Vedanta Desikar on Sharanagati- The Super Highway to Godhead

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Preface It gives me great pleasure indeed to write on two of my favorite subjects Sri Vedanta Desikar and Sharanaagathi. Whether it is Swami Desikan's work or His personality, subjects are rewarding in many ways. To talk about your paramaacharya who did so much to your religious thinking and ensured that you reach the shore without any doubt or obstacles cropping up is no mean achievement. Most of us do not take anything for granted and to ensure that such hard nuts are fully convinced at the end of the day, speaks volumes for Swami's unmatched scholarship and dialectic skill.

Sharanaagathi is not a simple subject as it appears to be but vastly debated. From the time it was postulated, it has had its share of detractors, but nonetheless when a scholar-par excellence who promoted it so convincingly is at the helm, ordinary souls would do well to follow his advice.

The title I chose for this book, I must say, is quite challenging - the saving grace was that my earlier effort, a small pocket book entitled "Sharanaagathi, a superhighway to Godhead became extremely popular and it ran into third edition, and was awaiting the fourth one. That's the time, I thought, that having had exposure to Swami Desikan opposite Sharanaagathi through his many works, why not attempt a combined publication which would be doubly satisfying. The result is in front of you.

Although the book is not too detailed one can still get a glimpse of Swami Desikan's immense contribution to the subject of Sharanaagathi in all its facets. Most of his works have reference to this subject, but I had planned to restrict myself to his work exclusively devoted to this subject.

Introduction The title sounds so vast and grandiose that no author can do justice to either of them. However I have chosen it because no one contributed so much as Vedanta Desikar did to the all- important ritual, sharanaagathi, and made it a Srivaishnava's preserve.

If were to be a query that despite the fact that a world of writing on Swami Desikan has come out and the flow seems to be never ending, is it necessary to harp on the same details. or, is there something that has not been covered about Swami Desikan and his contribution to the subject of Sharanaagathi ? While the query is quite justified and apt, it is to be appreciated that no writer can comprehensively cover all aspects on the Swami - some details are always missing and justifiably so. The reason for this short-coming is not far to seek. It is merely that his works are so extensive and his personality far too multifaceted, it is difficult for anyone to do full justice to the chosen subject. Hence it is always advisable to select a thread, a slot or aspect for study and throw some new light and cover it comprehensively. Attempting far too much may not be advisable.

**Contents and Sample Pages**