Re: Sri GuNa Rathna Kosam : Part XXXIV: SlOkam 24

From the Bhakti List Archives

• April 14, 2001


Dear BhakthAs:

>From SlOkams 19-23 , Bhattar paid tribute to Sri RanganAyaki 
as the Empress o the temporal world(Leela VibhUthi) and
the One beyond Space and Time (Nithya VibhUthi/Sri Vaikuntam)
and connected these two VibhUthis as Her BhOga SthAnam.

>From slOkams 24-28 , Bhattar develops the reaons why Sruthis
as SvapramAnams do not find it necessary to refer to Her 
separately each time they salute Her Lord as "Sath, Brahman,
JyOthi " et al.Their status as a dhivya Mithunam (Divine couple)
with "yEka SEshithva YOgam" is saluted by these slOkams .The first
of this pentad of SlOkams celebrate the ThirumAmaNi Mantapam , 
where the dhivya Dampathis as inseperable Ones receive
the kaimkaryams from the NithyAs and the MukthAs.

SlOkam 24 of Sri GuNa Rathna KOsam
***********************************
tasyAm cha tvath krupAvan- 
niravadhijanathA visrAmArhAvakAsam
 samkIrNam dhAsya-thrushNA kalitha- 
parikarai: pumbhir-Ananadhanignai: I
 snEhAdh-asTAnarakshA vyasababhir-abhayam
Saarnga-chakrAsimukhyai:
 AanandhaikArnavam SrI:
yuvayOr-AhurAsTAna-rathnam II 

Meaning of this SlOkam (Dr.V.N.VedAntha Desikan )
**************************************************
Oh RanganAyaki! The Assembly-Hall(ThirumAmaNi MaNTapam)
is the best among all halls.  It is the possession (Isvaryam)
of both of You.It is commensurate in size , to Your grace
and its volume .It is also commensurate with the volume of 
persons, coming and resting in mental peace , who hold in
their hands the appurtenances of loving service such as 
ChAmarA --in their yearning for rendering all kinds of 
service to You Both. The Hall is full of such rejoicing
persons engaged in loving service to You Both.

These loving servants hold in their hands , the lovely
umbrellas, the ChAmarAs ,and other service-aids. They are
always informed by an anxiety and over-concern for 
their Master's safety , though misplaced and unwarranted 
it might be. They stand there ready for rendering service,
not in the sense of an ordained duty , but as a loving 
act that would prove to be a rapturous experience .
These NithyAs and MukthAs have got to fear nothing 
inview of the ever ready Nithyasoori weapons like ChakrA , 
SankhA , SaarngA and the like. They are the best guards.
They would not let any alien or dangerous element in.
When they are all there, What is there to fear ? All
are in eternal bliss. This is the picture of magnificient
Hall You preside over in the Lord's company.

Additional Observations by adiyEn
**********************************
The AasthAnam of the dhivya dampathis is
recognized as the magnificient ,matchless gem 
of an AasthAnam (AasthAna-Rathnam). The size of that 
AasthAna Rathnam is as huge as the limitless krupA 
of Sri RanganAyaki.ThirumAmaNi MaNTapam is the Sabhai 
or DarbAr of the Dhivya dampathis .Guided by 
the Veda Vaakyam (ChAndhOgya Upanishadic passage),
" PrajApathE: SabhAm vEsma prapadhyanthE ",Bhattar
describes that ocean of bliss (ThirumAmaNi MaNTapam) 
as " aanandhikArNavam SrI Bhagavthi YuvayO: aahu:
AaasthAna Rathnam " in the fourth paadham of this
slOkam . 

That ThirumAmaNi MaNtapam is a delectable ocean of
nectar ( AanandhaikArNavam).In this Fourth Paadham , 
Bhattar addresses Sri Devi (Sri RanganAyaki) as
"Bhagavathi" to remind us that She is shADguNya-
Poornai just like Her Lord.He points out further 
that this Aanandamaya arnavam (blissful ocean of nectar ) ,
which is the AaasthAna rathnam belongs to both of
them as revealed by the Sruthis ( Bhagavathi !YuvayO:
Aahu: AasthAna Rathnam ).

In the first Paadham , Bhattar gives us an idea
of the dimensions of that ThirumAmaNi MaNTapam:
"tasyAm Puri Thvath KrupAvath tvath dhayEva niravadhi-
janathA-visrAmArhAvakAsam nirvadhE: avadhi-soonyayA ,
asankhyAyA: janathaayA: janan samUhasya visramArha: 
visrAnthi YOgya: avakAsa: antharam yasmin tataTOktham"
is the commentary of Sri Vatsya VeerarAghavaachArya. 
Just like Her limitless KrupA , the size and dimensions
of this ManTapam has no boundaries (avadhi-Sonyam).
It provides the resting abode for innumerable NithyAs 
and MukthAs as stated by the Sruthis.The first Paadham
housing the above rich thoughts is : " TasyAm cha Tvath
krupAvanniravadhi janathA visrAmArha avakAsam ".

The second Paadham is : "SankIrnam dhAsya-thrushNA 
kalitha parikarai:pumbhi: aananda-nignai: " .The crowded
assembly of NithyAs and MukthAs seen in that 
ThirumAmaNi maNTapam are longing to perform kaimkaryam 
to the dhivya Mithunam with joy and are holding in their 
hands the Umbrella ,fan and other objects for kaimkaryam.
Like Swamy NammAzhwAr had KrishNa ThrushNai , ( vEtkai for
KrishNA), these parijanams of the Lord and the MukthAs 
have "Daasya ThrushNA" (unquenchable thirst for Kaimkaryam).
These PumAns or great souls are drenched in bliss (aanandha-
nignai:)at the thought of their kaimakrya sampath.

The Third Paadham of this slOkam is: " snEhAdh asthAna-
rakshA-vyasanibhir-abhayam Saarnga-chakrAsi-mukhyai:".
The snEham or friendship or affection referred to here 
is the PrEmai for the dhivya MangaLa vigrahams of
the Divine Couple by the great assembly of NithyAs 
and MukthAs.They have the worries about any harm 
falling on the Divine Couple , although such fears
are misplaced and unwarranted (asthAna RakshA vyasanibhi:).
This VyAkulam (klEsam or Bhayam)is like that of PeriyAzhwAr , 
who sang PallANDu to the Divine Couple, when he feared some 
harm coming Their way in this mortal world . In Sri Vaikuntam's 
Divine , bejewelled hall, the presence of the PanchAyudhams of 
the Lord banish any fear about safety to the Divine Couple .
The state of Abhayam is assured and every one is devoid 
of fear (Bhaya rahitham). 

The great anubhavam of the Muktha Jeevan in the ThirumAmaNi
MaNTapam is described in exquisite detail in the 8th and
the 9th chapters of Parama Padha SOpAnam of Swamy Desikan.
The elaborations of this slOkam can be enjoyed there.

Srimath Azhagiya Singar ThiruvadigaLE saraNam,
Daasan, Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri SatakOpan 

 


        



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