The tradition of Vaishnava Sampradaya boasts of innumerable acharyas who have distinguished themselves through dedicated service to the propagation of its principles and through their role as spiritual teachers or acharyas. Swami V.N. Gopala Desikachariar (Vangipuram Navanitam Gopala Desikachariar) belongs to this class of illustrious men of erudition.

Swami was born on 15th December 1933 to U.Ve. Srirama Desikachariar at Oppilliappan temple, a village near Kumbakonam, Tamilnadu on Anuradha nakshatra. His father was also a great acharya by himself and torchbearer of Oppilliappan Swamy acharya paramapara. Srirama Desikachariar was born in 1901 and completed Sanskrit Siromani from Madras University. Srirama Desikachariar was a teacher by profession and, even while in service, had his tutelage in the spiritual realm under his father, Krishnamachariar, from whom he learnt the Vaishnavite scriptural texts in the traditional manner. An acknowledged authority on Vaishnavism and a spiritual Guru (preceptor) for a large circle of disciples, Krishnamachariar had published several sacred works, including the Mahabharata. Quite a few of the works, such as a commentary on the Upanishads by Rangaramanujamuni (17th century) and 'Nayamayukhamalika' of Appayya Diskhitar, which were available till then only in palm leaves, found its way into print because of his efforts. For his part, Srirama Desikachariar had done monumental service to the cause of Vaishnavism by editing several of the works of Vedanta Desika, with lucid commentaries, explanatory notes, annotations, and so on. Among them were: Desika Stotras, Desika Prabandha, Rahasyatrayasara, Hamsasandesa and Sillarai-rahasyas. Remarkable indeed was his contribution to the popularisation of Vedanta Desika and his works.

Qualifications

• Swami studied M.A. Statistics at Presidency College, Madras, securing university first.

• He did his post graduate diploma in statistics from the Indian Statistical Institute, Calcutta, again topping the list.

• He wrote the Indian Civil Services examinations and joined Indian Railways.

• Deputed by the Government of India, Swami did his M.Sc. in Operations Research at London School of Economics, again securing university first.

• Although granted a scholarship to pursue his doctorate at Princeton University, USA, Swami declined the offer and returned to India, where he went on to hold the post of Chief Commercial Manager of the Indian Railways, and also served as a member of the Railways Claims tribunal.

Vyakarana

Hailing from a traditionally learned family of scholars, Swami studied the Samanya shastras under his father in the traditional manner. He also completed the Granta Chatustaya Kalakshepam under his father’s tutelage.

Acharya Parampara

• Kethandipatti Swami

• Thiruvahindrapuram Swami

• Thiruvinnagar Srimad Swami – U.Ve. Krishnamachariar

• Thiruvinnagar Srirama Desikachariar

• Swami V.N. Gopala Desikachariar (சுவாமி வ.ந. கோபால தேசிகாசாரியார்)

Thaniyans

Awards & Tenets

Philosophical Teacher

Swami frequently visits several remote and interior villages interacting with people from all sections of society and giving them lectures on spiritual matters and answering questions.

Shastra Pravachanas/teachings

Swami has been teaching Shastras including the Vedanta to several sishyas regularly. He has delivered classes and kalakshepams spending several thousands of hours over the past two decades to hundreds of disciples.

Vaishnava acharya

Swami has performed the holy ceremonies of Vaishnavism – Samshrayanam and Baranyasam to hundreds of sishyas preaching inter alia the philosophy of Uttara Mimamsa as reflected in the Visishtadvaita. Swami does not accept any sambhavana in cash or kind from anybody for his selfless service to humanity.

Literary Works

Sri Vaishnava Sri Amazon.in Haristore.com

Books written by Swami

It has always been Swami’s desire to propagate Vaishnavism and bring to light the glory of Azhwars and Acharyas, and their tremendous love and bhakti towards our Lord Narayana. He has written several books on these topics in such a manner that everyone, including the younger generations, can easily understand them.

Swami has written and published 41 books (English and Tamil), running to nearly 12,000 pages, with the main intent of spreading the teachings of Vedas, Upanishads and other spiritual works to the masses.

1. Dialogue on Hinduism – Scholarly exposition of Sanatana Dharma in simple dialogue form based on Swamy Vedanta Desika’s works on Nyaya – Nyaya Parisuddhi & Nyaya Siddhanjana.

2. Upanishadic Tales – Tales from all the 10 major Upanishads explaining philosophies in lucid language. (240 pages)

3. Brahma sutra aka Vedanta Sutra of Sage Vyasa – Simple commentary on Brahma sutra bringing out all key philosophical concepts in a simple language. (230 pages)

4. Sankalpa Suryodaya – 2 Volumes – Book written by Swamy Vedanta Desikan in refute of Krishna Misra’s advaitic work Prabodha Chandrodaya. Swamiji’s scholastic knowledge brings out the subtle differences in shastras through the Tamil explanation of this Sanskrit work. (750 pages)

5. Vainavam – Oor Uraiyadal – Based on the Sanskrit works of Sri Bhashya and Vedartha Sangraha of Bhagavad Ramanuja. All key concepts of Visishtadvaitha philosophies explained in dialogue form.

6. Miscellaneous stories in Mahabaratha – A collection of miscellaneous stories in Mahabaratha, highlighting Vedic and philosophical concepts. Moral and ethical values. (450 pages)

7. Miscellaneous tales from Ramayanam. (220 pages)

8. Commentary of Bhagavad Gita – 2 Volumes – Based on the following Sanskrit works – Gita Bhashya by Swamy Ramanuja and Tatparya Chandrika by Swamy Vedanta Desika. (700 pages)

9. Commentary on Vishnu SahasraNama of Veda Vyasa – 2 Volumes – Based on the Sanskrit works – Ramayana, Mahabharatha, Bhagavatha, Vishnu Purana and the Sanskrit Commentaries of Adi Sankara and Sri Parasara Battar. (1,160 Pages)

10. Subhashita Nivi – Sanskrit work of Vedanta Desika similar to Bhartrhari’s Niti Sataka (Translated in Tamil)

11. Maraimurthi Kanna (Vedic God Krishna) – Miscellaneous essays on spiritual topics, based on the teachings of Vedas, Upanishads, etc. (300 pages)

12. Tirumal Thiruvarul (God Vishnu’s Grace) – Miscellaneous essays on spiritual topics, based on the teachings of Ramayana, Mahabharata, etc. (310 pages)

13. Commentary on Satakobar Andhadhi of the great Tamil poet Kamban – Contains appropriate reference to Sanskrit holy works like Upanishads, Ramayana, and Mahabharata. (400 pages)

14. Commentary on Desika Nootrandhadhi – Contains appropriate reference to allied Sanskrit works. (350 pages)

15. Dinam oru Divya Prabandha Pasuram – commentary – Contains appropriate reference to Sanskrit holy works like Upanishads, Ramayanam and Mahabharatha. (380 pages)

16. Maale Mani Vanna – Compendium of miscellaneous articles, based on Bhagavatha, Azhvar’s works. (270 pages)

17. Tirukkolur Rahasyangal – Miscellaneous articles highlighting the principles and anecdotes in Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavatha. (510 pages)

18. Kodhaiyin Kaadhal – An exposition on Andal’s Nachiar Tirumozhi, a poetic treaty, drawing appropriate references from Ramayana Mahabharata and Bhagavatha. (400 pages)

19. Enippadigal – Description of the soul’s efforts to attain salvation and its attainment, drawing references from the Upanishads, Sanskrit works of Ramanuja and Swamy Vedanta Desika. (260 pages)

20. Thiruvaimozhi Amudham – Part 1 – Commentary on Swamy Nammazhwar’s Tiruvaimozhi. Contains appropriate references to Sanskrit holy works like Upanishads, Ramayanam, Mahabharata, Vishnu Purana, and Bhagavatam.

21. Thiruvaimozhi Amudham – Part 2

22. Thiruvaimozhi Amudham – Part 3

23. Thiruvaimozhi Amudham – Part 4

24. Thiruvaimozhi Amudham – Part 5

25. Thiruvaimozhi Amudham – Part 6

26. Thiruvaimozhi Amudham – Part 7

27. Thiruvaimozhi Amudham – Part 8

28. Thiruvaimozhi Amudham – Part 9

29. Thiruvaimozhi Amudham – Part 10

30. Ramanuja Nootrandhadhi – commentary (230 pages)

31. Gita Govindam – Commentary on the Sanskrit work of Jeyadevar. (220 pages)

32. Krishna Karnamrutha Thuliga

33. Uddhava Gita – from Bhagavatham (192 pages)

34. Prapatti Arivom Thelivom – Philosophy of Prapatti. (224 pages)

35. Sthala Puranam of Oppiliappan temple – in Tamil.

36. Sthala Puranam of Oppiliappan temple – in English.

37. Sri Vaishnava

38. Life history of Azhvars

39. Tiruppavai – commentary

40. Oppiliappan Sahasra Nama

41. Navanita Parampara

Works penned by disciples in praise of Swami

1. Gopala desika nootrandadhi – poem of 108 verses – Ramanuja Bhagavathar, Illayiandipattu

2. Gopala desika navamanimalai – Ezhumalai Bhagavathar, Veedur

3. Acharya Panchamrutham – A garland of verses by

a. Achuta Ramanuja Bhagavathar, Enadir mangalam

b. Rajagopalachariar, Karaikal

c. Ranganatha Bhagavathar, Akkatavalli

d. Bharathi Ravichandran, Poigaipakkam

e. Seetharam Bhagavathar, Pulavanur

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