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PrakeerNa Paddhathi of Sri RanganAtha PaadhukhA Sahasram : 29th Paddhathi

From the Bhakti List Archives

V. Sadagopan • June 12, 1997 


Dear Sri RangarAja Padhaambhuja SevakAs :

By now , Swami Desikan had completed 830 slokams and 
housed them in 28 paddhathis .he celebrated so far  the glories 
of PaadhukhAs of the Lord engaged in Yoga NidrA at Sri Rangam .
He had additional 178 slokams to complete to reach the planned
level of 1,008 slokams to be housed in the 32 paddhathis 
reminiscent of the 32 Brahma VidyAs for this MahA sthuthi 
of NammAzhwAr as the PaadhukhAs of the Lord . The Yaamam
was coming to an end . He meditated on BhagavAn Hayagreevan
and completed his magnum opus of this work before the time he
alloted  himself . Thus was born the PrakeerNa paddhathi ( PKP) ,
Chithra , NirvEda and Pala paddhathis , which constitute the last
four chapters of this magnum opus of a eulogy on SatAri Suri . 

In the  PrakeerNa paddhathi(PKP) , Swami Desikan introduces many 
embellishments ( Sangathis / PrakeerNams ) to the Naadham of 
the PaadhukhAs that he celebrated earlier through the 100 superb 
verses of Naadha paddhathi . One is reminded of Saint ThaygarAja 
here , who introduced the concept of Sangathis to krithis few centuries 
later . In his Kaamboji raaga krithi , O Ranga Saayee , he introduced 
not less than twenty sangathis that  reflect his joy over the extraordinary
good fortune of having the darsanam of Sri RanganAthan  in the garbha
graham at Srirangam . 

As the parama BhakthA of Thirukkuruhoor SatakOpan , 
Swami Desikan poured his heart over the joy of 
eulogizing his paramAchAryan and introduced the many 
sangathis in the 80 verses of  the  prakeerNa paddhathi .

The word " PrakeerNA " means also mixed or miscellaneous .
In this " miscellaneous thought s " paddhathi , Swami Desikan 
combines a number of diverse attributes of the PaadhukhAs .
All of these diverse aspects are proven to unite in a consistent 
manner .

Swami Desikan goes on to prove that the means for attaining 
the fruits of observing the injunctions of the sAsthrAs result from 
the power of the PaadhukhAs . He proves in PKP that the paadhukhAs 
are serious objects of worship to attain all the blesings of the Lord 
in this and the other world . After the Naadha paddhathi with 100 
verses and the PrabhAva paddhathi with 70 verses, the PrakeerNa 
paddhathi with 80 verses is one of the longest chapters of Sri 
RanganAtha PaadhukhA Sahasram .
   
Slokam 1 of PKP/ Slokam 8231 of RPS
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vidhou pravrutthE yadh dravyam guNa samskAranAmapi : I
Sreya : saadhanmaamnAtham tath padhathram tatAsthu mEh II

In the first verse of PKP , Swami Desikan salutes the wealth , 
the attributes , actions and names of the PaadhukhAs . He prays:
" May those paadhukhAs of the Lord with their diverse auspicious 
attributes be the means for attaining the fruits of my spiritual 
endeavours! " .

Just as the injunctions of the VedAs used at the different stages 
of the Vedic ceremonies , just as the material things used at the
Vedic rituals such as milk , curd , ghee , food and soma juice , just as 
the GuNAs like  red , white and black ( Rajas , SattvA , Tamas ) , 
just as the ritualistic actions like sipping of water (aachamaneeyam ) 
et al , just as the diverse yajnams like Agnihotram, Jyothishtomam 
et al have been prescribed by VedAs as routes to obtian the fruit of
one's spiritual endeavours , PadukhAs display such behavior 
and serve as the means to acheive one's goals . The paadhukhAs 
have injunctions like wealth ( dravyam/saamagriyAs  ) , attributes 
( GuNAs ) , observances ( samaskArAs/vrathAs ) , and naamAs 
(names ) similar to the ones described above for the Vedic rituals .

The injunctions for the paadhukhAs are given by the Lord as to their 
movements ; the wealth of the paadhukhAs are represented by the 
dazzling gems adorning it; the GuNAs hold together as the white pearls,
the red rubies and the other dark colored gems ; the samskArAs are 
constituted by the actions of adding sandal paste , bathing in scented 
water, raising of lamps , lighting of incense etc . The various names 
of the paadhukhAs are satAri , SatakOPam et al . With such diverse 
attributes similar to the Vedic rituals , Sri RanganAthA's paadhukhAs
praised by PaancharAtra AagamAs hold a matchless status. 

Swami Desikan prays to those  paadhukhAs of many faceted
glories to bless him with the means of attaining his 
spiritual goals .

Sri RanganAtha maNi PaadhukhE ! Thubhyam nama :
Swami Desikan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam 
Oppiliappan Kovil VaradAchAri Sadagopan