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A Sautation to NammAzhwAr : Sri Ranganatha PadhukhA Sahasram

From the Bhakti List Archives

V. Sadagopan • May 22, 1997 


Dear BhakthAs :

one of the most  appropriate  topic for saluting
NammAzhwAr is the tribute paid by Swami Desikan to him
through the 1008 verses housed in his illustrious
work revered as PaadhukhA Sahasram . I had a number of
postings earlier on this subject with particular emphasis on Naada 
Paddhathi , which was the 14th section among the 32 sections .
I will cover in future postings illustrative excerpts from the 
sections that follow the beautiful Naada Paddathi . I will dwell
at length on the last four paddathis (viz)., PrakeerNa , Chitra , Nirveda 
and Pala paddahthis. In these four sections , Swami Deesikan has 
not only demonstrated his impressive skills as  a poet , but  
has also distilled the essence of VisishtAdvaitha doctrines. Let us 
seek Lord RanganAthA's and Swami Desikan's blessings 
to reenter into these discussions . 

Swami Desikan's tribute to NammAzhwAr in Yathiraaja Sapthathi
***********************************************************************

Yasya Saarasvatham srOthO vagulAmOdhavaasitham I
srutheenAm visramAyAlam satArim tamupaasmahE II

(Meaning and comments ) : VishvaksEnar revealed the meanings of 
the three rahasyAs and yOgam to SatakOpan and thus became 
the Achaarya for the latter. SatakOpan was blessed to wear 
the Mahizhampoo garland of the Lord of Thirukkuruhoor 
and as a result the prabandhams that came out of his mouth
carry the never-fading fragrance of those flowers sanctified by 
the Lord. The blessed prabandhams of the AzhwAr in Tamil
instruct one and all about the deep meanings of VedAntha 
in an easy -to-understand manner. As a result of this unique
service by the AzhwAr to the Sanskritic VedAs , they take a much
needed rest . The flood of the paasurams form the AzhwAr's 
lips flow and uplift us and bless us with all kinds of auspiciousness.
Thus as a paramAchaarya , SatakOpan thru his most merciful
service deserves our uninterrupted meditation on him and his 
aruLiccheyalgaL .  

The Paddhathis of Sri Ranganatha PaadhukhA Sahasram(RPS)
after Naada Paddhathi(NP)  have been covered in the last posting 
of mine on RPS . I will summarize them once again for ready
reference .

The one that immediately follows the NP is the Rathna SaamAnya
Paddhathi, which constitutes the 15th paddahti of RPS . 
This paddhathi has 50 slokams.The ones after 
the latter paddhathi  are :

(16) Bahurathna Paddhathi -- 50 slokams
(17) Padmaraaga Paddhathi--30 slokams
(18) MukthA paddhathi --50 Slokams 
(19) Marataka Paddhathi -- 20 Paasurams
(20 ) Indraneela Paddhathi --30 Slokams
(21) BimbhaPrathibimbha Paddhathi --20 Slokams
(22) Kanchana Paddhathi --20 Slokams
(23) Sesha Paddhathi -- 10 Slokams
(24) Dvandva Paddhathi --20 Slokams
(25) SannivEsa Paddhathi --20 Slokams
(26) YanthrikA paddhathi -- 10 Slokams 
(27) RekA Paddhathi --10 Slokams
(28) Subhaashitha Paddhathi --10 Slokams
(29) PrakeerNa paddhathi --80 Slokams
(30 ) Chithra Paddhathi --40 Slokams
(31) Nirveda Paddhathi --20 Slokams
(32) Pala Paddhathi -- 47 Slokams 

In my last posting , I have covered the topics of the individual
paddhathis starting from the Rathna SaamAnya paddhathi (15th)
to the Pala Paddhathi (32nd) . In the subsequent postings , I will
select illustrative slOkams from each of the Paddathis for comments 
and focus particularly on the last four paddhathis .

Rathna SaamAnya Paddhathi (15th Paddhathi of RPS)
*************************************************************
Sixth Slokam :

kasyApi pumsa: kanakApagAyA : 
  puNyE saleelam puLinE sayALo: I
sameepa vrutthir maNipAdhukE !
  tvam samvAhayantheeva padam karai: tava II

(Meaning ) : O Ranganatha PaadhukhE ! The Lord is resting
under the Ranga VimAnam . You are resting under His lotus
feet. The effulgence from your rays fall on those sacred feet. 
When we experience this beautiful scene , it appears to us 
that you are pressing His feet with your hands of rays emanating
from your gems to remove His fatigue arising from His wanderings
in the DandakA forest during RaamAvathAram . 

27th Slokam of the Ratna SaamAnya Paddhathi
*****************************************************

rathnOpalaprakara sambhava yesha dhoorAdh
  RangadhirAja charaNAvani ! taavakeena: I
ardhrAparAdha parikinna dhiyAm prajAnAm 
  asvAsanArtha iva bhaathi karaprAsAra : II

O PaadhukhE that protect the sacred feet of the Lord of 
Srirangam ! The effulgence from the rays originating 
from the many gems embedded in you spread over long
distances . When we see these extended lustrous rays ,
it appears as though you have extended your hands and 
have reached out to the suffering samsAris and comfort them
with your soothing touch . The inner meaning is that the AchAryas
out of their dayA svarupam comfort the people , who come to them 
with repentance over the many apachArams that they have committed . 

31st Slokam of the Rathna SaamAnya paddhathi
********************************************************

divishan makutEshu sancharanthyA: 
   prachurasthE maNi paadhukhE ! prakaasa :  I
divi RangapathEr mahOthsavArtham 
   vitathA vandana maalikEva bhAthi II

O Gem studded PaadhukhE of the Lord! When the DevAs
carry you on their heads and move around in the celestial space , 
the trace of rays from your multi-colored gems appear  like
a thoraNam ( colored banners strung on ropes ) set up 
for the great festivals of the Lord of Srirangam .

The inner meanings is that the recitation of the Paasurams
of NammAzhwAr by Sri VaishNavAs on the streets of Srirangam 
during the grest uthsavams of the Lord containing many sentiments, 
(viz).,  Joy , anger , sorrow , dejection , appear like the multi-toned 
aural thoraNam .  The arc of the rays are delightful to see and 
the sound effect of the recitation of the paasurams is pleasing to hear.


33rd Slokam of the Ratna SaamAnya paddhathi
****************************************************

paripasyathi Devi ! RanganAthE rahasi tvam savidhE nivisya LakshmyA : I
paripushyasi ratnadhAmabhi: svai: anusuyEva manogyam angarAgam II

(meaning ) : O PaadhukhE !There are many colored gems 
embedded on your surface . When the Lord is seated next to
His consort , the effulgence from those gems fall on Her. 
That looks like the spreading of sandal paste by AnusooyA 
on the limbs of SitA piratti during her visit to the asramam 
of the husband of AnusooyA . 

The inner meaning is that the pleasure experienced by the divya
Dampathis from hearing the Paasurams of the AzhwAr is exquisite.

50th Slokam of Rathna SaamAnya paddhathi 
*************************************************

taapa trayam nirundhE pachathi kashAyAn visoshayathi pankam I
tejasthriyam idham thE sankhE RangEndrapaadhukE ! teja: II

(meaning ) : O Rangaantha PaadhukhE !  Your lustre banishes 
the three kinds of afflictions (taapAs ) that the jeevan suffers in 
this prakruthi mandalam . It cooks to perfection the paapAs . That 
lustre dries up and drives away  the sins like a functioning dessicator.
Therefore , I think that lustre of yours is made up of the three luminous
bodies (viz)., the Sun , the Moon and the Fire (Agni ) . The three effects 
of the Tejas of the PaadhukhAs are : (1) Taapa Trayam nirundhE ; 
KashAyAn pachathi ; pankam visoshayathi . The adhyaathmika ,
Aadhi daivika and Aadhi bowdhika taapams are banished.(2) The cruel
sins are cooked and lose their power .(3) It dries up the wet mud of sins 
( pankham visOshayathi ) and the paapams are evaporated .. 

The inner meaning is that t he AchAryAs are sarva vidha bhandhus .
Some times they will shout in anger over your trespasses of the sAstrAs .
Some times , they will speak to you with great compassion over those 
trespasses and discourage you from them . That is why the SaastrAs 
declare them as the forever caring sarva vidha bandhus to the jeevans . 

Srimathe NigamAntha MahA DesikAya nama: 
Sri NammAzhwAr ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam
Sri RanganAtha ParabrahmaNE NamO Nama: 

Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan