devoted followers, as Vedānta Deśika or Nigamānta. Guru, and well-known to fame under the titles of "Kavitārkika Simha," "Vedāntcārya" and "Sarvatantrasvatantra"--" Master of Sciences Arts, Crafts and all other branches of knowledge" The most erudite scholar of his time, both in Samskrit and Tamil lore, the composer of many mellifluous and soul-stirring hymns, brilliant logical and controversialist, the author of exquisite poetry and superb prose, a." dramatist of unique excellence , the profoundest philosopher of his age, an incomparable expounder and teacher, a jñānī wondrously wise, a Bhakta. beloved of the elect, a Prapanna. and saint, adored by his followers as God' own, our author was a versatile genius and a literary luminary of the first order who lived a full and hallowed life, extending over a century from 1268-1269 A D to 1369-1370 A D An excellent and concise account of his life and works has appeared Vol II of the Cultural heritage of India in the article on "The Historical Evolution of Śri Vaisnavism in South India " by Śrīman V Rangacharya to whom I am indebted for the following extract[१].
"In the history of Vaisnavism, the name of Vedānta Deśika (or Venkatanatha) is second only to that of Rāmānuja He was the son of Śri Amantasūri of Tūppil near Conjeevaram by Totārambā, the sister of Ātreya Rāmānuja or Kidāmbi Appillār, and was born In 1269 A D Tradition regards him as the incarnation of the bell of the Lord of Tirupati Educated and trained by his uncle, he mastered all known religious literature by his twentieth year, and entered the life of a householder From about 1290 to 1369, that is, for more than three quarters of a century, Vedānta Deśika enriched the
- ↑ Pages 96 to 98 This extract has since been revised by the author Śriman V Rangacharya at my request
