Swami Desika's works:
Throughout his works – whether small or short, extensive and elaborate, whether poem or drama or Vyakhyanam – the one thread that runs through is his insatiable dedication in maintaining Ramanuja Darsanam. With his inscrutable insight into the various realms of knowledge and incisive logical talents in demolishing the failings of other schools of thought he could have built a new system of his own. Any other Acharya of his standing would have easily bungled into this trap. But, his conviction that Ramanujas system was not only ancient but also approved by Poorva Acharyas helped him avoid this and he strengthened the edifice built by Bhagavath Ramanuja.
Given below is the staggering bibliography of Swami Desika’s Granthas.
A: Devotional Poems (in alphabetical order):
B: Kaavya Granthas (Poetic Classics):
C: Nataka Grantha (Drama):
D: Rahasya Granthas (Esoteric Works):
E: Vedantha Granthas (Philosophical Works):
F: Vyaakhyaana Granthas (Commentaries):
G: Anushtaana Granthas (Works on Practices):
H: Ithara Granthas (Miscellaneous Works):
I: Tamil Prabhandhams:
Thaniyans on Swami Desika:
A number of Thanians (laudatory verses) were dedicated to him.
1. His son Varadacharya implores "the great lion of poetics and dialectics and the great preceptor of Vedanta (that Swami Venkatanatha was) should reside in his heart always."
2. Another one was by his disciple Brahma Thanthra Swathanthra which says: "I salute the great Venkatanatha also called Vedanta Acharya and Lion among poets and logicians and who was well adorned by both knowledge and discretion and who well deserved the grace of Srimath Ramanuja."
3. Pillai Lokaachaarya lavished a praise on Swami Desika, saying "For a person who desires to ascend up to the Heavens, even a single statement of the great Acharya, Thooppul Thiuvenkatamudaiyaan (Vedanta Desika) uttered by him for the benefit of humanity, would be sufficient to achieve the goal."
Series concluded.
