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Sri:
SrImathE Ramanuja nama:

Dearest all

Today is also the thirunakshathram of Kumara
Varadacharya- son of Swamy Vedanta Desikan. He was
also born on AvaNi RohiNi. Kumara Varadacharya learnt
all the traditional texts under his father himself and
acquired a remarkable mastery of them within a short
span of time. 

When Desika was in his forties, a son was born to him
and his wife.
Reflecting his love for his household deity Lord
Varadaraja, Desika 
named the boy Varada, and tradition remembers him as
Nainacharya or 
Kumara Varadacharya. Kumara Varadacharya also became a
scholar of
some repute, and we are indebted to him for recording
some biographical
details of his father in his Desika Mangalam, Pillai
Antaadi, and 
Desika Dinacharyai.

After Swamy Desikan?s attainment of Paramadham,
Varadacharya continued the propagation of the
Srivaishnava religion and philosophy. He toured all
over India extending the frontiers of Srivaishnavism
and conquering many opponents belonging to other
schools of Philosophy. Apart from important places in
Tamil Nadu and Kerala, he is said to have visited
Ahobilam,, Sihmachalam, Sri Kaakulam, in Andhra. He
established his sishya paramaparai in these places as
well. 

Tradition avers that Sri Kumara Varadacharya composed
few rahasyagranthas in Telugu also, so as to cater to
the needs of his followers in the Telugu land. Like
his father Vedantha Desika, he is said to have been
patronized by the Telugu ruler of Raachakona, Sarvagna
Singama Nayaka of the Velama Dynasty. 

Sri Kumara Varadarya may be called as one of the Chief
architects of the Srivaishnava religion in Andhra Desa
where he was affectionately called Nayanacharya [The
Glorious son and preceptor]. The Srivaishnava temples
as can be seen in Mangalagiri, Simhachalam, Sri
Kurmam, Ontimitta [all in Andhra], Purushotthamam
[Puri in Orissa], and Sholapur [in Maharashtra] still
follow the tradition of worship instituted by Swamy
Kumara Varacharya. 

A number of accounts about the scholastic pursuits and
prowess of Kumara Varadarya are also popular as in the
case of illustrious father. It is said that one
Saakalyamalla, a staunch Advaitin and the author of an
18-canto poem Uddhaaraaghava was vanquished in debate
by Kumara Varadarya in the court of Singama Nayaka
referred to earlier. It is said that Kumara Varada
also successfully counteracted the black magic
employed by that scholar. However, there is another
opinion that the Saakalyamalla under question was a
court poet of King Prataaparuda of Warangal [1290
-1326 CE] and that he was defeated by Vedantha Desika
whom he met in the court of Singama Nayaka.

According to Guru paramapara Prabhaavam, Kumara Varada
breathed his last on the KrishNasapthami day of the
PhalguNa month of the Year Jaya. 

The wonderful works of Kumara Varadarya:

According to tradition Kumara Varadarya is said to
have composed many works but only 36 of them have come
down to us. Even among these, only a few have been
printed and the rest are still in the form of
manuscripts which await the attention of scholars. A
very brief account of these available works is given
below:

(a)     independent works in Sanskrit.
1.      Bhagavadhyana padhhathi: This is a short work
consisting of 12 verses sung in praise of the Lord Sri
Kaakulam a village near Vijayawada in Andha [different
from Srikakulam district]. This text is modeled after
Bhagavadhyana sopanam sung by Vedantha Desika on
Sriranganatha and Amanaladhipiraan of
Thiruppanaazhwaar?s. 
2.      Harisandesa: This is a lyrical composition similar
to Kokilasandesa enumerated below:
3.      Kokilasandesa: This is a small literary work on the
lines of Kuyil paattu [cuckoo song] of Sri AndAL. A
cuckoo is requested to be messenger  carrying  the
message of the devotee to the Lord.
4.      Lakshmisathaka: This is a 100 verses in praise of
Divine mother bringing out her virtues of which Daya
is the most Prominent One. 
5.       Sankhasathaka: 100 verses on Sankha [Conch Shell]
of the Lord. 
6.      Sukasandesa: another lyric similar to Kokilsandesa
listed above with the difference here it is the parrot
which is the messenger. 
7.      Sri Vedantha Desika dinacharya: This is a short
work describing the daily routine of Swamy Vedantha
Desika and the anushtAnam of his during the whole day.

8.      Sri vedantha Desika mangalam: This comprises verses
on Sri Vedanta Desika?s greatness wishing for his
continued glory.
9.      Sri Vedanta Desika praarthana ashtakam: eight
verses invoking the blessings of Swamy Desikan. 
10.     Sri Vedanta desika dhivya mangla vigraha dhyanam:
Kumara Varadarya composed in praise of the divine
beauty of Swamy Desikan?s ThirumEni; vigraha installed
in Thooppul village, the birth place of Swamy Desika.
11.     Sri Vedantha Desika Prapatti: This was composed in
praise of Swamy Desika highlighting his role as the
only refuge of the disciples. 
12.     Thyaagasabda artha ninrnaya: This work gives the
conclusive epitome of Srivaishnava teaching
[Charamasloka] depicting the soul as taking refuge at
the lotus feet of the Lord. It explains the word
tyaaga as implied in the verse Sarvadharmaan. [GitA
18.66] 
13.     Virodhibhanjani: This is a philosophical treatise
refuting other systems of though and establishing the
Supremacy of Visistadvaita. 


(b)     Works in Tamil:

1.      Pillai anthAthi: 20 verses in praise of Swamy
Desikan [in the lines of Ramanuja nooRRanthAthi and
Madhurakavi AzhwAr?s KaNNinunchiRuthAmbu] bringing out
the divine qualities of his father, acharya and God
Himself - Swamy Vedanta Desikan.

 ( C) Commentaries on Swamy Desika?s works: 

1.      AdhikaranachinthaamaNi: This is commentary on
Desikan?s Adhikaranasaravali which in turn is an
exposition of Sribhashya in verse form. 
2.       Asrayaanupapatti: This work is a refulation of
Advaitins? view that Brahman is the Asraya
[substratum] of avidya. The discussion concerns one of
the seven kinds of anupapatti [untenable nature
explained in the works of Swamy Ramanuja and Sri
Sudharsana suri].
3.      Chit Achith Iswara tattva niroopana: an elaborate
commentary of Svetaasvataranamtra, bhokta bhogyam
preritaaram cha matvaa? [1.12] bringing out the
concept of tattvatraya. 
4.      Tattvathrayaniroopana or Tattvathrayaculakaartha
sangraha: Commetary of Tattvathrayachulakam 
5.      Nyasathilaka vyaakhya: Exposition of Swamy
desikan?s Nyasa vimsathi. Desikan also had written a
commentary for the same. 
6.      Mimaamsa paadhuka- parithraaNa: Commenatry of
Desikan?s Mimaamsa padhuka where the correlation
between the Poorvamimaamsa and Uttharamimaamsa is
established in the light of the Visistadvaita Vedanta.
In the original work Desika refuted some of the
arguments of the Bhatta and Prabhakaras. 

D.      Compendiums:

1.      Rahaysyathraya sangraha: This is Sanskrit rendering
of the work of the same name Rahasyathrayasaram
composed by Vedanta Desika in Manipravala style. This
was composed Kumara varadarya mainly for the benefit
of Andhra Disciples who found it difficult to follow
the manipravala style of the original. 
2.      Rahasyathraya sara artha sangraha: Another
rendering in Sanskrit of the above. A detailed
exposition of this work is taken up in the folliwng
chapters. 

E,. Refuting other schools of thought:

1.      Abheda khandana: This refutes the concept of Abheda
or non-difference on which the Advaita system is
based. 
2.      Avidya khandana: concepts of Advaita- namely Maaya
Nirguna brahmam are refuted here. 
3.      Khandanachathushtaya: refutes the veiwsnof Sankara,
Bhaskara, Yadava prakasa, and Saiva siddhantha thereby
establishing the Visishtadvaita unambiguously and in
unparalleled manner. 
4.      Muktivaichaara: refutes the concept of Moksha
according to Charvaka and such other systems and
establishes the view of Ramanuja sampradaya. 
5.      Prapanchamityatva [anumaana] khandana: large text
refuting the Advaita concept of the illusory character
of the world, on the basis of scriptural texts. 
6.      Saguna brahma samarthana: this work criticizes the
Nirguna, nirvisesha Brahman concept of the Advaitins
and establishes the Visistadvaitic view that the
Brahman is qualified by innumerable perfections
[saguna]. 
7.      Sankaasathaka: This is the form of refutation of
other schools of Vedanta and is simlar to
SatadhooshaNi of Desikan. 
8.      Vyaavahaarika khandana: The advaitins accept three
stages of reality- Vyahavaarika [conventional],
Pratibhasika [phenomenal] and Paaramaartthika
[absolute]. According to this school the world is an
illusion like a dream sequence. Kumara Varadarya
refutes this view and establishes that the world can
not be brushed aside as non-reality.

F. Translations form Tamil into Sanskrit: 

1.      Abhayapradhana saaram: This is a Sanskrit rendering
of Swamy Desikan?s Abhayapradhanasaaram in Tamil
explaining the principles of Prapatti quoting from
Srimad Ramayana especially VibheeshaNa Sarabagathi. 
2.      Ahaaraniyamasloka: Sansirt version of Desikan?s
Tamil version. 
3.      Prabandha saram: Sanskrit version of Swamy
desikan?s Tamil verses on AzhwArs mentioning their
greatness, their Thirunakshathram and their works,
giving a resume of all AzhwArs.   
4.      Rahasyatharaya chulakam: Sanskrit version of
Desikan?s work on the same. 

Kumara Varadaya is said to have inherited some of the
titles of his father such as Nikhila taarkika
choodamaNi [the crest jewel of all the logicians of
the Sampradaya], Sarvathanthra swathanthra [scholar
par excellence in different schools of philosophy];
Manthramahodhadhi [the coean of Sacred formulae];
Srilakshmanayogindhra siddhantha vijayadhvaja [the
victorious banner for Sri Ramanuja system].

Some of his prominent disciples are:

1. 1st Parakalamutt Jeer Brahmathanthraswathanthrar
[as he attended Bhagavad Vishayam kalakshepam from
this Swami]
2. Swamy Prathivaadhibhayankaram Annan [the title was
conferred on Swamy by Kumara Varadarya himself]
3. Kandhadai Annan
4. Komandoor Acchaan
5. Pillaipaakkam Naayinaar
6. Thirumalai appar
7. Kidaambhi Appar
8. Nadaadhoor ALwaan
9. Anandhappan
10. Kandhaadai Appan
11. Emeprumaanar Appan
[the above article is from Satsampradaya saurabham
published by Sri Hayagreevavidhyapeetam 2003 for the
181st TN celebration of Sri Thirupputkuzhi Swamy]
 
For all Srivaishnavas regardless of Kalai, Swamy
desikan and thereby his son Swami Kumara Varadacharya
come in Sri Bhashya Guruparampara. On his
Thirunakshathram, hence let us all place our heads at
the lotus feet of this glorious acharya kumarar ?
peerless one like all our Srivaishnava Acharyas?

Swamy Kumara Varadarya ThiruvaDigaLE SaraNam
Regards
Namo Narayana
dAsan 
        


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