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NYASA DASAKAM OF SWAMI VEDANTHA DESIKAR 


Sriman Venkatanatharyah kavitharkika kesari
Vedanthacharyavaryo me sannidhatham sadha hadhi


The advent of Swami  Vedantha Desikar into this world was mainly for 
the establishment of the efficacy of Prapatthi also known as Nyasa 
Thus almost all his works deals with prapathi .  "MOKSHOPAYA 
PRAPATHISYATH" Srimad RahasyaTraya of Sri Vedantha Desikar is an 
elaborate study of Prapathi ? Saranagathi.

Description of few of the works of Swami Desikar

Nyasa Dasaka, Nyasa Vimsathi ,Nyasa Tilakam, Saranagathi 
Deepikai ,   
His two other works in Sanskrit are the Abhayapradaana saara and 
Nikshepa Raksha  then the Adaikallapathu in tamil.

The contribution of Vedantha Desikar in the postulation of `NYASA" 
as a perfect  & easy system which can be adopted by one and all.   
Of-course the greatness of Prapathi is conveyed by all the Alvars 
and Acaryas and is not new  one, it can be gleaned from the 
intuitive experiences of the Alvars and the Sastric expositions of 
the Acaryas like Swami  Alavandar and Sri Ramanujar.

Swami Desikar has systamised the doctrine of Prapathi as MOKSHOPAYA.

The Nyasa Dasakam crisply describes the Nyasa (Prapathi performed 
with angas), nature ,qualification etc.,

The first  three slokas  conveys the poorva bagam of Dvayam (Sriman 
Narayana Caranou sharanam prapadhye)  the fourth sloka describes 
about the fruit gained by performing the prapathi- Pala prayojanam
The last five slokas describe the Nishta after prapathi.

The first sloka reads " Aham Madrakshana baro math rakshana palam 
thatha  na  mama sripathirevethyatmanam nikshiped budaha"

The essentinal nature of the soul is outlined here.  "Swanishta"of a 
Saranagathan is emphasized here i.e to say that the jiva belongs to  
Lord and is the property of Lord ,this sloka beautifully conveys the 
meaning of the namah padam of the moola mantram.  

The thought or Nyasa to be adopted by Caranyan is conveyed here " I 
do not belong to myself, the burden accruing from such protection is 
equally not mine and benefit accruing from such protection is 
equally not mine, they all belong  only to Sriman Narayana.

The first step of prapathi  - elimination of ego and egot is 
depicted in this sloka. The same idea is conveyed by all our 
Acaryas. For instance the verses from Mumukshapadi is remembered 
here wherein the quality required from the individual is conveyed -
  "Emperumanai andri thanum pirarum thanaku gathiagamattarkal"


The second sloka conveys the requisites of Caranyan.
"Nyasamyakinchanah ??????athma raksha baram tvaye"

The second sloka is an address made to the Supreme Lord, wherein Sri 
Desikar in this sloka expresses his sheer helplessness  -
"Aakincanyam & Annanyagatitvam"

It is expected from a Saranagatan to express these two qualities 
while performing Saranagathi.  In this Sloka Desikar performs 
Saranagathi through the good office of Tayar .Lordess is embodiment 
of grace.  She by her purushakaram veils the Swatantriyam of Lord 
and makes him to shower his grace on the individual soul.  Pirati is 
described as "Nityam Agnyatha nigrahah".  The five organs of 
Prapathi is explained in this sloka  they are Anukulasya Sankalpam, 
Prathikulasya Varjanam, Maha Vishvasam , Goptrutva Varana, Karpanya 
anusanthanam.

The first i.e Anukulasya sankalpaha means the prapannan should 
perform only such acts which helps him in surrendering unto Lord's 
feet 

Obviously the next organ is that he shall not do anything which 
affects his association with Lord ? Prathikulasya Varjanam  The 
third "Maha Vishvasam" is that the Prapannan should have unflinching 
faith on the Supreme Lord  , the fourth anga "Goptrutva Varanam" 
conveys that the Prappanan should regard Emperuman alone as his 
refugee,  the fifth anga "Karpanyam"?the prappanan should expresses 
his sheer helplessness and total Surrender unto Lord for Salvation.


In the third sloka Desikar  speaks about the another quality 
required from a  Prapannan ? "SATVIKA TYAGAM".

This sloka reminds us the Nammalvar's Tiruvaimozhi where in Alvar 
has also conveyed the same idea

"Endraikum ennai uyyakondupokiya ???aathiyai nindra en sothiyai en 
solli nirpanno"

 (7th centum 9th decad)

The third sloka  being the very essance of Nyasa Dasakam conveys 
the "Bhara Samarpana" as entirely an act got done by the Lord 
himself for his own benefit.  The word "Swa" which means one's own  
is repeated more than  eight times in this sloka.  The frequent 
usage of the word is made to  emphasize that the individual  by all 
means is ever subservient to Lord.

In the fourth sloka Desikar  performs Saranagathi at the feet of 
Lord Varadha through the good office of Tayar . Lord Varadha is 
bestower of boons .  A desire to have Moksha at the end of life is 
voiced in this sloka.

In the fifth sloka Swami Desikar  prays to Lord for having the 
mental attitude of Prapannan  i.e "Let my knowledge of being a Sesha 
to you never flinch or waver , let me not think of any fruit or 
benefit as worthy of attainment by me except to attain you, and let 
me steer all karmas which are taboo or done with a desire to obtain 
any benefit for myself.  Let me be an eternal sub-serviant of you, 
whatever I do, say , think all be dedicated unto you.
The verse  "Nishad Kamya rahitam mam kuru" is expressed by all the 
Alvars and Acaryas.  Andal in her Tiruppavai expresses the same by 
verse

"Mattranamkammangal Mattrelo rembavai"   where in she prays that all 
the kamyakarma performed by her shall be for attainment of Lord 
alone;.

In the 6th sloka Swami Desikar   prays for eternal service at Lord's 
feet.  The service , that one desires to render  to Lord must extend 
to the Lord's devotees .  The Lord is envisaged in this sloka as  
accompanied by his divine consorts Sri, Bhu, & Neela Devi and so 
on.  This Prapathi reminds us of Emperumanar's Saranagathi Gadyam 
where in Swami Emperumanar also prostrates to the Lord through his 
Consort ?Sri,Bhu,Neela Devi "Evam bhuta bhoomi nila nayika".



The " SARVAKALA ,SARVADESHA, SARVAPRAKAR,SARVAVIDHA KAINKARYA 
PRAPTHI" is the prayer of Swami Desikar  proclaimed in the 6th sloka.

In the seventh sloka Swami Vedantha Desikar offers himself and all 
his possessions , wordly relationship such as wife,children  and as 
well the wealth & house  at the Lotus feet of Lord. Total self-
surrender is voiced in this sloka. The feeling of "I" and "mine" has 
been changed to "Thy" and "Thine".  

In the 8th sloka , Swami Desikar makes an appeal to Lord on behalf 
of all the Prappannan to save him from commiting sins and as well 
wipe off all the sins commited by him. Swami Desikar addresses to 
Lord as "Oh ! merciful  Lord , I am entirely  under your protection, 
therefore of  your own accord please see that sins are not committed 
by me and if per chance , I commit any sin kindly wipe it off".

Again in the 9th sloka Swami Desikar prays to Emperuman to release 
him from all the sins committed by him from beginning less time.  
Sins committed before prapathi, and as well after Prapathi.

In Saranagathi Gadyam also Swami Emperumanar prays to Lord and his 
Consort to  forgive all the sins commited  by him from beginning 
less time and as well for the sins that may be committed in the 
future.

"Anadhikalapravrutham viparithagynanam, atmavishayam kruthsna jagath 
vishayam, cha vipareetha vrutham ,cha sesha vishayam ,adhyapi 
varthamanam, vartishyamanam cha, sarvam kshamsva?."

In the tenth sloka " Sriman niyatha panchangam madrakshana bararpanam
Achikarath svayam svasmin athoahamiha nirbaraha"

Swami Desikar  addresses to Lord "Oh! Lord of Sri, you of your own 
accord have got performed in you the offering of the burden of my 
protection accompanied by the five indispensable component ( 5 angas 
of prapathi) Therefore I have been freed from all the burden & 
responsibilities in the matter of my protection.

Thus in this sloka Prapathi is referred to as an accomplished fact 
for which the Lord alone is  responsible , and thereby the prappana 
gets a  sense f relief.

Nammalvar's pasuram is worth quoting here " En na mudal vandu 
pukunthu" , "Tan vayal thane thuthithu"

Adiyen
Sri Vaishnava Dasi
 Vasumathi Sampath Kumar







azhwAr emberumAnAr jeeyAr thiruvadigalE saranam
 
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