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A Summary of the remaining chapters of RPS ( 15-32)

From the Bhakti List Archives

V. Sadagopan • April 14, 1997 


Dear Members of the Prapatthi Group :

On this first day of the Tamil New Year , Isvara ,
I would like to summarize the rest of the chapters 
of RPS and offer this posting as IsvrArpaNam  . 

In the last posting , We were in the 15th Chapter known as 
the Rathna SaamAnya Paddhathi . In my last posting , 
I described the meaning of the Verse 485. We will come 
back to individual verses later. 

Rathna SaamAnya Paddhathi (15)
*************************************
In this chapter , Swami Desikan salutes NammAzhwAr
as the PaddhukhAs , his Paasurams as Gems on the PaddhukhAs 
and  their lustre as the taatparyam (deep Meanings ) of the 
Pasurams of the AzhwAr. There are 50 slokams in this Paddhathi .

Bahu rathna Paddhathi (16) 
************************** ****

In this chapter, Swami Desikan eulogizes the white, black & red-hued
gems adorning the PaadhukhAs . He points out that inspite of the 
presence of so many different colored gems on the PaadhukhAs , 
each of them shine forth individually at their specific places on 
the PaadhukhAs . They retain their distinct lustres even , when 
positioned next to each other. Swami States that he has elected those 
PaadhukhAs  with many colored gems as his UpAyam for salvation .
There are 50 slOkAs in this chapter as well .

PadmarAga Paddhathi (17)
******************************
This chapter shines with 30 slOkAs dealing with the rubies
adorning the PaadhukhAs. Swami is reminded of MahA Lakshmi,
when he salutes the red gems. He goes on further to connect them to
the AchAryAs , who resemble the Jagan MaathA in their compassion .

MukthA Paddhathi( 18)
*************************
Here Swami Desikan focuses his attention on the shining 
white pearls embedded in the PaadhukhAs . He points out that 
the pearl like paasurams of the AzhwAr have for their subject ,
the Lord , who is the Sesha Bhoothan for the paasurams. By this
statement , Swami Desikan alludes to the Lord being under the 
influence of the AzhwAr (SvAdheenar ) . The Lord comes to the side 
of the AzhwAr , when requested . This chapter has 50 verses.

Marathaka Paddhathi (19 )
*****************************
The focus of this chapter is the green emeralds embedded 
in the PaadhukhAs .There are 20 slOkams in this paddhathi .

Indraneela Paddhathi (20 ) 
******************************
The bluish saphire gems of the PaadhukhAs get the attention
of our Aachaarya in this chapter with 30 slOkams .

Bhimbha -Prathibhimbha Paddhathi(21)
*********************************************
Here , Swami Desikan is moved by the mirror like lustre
of the PaadhukhAs and visualizes them as a gem-studded 
mirror. He states that the paadhukhAs are the embodiment 
of clarity . There are 20 slOkams in this chapter. 

Kaanchana Paddhathi (22) 
*****************************
The lustre associated with the gold in the paadhukhAs
are the object of praise here. There are 20 slokams in
the Kaanchana Paddhathi . In one slokam , Swami Desikan 
salutes the "Kaanchana Sriyam " of the paadhukhAs.
This phrase has the double meaning of (1) the holy feet of the Lord
that are affiliated with the shining , golden PaadhukhAs 
and (2) the Lord with the holy feet , who has been blessed 
with the golden Sri Devi . 

Sesha Paddhathi (23)
************************
This is one of the smallest paddhathi . It has only 
10 slOkAs . Swami describes the PaadhukhAs as 
the reincarnation of AdiseshA , who is celebrated for 
his Kaimkarya Sree . As LakshmaNA , Adi SeshA
 seved the Lord in the forests of DandakAraNyam 
and in AyOdhyA .

Dvandhva Paddhathi (24)
*****************************
There are 20 slOkams in this chappter that celebrate 
the inseparability of the pair of Lord's paadhukhAs . 
They are like a couple in Swami"s mind . This joint
presence reminds Our AcharyA about the Ekaseshitvam 
of the divine couple as indicated by the letters A and U of
PraNavam . When the Jivan in the form of the letter of M 
joins the A and U ( the Divine Couple ) , then the goal of life 
is attained. Swami Desikan hints that the jeevan that holds 
the pair of inseparable paadhukhAs gets connected to 
the Divya Dampathis . 

SamnivEsa Paddhathi (25)
******************************
Samnivesam means form (uruvam in Tamil ) . Here 
Swami Desikan describes the form taken by the paadukhAs
in different incarnations of the Lord. In VamanAvathAram ,
the PaadhukhAs were small befititng the small form of the Lord.
In TrivikramAvathAram , they grew to gigantic proportions. 
One is remided of the Upanishadic statement " ANOraNeeyAn 
MahathOrmaheeyAn " . 

YanthrikA Paddhathi (26)
***************************
This is another small chapter with 10 slOkams.
The subject of adoration is the toe hold of the PaadhukhAs.

RekhA paddhathi (27)
***********************
The lines (RekhAs) found on the surface of
the PaadhukhAs are the objects of  salutation here.
This is yet another short paddhathi with 10 slOkams.
Swami explains that the lines on the PaadhukhAs are 
the codes  for the meaning of the VedAs . One can enjoy
their beauty , but can not reproduce them . 

SubhAshitha Paddhati (28 )
********************************
In this paddhathi with 10 slOkams , Swami Desikan 
provides clues to the specific actions of the Lord ,
when he incarnated as Sri RamachandrA . The meaning 
of BharathA's AarAdhanam to the PaadhukhAs 
is also  explained here.

PrakeerNa Paddhathi (29)
******************************
Swami describes many sangathis here .  
Sangathi means message. In the 80 slOkams of this 
paddhathi , Swami Desikan has many messages for us. 
These are the blessings described by the VedAs. 
He calls them " SrEyassAdhanam AamnathAm " .
These sangathis are messages that should be known
to Mumukshus or those who seek Moksham. These 
sangathis deal with the rupam and the glory of the PaadhukhAs
that confer on us many auspicious blessings .

Chithra Paddhathi (30)
*************************
There are 40 gem of slokAs here . As Kavi Simham , 
Swami Desikan houses the wonderful  svarupa , rupa ,
GuNa , Vibhava cheshtithams of the PadhukhAs in slOkAs
that have corresponding sabdham ( aural attribute) , 
Artha gowravam ( majestic and deep meaning ) and  
Chithram (geometric pattern ) . Through these extraordinary
verses , he salutes the PaadhukhAs of the Lord of Srirangam 
and prays for his Aathma Kshemam . The title of Chitra Paddhathi
arises from the symbolism of the slokAs like RangOli . Chithram 
has two meanings . It can mean colorful geometric pattern (Yanthram ).
It can also mean wonderous . The profound nature of these colorful
slOkams are set in the various formations known as
Shodasa TaLa Padmam (16 petalled  Lotus Yanthram ) ,
Ashta TaLa Padmam ( 8  petalled Lotus yanthram ) , 
Garuda gathi chakra Bhandham ( formation resembling the 
flight pattern of GarudA ) and SarvathObhadra Bhandham 
( formation that is auspicious in all directions , places and
times ) et al . 

In these 40 slOkams , Swami Desikan describes the saakshAthkAram
of the PaadhukhAs of BhagavAn (NammAzhwAr ) and enjoys his 
extradorinary state of happiness arising from the enjoyment of the Lord 
and the AzhwAr . This Maanasa SaakshAthkAram results in the 
creation of these 40 profound verse that are unmatched anywhere 
in his granthams.

Nirveda Paddhathi (31 )
**************************
Suddenly , the union with the AzhwAr dissolves and Swami Desikan 
is reduced to tears. He cries out about the loss of union (SamslEsham )
like the AzhwAr himself, when he went through VislEsham ( separation
from the experience of the Lord  ) . The santhosha anubhavam ends and
that leads to lamentations . Swami comes down to the earth as it were 
and remembers Prakruthi and his life in this world fill of sorrows . 
He expresses his disgust (NIRVEDAM ) at SamsAram . He screams 
aloud and  appeals for the mercy of the PaadhukhAs and begs them to 
bless him soon with Moksham .

This  slokam is a moving one :

prapathyE paadhukhAm dEveem paravidhyAmiva svayam I
yaamarpayathi dheenAnAm dayamAnO Jagadhguru : II

Here Swami states that he has performed Prapatthi at
the feet of the Paadhukhais , which is verily the DayA Devi of the Lord 
and symbolize the two para VidhyAs recognized as Bhakthi
and Prapatthi . Swami pints out the relationship between 
PerumAL and the AchAryAs here . He says : Jagadhguru :
DayamAna: DheenAnAm arpayathi . The Lord , who is 
the jagadh Guru out of his merciful nature (DayamAna : ) 
presents (arpayathi ) to the meek and helpless (DheenAnAm ),
the AchAryAs . 

Pala Paddhathi(32)
*********************

This paddahthi has 37 slOkams and leads to a total count
of 1008 slokams for the great grantham of Swami Desikan 
revered as Sri PaadhukhA Sahasram . 

This paddhathi is a description of the happy state of mind of 
Swami Desikan resulting from the compassionate response 
of the powerful PaadhukhAs of the Lord to his prayer in the 
previous Paddhathi (NirvEda Paddhathi ) . The chitra and 
the NirvEda paddhathis dealt with the means to attain Moksham .
The Pala Paddhathi celebrates the fruits attained from 
following those means . The slOkams of this paddhathi 
are the devotional celebration of the anubhavam of 
the parama Palam or Moksha Siddhi . 

I will conclude this summary of the chapters 15-32 of 
RPS with the last slokam of the Pala Paddhathi :

Jayathi YathirAja Sookthi : Jayathi 
Mukhundasya Paadhukha YugaLee I
tadhubhaya dhanA : trivEdhim 
AvandhayanthO  jayanthi bhuvi santha : II

(meaning ) : The sookthis of YathirAja ( RamAnujA
and the AzhwArs-AchAryAs ) stay victorious. Lord 
MukhundhA's pair of paadhukhAs stay triumphant .
The great AachAryAs who hold both the Sri Sookthis 
of RamAnujA and other SadAchAryAs as their invaluable
wealth stay victorious and shine through their own holy and 
blemish-free granthams rooted in the correct intrepretation of 
the three vEdAs . 

SrimathE NigamAntha MahA DesikAya Nama :
Sri RanganAtha Divya maNi PaadhukhAbhyAm Nama :
Srirasthu; Subhamasthu .

Isvara Samvathsaram  , First Day of ChitrA Maasam 

Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan