Invasion of Srirangam

In or about 1327 CE, there was an invasion to Sirangam by Malik Kafir the
general of Alauddin, the Sultan of Delhi. Srivaishnavas could not defend the
city against powerful muslims. The Acharyas gathered and discussed and
arrived at an unanimous decision to divide into three groups and act
secretly. One groups under the leadership of Sri Pillailokacharya, most
advanced in age was to take the deity of Lord Ranganatha (NumperumAL) and
His divine consorts [ubhaya naachimaars] in a covered palanquin and proceed
south ward after crossing the river Cauveri. Another party under Sri
Sudarsana suri and others was to stay at Srirangam, erect a stone wall in
front of the sanctum sanctorum to save the city from devastation at the
hands of the enemy even at the cost of their lives. The third group was to
corss the river koLLidam and go northward to prevent the quick march of the
infidels so that the first party with deities can get away comfortably. Sri
Vedanta Desika, who was the youngest, among the Acharyas was persuaded by
Sri Sudarsana suri to go with third group and somehow save himself so that
he at least might be leftto propound the Srivaishnava doctrine and the
teaching of Sri Ramanuja. Sri Sudarsanasuri entrusted hs two sons, who were
very young with Swamy Desikan as well as the very valuable and only
manuscript ?Srutha prakaasika? head and recorded from the Acharyas in
unbroken tradition and lineage of Acharyas. [Srutha prakAsikA, an elaborate
commentary on Sri Bhashyam of Sri Ramanuja on the Brahmma sUthras]. His
earnest desire was that it must be saved for the benefit of future
generations. Swamy Desika agreed and proceeded northward with a number of
Srivaishnavas. The Muslim army which was in Samayavaram, a village few miles
away from Srirangam, attacked them and killed many of them. Swamy Desika
concealed the two sons and himself amidst huge heap of corpses and passed
the night. Before dawn, he took the boys and moved away unnoticed in
North-western direction. After a journey of several days, they reached
Sathyakalam, a remote and lonely village in the Karnataka region, where he
stayed for several years.

Tradition says that Swamy Desika composed Abheethi sthavam [lyric for the
repulsion of fear] a sthOthra on Lord Ranganathan himself praying with
devotion that the army of the muslims and Yavanas should be drive out from
Srirangam and the Lord should return to His place of residence for the
relief of devotes in distress. He often repeated this and prayed to invoke
the mercy of the Lord.

In Sathyakalam village there is a small temple of the Local deity Sri
Varadaraja in which there is a small shrine for Swamy Desika. Swamy Desika
thought this is the place for him to stay and live for sometime. Sathyakala
lies about ten kilometers south of Kollegal on the trunk Road from
Bangalore. Probably the village attrached him since it was situated on the
bank of the ever flowing river Kaveri and there was a small temple in which
the replica of Lord Varadaraja of Kanchi was there. There are separate
shrines in the temple for Sri Mahalakshmi as well the first three Alwars
[Poigai, Bhootha and PeyAzhwAr] and for Sri Ramanujacharya and Swamy Desika.
Sri Desika took his daily bath in the cool and clear waters of the sacred
river Kaveri flowing gracefully through the hills around and taking his seat
under the aswattha tree on the bank on the Koormaasana ? a big tortoise
shaped slab ? did his japam and meditation. It is said that several works
were written by Swamy Desika when he was in the calm and peaceful village.
He also composed several works in tamil and Sanskrit and propounded them to
the devout disciples and thus spent his last days at Srirangam. [Devotees
having close connection with this place are of firm conviction that it was
at this village and have highest respect fro Swamy Desikan who lived here
for so many years. They name one of their male children in each family as
Desikachar. Sathyakal Desikachar is very common household name.]

Generally the deity of Swamy Desika in all temples is in sitting posture
with the symbol of teaching in the right hand [jnAna mudhrA] and the form of
Srutha prakAsikA manuscript in the left. In Sathyakalam, Swamy Desika is in
standing posture reminiscent of his readiness in rush to Srirangam on
receipt of the happy news of the return of the Lord Ranganatha to His place.
After a stay for some years in Sathyakalam, Sri Vedanta Desika went to
ThirunArAyaNapuram [the modern melkote] a shrine that was very hallowed by
the Lord who is affectionately known as by the name of Selva PiLLai and who
was, as it were the pet child of Sri Ramanujacharya, to leave Srirangam
because of the persecution of Srivaishnavas by KirumikaNta chOzhan.

Sri Vedanta Desika also lived in the peaceful and devotional city of
Thirunarayanapuram for several years engaging himself in the propagation of
the teaching of Sri Ramanujacharya and worship the Lord. One day the long
awaited news arrived that one Gopannarya, the chieftain of Gingi fort in
South India had driven away the Muslim infidels from Srirangam brought the
deities of Lord Ranganatha and His five consorts and reinstalled Them in the
temple there. Swamy desika heaved a sign of great relief and at ocne rushed
to Srirangam to worship of the Lord in the company of devoted Srivaishnavas
and begin a fresh lease of life in peace.

Sri Vedanta Desika was so much pleased with this glorious act of the
chieftain Gopannarya that he composed two verses in Sanskrit to commemorate
his services to the casue of Srivaishnavam. The slokas have been inscribed
on the eastern side of the outer wall of the sanctum sanctorum and can be
seen even today. The slokas are:

AnIya neelasrnga dhyuthirachithajagadhranjanAdh anjanAdhrE: ?. samstThApyAm
sarOjOdhbhava iva kuruthE sAdhuCharyAm saparyAm

GopannAryA, the mirror of reputation, brought back Ranganatha from the
Anjana mountain [Tirupathi Hills] which describes the world with the charm
of the blue mountain peaks, worshipped him.
Sri Vedanta Desika lived in peace in Srirangam for several years.
Swamy Desikan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam