Vedanta Desika – Ramanisblog

Recorded information has it that Mahalakshmi appeared in person to three Acharyas.

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Vedanta Desika (Swami Desikan, Swami Vedanta Desikan, Thoopul Nigamaantha Desikan) (1269–1370) was a Sri VaishnavaGuru. He was a poet, devotee, philosopher and master-teacher. He was the disciple of Swamy Sri Kidambi Appullar alias Sri Aathreya Ramanujachariar who comes in the lineage starting from Sri Ramanuja with Sri Thirukurugai Piran Pillan alias Sri Kurugesar,Sri Kidambi Aachan, Sri Aathreya Ramanujar, Sri Aathreya Rangarajachariar and many in the order. He is considered as an Avatar(incarnation) of the divine bell of Lord Venkateswara of Tirumalai by Sri Vaishavites.

Vidyaranya.

It was while Sri Vidyaranya was doing tapas at Matanga hill that the two warrior brothers, Harihara and Bukka, sons of Sangama, approached him. Directed by a dream, they sought his blessings and guidance. Earlier, these two brothers had been taken prisoner and led to Delhi. It is believed they were under compulsion to embrace Islam. But the Delhi ruler recognising their valour sent them back to the south. They were sent back as the heads of an army to contain the rebellions brewing in the Deccan.

Seizing this opportunity, the two brothers asserted their independence. With the guidance and blessings of Sri Vidyaranya, they established their own independent kingdom with its capital on the left bank of Tungabhadra river. Following the sage’s counsel, they shifted their capital to the right bank, naming it Vidyanagara, as a mark of respect and gratitude to the sage, whom they regarded as their Guru, God and saviour. The city, which came to be popularly known as Vijayanagara or City of Victory was planned in accordance with the directions of sage Vidyaranya in the form of a Sri Chakra“

Shankaracharya, was/is the greatest Adavaitin and the Greatest Intellect Humanity has seen.

Swami Vedanta Desikan, Great Exponent and Visishtavaita, master of Sanskrit prose and

Vidyaranya, the brain behind the establishment of Vijaya Nagara Empire.

Laksmi appeared before Shankaracharya after he beseeched her to come to the help of a poor woman,Kanakahra Sthavam.

Mahalakshmi appeared thrice for Vidyaranya.

Vidyaranya wanted to establish an Empire with Harihara and Bukka.

Being a poor Brahmin he did not have the wealth to do it.

He prayed Lakshmi.

When she appeared in person, he was so overwhelmed, he did not ask Her for anything.

This happened for the second time.

Still he did not ask Her.

The third time when She appeared,, on being asked by Her why he called Her, he remembered He prayed Her for Wealth.

He immediately felt ashamed and told Her,

“Mother , I invoked You for Wealth to establish an Empire.

I now realize that it is a mistake.

For the Mother knows what the child needs.

I am sorry I thought of Wealth, when You are There.

Vijayanagara Empire was established successfully by Her Grace.

On Desika I had a reference but seems to have misplaced it.

There seems to be no information on the web.

Please contribute.

Works of Shankaracharya.

Volume 1. Brahmasutra-bhashya

Volume 2. Brahmasutra-bhashya

Volume 3. Brahmasutra-bhashya

Volume 4. Upanishad-bhashya, vol. 1: Isa, Kena [2], Katha, Prasna

Volume 5. Upanishad-bhashya, vol. 2: Mundaka, Mandukya, Aitareya

Volume 6. Upanishad-bhashya, vol. 3: Taittiriya, Chhandogya 1-3

Volume 7. Upanishad-bhashya, vol. 4: Chhandogya 4-8

Volume 8. Upanishad-bhashya, vol. 5: Brihadaranyaka 1-2

Volume 9. Upanishad-bhashya, vol. 6: Brihadaranyaka 3-4

Volume 10. Upanishad-bhashya, vol. 7: Brihadaranyaka 5-6, Nrisimhapurvatapani

Volume 11. Bhagavad-Gita-bhashya, vol. 1: chaps. 1-9

Volume 12. Bhagavad-Gita-bhashya, vol. 2: chaps. 10-18

Volume 13. Vishnusahasranama and Sanatsujatiya Bhashyas

Volume 14. Vivekachudamani, Upadeshasahasri

Volume 15. Miscellaneous Prakaranas vol. 1: Aparokshanubhuti, etc. [7 works]

Volume 16. Miscellaneous Prakaranas vol. 2: Prabodhasudhakara, etc. [25 works]

Volume 17. Stotras, vol. 1 [30 works]

Volume 18. Stotras, vol. 2 [35 works, plus Lalita Trisatistotra Bhashya]

Volume 19. Prapanchasara, vol. 1

Volume 20. Prapanchasara, vol. 2

Swami Desikan’s Works.

A: DEVOTIONAL POEMS (STOTRAS)- (in alphabetical order)- 29
1. Abheeti Sthavam
2. Achyuta Sathakam
3. Ashtabuja Ashtakam
4. Bhagavad Dhyaana Sopaanam
5. Bhoo Sthuthi
6. Dasaavataara Stotram
7. Dayaa Sathakam
8. Dehaleesa Sthuthi
9. Devanaayaka Panchaasath
10. Garuda Dhandakam
11. Garuda Panchaasath
12. Godhaa Sthuthi
13. Gopaala Vimsathi
14. Hayagriva Stotram
15. Kaamaasika Ashtakam
16. Nyaasa Dasakam
17. Nyaasa Tilakam
18. Nyaasa Vimsathi
19. Paramaartha Sthuthi
20. Raghu Veera Gadhyam (aka) Mahaveera Vaibhavam
21. Saranaagathi Deepikai
22. Shodasa Aayudha Stotram
23. Sree Sthuthi
24. Sudharsana Ashtakam
25. Vairaaghya Panchakam
26. Varadaraaja Panchaasath
27. Vegaa Sethu Stotram
28. Yathiraaja Sapthadhi

B: KAAVYA GRANTHAS -5
1. SUBHASHITHAANIVI
2. YAADHAVAABHYUDHAYAM
3. PAADUKAA SAHASRAM
4. HAMSA SANDHESAM
5. Samasya Sahasri (Luptham-Lost)

C: DRAMA -1
1. SANKALPA SURYODHAYAM

D: RAHASYA GRANTHAS (ESOTERIC WORKS) -32
1. Sat Sampradaaya Pari Suddhi
2. Tattva Padhavi
3. Rahasya Padhavi
4. Tattva Navaneetham
5. Rahasya Navaneetham
6. Tattva Maatrukai
7. Rahasya Maatrukai
8. Tattva Sandhesam
9. Rahasya Sandhesam
10. Rahasya Sandhesa Vivaranam
11. Tattva Ratnaavali
12. Tattva Ratnaavali Prathipaadhya Sangraham
13. Rahasya Ratnaavali
14. Rahasya Ratnaavali Hridhayam
15. Tattva Thraya Sulakam
16. Rahasya Thraya Sulakam
17. ABHAYA PRADHAANA SAARAM
18. Rahasya Sikhaamani
19. ANJALI VAIBHAVAM
20. PRADHAANA SATHAKAM
21. UPAKAARA SANGRAHAM
22. Saara Sangraham
23. Muni Vaahana Bhogam
24. Madhura Kavi Hridhayam (Luptham- Lost)
25. PARAMA PADA SOPAANAM
26. PARA MATHA BHANGAM
27. HASTHIGIRI MAHAATHMYAM
28. RAHASYA THRAYA SAARAM
29. Saara Saaram
30. Virodha Parihaaram
31. Nigama Parimalam (Lutham-Lost)
32. Thiru Mudi Adaivu (Luptham- Lost)

E: VEDANTHA GRANTHAS -11
Group 1:
1. Tattva Mukthaa Kalaapam
2. Adhikarana Saaraavali
3. SATHA DHUSHANI (aka) Satha Doshaani)
4. Nyaaya Parisuddhi
5. Seswara Mimaamsa
6. Mimaamsa Paaduka

Group 2:
7. Nikshepa Raksha
8. Sat Charitha Raksha- containing-
? (i) Sudharsana Paancha Janya Vidhi
? (ii) Oordhva Pundra Dhaarana Vidhi
? (iii) Bhagavan Nivedhitha Upayoga Vidhi
9. Rahasya Rakshaa
Group 3:
10. DRAMIDOPANISHAD TAATPARYA RATNAAVALI ( A commentary on Nammalwar’s Tiruvoimozhi)
11. Dramidopanishad Saara ( A shorter version of above)

F: VYAAKHYAANA GRANTHAS ( Commentaries) -10
1. Sarvaartha Siddhi
2. Tattva Teekha
3. Chatus Slokee Bhashya
4. Stotra Ratna Bashya
5. Gitaartha Sangraha Raksha
6. Taatparya Chandrika
7. Isaavaasyopanishad
8. Vedaartha Sangraha (Luptam-Lost)
9. Rahasya Raksha (aka) Gadhya Thraya Bashya)
10. Adhikarana Darpanam

G: ANUSHTAANA GRANTHAS -4
1. Bhagavad Aaraadhana Vidhi
2. Yagnopaveetha Prathishta
3. Hari Dina Tilakam
4. Vaishnava Dinasari

H: MISCELLANEOUS GRANTHAS -13
1. Bhoogola Nirnayam
2. Silpaartha Saaram
3. Stheya Virodham
4. Chakaara Samarthanam
5. Vaadhi Thraya Khandanam
6. Vaisvadeva Kaarika
7. Guru Paramparaa Saaram
8. Dathi Panchakam
9. Yamaka Ratnaakaram
10. Daasa Deepikaa Nigantu
11. Vedaartha Sangraha Vyaakhyaanam
12. Saara Dheepam
13. Tattva Sikhaamani (Luptham-Lost)

I: TAMIL PRABHANDHAMS -24
1. Amrita Ranjani
2. Adhikaara Sangraham
3. Amritaaswaadhini
4. Parama Padha Sopaanam
5. Para Matha Bhangam
6. Mei Vratha Maanmiyam
7. Adaikkalap Pathu
8. Artha Panchakam
9. Sri Vaishnava Dhinasari
10. Tiruchchinna Maalai
11. Panniru Naamam
12. Tiru Mantira Churukku
13. Dvaya Churukku
14. Charma Sloka Churukku
15. Gitaartha Sangraham
16. MumManik Kovai
17. Navaratna (aka Navamani) Maalai
18. Prabhandha Saaram
19. Aahaara Niyamam
20. Pandhu (Luptham-Lost)
21. Kazhal (Luptham-lost)
22. Ammaanai (Luptam-Lost)
23. Oosal (luptham-Lost)
24. Yesal (Luptham-Lost)

Works of Vidyaranya.

Vidyaranya’s most famous works are Pārāśara-Mādhavīya and the Sarva-darśana-saṅ̇graha (Compendium of Speculations), a compendium of all the known Indian schools of philosophy. To quote Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, the Sarvadarśanasaṅ̇graha “sketches sixteen systems of thought so as to exhibit a gradually ascending series, culminating in the Advaita Vedanta (or non-dualism).” The sixteen systems of philosophy expounded by him are:^[2]