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Sri RanganAtha PaadhukhA Sahasram (RPS ) : Naadha Paddathi--part 14.5

From the Bhakti List Archives

V. Sadagopan • February 16, 1997 


Dear Members of the Prapatthi group :

Please note that yesterday 's posting should have been
numbered as Part 14.4 instead of 14.3 . Otherwise you will
note that there are two postings ( Feb 14 and 15 ) with the 
same numbering of part 14.3 . I regret the confusion .

V.Sadagopan

Verse 26 of Naadha Paddhathi / RPS Slokam  406

upAsya noonam maNi PaadhukhE !
tvAm RangEsa PaadhAmbhuja Raajahamseem I
pathyu: prajAnAm alabhantha poorvam
manjusvanam vaahana  RajahamsA : II

(meaning ) : O Rathna Padhukhas  of RanganAthA ! 
You are the king swans attached firmly to the lotus feet
of your Lord. I wonder whether  the vehicle ( Vaahanam ) 
of BrahmA , the Raja Hamsams , acquired their  sweet 
sounding voice by worshipping you and receiving your 
blessings . I wonder  whether you lent them your sweet voice .

The inner meaning is that the Mahaans attain grand vivekam 
by worshipping SatakOpa Maamuni of Thirukkuruhoor
and reciting his aruLiccheyalgaL (Thiruvaimozhi ) . 

Verse 27 of Naadha Paddhathi / RPS slokam 407

Here Swami Desikan compares the PadhukhAs to 
PrabhAtha Naandhee or the auspicious MantrAs 
recited at the break of the dawn or beginning of a
religious observance .

(meaning ) : O PaadhukhE ! Your Naadham serves 
as the Naandhee ceremony mantrams recited at the beginning of 
the day . Your Naadham acting like Naandhee ceremony wakes up the
jeevan , which was asleep due to the influence of the darkness 
of MaayA that results in the Jeevan considering  the universe 
as being outside the Supreme Lord . In this context , You act as 
the ever-awake dawn serving as Naandhee recitation 
through your naadham to wake up the jeevan under 
the influence of MaayA . You are the Naandhikaree or 
the reciter of Naandhee to awaken the jeevan 
and start it off on its journey towards Moksham .

The inner meaning of this verse is that NammAzhwAr"s
divya Sookthis informs the confused Nitya Jeevan that there 
is a supreme master with the divya Naamam of Sriman NaarayaNan
and knowing him as Iswaran of ChetanAs/ Jeevans and AchetanAs
would be the beginning of the sunrise of Moksham to dispell the 
dark night of MaayA and Viparitha Jnaanam .

Verse 28/408

Here Swami Desikan refers to the Aartha Dhvani or the 
sounds of suffering of SamsAris and how the compassionate
PaadhukhA responds to them.

(meaning ) : O PaadhukhE ! I suspect that you generate a low sound 
(Naadham ) , when you transport RanganAthA because you do not 
want to drown out the lamentations of  samsAris suffering from 
the Taapa thrayams . It appears that you want to make sure that
your Lord does not miss hearing those cries and 
respond to them thereafter. 

Verse 29/ RPS 409

In this slokam , Swami Desikan refers to his own aarthi
during  the last moments of his life on earth and appeals for the 
mercy of the PaadhukhA .

(meaning ) : O PaadhukhE ! During my last moments , I will be weak 
and will be crying for RanganAthA to come to my bed side . He will 
surely respond and rush to my side to allay my anxieties and help me.
The Naadham arriving from you at that time will precede the arrival
of the Lord Himself , whom you will be transporting . The sound of your 
Naadham announcing the  arrival of the Lord will quench my afflictions .

The prayer here is for the appearance of the AcharyAs and
PerumAL during one's last moments (Anthima Smrithi ) .

Verse 30/RPS 410 

Here Swami Desikan points out that the deluded ones knowing 
their poor lot offer saraNAgathi at the feet of SadhAchAryAs and 
get cured of their attachment to worldly pleasures and attain 
pakkuva JnAnam .

(Meaning ) : O Paadhukhas of the Lord of Srirangam ! 
Evolved souls hear the sweet and melodious sounds 
(Nadham ) raised by you and use them as medicine 
(KaashAyam ) to cure the ills arising from taste for worldly
attachments. They hear your uplifting Naadham and 
obtain a clear understanding of Tattva , Hita , PurushArthams
and shake off their erstwhile temptations that beclouded their minds.

Verse 31/RPS 411

Here Swami Desikan refers to the majestic (UdhAra ) Naadham
of the PaadhukhAs as they transport the Lord . 

(meaning ) : O PaadhukhE ! Devotees of RanganAthA awaiting 
His response to their appeals for protection , greet your generous
and majestic Naadham as your Lord's affirmation of His intent 
to come to their rescue . They respond to and welcome your 
Naadham as OM (the PraNavam ) , the sound symbol of
assent from your Lord .

Verse 32/ RPS 412

O Mother PaadhukhE ! During your joyous travels with your Lord ,
you raise melodious sounds , which suggest as though you are 
teaching the creation of sweet sounds to  the gems adorning the 
ankle ornaments of Sri Devi and Bhu Devi  residing  nearby .

Verse 33/ RPS 413

Here , Swami Desikan states that the Naadham generated by 
the PaadhukhAs during the transport of the Lord is like
the svasthi Vachanams uttered by the offiicating priests. 

He says : " O MaNI PaadhukhE ! When RanganAthA is ready 
to start on His missions , you carry the lotus feet of your  Lord ,
which have been held with affection quite often by the hands of GatrudA .
The Naadham that you generate during those occasions is 
uniquely plesant . This Naadham resembles the Veda Manthrams 
associated with purificatory rites ( PunyA Vachanam ) performed 
prior to any major religious endeavours . It appears that you 
assume the role of the family priest , who conducts the PuNyA
vachanam ceremonies during such occasions .

The inner meaning is that the devotees recite NammAzhwAr's 
divya Sookthis to ward off the inauspiciousness of any evil eye 
(dhrishti dhosham ) that may be cast on the Lord .

Verse 34/ RPS 314 

Here Swami Desikan points out the blessings conferred
by the PaadhukhAs through their Naadham on those , who
elect to reside at Srirangam during their last days on this earth. 

(Meaning ) : O PaadhukhE ! Some fortunate people take up 
their residence at Srirangam to be close to you during the last
moments of their lives on this earth . During that time , they want
to have the peace of mind to hear your response , when they scream
for help to rescue them from SamsAric ills and to grant them MokshA .
They have concluded that their proximity to you will enable them 
to hear your Naadam as the response to their appeals for help .
You console them and give them hope with your Naadham.

The inner meaning of this verse is that AchAryAs and PerumAl 
bless the persons shaking their mortal coils at Srirangam 
with their darsanam at their last moments.

Verse 35/RPS 415

(meaning ) : O PaadhukhE ! The agreeable and distinct sounds 
(Naadham ) that you generate during your many travels with the Lord 
during the occasions such as the visit to DuryOdhanA's court  as an
ambassador , quelling MahA Bali's pride as VaamanA , destroying 
ChakatAsurA through your kick ,Joyous festivals in Srirangam demonstrate
your enduring friendship with Him . Your sounds of joy over the Lord's 
victory during those times resemble laudatory poems proclaiming 
His powers .

O RanganAtha Divya MaNi PaadhukhE !
Swami Desikan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam
Oppiliappan Koil VradAchari Sadagopan