Dear Swamins,
During the period of his stay in Satyakalam, to my knowledge on authority, Swami Desika has given us Abheetistavam, a stotra that prays to God to remove the fear, not only the fear caused by the wanton destruction and death caused by infedels in Srirangam but also the fear of man in seeking liberation. 'Abheetistavam' is a beautiful Samskrit poem which with its meaning was published in the early issues of "Sri Nrisimha Priya" of North America edited by Sri Dileepan of Tennesse. Swami Desika, it may be recalled, chose Satyakaalam by chance. When he fled from the attacks of infedels, he entered the forest area and upon coming to Satyakalam, when he sighted a temple of Varadaraja right on the banks of the river Kaveri, he was reminded of Kanchipuram on the banks of the river Vegavathi and that instantly decided his stay in Satyakalam. That he spent the time there in meditation and in earnest prayer for the liberation of Srirangam from marauders, can be seen even today, where there is a quite and peaceful platform under a huge tree right on the steps of Kaveri where Desika is said to have meditated and in the adjacent Varadaraja temple, there is the idol of Swami Desika in an unique standing posture, Nowhere else, I think, Desika is found standing. It is said this indicates Desika's anxiety to return to Srirangam and anxiously awaiting good tidings; ready to depart towards Srirangam at a moment's notice.- Dasan Devanathan.
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