Life History of Swami Desika (simple version for children)
By.V.C.Govindarajan Swamigal.
Swami's bhakthi:
Once a young boy wanted some money for his marriage and approched the wealthy people in Kanchipuram.They were jealous of Sri desika's simplicity and not seeking any financial help from them. Just to embarraas our swami they have told that only desika can give lots of money because he is rich.The boy did not know the evil intention of the jealous people and went to swami desika for financial help. We all know that desika is not having any money but he took the young boy to the Thayar sannidhi and started reciting Sri Stuthi and lo and behold..
It has started raining and rain of gold coins from the sky. Swami desika thanked the thayar for her mercy and told the boy to take as much he wants and he did not take any coin for himself. The jealous people were shocked at this
incident and came running to seek the pardon of swami desika.
Once a snake charmer came and challenged desika that whether he can control his poisonous snakes and sri desika drew a chalk line on the ground and recited some mantra. None of the snake could cross over the line drawn by swami but one ferocious snake crossed over to harm swami.Sri Desika recited the Garuda mantra and instantly Garuda came and took away all the snakes. The Snake Charmer begged to swami desika to give back his snakes since it is the only lively hood of him. Swami desika again prayed to Garuda and it brought the snakes again.
One magician confronted with swami and drank the water from the pond. With his magic he made swami's stomach to bulge as the magician drank water from the pond. Swami was feeling extreme pain and understood the reason quickly. Desika just scratched the pillar near by with his fingernails and the water flowed out of the pillar. The magician was astonished with the super magic of Desika and begged his pardon.
Swami Desika as Sarva tantra (Master of all arts, crafts):
There are many incidents in Swami desika's life which prove that he is not just an acharya or poet.He was well versed with many other crafts and the following three incidents prove this point.
Once a mason challenged swami desika whether he can construct a well with the bricks supplied by him. Swami desika accepted the challenge and the mason gave broken and irregular shaped bricks to swami but he nicely arranged them and finished the well construction. This well is still existing in Thiruvahendrapuram.
Once a sculptor challenged swami whether he can make an idol of himself and fitted in the pedastal that was made by the sculptor. Swami made an idol and the sculptor tried to fix it in the pedastal and could not do so.He thought that the idol was wrong and tried to chisel some part of the idol to fix it. Blood flowed out of desika's corresponding part of the body where he chiseled out. The sculptor accepted that the pedastal is of wrong size and then swami desika corrected the pedastal and installed the idol on it. This image is even today available in Thiruvahendara puram.
Once a shoe maker challenged that whether desika can mend his sandal and swami accepted this challenge and to every one's surprise he made the sandal quickly as if he was a original shoe maker.People are astonished at swami desika's knowledge in various crafts.
Swami's last days:
Swami desika lived 101 years and he felt the time has come for him to go the spritual abode of Narayana. He went to Sriranganatha and took his permission. His disciples and his son were feeling the pain of his separation and cried. Swami desika consoled them and instructed them to continue their divine works and follow the ramanuja dharshanam. In the year 1369 he kept his head in the lap of his son Kumara varadhachariar and left his mortal coil
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while listening to the chanting of thiruvaymozhi and Upanishads.
Later Sri Ranganayaki thayar ordered that a sannidhi should be made for Swami desika close to her sannidhi inside the temple. Also it is believed that she ordered that no other acharya sannidhi will be made hereafter inside the temple as a mark of respect to this great acharya, which is being followed to this day.One can see the desikan sannidhi in front of the thaayaar sannidhi in Srirangam.
Thaniyans on Swami desika:
A number of 'Thanians ' (laudatory dedication verses) were dedicated to him.
(1) His son Kumara Varadacharya has composed a thaniyan on swami desika. We are reciting this thaniyan before reciting any sanskrit stotra of swami desikan.
"Sriman Venkata Natharyah Kavitarkika Kesari | Vedantacharya Varyo Mey Sannidhattam Sadaa Hridhi ||"
The meaning of this verse is" "the great lion of poets and the great preceptor of Vedanta (that Swami Venkatanatha was) should reside in his heart always."
(2) Another one was by his disciple Brahma Tantra Swatantra which says:-
"Ramanuja Daya Patram Gnana Vairaghya Bushanam | Srimad Venkata Natharyam Vande Vedanta Desikam ||"
We recite this taniyan before starting divya prabandham.The meaning of this taniyan is "I salute the great Venkata Natha also called Vedanta Acharya and Lion among poets and logicians and who was well adorned by both Knowledge and discretion and who well deserved the grace of Srimad Ramanuja":
(3) There is another taniyan on Swami Desika which is recited before reciting any of the desika prabandham "Seeronru Tooppul Thiruvenkata mudaiyan par onra chonna pazhamozhiyul- OronRu thane amaiyadhO Dharaniyil Vazhvorkku Vanerap PomaLavum Vazhvu ||"
The meaning of this taniyan is " For a person who desires to ascend up to the Heavens, even a single statement of the great Acharya, Tooppul Tiuvenkadamudaiyan (Vedanta Desika) uttered by him for the benefit of humanity would be sufficient to lift him up to his desired goal
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