You are here: SriPedia - SriRangaSri - Archives - Nov 2003

SriRangaSri List Archive: Message 00073 Nov 2003

 
Nov 2003 Indexes ( Date | Thread | Author )
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]


SrI:
SrImathE Nigamantha Mahadesikaya namah:
SrImAn venkatanAthAryaH kavitArkika kesarI |
vedAntAcArya-varyo me sannidhattAm sadA hRdi ||

May the glorious Venkatanatha, the greatest of teachers of Vedanta, and the 
lion among poets and debaters, reside forever in my heart.

Dearest Srivaishnavas,
Let us continue to enjoy the sthOthra granthas of Swamy Desikan [in 
alphabetical order]
Vegaa-Setu-Stotram -(Dam across the river Vegaa)

   Vegaa-Setu Stotra is a stotra in ten verses on the Lord of Tiru-vehha, a 
shrine near Kanchi. The Lord there lies across the Vegaa River like an 
impregnable dam. This Stotra is based on the Kaanchee-Mahaatmya. Sri Vedanta 
Desika has presented it in Hastigiri mahatmya in the form of a drama in 
prose and songs in Estoteric setting.

   The four-face Brahma wanted to conduct a horse-sacrifice (Asvamedha) and 
was thinking of a proper place, he was advised by an aerial voice to do it 
at the holy shrine of Kaanchi. He chose Hastigiri (Elephant-Hill) there and 
made preparations for the sacrifice. The presence of the wife of the master 
of the sacrifice is an unavoidable thing according to the Sastras. 
Sarasvati, the chief consort of Brahma, did not agree to participate. So 
Brahma made arrangements for the sacrifice with other goddesses. This irate 
Sarasvati assumed the form of a river and flowing with great speed (Vega) 
was about to inundate the sacrificial Alter. Bhagavan Narayana came with His 
serpent couch, Aadi-sesha and lay across the flowing River Sarasvati. Thus 
with the help of the Supreme Lord he performed the sacrifice. Bhagavan gets 
the name of Vegaa ?Setu since He acted as a dam across the 
Vegaa-river.Vegaa-Setu ?Stotra is based upon this fact.

   The Stotra begins with a sloka which declares Paramaatma as Supreme 
Lustre two self ?Manifest forms (Swayam-vyakta)-shining at the Tiru-vahhaa 
shrine as the efficient means to dispel all obstacles and on the Elephant 
hill (Hasti-giri) at Kaanchi to grant all the desired boons as Sri 
Varadaraja(1,3,5).Sri Desika declares that this Dam across the Vegavati 
River also acts as the Dam by which we can cross the Ocean of Samsaara(3). 
The Sanctity of Kanchi has been heightened by the presence of the two 
Bhagavans-one has the Dam across Vegavati River and the other as the Giver 
of boons (Varadaraja). The greatness of Sri Kanchi Varadaraja has been 
increased a hundred fold by the Vegaasetu-Bhagavan(8). Giving up her pride 
and fury, Sarasvati vanished from that spot and began to flow again as 
Vagavati River in the outskirts of Kanchi. On the sands of the southern side 
of the River there is gaily seated Sri Narasimha in the Kamaasikaa Sarasvati 
Devi stands in a calm and devout mood at the foot of the reclining Lord at 
Tiruvenhaa shrine.

    With reference to this shrine and Bhagavan there, there is a tradition 
connected with Tirumazhisai Alwar (Bhakti-saara). It is stated that the 
Alwar spent several decades I that shrine in deep meditation and singing 
songs of devotion on the Lord. Kanikannan was a disciple of Alwar and he had 
a sweet voice and proficiency in music. He joined the Alwar and was spending 
most of his time in singing songs.

   Pallava-raaya was a local chieftain and he used to hear and admire the 
music of Kanikannan. He requested several times the latter to come to his 
mansion and sing about him.kanikannan said that he was devoted to his 
master, the Alwar and to Bhagavan and would not sing about a mortal. 
Pallava-raaya, in a fit of anger, ordered him to leave the city and go out. 
When Kanikannan told the Alwar about the punishment, the Alwar said that he 
would with him and also pray to the Lord in the Temple to accompany them. 
The Lord rolled His serpent-couch and followed the Alwar and his disciple 
carrying the couch-a novel experience to Bhagavan to carry the bed which 
always carried Him. They walked a few miles outside Kanchi and towards 
evening decided to stay for the night in a village that lay on the way.

    Next morning the Pallava-king rose up and saw that the city had lost its 
charm and the people were discontented, because of the absence of Bhagavan. 
He realised his folly and repented very much. Immediately he rushed on the 
path taken by Bhagavan. He reached the village, fell at the feet of Bhagavan 
and prayed that Bhagavan should forgive his thoughtless act and return to 
Kanchi.Bhagavan turned His face towards the Alwar for his advice and the 
Alwar his face towards Kanikannan. All of them agreed and came back to 
Kanchi. The city got back its glory and greatness and Bhagavan again spread 
His serpent-couch and laid on it, but in a different posture, namely, using 
His left hand as pillow, instead of having the right as before. It looks as 
though it is an evidence that Bhagavan was away from the city for one night 
and has come back The village where Bhagavan and His devotees stayed for one 
night is now well-known by the popular name of Or-irukkai(a single halt), 
its literary name being Or-irrukai(a single night-stay). Sri Vedanta 
Desika?s mind is so much churned by this episode that he devotes one 
sloka(6) to it in this Stotra-as follows:

      ?Sreeman Pitta-maha-Vadhoo-paricaryamaanah
       Sete Bhujanga-sayane Sa mahaa-bhujangah;
       Pratyaadisanti Bhava-SAncaranam prajaanaam
       Bhaktaanu-ganter-tha Yasya gataagataani.?

      Bhagavan Narayana, the consort of Lakshmi(Sreeman), who is a highly 
artful lover(Maha-Bhujangah) has taken His bed on the 
serpent-couch(Bhujangah-sayane).He is attended with love and devotion by the 
Goddess Sarasvati, the Chief consort of Pitta-maha(i.e.the four- faced  
Brahma standing beside His feet. Bhagavan?s involuntary going and coming 
here (to Kanchi) following His devotees puts an end to our wandering in this 
mortal world.

    Sri Desika uses the word Bhaktaaugantuh to signify Bhagavan who follows 
the words of His devotees. ?Yathoktam Rurute Harih? in sloka 10 also repeats 
the idea. It is for suggesting that the name of Bhagavan in this shrine is 
?Yathokta-kaaree? and this stotra is Yathokta-kaaree-stotra? Since Bhagavan 
is not directly addressed, His name is not put in the vocative case in any 
sloka.

Swamy Desikan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam
Regards
Namo narayana
dAsan
kavi-tArkika-simhAya kalyANa-guNa-SAline |
Srimate venkateSAya vedAntagurave namaH ||

Salutations to Sri Venkatesa, in whom all perfections reside, who is the 
teacher of Vedanta and the lion among poets and debaters

_________________________________________________________________
Get MSN Hotmail alerts on your mobile. 
http://en-asiasms.mobile.msn.com/ac.aspx?cid=1002



------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark
Printer at MyInks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US & Canada.
http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511
http://us.click.yahoo.com/mOAaAA/3exGAA/qnsNAA/VkWolB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
Srirangasri-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxx

 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 



[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next] [Date Index ] [Thread Index ] [Author Index ]
Home Page
http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia
srirangasri-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe to the list