Bicentenary celeb of Kethandapatti Swamigal concludes

Srirangam, Nov 4 (UNI) Release of books, honouring of scholars in Sri Vaishnavism and a high pedestal for the revered books of Hinduism marked the 201 birth anniversary celebrations of Sri Ranga Ramanuja Maha Desikan, popularly known as Sri Kethandapatti Swamigal, which concluded here yesterday.

The bicentenary celebrations commenced on October 29 at Poundareekapuram Srimath Andavan Asram here, where the present pontiff, Poundareekapuram Srimath Andavan Srimath Gopaladesika Mahadesikan Swamigal, released a special souvenir containing a detailed life description of Sri Kethandapatti Swamigal and a major work of Swami Desikan, called Achyuta Satakam, with annotated commentaries in English and Tamil, was received by a Sri Vaishnavite scholar, Navalpakkam, Sri Varadachariar to mark the occasion.

Winding up the celeberations, Srimath Andavan Swamigal said the recently released Achyuta Satakam of Swami Desikan talks about the desire of the God to be in unison with the Jeevatmas in a bliss, whereas many other books yearn and talk of the Jeevatma's desire to unite with the Ultimate.

Sri Ranga Ramanuja Swamigal was born on an Aiyppasi Moolam day in 1808 at Lakshmipuram, a village near Kuppam in Andhra Pradesh. In 1853, at the age of 45 and under the guidance of Sri Annayarya Maha Desikan, the Swami took to asceticism at the Sarangapani temple in Kumbakonam. The Swamy attained Moksha at Kanceepuram on a Sukla Dasami day of Margazhi in 1885.

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