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Sri Stuthi-10

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muralidhar rangaswamy • February 10, 1998 


Dear Friends,

This post is a continuation of the Sri Stuthi series with a summary of 
verses 20-22. Swami Desikan is building up the climax in these 
verses. These are exclusively devoted to the concept of SharaNagati 
to the Lotus feet of the Lord and the exalted role of Periya Piratti 
Thayar in this process. These verses are extremely moving and bring 
out the message of Prapatti with consummate effect.

20. SevE Devi TridashamahiLAmoULimAlArchitam TE 
    SiddhakshEtram ShamitavipadAm Sampadam PAdapadmam I
    YasminnIShannamitashirasO YApayitvA SharIram 
    VartishyantE Vitamasi PadE VAsudevasya DhanyA: II

Here Swami Desikan pays glowing tribute to the Lotus feet of Periya 
Piratti Thayar in preparation for seeking SharaNagati from the Lord. 
You (Lotus feet) are worshipped with flowers which then adorn the 
heads of Deva MahiShIs; you near whom no harm can approach; you 
on account of whose auspicious arrival heralds the conferring of 
all riches; Oh Devi of such glory! I salute your Lotus feet. Through 
the grace of your Lotus feet one is freed of the afflictions arising 
from this evanescent body and attains residence at Sri Vaikuntam 
permeated by Shuddha Satvam.

In this context, Seva means Bhakti, and Upasana of Thayar. Swami 
Desikan specifically uses this salutation to denote that this is the 
UpAyam for being freed from the cycle of birth and deatth indicating 
that Mahalakshmi Thayar's grace is a pre-requisite to obtaining Moksham. 
Swami Desikan then refers to the results of performing 
SharaNagati. As a result of this act, one is freed of afflictions 
arising from the body. Swami Desikan desires precisely this boon. 
The usage Vitamasi denotes Sri Vaikuntam in which only Shuddha Satvam 
prevades. This Lokam of Lord Vishnu (Vasudeva) is radiant with 
splendour and light of Shuddha Satvam and has no trace of the darkness 
caused by Rajo and Tamo guNams. The Shrutis celebrate this aspect of 
Sri Vaikuntam through the salutations "Tamasa: ParAkE" and "Tamasa 
ParastAt".  

21. SAnuprAsaprakatitadayaI: SAndravAtsalyadigDhai:
    Amba SnigDhairamrutalaharIlabDhasabrahmacharyaI: I
    DharmE TapatrayavicharatE gADataptam KshaNam MAm 
    AkinchanyaglapitamanaGhairArdrayEThA: KatAkshaI: II

In this Shlokam Swami Desikan presents the path of Prapatti to the 
Lotus feet of Lord Narayana and extols the exalted role played by 
Periya Piratti Thayar in this process. 

You who are ever compassionate and merciful! Your Vatsalyam (pure 
untainted unmitigated love) which knows no bounds resembles the 
waves of Amritam! Your purifying merciful glances is what I seek to 
cross the ocean of Samsara as a result of which I am affected by the 
three types of illnesses.

In the previous verse, Swami Desikan prays to Periya Piratti Thayar 
to render him fit for Moksham. In this verse, Swami Desikan extols 
VAtsalya as the foremost auspicious attribute (KalyANa GuNam) of 
Lord Narayana. The best is description of this attribute is like the 
love of a cow for its calf that comes seeking milk. DoShAdarshitvam is 
the attribute of the Lord as a result of which he ignores the faults 
of his Bhaktas and blesses them. This is also glorified in the Daya 
Shatakam salutation "BhAvitam SrinivAsasya Bhakta DoShEshva Darshanam". 
It is this aspect of the Lord that is denoted by the 
auspicious attribute of VAtsalyam. It is precisely because of this 
aspect of the Lakshmi KatAksham that a Prapanna is graced by the Lord. 

Akinchinya is an expression of one's inability to obtain Moksham by 
any other means. Swami Desikan states in this verse that this 
great boon of Moksham which cannot be obtained by any other means is 
possible only through the grace of Mahalakshmi Thayar resulting from 
her glorification through this Stuthi.

The three kinds of afflictions referred to in this verse are -AdyAtmika, 
Adi Bhowdika and Adi Daivika. It is very difficult to 
ameliorate and be cured of these afflictions. Swami Desikan states 
that the merciful glances of Mahalakshmi Thayar filled with VAtsalyam, 
not only rids one of these afflictions but also provides them with 
the boon of Moksham which is akin to an endless shower of Amrutam.  

22. SampadyantE BhavaBhayatamIBhAnavastvatprasAdAt
    BhAvA SsarvE Bhagavati HaroU BhaktimudvElayanta: I
    YAchE Kim TvAmahamihayata: ShItaLOdArashIlA 
    BhuyO BhuyO Dishasi MahatAm MangalanAm PrabandhAn II

Oh Bhagavati! You who are completely endowed with the six auspicious 
qualities! After receiving your blessings there is no need for anything 
else. All my thoughts have been converted into Bhakti for you and this 
is like the Sun light dispelling the darkness caused 
by SamsAric association. What more can I ask of you? I have been the 
beneficiary of your cool mercy and auspicious attributes. You have 
conferred me with all auspiciousness already. When there is nothing 
that you have not conferred already or when there is nothing that 
cannot be obtained as a result of offering prayers to you, what more 
can I ask for?

In this verse, Swami Desikan states that there is no need to ask 
anything of Mahalakshmi Thayar. All auspiciousness will automatically 
result from just an utterance of her Stuthi. 

The salutation Bhagavati HaroU also denotes the grace of Bhagavan
accompanying that of Thayar. The message is that Prapannas should 
not crave for anything other than the supreme blessing of Moksham. 
Those who believe in the Lord's assurance of protection "Yogakshemam 
VahAmyaham" should not beg for anything else.  Thus with the salutation 
of KimyAchE, Swami Desikan reminds Prapannas of their goal 
and duties and states that begging for anything else is an exercise 
in futility. This Shlokam succinctly establishes the concept of 
MahAvisvAsam for Prapannas. In the KAmasikAshtakam, swami Desikan 
declares "When You have decided to protect someone, where is the 
need for other portectors? When you have decided not to protect 
someone, of what use are other protectors?" In this salutation 
Swami Desikan echoes a similar message and encourages all Prapannas 
to crave for the grace of the supreme Lord. 

Padma PriyE Padmini Padma HastE PadmAlayE PadmadaLAyatAkshi
VishvapriyE VishNu ManOnukUlE Tvat PAda Padmam Mayi Sannidastva

Namo Narayana,

Muralidhar Rangaswamy 

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