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Sri Ranganatha PaadhukhA sahasram: 21st Paddhathi

From the Bhakti List Archives

V. Sadagopan • June 2, 1997 


Dear Sri Ranganaatha PaadhukhA SevakAs :

Bhimbha -Prathibimbha Paddhathi (BPP) is the 21st among 
the 32 paddhathis of Sri RanganAtha PaadhukhA Sahasram (RPS ) .
We are now at the 711st slokam level out of the 1,008 that
this great AcharyA composed in praise of NammAzhwAr ,
the PaadhukhAs of Sri RanganAthA . There are 20 verses 
in BPP. In the earlier paddhathis , Swami Desikan had focussed
on the individual gems adorning the PaadhukhAs of the Lord. 
In BPP , he describes the reflections and the counter-reflections 
of the many images on the sacred gems embedded in the PaadhukhAs .

Slokam 1 of BPP /Slokam 711 of RPS 
******************************************

SowrE: suddhAntha naareeNAm vihAramaNi darpaNam I
prasatthEriva samsthAnam padhattrANam upaasmahE II

We meditate on the PaadhukhAs , which are known for their 
crystal clear nature . They serve hence as the unique mirror
for the ladies of the Lord's antha: puram to check on their 
own beauty . 

Slokam 2 of BPP / Slokam 712 of RPS
*******************************************

KamalApathi PaadhukhE ! kadAchidh
   vihagEndrastvayi bimbithO vibhAthi I
savilAsa gathEapi Rangabharthu :
   nijamAthmAnamivOpadhAthu kaama: II

O PaadhukhAs of the consort of MahA Lakshmi ! 
GarudA is standing near your Lord. His body is 
reflected on your gems . This reflection of GarudA
on you seems to suggest that GarudA is desirous of 
transporting His  Lord even when you are busy with that 
pleasurable task . He seems to have entered in you 
out of His desire to offer His service. 

The inner meaning is that the Paasurams of NammAzhwAr
are Veda saaram . When One hears these paasurams , one is 
reminded o fthe Vedams. Garudan is considered as 
Veda Murthy or veda Purushan . He is therefore resident 
in the Pasurams ( gems ) of the SatAri /paadhukhA  ( AzzhwAr ) . 

Slokam 7 of BPB /Slokam 717 of RPS
*******************************************

padhArpaNAth prathamathO haridasmaramyE 
     madhyE tava prathipalan maNipaadharakshE I
manyE nidarsayathi RangapathiryugAnthE 
     nyagrOdhapathrasayitham nijamEva roopam II

Here , Swami Desikan describes the moment when 
Sri RanganaathA bends slightly forward to enter into 
the PaadhukhAs . Hisshadow falls at this time on the row
of emeralds adorning the center of the PaadhukhAs .
Swami Desikan  describes the effect of that image on his mind .
He says : " O MaNi PaadhukhE ! Prior to entering you ,
your Lord bends to position His feet . At that time , the reflection 
of His body is  seen on the rows of emeralds at 
your mid-portion . That green image reminds me of 
your Lord showing His form lying on a pupil leaf 
at the time of the universal deluge " .

Slokam 14 of BPP / Slokam 724 of RPS
********************************************

prathidisam upAyathE Devi ! yaatrOsavArtham 
   tvayi viharaNakaalE bimbhithE jeevalOkhE I
vhasi maNigaNaistvam paadhukhE ! Rangabharthu :
   kapalitha sakalArtham kaanchidh anyAm avasthAm II

O Devi PaadhukhE ! When you travel on the Raja Veedhis 
of Srirangam , the reflections of the countless number of 
devotees assembled to offer their salutations to the Lord 
are seen on you . That reminds me of the stomach of the little
child floating on the leaf of a pupil tree at the time of the universal
deluge. Like your Lord , You seem to keep them protected in
your stomach made up of your gems . 

Swami Desikan suggests that many , many reflections of 
the devotees of the Lord thronged to offer their slautations
to the PaadhukhAs are seen on its gems. The containment of 
the multitudinous reflections of people on the gems reminds 
him of the God Child , which swallowed the entire universe 
for its protection during the PraLayam and floated
on the oceans on top of a pupil leaf  . 

Slokam 20 of BPP / Slokam 730 of RPS
*******************************************

HaripadhanakEshu bhavathi prathipalathi tavaitadhapi rathnEshu I
uchithA mitha: padhAvani ! bhimbhaprathibhimpathA yuvayO : II

O PaadhukhE ! Your image is reflected on the nails of your 
Lord's sacred feet . Those holy feet inturn are reflected on your 
gems . It appears only appropriate that your Lord's feet and 
yourself are united forever through the tradition of Image and
Counterimage (Prathibimbham ) . 

Sri RanganAtha Divya MaNi PaadhukhE ! Thubhyam Nama: 
Swami Desikan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam 
Oppiliappan Kovil VaradAchAri Sadagopan