also considered as Swami Desikan's avathaaram.
This was written by Sri U.Ve. Navalpakkam Vasudevachariar in an article
titled "Thoopul Vallalum Kudanthai Vallalum" and was published in March
2001 issue of Sri Ranganatha Paduka. Any mistakes in this writeup is
solely adiyen's and adiyen seeks your pardon before hand.
Srimath
Thirukkudanthai Desikan is considered an aparaavatharam of Swami
Nigamantha Desikan. This can be realized by seeing the similarities
between these two great Acharya Maha purushas.
1. Sri Thoopul Desikan is Thiruvengadamudayan's Gantaavathaaram whereas
Sri Thirukkudanthai Desikan is Thiruvinnagarappan's Gantaavathaaram.
Lords of Thiruvinnagarappan and Thiruvengadamudayan are also specially
related since Thiruvinnagarappan is considered as the aparaavathaaram of
Thiruvengadamudaiyan. Similarly the Gantavatharam of Thiruvinnagarappan
(Thirukkudanthai Desikan) is an aparaavathaaram of the Gantaavathaarm of
Thiruvengadamudayan (Swami Desikan).
2. Thiruvengadamudayan's Thirumani Azhwar had garba vaasam for 12 years
and then had an avatharam as Swami Desikan whereas Thiruvinnagarappan's
Thirumani Azhwar had garba vaasam for 12 months and then had an
avatharam as Thirukkudanthai Desikan.
3. Swami Desikan's avathaaram was in the month of Purattasi (Thiruvonam)
and avathara samaapanam was in the month of Kaarthigai (Pournami
thithi). Thirukkudanthai Desikan 's avatharam was also in the same month
of Purattasi (Pooradam) and samaapanam also in the same month Karthigai
(Krishna Sashti thithi) as Swami Desikan.
4. Swami Desikan's maathru gothram (mother's side) is Athreya gothram
whereas Sri Thirukkudanthai Desikan's gothram is Athreya gothram. Also
Sri Thirukkudanthai Desikan is a direct and 15th descendant of Appullar
who was Swami Desikan's uncle and also His acharya.
5. The avathaaram of Swami Desikan, who was immersed in Kaliyan's
(Thirumangai Azhwar) works ("Kaliyan urai kudi konda karuthudaiyon
vazhiye!" ) was foretold by Kaliyan himself in a prabhandham, Similarly
the avathaaram of Srimath Thirukkudanthai Desikan, who was immersed in
Swami Desikan's works, was foretold by Swami Desikan Himself as
reincarnation in Rahasyatraya Saaram as
Bhavati Daivaat Kaschit Kaschid Vivasritaamaha |
Sad Vartaneem Anuvidaasyati Saaswatham Naha ||
6. Lord Hayagreeva graced both the Acharyaas and blessed them to perform
kainkaryam to our sampradayam with their works and pravachanam. Both the
acharyaas had Lord Hayagreevan as their Aradhana moorthy.
7. Swami Desikan composed Sri Bhagavath Dhyana Sopanam on Lord
Ranganatha and enjoyed singing Lord's beauty from His feet to the crown
on Lord's head. Sri Thirukkudanthai Desikan composed Sri
Aparyaabhdaamrutha Sopanam on Lord Aravamudhan of Thirukkudanthai and
enjoyed singing His beauty similarly from Lord's feet to head.
8. The title of "Vedantaachaariar" was given by Lord Ranganathan to
Swami Desikan. Swami Desikan's works like Adhikarana Saraavali and other
granthams proved that he befits this title conferred on him. Similarly
the title of "Thirukkudanthai Desikan" was given to Gopalarya
Mahadesikan by Lord Aravamudhan of Thirukkudanthai. Sri Thirukkudanthai
Desikan's sampradaya works like Ahnikam, Nikshepa Chintamani, Uthara
Saaraaswadini proved that he befits this title.
9. Swami Desikan who was in gruhastaashramam had three yathivaras as his
main sishyas namely Brahmatantra Svathanthra Jeeyar, Prabhaakara Jeeyar
and Vennai Kootha Jeeyar. Similarly while Thirukkudanthai Desikan was a
gruhasta, three yathivaras namely Vazhuthoor Andavan Sri Vedantha
Ramanuja Mahadesikan, Sri Ranganatha Mahadesikan and Sri Srinivasa
Mahadesikan became his sishyas.
10. Both were great acharyas in spreading our sath sampradayam. When
differences in interpretation of Sri Bhasyakarar's teachings cropped up,
Swami Desikan straigtened it and removed the mis-interpretations through
his many works and established Sri Visishtaadvaidham as taught by Sri
Bhasyakarar on firm grounds. Similarly when interpretational differences
cropped up even within Desika Sampradyam, Sri Thirukkudanthai Desikan
established it on firm grounds through his various works and established
matams and appointed his sishyas as acharyaas to propagate the Srimath
Naathamuni, Srimath Yaamuna Muni, Srimath Ramanuja muniroopa Munithraya
sath sampradayam.
Other highlights on Swami Desikan's avathaaram as Srimath
Thirukkudanthai Desikan
1. Swami Desikan was born more than 100 years after Sri Ramanuja's
period. Nevertheless Swami Desikan expressed his longing to be direct
disciple of Sri Ramanuja in his works like Sankalpa Sooryodayam. To have
his wish fulfilled, Swami Desikan had avatharam as Thirukkudanthai
Desikan and became a sishya of Sri Ramanuja's avatharam Sri Saakshaath
Swami. He was called Saakshaath swami as his sishyas used to wonder if
he was Saakshaath Ramanuja himself and was also born on the same day as
Sri Ramanuja (Chithirai Thiruvadirai). Could there be any doubt that Sri
Ramanuja was naturally very pleased to have Swami Desikan as his direct
disciple in their punar-avatharams as Saakshaath Swami and
Thirukkudanthai Desikan and together both the great Acharyas spread our
sampradauam.
2. Swami Desikan composed many sthothras on Lords of many divya desams.
But he did not compose any sthothram on Lord Aravamudhan who gave us
back the 4000 Divyaprabhandham. To have this wish fullfilled, he had an
avatharam again as Thirukkudanthai Desikan and composed
Aparayabdhaamrutha Sopanam.
3. Emperuman Sri Ramanuja wrote short compositions like the Gadya Trayam
to describe the Saranagathi principles. Swami Desikan expounded on all
of Sri Ramanuja's works and composed detailed works like Sacharithra
Raksha granthas. Similarly Sri Ramanuja's avathaaram Sri Saakshaath
swami wrote short compositions like Nyaya Vidya Darpanam. Later, Swami
Desikan's avathaaram Sri Thirukkudanthai Desikan, expounded on it and
composed more detailed works like Nikshepa Rakshai and Ahnika grantha.
Nigamantha Desikan. This can be realized by seeing the similarities
between these two great Acharya Maha purushas.
1. Sri Thoopul Desikan is Thiruvengadamudayan's Gantaavathaaram whereas
Sri Thirukkudanthai Desikan is Thiruvinnagarappan's Gantaavathaaram.
Lords of Thiruvinnagarappan and Thiruvengadamudayan are also specially
related since Thiruvinnagarappan is considered as the aparaavathaaram of
Thiruvengadamudaiyan. Similarly the Gantavatharam of Thiruvinnagarappan
(Thirukkudanthai Desikan) is an aparaavathaaram of the Gantaavathaarm of
Thiruvengadamudayan (Swami Desikan).
2. Thiruvengadamudayan's Thirumani Azhwar had garba vaasam for 12 years
and then had an avatharam as Swami Desikan whereas Thiruvinnagarappan's
Thirumani Azhwar had garba vaasam for 12 months and then had an
avatharam as Thirukkudanthai Desikan.
3. Swami Desikan's avathaaram was in the month of Purattasi (Thiruvonam)
and avathara samaapanam was in the month of Kaarthigai (Pournami
thithi). Thirukkudanthai Desikan 's avatharam was also in the same month
of Purattasi (Pooradam) and samaapanam also in the same month Karthigai
(Krishna Sashti thithi) as Swami Desikan.
4. Swami Desikan's maathru gothram (mother's side) is Athreya gothram
whereas Sri Thirukkudanthai Desikan's gothram is Athreya gothram. Also
Sri Thirukkudanthai Desikan is a direct and 15th descendant of Appullar
who was Swami Desikan's uncle and also His acharya.
5. The avathaaram of Swami Desikan, who was immersed in Kaliyan's
(Thirumangai Azhwar) works ("Kaliyan urai kudi konda karuthudaiyon
vazhiye!" ) was foretold by Kaliyan himself in a prabhandham, Similarly
the avathaaram of Srimath Thirukkudanthai Desikan, who was immersed in
Swami Desikan's works, was foretold by Swami Desikan Himself as
reincarnation in Rahasyatraya Saaram as
Bhavati Daivaat Kaschit Kaschid Vivasritaamaha |
Sad Vartaneem Anuvidaasyati Saaswatham Naha ||
6. Lord Hayagreeva graced both the Acharyaas and blessed them to perform
kainkaryam to our sampradayam with their works and pravachanam. Both the
acharyaas had Lord Hayagreevan as their Aradhana moorthy.
7. Swami Desikan composed Sri Bhagavath Dhyana Sopanam on Lord
Ranganatha and enjoyed singing Lord's beauty from His feet to the crown
on Lord's head. Sri Thirukkudanthai Desikan composed Sri
Aparyaabhdaamrutha Sopanam on Lord Aravamudhan of Thirukkudanthai and
enjoyed singing His beauty similarly from Lord's feet to head.
8. The title of "Vedantaachaariar" was given by Lord Ranganathan to
Swami Desikan. Swami Desikan's works like Adhikarana Saraavali and other
granthams proved that he befits this title conferred on him. Similarly
the title of "Thirukkudanthai Desikan" was given to Gopalarya
Mahadesikan by Lord Aravamudhan of Thirukkudanthai. Sri Thirukkudanthai
Desikan's sampradaya works like Ahnikam, Nikshepa Chintamani, Uthara
Saaraaswadini proved that he befits this title.
9. Swami Desikan who was in gruhastaashramam had three yathivaras as his
main sishyas namely Brahmatantra Svathanthra Jeeyar, Prabhaakara Jeeyar
and Vennai Kootha Jeeyar. Similarly while Thirukkudanthai Desikan was a
gruhasta, three yathivaras namely Vazhuthoor Andavan Sri Vedantha
Ramanuja Mahadesikan, Sri Ranganatha Mahadesikan and Sri Srinivasa
Mahadesikan became his sishyas.
10. Both were great acharyas in spreading our sath sampradayam. When
differences in interpretation of Sri Bhasyakarar's teachings cropped up,
Swami Desikan straigtened it and removed the mis-interpretations through
his many works and established Sri Visishtaadvaidham as taught by Sri
Bhasyakarar on firm grounds. Similarly when interpretational differences
cropped up even within Desika Sampradyam, Sri Thirukkudanthai Desikan
established it on firm grounds through his various works and established
matams and appointed his sishyas as acharyaas to propagate the Srimath
Naathamuni, Srimath Yaamuna Muni, Srimath Ramanuja muniroopa Munithraya
sath sampradayam.
Other highlights on Swami Desikan's avathaaram as Srimath
Thirukkudanthai Desikan
1. Swami Desikan was born more than 100 years after Sri Ramanuja's
period. Nevertheless Swami Desikan expressed his longing to be direct
disciple of Sri Ramanuja in his works like Sankalpa Sooryodayam. To have
his wish fulfilled, Swami Desikan had avatharam as Thirukkudanthai
Desikan and became a sishya of Sri Ramanuja's avatharam Sri Saakshaath
Swami. He was called Saakshaath swami as his sishyas used to wonder if
he was Saakshaath Ramanuja himself and was also born on the same day as
Sri Ramanuja (Chithirai Thiruvadirai). Could there be any doubt that Sri
Ramanuja was naturally very pleased to have Swami Desikan as his direct
disciple in their punar-avatharams as Saakshaath Swami and
Thirukkudanthai Desikan and together both the great Acharyas spread our
sampradauam.
2. Swami Desikan composed many sthothras on Lords of many divya desams.
But he did not compose any sthothram on Lord Aravamudhan who gave us
back the 4000 Divyaprabhandham. To have this wish fullfilled, he had an
avatharam again as Thirukkudanthai Desikan and composed
Aparayabdhaamrutha Sopanam.
3. Emperuman Sri Ramanuja wrote short compositions like the Gadya Trayam
to describe the Saranagathi principles. Swami Desikan expounded on all
of Sri Ramanuja's works and composed detailed works like Sacharithra
Raksha granthas. Similarly Sri Ramanuja's avathaaram Sri Saakshaath
swami wrote short compositions like Nyaya Vidya Darpanam. Later, Swami
Desikan's avathaaram Sri Thirukkudanthai Desikan, expounded on it and
composed more detailed works like Nikshepa Rakshai and Ahnika grantha.
Blessed are we
with such Acharya saarvabhouman showering us through his Sreesukthis and
wonderful lineage.
Acharyan
ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam
Regards
namo narayana
dAsan, Madavakkannan
