DARSANAM

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Series of articles on Swami Desikan
collected / published by Sravana Samithi,
Muscat during Sarvadhari Purattasi

2008

SERIES OF ARTICLE 12 /30 8 -0 9-20 08

 Sri Devanayaka-Pancaasat
(The Fifty on Sri Devanayaka the Lord at Tiruvahindrapuram)

Sri Devanayaka- pancaasat is a Stotra in 50+3 slokas on Sri Devanayaka, the Lord at
Tiruvahindapuram.He is also known by the name of Devanatha.
Sri Desika begins the Stotra paying homage to Bhagavaan and Lakshmi (1-4),
describes the Sacred Hill Aushadaadri and the holy river Garuda-nadi and other
sanctifying waters, (ii) the Lord adorned with ornaments and weapons which are really
deities that preside over the
various Tattvas (Reals). In
thirty slokas the various
parts of the body from head
to foot of the Lord are
described. Towards the end,
he mentions Bhakthi and
Prapatti which are the means
of emancipation. Echoing the
song of the Alwar, Bhagavan
Devanathan, Ratnangi
is referred to as Daasa-satya
(Adiyavarku-meyyan) and
concludes by saying that true to His name, the Bhagavan has made Sri Desika,
Satyavaadi (speaker of truth). The detailed description of the Lord is made as follows-
(with the number of sloka in brackets)-The crown (16); Curly locks of hair(17); face
(18);forehead(19); ears(22); eyebrows (23); eyes(24)(25);nose and cheeks (26);
lips(27); neck(28); arms(29); chest(32); stomach(35); navel(36); thighs(38); knees
(39); shanks (40); feet(41); toes(42); nails(43); marks on the sole of the feet(44).

Arana Desikan, Series of article 12/30 Page 2 of 4

 A comparative study of description of Lord Deva-nayaka herewith that of
Bhagavan Narayana as enjoyed by the Mukta-atma (Release soul) in Vaikunta given in
the last section (Praaapti-parva) of Paramapadasopana by Swami Sri Desika will be of
great interest to scholars and of great enjoyment to soft mind devotees.
There is clear internal evidence in the works of Acharya Sri Desika from which
it is determined that Bhagavan Deva-nayaka had installed Himself in the Archaa-form in
Tiruvahindrapuram centuries before in anticipation of the birth of Sri Desika in Toopul
near Kanchi and his pilgrimage to this shrine for stay and worship of the Lord and
service to the cause of Vaishnavism.
Sri Desika too, impelled by the divine will came to Tiruvahindapuram where he stayed
for several years. As commanded by the Lord, he composed several works-one in
Sanskrit, one in Prakrit
(the language of the
queens in the harem); and
seven songs in Tamil verse
have been composed by
him in which Sri Desika
(Venkatanatha) finds
himself transformed as the
bride (Venkata-nayaki)
and sings in the states of
Swami Desikan, Nayika Alankaram, Toopul
union and separation
depicting her extreme love for the Lord who is the lover. The Lord also reciprocated the
love for Venkatanayaki, the beloved. He also showered His love and blessings on Sri
Desika and made him one of the foremost Acharyas in our Vaishnava Sampradaya. Sri
Desika also did yeomen service to the cause of our religion and philosophy by writing
more than a hundred books in poetry and prose, epic and drama, in Sanskrit, Prakrit,
Tamil and Manipravala. [From the Life and works of Sri Nigamantha Mahadesikan - by
Prof Sri A Srinivasaraghavan].

Arana Desikan, Series of article 12/30 Page 3 of 4

Swamy Desikan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam
kavi-tArkika-simhAya kalyANa-guNa-SAline |
Srimate venkateSAya vedAntagurave namaH

Courtesy : Sri Madhavakannan Swamy, ingapore.

Nangainallur Venkatesan

Swami Desikan residence, Tiruvahindrapuram

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