Sri Vedanta Desikan 05/05/2019 – Posted in: Daily News

750th BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF VEDANTA DESIKAN

For: Mains
Topics covered: Sri Vedanta Desikan, His life achievements, Literary works, Vaishnavism

 

News Flash

Vice President of India Shri. M. Venkaiah Naidu, releases a postage stamp to commemorate the 750th birth anniversary of Sri Vedanta Desikan.

 

Sri Vedanta Desikan

  • Sri Vedanta Desikan (1268–1369), born in present day Tamil Nadu is also known as Swami Desika, Swami Vedanta Desika, Thoopul Nigamaantha Desikan.
  • He is one of the most prominent preceptors in the Srivaishnava tradition.
  • Sri Vedanta Desikan authored brilliant poems, prose, drama, epics, commentaries, scientific texts and philosophical treatises in Sanskrit, Tamil, Prakrit and Manipravalam.
  • He was much more than a spiritual teacher. He was a multi-faceted personality- a scientist, a logician, a mathematician, a literary genius, a linguist, a military strategist and much more.
  • Some of his prominent works are Hayagriva Stotram, Abheethistavam, Achyutha Satakam, Bhagavat Dhyana Sopanam and Kamasikasthaka.
  • He received other titles such as ‘Kavitarkika-kesari’ and ‘Kavitarkika-simham’, the lion amongst poets.
  • One of the essential features of Sri Vedant Desikan’s philosophy was the aspect of inclusion. Anyone, irrespective of caste and creed could join the Sri Vaishnava fold.
  • His written masterpiece ‘Rahasya Traya Sara’, is a treatise on Prapatti (surrendering oneself to divine).
  • His works like ‘Silpartha-Saram’, a treatise on sculpture, and ‘Bhugola Nirnayam’, a research text on geography showed his knowledge of the arts and science.
  • Desikan’s ‘Subhashita Neevi’ contains a fund of moral and ethical advice which are still relevant and practical.
  • His authored ‘Aahaara Niyamam’ explains how different food items help in maintaining healthy mind and disease-free life.

 

Vaishnavism

Vaishnavism is one of the major traditions within Hinduism along with Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smarthism. It is also called Vishnuism, its followers are called Vaishnavas, and it considers Vishnu as the Supreme Lord.

Vaishnavism is the branch of Hinduism in which Vishnu or one of his incarnations (usually Krishna or Rama) is worshipped as the supreme God. Vaishnavism is the largest Hindu denomination and it has numerous subdivisions. In addition to the Vedas, Vaishnavites especially revere the Bhagavad Gita, the Bhagavata Purana, the Vishnu Samhita and the Gita Govinda, among others.

 

Source: The Hindu

 

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