Latest news with #RaghuveeraGadyam
The Hindu
18-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Rama, the Supreme One
Vedanta Desika was the author of works in Sanskrit, Tamil and Manipravala. He wrote Achyuta Satakam in Prakrit. In his Raghuveera Gadyam, Desika offers his salutations to Lord Rama as the effulgent One who destroys the darkness called fear, said T.N. Aravamuda Thathachariar in a discourse. Rama shines because of Sita Devi's constant presence beside Him. He is the One who illuminates Paramapada with His brightness. Desika celebrates Rama as Jayathi in his salutation. Why does he begin with the word 'jayathi'? When Periyazhvar saw Lord Narayana, he was afraid people would cast evil eyes on Him, and that this would harm the Lord. So he sang pallandu verses to ward off the evil eyes. Likewise, Desika, in this verse uses the word jayathi to ward off evil eyes. The first choornika of the gadyam also says, 'Jaya Jaya Mahaveera.' Thus the prayer for mangalam and a prayer to keep away all inauspiciousness are there right at the beginning of the work. Vedanta Desika's style is such that some passages are difficult to recite, while some are easy, and Desika himself points this out towards the end of the work. He says some passages are kaTora (tough); some are easy (sukumAra). Raghuveera Gadyam has 94 choornikas, of which the first two praise Rama the warrior. The third choornika refers to Rama as Deva, showing that Rama is the Supreme One. The Upanishadic statement is 'divyO deva ekO Narayana,' and Desika reiterates it here by referring to Rama as Deva. The 94 choornikas can be seen in the context of the qualities of Rama as seen in the various kandas of Valmiki Ramayana. Twenty choornikas pertain to Balakanda; seven to Ayodhya Kanda; 14 to Aranyakanda; five to Kishkinda kanda; one to Sundara kanda; 29 to Yuddha kanda; and 18 to Uttara Ramayana.
The Hindu
28-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Rama, the great warrior
Vedanta Desika has praised Lord Rama's qualities in his work Raghuveera Gadyam. It is said that this work was offered at the temple of Lord Devanatha in Thiruvaheendrapuram during the Brahmotsava. Gadyam means prose, but usually such works have the rhyme of poetry. Ramanujacharya wrote three such gadyams — Saranagati Gadyam, Sriranga Gadyam and Sri Vaikuntha Gadyam. These three works together are usually referred to as gadya traya (the three prose works). It would be right to conclude that Vedanta Desika was inspired by the works of Ramanujacharya when he wrote Raghuveera Gadyam, said T.N. Aravamuda Thathachariar in a discourse. Desika's Raghuveera Gadyam has three slokas and 94 choornikas. The choornikas praise Rama's qualities. They follow Valmiki Ramayana cantos closely, highlighting the qualities which are evident in each kanda of Valmiki Ramayana. The first choornika begins with the words 'Jaya jaya Mahaveera.' In the Bala Kanda, Valmiki asks Narada to name a person living in bhuloka at that time, who is both virtuous and valorous. Narada replies that Rama is upright and is the greatest warrior on earth. Narada uses the word 'mahaveera,' which, therefore, Desika too uses right at the beginning. Janaka too upon first seeing Rama and Lakshmana, is impressed by their strength as warriors. Even Ravana is impressed by the way in which the brothers conduct themselves on the battlefield. So, throughout the Ramayana, we find that Rama's bravery is constantly spoken of by Valmiki. Keeping this in mind, Vedanta Desika begins his praise of Rama with the word 'mahaveera.' In fact, Raghuveera Gadyam is referred to as Mahaveera Vaibhavam by Sri Vaishnava Acharyas. Desika next celebrates Rama as Mahadheera. He has courage, the firm resolve and the fortitude needed by a good warrior.
