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SrI:
SrimathE Gopaalaarya Namah:

Dearest all, 

Today is the Thirunakshathram of Thirukkudanthai
Desikan- [SRI GOPAALAARYA MAHA DESIKAN (THIRU
KUDANTHAI DESIKAN)] 

Let us enjoy his wonderful life history and divine
incidents in his life. 

(Purattasi / Pooraadam) (1701 - 1783 CE) He was born
in Athreya Gotram. He was the 14th generation of Vaadi
Hamsambu vaahar, the uncle and Acharya of Swami
Vedanta Desikan. Sri Krishna Suri, his father had 3
sons. Our Swami was the middle one. He was born in
Royampettai Agraharam near Tiruk Kandiyur on the
northern banks of Kaveri. He was born in Kaliyuga year
4801, about 294 years ago at the beginning of the 18th
century CE. He was born in 1701 CE (Vikrama year)
Purattasi month Sukla Paksha Navami, a Monday under
the star Pooraadam(PPM) 

Once when Sri Krishna Suri couple had been to the
Sravanotsavam at Oppiliappan Koil, the Lord appeared
in their dream and gave them some milk to drink saying
that Swami Vedanta Desika himself will be born as
their son in the constellation of Vishwaksenar. When
they returned to Royampettai, the lady became
pregnant. On the 12th month, she gave birth to a son
who was the very Gantaavataara Desika. Swami Desika
himself indicates about this reincarnation when he
says in his Rahasya Traya Saram- 


_Bhavati Devat Kaschit Kaschid Vivasritaamaha / 
Sad Vartaneem Anuvidaasyati Saaswatham Naha // 


As Sri Krishna Suri_s Aradhya Devata was Gopalan and
as the child was born as Desika Avatara (as per the
dream), he named the child as _Gopala Desikan_. 

He had his Upanayanam while very young. As desired by
his father, Gopalarya became the disciple of Srirangam
Swami (considered to be an Avatara of Sri
Bhashyakarar). He had his Bhara Samarpanam at the
hands of Saakshaat Swami through Acharya Nishta.
Saakshaat Swami blessed him saying _Prathiseshitha
Vedaantah_ One year thereafter, Saakshaat Swami
breathed his last (with his feet on the lap of Gopala
Maha Desikan). Lord Amudan ordered him to give
Pravachanams- _Nam Thooppul Pillai Pol Sampradaaya
Pravachanam Pannak Kadaveer_ So, he retired to Tiruk
Kudanthai. But, he also visited several Kshetras
consecrated by Alwars, the _Pallisthalam_ of
Tirumazhisai Alwar, Keezh Tiruvarangam and other
places. He gave his daughter in marriage to one
Elayavalli Srinivasachari, who was doing Alavatta
Kaimkaryam to Amudan. He took as his Sishya, his
Douhitran ( Daughter_s son) Vedantacharya and
performed Bharanyaasam for him. 

Through the Archaka, the Lord declared _Oh ! We are
pleased to confer on you the title of _Tiruk Kudanthai
Desikan- Go and defeat the arguments of other faiths
and establish our Matham_- _Para Matha Nirasanam
Poorvamamaavaha, Swamatha Sthaapanam Kuru_ 

As ordered by Swami Desika, while at Tiruk Kudanthai,
he meditated on Lord Hayagriva for 45 days in the
Sannidhi of Amudan under the Vaideeka Vimaana and
installed the idol of Lord Hayagriva there.
_Sthaapayas Cha_. Saanidhyam Kuru Te_. 

There were 3 great men at that time: One Srinivasa
Maha Desikan (as the Amsam of Sri Nathamuni) at
Seyyanam; Another was Sri Ranganatha Maha Desikan (as
the Amsam of Sri Aalavandaar) at Vathirayiruppu
village near Tirumaalirum Solai; In Vazhuthur, was
born Sri Vedanta Ramanuja Maha Desikan (as the Amsam
of Sri Bhashyakarar). The Lord appeared in the dreams
of these three and asked them to take Sannyas and do
Kalakshepams at the feet of Tiruk Kudanthai Swami in
whose dream also the Lord appeared and asked him to
accept them as his Sishyas. Like the 3 Mudal Alwars
who met at Tirukkovilur, the 3 Yathis met at the
Asramam of Tiruk Kudanthai Desikan and spent their
time in Kalakshepams. Our Swami had his Bharanyasam in
the shrine of Amudan and came to be hailed as _Muni
Traya Sampradaaya Pravartakar_ 

With the three Yathis, our Swami visited Saakshaat
Swami_s Asramam and performing Japa, Kalakshepa,
Bhagavad Aradhana etc. He lived on Uncha Vritti. With
whatever Sambavanais were received, he spent in
adorning the Lord with a precious Mahalakshmi pendent
which the Lord wears to this day, repaired the Gopuram
and doors of Desikar Sannidhi. 

When a Samprokshnam was to take place , the devotees
pleaded with our Swami to install the Vigraha and
Amudan also ordered him in a dream, to do so.
Accordingly, he embraced the Vigraham infusing in it a
new mystic power now than ever before. 

It was the great Brahmotsavam of Amudan. The huge
chariot on which the Lord was coming on his round
suddenly stopped halfway and would not move even an
inch in spite of the best efforts. Three days it stood
still. For three days our Swami did not take any food
nor water. Many fasted with him since as per the
tradition one should not eat until the Lord returned
to his Sannidhi. The public came to our Swami for a
solution to the stalemate. Our Swami offered prayers
to the Lord and asked them to go and try again.
Instantly, the chariot started moving and soon the
Lord entered the Sanctum Sanctorum to the joy of
everyone around. 

Once, he became so distressed with intolerable
Apachaarams which his son was committing . He prayed
for _Aartha Prapatti_ for his son lest the Apachaara
Parampara should continue. The Lord instantly took the
Acharyaputra to his feet. It is really astonishing
that in maintaining _Aastikya_, even _Putra
Vaatsalyam_ was not allowed to be an impediment. 

Venkataadwari Swami, author of Viswa Gunaadarsa Champu
was one of his Pitamahas. As the son of Venkatadwari
had predeceased his father, our Swami performed the
Uthara Kritya ceremonies. 

He asked his disciple, Paduka Sevaka Ramanuja Swami to
give discourses on Bhagavad Vishayam. As he felt that
his _Avatara Karyam_ was over, he bade his disciples
_Come and see me in my great home_-_Nam Periya Veedu
Vandhu Kaanum_. He himself took Sannyas just before
his death. The next day, it was a Thursday with Ayilya
Nakshatram, Simha Lagnam. He took the Sripada
Theertham of Saakshaat Swami and distributed some to
his Sishyas and breathed his last. It was a sight to
see his soul rending through his Brahma Randram in the
presence of all. His physical frame was laid to rest
in the Sakkarap Padi Thurai of Kaveri. That was Kali
year 4882 corresponding to 1781 CE Pilava, Kartigai,
Krishna Paksha Shashti, a Thursday. His Douhitra Sri
Vedantachariar performed his Uttara Kriyas. 

Like Kumara Varada composed Stotras in praise of Swami
Desika, his nephew (Bhagineya) Sri Venkatachariar
composed several Stotras on Tiruk Kudanthai
Desikan.(PPM) 

VED: _ As mentioned above, Sri Gopalarya Maha Desikan
was the chief disciple of Sri Saakshaat Swami. He is
hailed as the progenitor of the Munitraya Sampradayam.
Born in the Royampettai village close to Tiruvaiyaru,
as the son of Sri Krishna Suri, he received his Pancha
Samskaram and early Vedantic instructions from his
father and later he sought the feet of Sri Saakshaat
Swami, and received instructions in all our religious
lore. Paduka Sevaka Sri Ramanuja Swami, another
celebrated scholar of the day instructed him in
Bhagavad Vishayam. He completed the unfinished work of
his Acharya, Sri Saakshaat Swami_s Poorva Saara
Swaadhini with his own _ Uttara Saaraswatham_ that the
Acharya was greatly pleased with him and conferred on
him the title _Tiruk Kudanthai Desikan_. His
scholastic distinction drew to himself a wide circle
of Sishyas of whom special mention may be made of
three Sannyasis- Sri Ranganatha Swami of
Vatharayiruppu,, Sri Vedanta Ramanuja Swami of
Vazhuthur and Chey! anam Sri Srinivasa Swami. 

Sri Tiruk Kudanthai Desikan has authored several works
of which _The Aahnika_ which lays down the daily
routine of a Srivaishnava in minute detail is very
useful composition (regarded as a Reference manual by
succeeding Acharyas). 

He also wrote commentaries on Tirup Pallandu and
Kanninun Siruthaambhu . His other works include- 
Aparyaapta Amruta 
Bhagavad Dhyaana Sopaanam 
Srimad Aahnikam 
Nigamaantha Desika Sahasranamam 
Nikshepa Chintamani 
Saaraswaadhini. (Saakshaat Swami had done only about
12 chapters of his Our Swami completed the rest as
ordered by his Acharya) 
Uttara Saaraswtham 
Jayanthee Nirnayam etc.(PPM) 


His Tanian reads as follows: 


Sri Krishna Desika Padaambhuja Bringaraajam Vedaanta
Lakshmana Muneendra Krupaatha Bodham / 
Trayyantha Desika Yatindra Sataari Moorthim Gopaala
Desika Sikhaamanim Aasrayaamaha // 


Meaning: _Let us take refuge at the feet of Gopala
Desika , the crown jewel, the Acharya for the three
great Sannyasis, who was like the bee surrounding the
lotus feet of Sri Krishna Desika and who was the
recipient of the grace of Vedanta Lakshmana Muni_ 

The above means that Tirukkutanthai Desikan Swami
combined in his persona;ity those of all the three
AchAryas viz Sri Vedanta Desika, Sri Bhashyakara and
Sri Satakopa. It is interesting to note that those who
resorted to him were also three yathivaras. 

Sri Gopalarya Maha Desikan embraced Sannyasam just
before he neared his end. He was hailed as a Maha
Bhaagavata in his own time in recognition whereof the
special and rare privilege of embracing the idol of
Aravamudhan so as to render it more efficacious, was
accorded to him. He was succeeded in the Peetam by Sri
Vedaanta Ramanuja Swami who came to be known as
_Vazhutur Andavan

Acharyan ThiruvaDigaLE SaraNam
Regards
Namo Narayana
dAsan 


        
                
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