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.