Swami as Kavi Kesari

One of the easiest ways to get to know about the life and work of
SvAmi Venkatanathan is through the prefatory verse, called 'tanian',
with which you are all familiar. We recite it at the beginning of all
his works. And also through the colophon recited at the end viz.:

srimAn venkata nAThArya kavitArkika kEsari
vEdAntAchArya varyOmE sannidhatAm sadAhrudi

kavitArkika simhAya kalyANa guNashAlinE
srimathE venkateshEyA vEdAnta guravE namaha

In the first verse we say, "May Venkatanathan ever reside in our
hearts" ("venkata nathArya ... sannidhatAm sadAhrudi"). And through
the second, we say, "Our obeisance to Venkatanathan"
("venkatEshAya... namaha"). Now, why do we express such sentiments of
deep reverence to Swami Venkatanathan? Is it because he was:

(1) a "kavi-kEsari" -- a glorious poet?
(2) a "tArkika-simham" -- a lion amongst philosophers?
(3) a "kalyANa guNa shAlin" -- a person of rare and sublime human
qualities?
(4) a "vEdAntAchAryA" or "vEdAnta-guru" -- a preceptor or guru who
showed The Way, the "Art of Living", to followers not only of his
times but to posterity as well?

The answer is: The memory of Swami Venkatanathan deserves to be
remembered for all 4 reasons above but especially for the last
mentioned i.e. as a Vedantic 'guru' he showed us how we must live out
the time given to us on earth and the purpose to be achieved.

Let us begin however with the first of the 4 reasons:

As a "kavi-kesari", a poet in many languages, Venkatanathan was
peerless in his times and after. Before him, the only poet of perhaps
equal stature, in terms of both quality and output, was the legendary
KalidAsa. To this day scholars find it impossible to adequately
describe the range and power of his poetic prowess.

Desikan wrote extensively in Sanskrit and Tamil and to a lesser
extent in PrAkrut and ManipravAlam. His collection of Tamil poetry is
known today as 'dEsika-prabhandham' and enjoys a status equal to that
of the inspired outpourings of the mystic AzhwArs.

In Sanskrit, he composed well over 2000 stanzas of exquisite Sanskrit
poetry on a variety of religious themes but mostly in praise of
Deities of famous temple-towns like SriRangam, Tiruvengadam, Kanchi
and a host of others. His poetry flowed in a dazzling variety of
forms such as short couplets and long quatrains, 'stOtra', 'gadyam',
'dandakam', all in every known metric rhythm possible -- from the
simple 'mAlini' metre to the long-winded 'sArdUlavikreedita'. In his
famous work praising the Lord at Tiruvengadam, titled 'dayA-satakam',
Desikan composed 108 stanzas in 10 different metres each being most
appropriate to the underlying theme of the verse.

Desikan's poetic inspiration was pure magic and almost superhuman in
genius. One evening in SriRangam, where Desikan lived and worked
several years, a rival poet contemptuously challenged him to compose
poetry on the most shabby and un-poetic of themes on earth -- a pair
of common footwear! Next morning Desikan astounded the rival, and the
rest of the world too, with a poetic work of 1000 stanzas entitled
"PadukA-sahasram"! One thousand stanzas in Sanskrit of the highest
order, in praise of the sacred Sandals of Lord Ranganatha, the Deity
of the temple! Written in one sitting within the course of one night!

Desikan was hailed "kavi-kEsari" also because he was an acknowledged
master of phonetics and linguistics. He could create beautiful sounds
out of words. He could also weave, with equal ease and felicity,
meaningful words out of pure sound.

As an example of the first case, we can turn to 2 particular verses
in the 'stotra' of "kAmAsikAshtakam" where Desikan evokes the
fearsome, awe-inspiring image of "jvAla-nrsimha", the man-lion
'avatAr' of NarayAnA. In these 2 stanzas, composed as they are of
hard syllables and harsh, guttural-sounding consonants, the words are
made to sound like the roars of an angry lion. Listen to the
following:

vikasvara nakha svaru xata hiraNya vaxaH sthalii
nirargala vinirgalad.h R^idhira sindhu sandhyaayitaaH.
avantu madanaasikaa manuja pa~ncha vaktrasya maam.h
aham.h prathamikaa mithaH prakaTitaahavaa baahavaH.. 6

saTaa paTala bhiiShaNe sarabha saaTTaa haasodbhaTe
sphurat.h kR^idhi parisphuTad.h bhR^ikuTike.api vaktre kR^ite.
kR^ipaa kapaTa kesarin.h danuja Dimbha datta stanaa
saroja sadR^ishaa dR^ishaa vyativiShajya te vyajyate.. 7


If the above verses show us how words use pure sound to create
images, in the 'pAdukA-sahasram' Desikan demonstrates how the reverse
effect can also be achieved with equally telling effect -- where
meaningful words are woven out of pure sound:

pAdapA pAdapA pAdapA pAdapA
pAdapA pAdapA pAdapA pAdapA
pAdapa pAdapA pAdapA pAdapA
pAdapA pAdapA pAdapA pAdapA (939 Paduka-Sahasram)

Now if any poet of lesser stature than Swami Desikan were to pen
lines like the above, and try and pass it off as poetry, it is likely
he will be taken to be a raving lunatic. But Desikan's genius shows
us how even seemingly senseless sound can be made to contain lofty
poetic meaning.
The above stanza when read as follows:

pAdapA-apAdapA-aapAda-pApA-dapA, pAdapA, pAda-pApA-dapA-apAdapA
pAda,pApAda, pApAda-pApAda-pApAda, pApAdapApA-adapApAdapA

yields the following meaning in very rough English translation:

"The pAdukAs of Lord of SriRangam
-- render sinless all things and all beings of this world
-- protect all beings in this world and the other
-- reward all men who do their bounden duty by their parents and
punishes those that fail in it
-- elevates the devotees of God in the eyes of all the worlds
-- maintains eternal order in both heavenly and earthly spheres".

No wonder indeed, it was then as it remains today, that Swami Desikan
was hailed by one and all as "kavi-kEsari".





Swamy Vedantha Desikan's contribution to the VisishtAdvaita Srivaishnava philosophy [Bhagawath Ramanuja Darsanam] in the proper evaluation of the theories and concepts of all schools of thought and rejection of those which are opposed to those of his system i.e. Vedanthic and Vedic religions. All his works both bog, small, breathes this trend.

There is no name in the world of Sanksrit literature and philosophy combined like the name of Vedantha Desika.

It is aDiyEn's intent to enjoy with you the glories of Swamy Desikan- Thuppul Kula maNi by remembering his life, by immersing ourselves in his works, and by enjoying the greatness and mastery of the same. Though we can not [I can not] enjoy the granthas to the fullest extent for lack of jnAnam [in me], even great scholars have declared their failure in attempting to know the depths of Swamy?s works. So, we are not alone.. both in failing and in enjoying as well.

[I refer mostly to Sri A Srinivasargahvan?s book on the life and works of Vedantha Desika, the malar released by Sri Seva Swamy, the souvenir released by Thirbaheendrauram devotees and Sri Anbil Ramaswamy Swamin?s articles]

He is the one who makes all those who surrender to His feet- as Mahaadesikan. He is simply phenomenal. Scholars who lived during Swamy Desikan?s period also mentioned that Swamy is an adhubutha avtar. He is a vidwAn- few said. He is a great intellect- few said. He is the greatest poet; some praised. He is our fortune to establish firmly the VisishtAdvaita- some said. Every one said, based on the extent they understood our Swamy.

Before reading his great mystical life history, let us read the breathtaking huge list of his works: [to read the list itself takes time.. Swamy wrote all of them in one life time.. It is told by scholars, that one can not even read all of his works fully in one life time.. Such was the greatness of Swamy?s works. It is not that he wrote just ordinary works [engaatthukkaararum kacchErikku pOraar type.. ]; He wrote gems after gems?Every one grantha out beats the other. ?Many of you may know all this. But there are few who do not know; and it is my intent to reach those few. Also for those of us who know, - this is just rejoicing and relishing Swamy?s glories again? [kasakkumA?]

Swamy Vedantha Desikan : We can boldly say- was the greatest intellect India has ever produced. He appreciated Vedic philosophy. He was philosophical; and religious; His thoughts were moulded by the writings and teaching of his Poorvacharyas ? the galaxy of them- right from Sri SaTakOpa muni (NammAzhwAr) ? Nathamuni- Yamunacharya- Ramanujacharya- and others. He was a very faithful follower of his master- Sri Ramanuja. He built a fortress around the philosophy of Ramanuja so well; that none can dare enter. He had fullest conviction in the teachings and followings of Ramanuja. He was a lion among poets and logicians. [We will enjoy all of his works in detail later]. He was a poetic genius. He had the mastery over languages and could use them very effectively to communicate anything he had visualised. But he never went astray with his poetic skills and license and adhered to nothing but the philosophy of VisishtAdvaita Sri vaishnavam. He was the greatest logician ? developed logic to argue ? vidhaNdAvaadhis ? he entered into hair-splitting discussions and dialogues in his works when he had to explain the various Vedic Upanishadic and other purAnic works.

His works are about 120 in number. [look at the list below- ].. The subjects are varied. But the soul of these works is the same.. i.e. Ramanuja darsanam. He wrote original works in Sanskrit; also commented on the works of his Acharyas- namely Yamunacharya and Ramanujacharya. He wrote sthothras, kaavyas, drama, prose etc..

His style is inimitable for its depth of ideas, sweetness, simplicity and ease; it is majestic, sometimes tough. He was a great admirer of Adhikavi Vaalmeeki and Kalidasa. His poetic work Hamsa sandhEsam, though similar to Kalidasa?s mEgasandhEsam, is original in many respects. Daya sathakam is a unique composition wherein he personifies grace (Divine grace- daya), without which Lord?s other qualities are of little value and help to suffering mankind- Swamy says. AbhIthi sthavam is an invocation for the Lord?s protection from evil forces from both within and without. His GodhA sthuthi is a piece of place of great lyric beauty and merit and talks of Sri GodhA's influence with the Lord through love and Desikan?s surrender to Her compassion.