Desika Mangalam

Desika Mangalam

By

Kumara Varada(Son of Vedantha  Desika)

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

(Vedantha Desika who is considered as the incarnation of the temple bell in Thirupathi  and  is one of the greatest Vaishnavite scholars  in the post Ramanuja period.He was the son born to in around 1248 AD to Ananta Suri and Thotakamba and belonged to the Viswamithra Gothram. He was taught Sastras by his own uncle KIdambi Appullalar  and became recognized as a great  expert in Vaishnavism by the time he  was 20 years of age. Some of the very great gems  of Vaishnavism were authored by him . The  author of this Mangalam  , Kumara Varada was his own son and disciple. Being a novice in Vaishnavism, I have taken the help of  a translation of this great work  by Vilambakkam Sri Govinda Rajan and Oppiliappan  koil  sri Varadachari SAtakopan, which is available on line .My purpose would be served  , if those who happen to read my translation, would read that great translation which is available in www.ibiblio.org/sadagopan/ahobilavalli/dm.pdf  )

I.Vedantha  Desika Thaniyan

.Sriman   Venkatanadharya  kavi tharkika kesari,

Vedanthacharya varyo   may sannidhatham sada hrudhi

Let  the form of Venkata Nadha , who is the lion among poets  and debators,

And who is  the greatest  among teachers  of Vedantha   always  reside in my heart.

II.Sri Kumara  Varadacharya  THaniyan

SRiman Lakshmana yogeendra  sidhantha  Vijaya  Dwajam,

Viswamithra   kulothbhutam   varadaryam aham Bhaje

I salute  the Kumara  Varadarya  born in the clan of Viswamithra,

Who is the victorious flag   of the  philosophy of the great Yogi called  Ramanuja.

III.Desika  Mangalam

1.Sarva thanthra swathanthraya  simhaya  kavi  Vadhinam,

Vedanthacharya  varyaya,  Venkatesaya mangalam.

1.Auspeciousness  to  Venkatesa   who is the great Acharya of Vedantha,

Who can think in any field  independently*,and who is lion when debating with poets.

                           *Sarva Thanthra Swatrhanthra  is a title given By Goddess Ranganayaki to Swami Vedantha Desika.

2. Nabhasyamasi  sronayam avatheernaya  sooraye,

Viswamithra anvayayasthu , Venkatesaya  Mangalam.

2,Auspeciousness  to Venkatesa  born in the  Viswamithra  Gothra,

Who was  the Soori born in the Sravana star of Margazhi month.

3.Pitha yasyanthasoori pundarikaksha   yajvana ,

Pouthro  yas thanayaatotrambhayas  thasya Mangalam.

3.Auspeciousness  to  the son of  Thotharambha  and Anantha Soori,

And the paternal grand  son of Pundarikaksha  Yajva.

4.Venkatesavatharoyam  tadghantamsoadhava  bhaveth,

Yatheendramso  athavethyevamm vitharkyayasthu  Mangalam.

4.Auspeciousness   to him who  is considered as the amsa(part )  of Acharya Ramanuja(Yatheendra),

 And  is  considered as incarnation of  the temple bell of Lord  Venkatesa.

5.Sri BHashya kara  , panthanam  athmana  darsitham puna,

Udharthu magatho   noonam ithyuktyasthu  Mangalam

5,Auspeciousness  to him who makes one feel that we see,

  Acharya Ramanuja(BHashyakara) has  risen and come again  .

6.Ye  balye   varadaryasya   pracharyasya   paraam  dayaam,

AAvapya   vrudhim   gamitha   thasmai   yogyaya  Mangalam,

6.Auspeciousness  to him who as a child  received the blessings,

Of the Acharya  of Ramanuja and attained  growth and became suitable to it.

7.Ramanujarya dathreyan mathulath   sakala  kalaa,

Avapa  vimsathyabdhe   yasthasmai  prajnaya  mangalam.

7.Auspeciousness  to the Him who made  all  arts  taught ,

By his uncle  Athreya Ramanuja and became a great expert.

8.Srutha prakaasikaa bhoomou  yenadhou  parirakshithaa  ,

Pravarthithaa  cha pathreshu   thasmai sreshtaya  mangalam.

8.Auspeciousness  to great one  who protected  in the earth  the commentary,

On Sri Bhasyam by Surutha Prakasa by transferring it to suitable  disciples.

9.SAmskrthibhir dramidibhi bahvibhi krithibhir janan,

Yassamujeevayamsa  thasmai   sevaya  Mangalam,

9.Auspeciousness  to him who by his service  gave  shining  life to  the people ,

By  by his sri Sukthis  written in Sanskrit , Tamil  and Manipravala.

10.Ya khyathi  labha poojasu   vimukho Vaishanave jane  ,

Krayaneeya   dasaam prapth   thasmai bhavyaya mangalam.

10.Auspeciousness  to the person of humility   who was averse ,

To wealth fame , wealth and honours and sold himself to the devotees of Vishnu.

11.Yasmad yeva  mayaa   sarva  sasthramagrahi  nanyatha  ,

THasmai  Venkatanadhaya mama Nadhaya  mangalam.

11.Ausprciousness  to my Lord  Venkatanadha   from whom  ,

Alone I have understood    all the Sastras.

12.Pithre  brahmopadeshtre  may gurave   daivathaya  cha,

Prapyaya  prapakayasthu  Venkatesaya  Mangalam.

12,Auspeciousness  to Venkatesa who  is my father ,

Who performed Brahmopadesam for me , who is my Guru,

Who is my God  and is the means  of my goals.

13.Ya krutham Varadaryena  Vedanthacharya  mangalam,

Aaassthe anudhinam sopi   bhaven mangala  Bhajanam.

13. This auspiciousness to  the teacher of Vedas was created by Kumara Varada,

And I  desire  that all recite this daily would become object of auspeciouness,