Divine Favour and Human Gratitude: A Study of Vedānta Deśikaṉ’s Upakārasaṅgraham

Abstract

Among the many works that Vedānta Deśikaṉ—(traditional dates: 1268-1369), a most eminent theologian of all times—composed in his lifetime, his minor works—thirty in number and collectively known as the Cillaṟai rahasyam (‘miscellaneous esoterica’)—stand out like guides meant to help those eager Śrīvaiṣṇavas who lack time to deepen their knowledge of Viśiṣṭādvaita by the study of longer and deeper texts. One such rahasyam is the Upakārasaṅgraham, in which Deśikaṉ deals (almost exhaustively) with the theme of God’s countless acts of upakāra (‘aid, help, favour’) upon the individual souls. This beneficence of God’s forms the very basis of Viśiṣṭādvaita, as it involves a discussion of one the three tattvas (‘realities’), namely, God, (and by extension, the sentient entity), as well as on mokṣa (‘liberation’), which is the ultimate aim of the Śrīvaiṣṇava Ācāryas. In this article, which is ultimately meant to introduce to the reader an important but little-known text, I shall explore the topic of infinite divine upakāra as elaborated upon by Vedānta Deśikaṉ in his Upakārasaṅgraham, which, according to this text, ought to inspire human gratitude. And in the process, we shall also examine the nature and object(s) of God’s acts of upakāra, and the means through which He proceeds to bestow them.