2023-02-17 20:22:05 by ambuda-bot
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INTRODUCTION
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there is some reason for such a belief, however, it is
not unlikely that Dēṣika was born in 1270 and did live
till 1371. For the tradition preserved in Vaishnavite
literature gives us the information that Dēṣika lived for
a hundred years. In that case the verse inscribed on
the Srirangam temple must have been composed by
him shortly before his death. The Guruparampara
information regarding the date of Vēdānta Dēṣika and
his being a contemporary of Gōpaṇa may not be incor-
rect, though Hultzch has thought otherwise. There is
no disputing the fact that Dēşika lived during this
period of stress and storm. His work, the Abhītistava,
is a book containing the prayer that he offered to god
for protecting Hinduism from the disasters of the
foreign invasion. By the time the Abhītistava was com-
posed the Muslims were in actual occupation of Sri-
rangam as is evident from the work itself.
59
As we have remarked in the beginning, till we get
more epigraphical information regarding Gōpaņa's ex-
ploits, we must resist all temptation to over-estimate
the part he played in removing Muslim influence from
the South. The only fact that can be said about him
definitely is that he was responsible for restoring order
in Srīrangam and reconsecrating the Ranganātha tem-
ple with its original deities.⁹
8. The title itself suggests the fear "bhiti" caused by the Muslims.
The title if rendered and expanded in English would mean "Prayer to
God for removing the fear (from the Muslims)."
9. My attention has been drawn to the existence of a Telugu work
called Sindhumatīvilasamu written by Gōpana.
story of the romance between Jaya and Sindhumati and the scene of
The book tells the
the story is laid in Madhurai. In the colophon to the work Gōpana
is mentioned as the disciple of Vēdānta Dēşika. Děsika taught him
the Aştāksarī mantra. I have not read the manuscript, but the above
information is sufficient to strengthen my suggestion that Gōpāṇa and
Vēdanta Dēşīka were contemporaries. I am grateful to Sri N. Venkata
¡
INTRODUCTION
}
there is some reason for such a belief, however, it is
not unlikely that Dēṣika was born in 1270 and did live
till 1371. For the tradition preserved in Vaishnavite
literature gives us the information that Dēṣika lived for
a hundred years. In that case the verse inscribed on
the Srirangam temple must have been composed by
him shortly before his death. The Guruparampara
information regarding the date of Vēdānta Dēṣika and
his being a contemporary of Gōpaṇa may not be incor-
rect, though Hultzch has thought otherwise. There is
no disputing the fact that Dēşika lived during this
period of stress and storm. His work, the Abhītistava,
is a book containing the prayer that he offered to god
for protecting Hinduism from the disasters of the
foreign invasion. By the time the Abhītistava was com-
posed the Muslims were in actual occupation of Sri-
rangam as is evident from the work itself.
59
As we have remarked in the beginning, till we get
more epigraphical information regarding Gōpaņa's ex-
ploits, we must resist all temptation to over-estimate
the part he played in removing Muslim influence from
the South. The only fact that can be said about him
definitely is that he was responsible for restoring order
in Srīrangam and reconsecrating the Ranganātha tem-
ple with its original deities.⁹
8. The title itself suggests the fear "bhiti" caused by the Muslims.
The title if rendered and expanded in English would mean "Prayer to
God for removing the fear (from the Muslims)."
9. My attention has been drawn to the existence of a Telugu work
called Sindhumatīvilasamu written by Gōpana.
story of the romance between Jaya and Sindhumati and the scene of
The book tells the
the story is laid in Madhurai. In the colophon to the work Gōpana
is mentioned as the disciple of Vēdānta Dēşika. Děsika taught him
the Aştāksarī mantra. I have not read the manuscript, but the above
information is sufficient to strengthen my suggestion that Gōpāṇa and
Vēdanta Dēşīka were contemporaries. I am grateful to Sri N. Venkata