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Maha Lakshmi Krithis of Dikshitar-- Part 3

From the Bhakti List Archives

V. Sadagopan • May 4, 1996 


Dear Members ofthe Bhakthi Group:

The glory (Sreyas) of Maha Lakshmi has been 
established by the Vedas as " Sruthimitasampathi).
Swami Desikan decribes one aspect of that Sreyas 
in one of the daya sataka Slokam beginning with the 
words" TVATUDHAYA TULIKAABH RAMUNAA ---". He
describes her unique role bridging Her Lord and the 
Acharyas here. 

He recognizes in this slokam that She is the pen/brush 
(writing/painting  tool ) in the hands of her Lord, when
He wishes to write/Paint His Siddhanthams on the canvas
known as Acharyas. The Lord is a great artist/Painter.
He wants to paint on the minds(Canvasses) of the Acharyas His 
Siddhanthams. Those canvasses   are very fit and appropriate 
to receive and  hold the writings/paintings of the Lord. In the task 
of the Lord, Maha Lakshmi serves as the Pen/Brush for the Lord 
to complete His writing task. If it were not for Her, the Lord 
could not the pictures of Tatvaarthaas on the Minds(Canvasses) 
of Acharyaas.If the Pen/Brush were not to be available,
then the Acharyaas wont have any material to help their
disciples. Swami Desikan goes on to say in this slokam 
that Maha Lakshmi is the power that was behind Acharyaas like
Nammazhwaar,Natha Muni, Alavandhaar to possess the special
Jnanam and Anugraha Siddhi. He concludes here that Saranagathi at Your holy 
feet alone can serve as the means to gain Moksha Palan.This section of the 
slokam is as follows:

YATIPATHI YAAMUNA PRABRUDHAYA: PRATAYANTHI DHAYEH 
JAGATHI HITAM NA NASTVAYI BHARANYASANAADADHIKAM 

Swami Desikan celebrated further by hailing Her as 
"KRUPANA JANTHU CHINTAAMANEH, KRUPEH"
 AND" NIGAMA SOWDHA DEEPA SRIYAA :".Here ,
Swami recognizes her as the most merciful,boon-granting
Chintamani Ratnam for those suffering Jivans. In the second 
salutation, he pays tribute to Her Jnana Svarupam. He recognizes
her as the brilliant lustre(Deepam) in the big mansion of the Vedas.

The Purvaacharya of Swami Desikan, Alavandhaar blessed us 
with Cathussloki to establish the Sri Tatvam . In one of the 
slokas, he reveals her Kataksha Mahima this way:

EESHAT TVAT KARUNAA NIREEKSHANA 
SUDHAASANTUKSHANAATH RAKSHYATEH
SAMSRUTYAKSHARA VAISHNAVAATHSU 
NRUNAAM SAMBHAVYATEH KARHACHIT 

Here Alavandhaar reveals the mysteries of Lakshmi 
Tantram. He says that Maha Lakshmi is very dear to
the Lord (Aravinda Lochanan). Without Her Anugraham,
there is no chance for the Jivans to receive the blessings 
of Isvaryam( Worldly Riches), Kaivalyam and Moksham .   

Kuresa, who came later echoed Alavandhaar"s thoughts in 
the following portion of his Sri Stavam Sloka :

YASYAA : KATAKSHA VEEKSHAA KSHANA 
LAKSHAM LAKSHITAA MAHESAASSYU :
SRI RANGARAJA MAHISHEE SAA
 MAMAPI VEEKSHATAAM LAKSHMEE:

Here, he describes the jivans getting indescribable
wealth in this and the other world due to the falling of
Sri Ranganayaki"s glances even for a second on them.
He prays for those auspicious glances to fall on him as well.

Kuresa points out in yet anothe rslokam of Sri Stavam that 
even the Lord considers himself as a fortunate or blessed one 
(Dhanyan ), when Her glances fall on Him :

TAVA EEKSHANAATH SVAATMAANAM DHANYAM MANYATEH 

Kuresa reveals further that the Lord practises EKASESHITVAM 
by following closely His consort"s hints revealed through her 
facial expressions and the lifting of Her Eye brows and 
performs  accordingly the creation, protection and the 
destruction of the worlds. 

YASYAA VEEKSHYAA: MUKHAM
TATINGITHA PARAADHINOH VIDATTEKILAM

The Lord reveals directly in Agasthya Samhita that 
Maha Lakshmi is his AAHLAADHINI SAKTHI or
the transcendent power of delight .He says that He has no
independent existence without Her . Swami Desikan
exhoes these thoughts thru his choice of words:
"PATHI : TVAT PAARAARTHYAM PRATAYATHI
VRUKSHASHMAADHARA PATHI: " 

Here, Swami Desikan reveals that the Lord is contented to
describe Himself as subservient to Her and is pleased , when
the jivans  address Him as Laksmi Narasimha, Kamala Kaantha,
Sriya: Sri: , Indiraa Klaathra , Lakshmi Varaha, Seetha Rama et al. 

Kuresa"s son, Parasara Bhattar celebrated the glories of 
Maha Lakshmi(Ranga Nayaki) in his Guna Ratna Kosam
and described Her husband's dismay and happiness at the 
sight of Her as Vijaya Lakshmi in Viswa Rupam form.
He says that Sriman Narayana is overcome with a sense of  affection and 
wonder at the sight of Her avataram as Viswa RoopiNi with thousands of 
limbs. He says that  the Lord is caught up in the whirlpool of her
leelas and goes round and round in those swirling waters (Neer Chuzhi )
and is wonder struck .

Adi Sankara in his beautiful verses of kanaka Taara Stotram
offers his eulogies to the greatness of Maha Lakshmi. He begs 
for the blessings of this Mangala Devataa this way:

MAATHUSSAMATHA JAGATHAAM MAHANEEYA MURTHI:
BHADHRANII MEH DISATHU BHARGAVANANDANAAYAA: 

He visualizes Her as  sititng on the red lotus and shining with
 the lustre of the red lotus and prays to Her to cast Her glances on him 
to get the blessings beyond Aswamedha Yaagam and other 
Vedic Sacrifices.:

In a moving sloka of Kanaka Taara Sthuthi , he paints a 
beautiful word and sound picture of Her this way and requests 
for Her Anugraham this way:

SARASIJA NILAYEH SAROJA HASTEH
DHAVALATHAMAAMSU GANDHA MAALYA SOBEH
BHAGAVATI HARI VALLABEH MANOKJYEH
TRIBHUVANA BHOOTHIKARI PRASEEDHA MAHYAM.

MAY SRI DEVI'S BENEFICIENT GLANCES FALL ON ALL
THE MEMBERS OF THIS  SPECIAL GROUP OF BHAKTHAAS.

V. Sadagopan