Spiritual warrior of Sanatana Dharma
PREMA NANDAKUMAR
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It is 25 years since Gopaladesika Mahadesikan became head of Sri Poundrikapuram Asramam. The silver jubilee celebration begins tomorrow.
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Gopalaraya Mahadesikan
Sri Ramanuja Darsana was given a great leap forward by Sri Vedanta Desika through his Sanskrit, Tamil, Prakrit and Manipravala works. Several paramparas have enthusiastically carried forward the message of Sri Vaishnavism in an atmosphere of admirable quietude, serving the Sanatana Dharma effectively, passing on to the succeeding generations a faith that is crystalline and adheres to the yoga of divine love. Bhakti for the Lord, channelled through bhakti for the guru, has been the mark of these paramparas. One such parampara is the line of pontiffs of the Sri Poundrikapuram Asramam, Srirangam.
Tracing back its ancestry to the illustrious Sri Gopalaraya Mahadesikan, popularly known as Tirukudanthai Desikan who was a disciple of Sakshad Swamy (Vedanta Ramanuja), the Poundrikapuram Swami Asramam has had a sterling spiritual heritage led by scholarly renunciates like Vazhuthur Andavan, Tiruthuraipundi Andavan and Periandavan. The pontiffs who were residents of the Poundrikapuram Asramam in Srirangam where the Kollidam flows by quietly, include Veliyanallur Srinvasa Mahadesikan, Poundrikapuram Srinivasa Mahadesikan, Mannargudi Sri Ranganatha Mahadesikan and Vinatrangarai Srinivasa Mahadesikan. Thus, Sri Gopaladesikan had an enviable background and an unenviable task on hand as he had to rise to the great heights of his predecessors when he became the ninth Andavan of the Asramam.
It is now history that during the last quarter century, the pontiff, referred to as Srimad Paravakottai Andavan, has added further luminosity to the spiritual seat by his firm commitment to spread Desika Darsana, by his rigorous self-discipline in following all the rules pertaining to a renunciate's life.
Boon to Vaishnavas
His crystalline approach to scriptures has brought him a global following. His tele-lectures are a boon to the Vaishnavas living abroad. Master of Tamil, Sanskrit and Hindi, his discourses are a delight to listen and ponder. His `Ramabhiranai Karpom' is written in an amazingly lucid style where the immortal Tamil epic of Kamban is brought alive with all the dramatic details.
The Swami's intent is to place role models before the youth so that it could rise to the heights achieved by Rama, Bharata and Vibhishana. His critical eye dipped in devotion always spots a new angle that helps the listener take a closer look at his ancient heritage.
Born in 1921 at Paravakottai village, Sri Gopaladesika Mahadesikan had his early education in Tirupati and completed his study of the scriptures of the Desika Sampradaya in Mysore under the eminent pontiff of Parakala Mutt, Sri Abhinava Ranganatha Brahmatantra Swami. From the Parakala Swami, he imbibed the severe discipline of Vaishnavite renunciates. He certainly shines as a spiritual warrior of Sanatana Dharma in this respect.
Since he does not travel by palanquin or car, his movements are confined to Srirangam.
An equally important service rendered by the Swami to Sri Desika Darsana is taking up the publication of Vedanta Desika's works along with their commentaries. He has welded a fine team of learned exegetics, editors and sponsors to reprint the existing commentaries by eminent scholars like Vankipuram Sriramadesikachariar and A.V.Gopalachariar, as also encourage the writing of new commentaries. Among the latter is the noteworthy interpretation of Tirukudanthai Desikan's Sri Desika Divya Sahasranamam by Navalpakkam V. Vasudevachariar.
The Poundrikapuram Swami Asramam publications have also become a by-word in excellence for book production.
It is a matter of great joy that the 25th year of the Swami's ascending the spiritual throne of Sri Poundrikapuram Asramam is being celebrated from February 10 for five days by his disciples and followers with great enthusiasm. Among the events are the release of new publications, Vedic recitations and religious discourses. His Holiness Sri Rangapriya Mahadesikan is presiding over the festivities in Srirangam.
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