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13 BALAJI MAHOTSAVAM 2012 The Vaibhavam of Lord Venkatesa V. Sadagopan T HE GLORIES OF LORD VENKATESA OF THIRUMALA HAVE BEEN CEL- EBRATED BY ELEVEN OF THE TWELVE AZHWARS, ACHARYAS AND GREAT POETS OVER MANY CENTURIES. THESE TRIBUTES HAVE TAKEN THE FORM of Ashtottarams, Sahasra namams, Suprabhatam, stotram, prapatti, Mangalam, sankeertanams by Saint Annamacha- rya, Thyagabrahmam, Muttuswamy Dheekshitar, poems by Tarigonda Vengamambha and so many other devotees. Some of these tributes in the form of ashtottarams and Sa- hasra namams are used in worship every day at Thirumala; these are from Varaha and Brahmanda Puranams. There are other tributes from recent times such as the majestic Srinivasa gadhyam, stotrams awakening the Lord (Suprab- hatam), euology, Self-Surrender ( Prapatti) and Benedic- tions ( Mangalam ). A short bibiliography of some of these tributes to Lord Venaktesa in the form of detailed ebooks is provided at the end of this essay. Dayaa Satakam: A Tribute to the Dayaa GuNam of the Lord by Swamy Vedanta Desikan One of the poems known as Daya Satakam stands out among all these tributes. This poem known for its poetic excellence and deep bhakti to Lord Venkatesa is by Thup- pul Swamy Vedantha Desikan aka Sri Venaktanathan ( 1268-1360 C.E). This great poet/Acharyan is revered as an incarnation of the temple bell (Ghantaa) of the Lord of Thirumala and has contributed immensely to the rein- forcement of Bhagavad Ramanuja’s divine teachings. We will highlight the bhakti anubhavams of Swamy Vedan- tha Desikan as experienced by him in his brilliant poem of Daya Satakam in this article. The Ten poetic Meters of Dayaa Satakam Daya Satakm has 108 slokams set in ten different poetic meters such as anushtup(1-10), Aryaa (11-20), Oupachandhasikam (21-30), Maalini (31-40 and 105-106), Mandhakranatha (41-50), Natkutakam (51-60),Sikarini (61-70), Harini (71-80), Pruthvee (81-90), Vasantha Tilaka (91-100) and Saardhoola Vikridita ( 107-108). The superior poetic skills and Vedanta Jn~Anam of Swamy Desikan dis- played in these 108 slokams of Daya Satakam are match- less. The Ten Bhagavad Gunams of the Lord of Seven hills cel- ebrated in Daya satakam Every set of ten of the 108 slokams of Swamy Desikan’s magnum opus focuses on a particular guNam of the array of innumerable auspicious attributes ( ananta kalyana gu- nams ) of Sri Venkatesa. The ten meanings associated with the ten sets of ten slokams are: 1. The Lord of Tiruvenkatam is the One, who can bless us with the boon of freedom from the cycles of births and deaths and thereby grant us the boon of moksham. 2. He comprehends every thing (omniscient) and He is ca- pable of carrying out whatever He chooses to do. 3. He destroys the enemies of those, who surrender unto Him and seek His help. 4. He is the means for attaining all the worthwhile goals of life ( Purusharthams). 5. He is the fruit ( phalan) of ALL worthwhile endeavors. 6. He can be reached easily through the glorious means of Self-Surrender ( Prapatti/Saranagathi). 7. He will rush to help the lowest and the highest among His bhaktas with the same speed, when they seek His pro- tection sincerely. 8. He is the Supreme Principle ( Paratvam) standing on top of the Venkatam hills. 9. He is the One, who incarnated as Rama and Krishna ( Vibhava avatarams). 10. He is the One, who can confer on us the bliss associated with Moksham right here on this earth. Examples of the celebration of the Dayaa GuNam of the Lord from the ten sets of slokams 1. In the very first slokam of this poem, the poet compares the Lord’s Dayaa as the sweet flowing river of cane sug- ar juice, which has solidified to become the mountain of Thiruvenkatam. The poet states that he offers his prapatti ( surrender) to that mountain, which has become the em- bodiment of the Lord’s dayaa. The FIRST THEME covered by the first ten slokas revolves around the fact that the Lord of Tiruvenkatam is eminently suitable for worship and adoration. The reason is that He is an ocean of Mercy (dayaa). He serves as the treasure for those, who have no riches to speak of. He is the field out of which grows the four fruits of human life ( Purusharthams). That concept of blemish-free mercy makes Him the Supreme object of contemplation and worship. 2. The SECOND THEME of Dayaa Satakam is that the Lord is eminently enjoyable as Bhagavad anubhavam. Here Swa- my Desikan visualizes Dayaa Devi standing tall in Thirum- ala representing the merciful aspects of Sri Venkateswara. She grows at the feet of the Lord and serves as His boon-

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Page 1: The Vaibhavam of Lord Venkatesa - WordPress.com Vaibhavam of Lord Venkatesa V. Sadagopan t he glories of LOrd VenkATeSA Of THIruMALA have Been cel- ... Dayaa Satakam: A Tribute to

13BALAJI MAHOTSAVAM 2012

The Vaibhavam of Lord Venkatesa V. Sadagopan

the glories of LOrd VenkATeSA Of THIruMALA have Been cel-eBrated By eleven of the twelve azhwars, acharyas and great poets over many centuries. these triButes have taken the form

of Ashtottarams, Sahasra namams, Suprabhatam, stotram, prapatti, Mangalam, sankeertanams by Saint Annamacha-rya, Thyagabrahmam, Muttuswamy Dheekshitar, poems by Tarigonda Vengamambha and so many other devotees.

Some of these tributes in the form of ashtottarams and Sa-hasra namams are used in worship every day at Thirumala; these are from Varaha and Brahmanda Puranams. There are other tributes from recent times such as the majestic Srinivasa gadhyam, stotrams awakening the Lord (Suprab-hatam), euology, Self-Surrender ( Prapatti) and Benedic-tions ( Mangalam ). A short bibiliography of some of these tributes to Lord Venaktesa in the form of detailed ebooks is provided at the end of this essay.

Dayaa Satakam: A Tribute to the Dayaa GuNam of the Lord by Swamy Vedanta Desikan

One of the poems known as Daya Satakam stands out among all these tributes. This poem known for its poetic excellence and deep bhakti to Lord Venkatesa is by Thup-pul Swamy Vedantha Desikan aka Sri Venaktanathan ( 1268-1360 C.E). This great poet/Acharyan is revered as an incarnation of the temple bell (Ghantaa) of the Lord of Thirumala and has contributed immensely to the rein-forcement of Bhagavad Ramanuja’s divine teachings. We will highlight the bhakti anubhavams of Swamy Vedan-tha Desikan as experienced by him in his brilliant poem of Daya Satakam in this article.

The Ten poetic Meters of Dayaa Satakam

Daya Satakm has 108 slokams set in ten different poetic meters such as anushtup(1-10), Aryaa (11-20),

Oupachandhasikam (21-30), Maalini (31-40 and 105-106), Mandhakranatha (41-50), Natkutakam (51-60),Sikarini (61-70), Harini (71-80), Pruthvee (81-90), Vasantha Tilaka (91-100) and Saardhoola Vikridita ( 107-108). The superior poetic skills and Vedanta Jn~Anam of Swamy Desikan dis-played in these 108 slokams of Daya Satakam are match-less.

The Ten Bhagavad Gunams of the Lord of Seven hills cel-ebrated in Daya satakam

Every set of ten of the 108 slokams of Swamy Desikan’s magnum opus focuses on a particular guNam of the array of innumerable auspicious attributes ( ananta kalyana gu-nams ) of Sri Venkatesa. The ten meanings associated with

the ten sets of ten slokams are:

1. The Lord of Tiruvenkatam is the One, who can bless us with the boon of freedom from the cycles of births and deaths and thereby grant us the boon of moksham.

2. He comprehends every thing (omniscient) and He is ca-pable of carrying out whatever He chooses to do.

3. He destroys the enemies of those, who surrender unto Him and seek His help.

4. He is the means for attaining all the worthwhile goals of life ( Purusharthams).

5. He is the fruit ( phalan) of ALL worthwhile endeavors.

6. He can be reached easily through the glorious means of Self-Surrender ( Prapatti/Saranagathi).

7. He will rush to help the lowest and the highest among His bhaktas with the same speed, when they seek His pro-tection sincerely.

8. He is the Supreme Principle ( Paratvam) standing on top of the Venkatam hills.

9. He is the One, who incarnated as Rama and Krishna ( Vibhava avatarams).

10. He is the One, who can confer on us the bliss associated with Moksham right here on this earth.

Examples of the celebration of the Dayaa GuNam of the Lord from the ten sets of slokams

1. In the very first slokam of this poem, the poet compares the Lord’s Dayaa as the sweet flowing river of cane sug-ar juice, which has solidified to become the mountain of Thiruvenkatam. The poet states that he offers his prapatti ( surrender) to that mountain, which has become the em-bodiment of the Lord’s dayaa. The FIRST THEME covered by the first ten slokas revolves around the fact that the Lord of Tiruvenkatam is eminently suitable for worship and adoration. The reason is that He is an ocean of Mercy (dayaa). He serves as the treasure for those, who have no riches to speak of. He is the field out of which grows the four fruits of human life ( Purusharthams). That concept of blemish-free mercy makes Him the Supreme object of contemplation and worship.

2. The SECOND THEME of Dayaa Satakam is that the Lord is eminently enjoyable as Bhagavad anubhavam. Here Swa-my Desikan visualizes Dayaa Devi standing tall in Thirum-ala representing the merciful aspects of Sri Venkateswara. She grows at the feet of the Lord and serves as His boon-

Page 2: The Vaibhavam of Lord Venkatesa - WordPress.com Vaibhavam of Lord Venkatesa V. Sadagopan t he glories of LOrd VenkATeSA Of THIruMALA have Been cel- ... Dayaa Satakam: A Tribute to

14

The Vaibhavam of Lord Venkatesa

BALAJI MAHOTSAVAM 2012

Section 2: Sri Venkateswara

granting, Kalpaka tree that fulfills the wishes of those who pray to Him. His cool glances at the sight of His devotees cause the tree of Dayaa DEvi to send out tender shoots and later ripe, tasty fruits. Those, who worship at the sannidhi of Sri Venkateswara become beneficiaries of His dayaa and the fruits of that kalpaka tree. Hence, Swamy Desikan says that the mercy-laden glances ( Karunaa Kadakshams) yield indescribable riches to the devotees. His dayaa makes Him eminently enjoyable.

3. The THIRD ESSENTIAL THEME of Dayaa Satakam is that He has the most beautiful divine auspicious body ( divya mangala vigraham) and to feast on Him with our eyes is equivalent to the tasting of the divine nectar generated by the churning of the ocean of dayaa of Sri Venkatesa. That nectarine vigraham made entirely of Suddha Sattva guNam ( totally free from rajo and tamo gunams) is stand-ing on top of Tirumala. This most beautiful iconic form of the Lord removes our fear for Yama and guarantees us the Moksha phalan. Such is His power !

4. The FOURTH ESSENTIAL theme of this stotram is that Lord Venkatesa is the most delectable experience to enjoy among all delectable experiences that the human beings can hope to enjoy. His blue effulgence radiating from the top of Tirumala hills and its sacred associations provide the richest item of enjoyment for the sentient beings.

5. The FIFTH CENTRAL THEME of Dayaa Satakam is about the blessings that one accrues from the divine glances of the Lord of seven hills. The poet points out that the glance of the Lord frees the sentient being to become free of the three kinds of debts (to the devas, pitrus and rishis ). The debt to the devas is normally discharged through the per-formance of Yajn~aas and offering the havis to different devaas.The debt to the rishis is discharged through Veda adhyayanam. The debt to the Pitrus is discharged by get-ting progeny. Lord Venkatesa’s compassion–filled glances not only chase away the three kinds of debts but confers on the jeevan, the boon of Moksham.

6. The SIXTH CENTRAL THEME is that Lord Srinivasan is easy to approach through the act of Self Surrender ( Prapatti). Here, Swamy Desikan points out that Bhakti and Jn~Ana yogam are difficult to practice as the means of moksham compared to Prapatti at the holy feet of Lord Srinivasan as taught by Acharyas like Bhagavad Ramanuja.

7. The SEVENTH CENTRAL THEME advocated in Dayaa Sa-takam is that Lord Venaktesa’s incomparable dayaa gunam removes any and every obstacle that a surrendered soul ( Prapanna) faces on this earth.

8. The EIGHTH THEME refers to His kalyana gunam by which He accomodates Himself to the wishes of the Prapannaas.

Although He knows that some of the desires of the prapan-nas relate to are non-lasting, perishable and trivial things, Sri Venkatesa gives them with what they desire. Later, He gives them the knowledge and discriminative powers to overcome the desire for perishable sukhams and elevates their sight to the lasting sukham of Moksham. He goes along with the wishes of His devotees first and then slowly helps them to seek higher goals such as enjoying the bliss of eternal service to Him in Sri Vaikuntham.

9. The NINTH CENTRAL THEME relates to His sincere friend-ship out of His compassion for those who surrender unto Him. His friendship to these prapannas does not count on any returns from them. It is the most natural and uplifting of all friendships.

10. The TENTH CENTRAL THEME of Dayaa Satakam deals with Sri Venkateswara’s grace in leading the Prapannas on the divine path to His Supreme Abode(Sri Vaikuntham).

In the 100th slokam of Dayaa Satakam, Swamy Desikan acknowledges the glorious mercy of Lord Venkateswara in crowning him as “ Vedanthaacharya” at the end of recit-ing Dayaa Satakam. The poet and great devotee of Lord Venkateswara, Swamy Desikan states that he was just an instrument in the hands of the Lord of Tiruvenkatam in composing Dayaa Satakam.

The circumambulations ( PradakshiNams) around the sanctum sanctorium ( garbha graham) of Lord Venkatesa with the recitation of Dayaa Satakam will confer all soubh-agyams on the devotees.

Subhamastu ! Sarva Mangalani santu ! NamO SrI Venkate-saya,

BIBILIOGRAPHY

1. Sri Venkatesa WebPortal http://www.srivenaktesa.org 2. Sri Venkatesa Ashtottarm from VarahaPuraNam used daily at Sri Balaji Sannidhi: the 96th ebook in the Sundarasimham ebook se-ries, http://www.sundarasimahm.org 3. Another Sri Venkatesa Ashtottaram, the 95th ebook in the above series from Brahmanda Puranam 4. Sri Venkatesa Sahasranamam used daily at Tirumala, the101st ebook in the Sundarasimham ebook series.