Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha,
Namaskaram Badri Swami,
With Acharya ThiruvAdi Bhalam and Ammangaar Abhimaanam and Velukkudi Sri Krishnan Swami’s Aasirvadham, here are some
Details:
There are two Gopala Vimsati’s one by Swami Vedanta Desikan and another by Swami Manavaala Maamunigal.
In general for any stotras, depending upon the number of slokas/verses, the name is given accordingly.
Vimasthi means 20 slokas/verses,
Sapthathi means 70 slokas/verses, etc..
Though Swami Vedanta Desikan and Swami Manavaala Maamunigal lived at different times, they both followed Swami “EmperumanaAr Dharishanam”.
Eventually they both have sung on BhagavAn Sri Rajagopalan and it happened to be of 20 slokas. Hence naturally it is called as “Gopala Vimsathi”. Both Gopala Vimsathi’s are Authentic since;
- both stotras Content are about BhagavAn Sri Rajagopalan for future generations BhagavAt Anubhavam,
- both Acharyas are Authentic Acharyas of Swami RamanujAr Lineage.
Oneway by considering the “Content” only and excluding the Acharya names who composed it, then also it is AUTHENTIC since both the Gopala Vimsathi verses have pious content.
Secondly, when many SriVaishnavas are following both the Gopala Vimsathi’s for many years by attaching each Gopala Vimsathi to each of the Acharya names Swami Vedanta Desikan and Swami Manavaala Maamunigal, then also these two versions are to be considered AUTHENTIC.
Thirdly, the 1st Gopala Vimsati was composed by Swami Vedanta Desikan and later one composed by Manavaala Maamunigal has a THANIYAN which has two sections,
- One section of Thaniyan details about the gist of the Gopala Vimsati and
- second section of Thaniyan details about the Author Manavaala Maamunigal’s Mahimai. The “Thaniyan” was composed by Swami Manavaala Maamunigal poorvashrama Thirupperanaar “JeeyAr Naayanaar” who lived in same period, so it is evident that the later Gopala Vimsati was composed by Manavaala Maamunigal.
************
Questions:
Either way, why do we need to explain all these above details of authenticity of Two versions of Gopala Vimsati’s. If one is not authentic, are we planning to skip one and follow the other. So what’s the goal here in knowing about which one is authentic?. Does it really matter when the “Content” of both Vimsathi’s are about BhagavAn SriRajagopalan, even though both are Authentic as composed by each of those two “Acharyas”. A SriVaishnavaite basically should blindly follow with no doubht, if other SriVaishnavas are following both Gopala Vimsathi’s, since these are for our BhagavAt Anubhavam. So the raise of authenticity thoughts in these situations should never be generated in mind.
***************
Adiyen believe, devareer should explain the same above “Details” to whomever attempted to confuse devareer and ask the same above “Questions” to them and inform them to focus 😊 on the “Content of both Gopala Vimsathi’s and both Acharyas Mahimai” instead of spending time on a redundant thought about drilling the authenticity. Devareer should help them by enlightening.
Adiyen (ElayaAlwar) Srinivasa (DhoddayAcharyar) Dasan.