Mysore/Mysuru: Parampare, in association with Sudharma – Sanskrit Daily Newspaper, has arranged lectures on ‘Paduka Sahasram of Sri Vedanta Desika (1269- 1369) by eminent Sanskrit Scholar Vidwan Dr. H.V. Nagaraja Rao.

These lectures are being arranged at BSS Vidyodaya auditorium in Krishnamurthypuram from Mar. 2 to 8 everyday from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Sri Vedanta Desika is the author of more than 150 works in Sanskrit, Prakrut and Tamil. His works played a major role in preserving and revival of spiritual tradition of India. ‘Paduka Sahasram’ essentially deals with Bhakti (devotion) and Prapatti (surrender) to the Lord. This consists of 1008 superb verses which are generally categorised under 32 paddhaties (chapters). Dr. Rao will enunciate some of the selected shlokas.

At an early age of twenty, Desikar had completed his study of vedas and was already teaching Shreebhashya. His commentaries firmly established the school of Visishtadwaitha of Bhagavan Ramanujacharya. Though his maiden name was Venkatanatha, his literary works brought him fame as ‘Vedanta Desika’ and ‘Kavitarkika Kesari.’

‘Paduka Sahasram’ is essentially a stotra kavya. In this genre, there is more of devotion and less of poetic merit. But Desika’s compositions are exceptionally poetic too. To compose 1008 verses addressed to the ‘Padukas’ of the Lord is exceptional indeed.

Desikar says that the first person to realise the significance of the Lord’s Paduka was Bharata who brought them to Ayodhya and placed them on the throne. Desikar offers salutations to Bharata first in this text.

It is said that in ‘Paduka Sahasram,’ Vedanta Desikar’s poetic talent reaches the ultimate — all the aspects of verse such as Alankara, Guna, Rasa, Bhava. Dhwani and ouchitya are in perfect blend here. Other poets of 17th Century were influenced to write similar verses like Lakshmi Sahasra and Uma Sahasra.

Vid. Dr. H.V. Nagaraja Rao is a presidential awardee and is a senior Sanskrit Scholar and a Visiting Professor in the Universities of Israel and the USA. He has been a guiding force to many students studying Sanskrit within India and abroad. He has been guiding ‘Sudharma’  Sanskrit Daily for more than 40 years as its Honorary Editor. His weekly column on literature and Indian culture in ‘Mysuru Mithra’ has been very popular.

For details, contact Parampare on Mob: 99860-37311 or ‘Sudharma’ on Mob: 99800-27696.