Swamy Deshikar:
A brief on Deshikar
Sri Vedanta Desikan (Swami Desikan, Swami Vedanta Desikan, Thoopul Nigamaantha Desikan) (1268–1370) was a Sri Vaishnava guru/philosopher and one of the most brilliant
stalwarts of Sri Vaishnavism in the post-Ramanuja period. He was a poet a devotee, philosopher and master-teacher (desikan). He was the disciple of Kidambi Appullar, also known as Aathreya Ramanujachariar, who
himself was of a master-disciple lineage that began with Ramanuja. Swami
Vedanta Desika is considered to be avatar (incarnation) of the divine bell of Lord Venkateswara of Tirumalai by the Vadakalai sect of Sri Vaishavites.
Vedanta deshika was one of
the greatest reformer and literary giant of south India. He was a great poet, devotee
and master teacher.He was born in a suburb of Kanchipuram called Thoopul .
Ananta Suri was his father and his mother was Totarambha. His original name was
Venkatanatha. He was a multi-faceted personality: a polyglot, who was well
versed in Sanskrit, Prakritam and Tamil. A great poet who held aloft the banner
of Bhagawan Ramanuja and a title of Kavitarkika Simha( A lion among poets)going
by the contributions made by him to Hindu Religion And Sri Vaishnava community
in particular. He is only next to Ramanuja when it comes to contributing to our
community. He laid the foundation stone to Vishistadwaita philosophy which was
articulated by Ramanuja.
Vedanta deshika got his
education under his scholarly maternal uncle named Kidambi Appullalar, who was
a direct disciple of Ramanuja. It was under his able guidance he became a
master of all vedas, Divya Prabhandas ,Puranas and Shastras.. The death of
Ramanuja split the Ramanuja sampradaya into Vadakalai and Thengalai. Sri Deshikar
was Acharya of followers of Vadakalai sect. During the time of Vedanta Deshikar
the Tamilnadu was under frequent invasion by foreigners’ and that made him to
move to Karnataka and stay in Satyagala a village at the border between Tamil nadu
& Karnataka for 12 years.
Vedanta Deshikar was a very
creative writer and composer. He became a great scholar within the age of
Twenty, which is unique in the history of Vaishnavism itself. His writings
include more than 130 works in both prose and poetry in Sanskrit ,Prakrit and
Tamil.
He created history by
composing one thousand verses in praise of Paduka (Feet) of Lord Ranganatha,
the presiding deity of Srirangam, known as Paduka Sahasram in one night. At the
age of 21 he got married to Tirumangai (Kanakavalli) and got a son named
Varadarya in 1317 AD, who later became a great scholar and spread the teachings
of his father.
Vedanta Deshika became
Acharya at the age of 27 years and wrote several works His Yadavabhyudayam a long poem of 21 cantos ,was recognized as a
Maha Kavyam. He also wrote Hamsa Sandesham modelled on the famous work Meghaduta of
Kalidasa .
Vedanta Deshikar is believed
to be the incarnation of the Holy bell at Tirumala and is known as
Ghantavataram. He is believed to have done penance at Tiruvahindrapuram
chanting Garuda mantram and Garuda appeared and taught Hayagreeva Mantram. When
Deshikar chanted Hayagreeva Mantram, Lord Hayagreeva appeared and gave an idol
of Himself, which is still being worshipped there.
Vedanta Deshikar lived for
102 years & spent most of his time in Srirangam. The place where he lived
in Srirangam is even today revered as Deshikan Tirumaligai in Srirangam. His
teachings are respected even today. He is a legend of his times in the pages of
Sree Vaishnavism.
