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Raghu Veera Gadhyam--Ayodhya Khandam (Continued )

From the Bhakti List Archives

V. Sadagopan • November 10, 1996 


GS 25 : PRANATHA BHARATA MAKUTATATA 
SUGATITHA PAADHUKAAGRYAABHISHEKA 
NIRVARTHITHA SARVA LOKA YOGA KSHEMA !
JAYA ! JAYA ! 

(meaning ) : O Lord who looked after the Yoga Kshemam
of the entire world by placing your Padhukas snugly on the 
head of your brother Bharata , who ruled as a representative of 
those sacred  Padhukas after performing the  coronation ceremony
( Padhuka pattAbhishekam )  for them . Hail to Thee ! Hail to Thee !

( Musings  on GS 25 ) : The sorrowing Bharata journeyed to Chitrakutam
with his mothers and Acharyas. He  begged his brother to accept 
the kingdom and return to Ayodhya to be coronated as the king of 
Kosala desam . Rama  refused to accede to the request of his dear
brother since he could not break the pledge that he gave to his father.
The heart-broken Bharata fell at Rama's feet and the compassionate 
Rama placed his padhukAs on his brother's head . Bharata carried 
those PadhukAs on his head back to Nandigramam  and performed 
the coronation ceremony for them and ruled the land as the representative 
as those PadhukAs until Rama returned from his exile after fulfilling his 
avathara mission. Swami Desikan states that Rama took care of the 
welfare and protection ( Yoga Kshemam) of the world through his 
gracious act of blessing Bharata with his sacred padhukAs. 

The source of sanctity for all holy things is hteir contact 
with the Lord. The Padhukas that bear the weight of the Lord 
and  accompany Him in his journeys are the most sacred 
due to their Bahgavad Sambhandam . Swami Desikan composed 
more than 1000 verses to celebrate the holiness of the Padhukas 
worshipped by Bharata. In the very first slokam of PadhukA Sahasram,
Swami focuses on their  unique ability to protect the worlds :

SANTHA: SRIRANGA PRUTHVEESA CHARANA THRAANA SEKARAA: I
JAYANTHI BHUVANA THRAANA PADHA PANKAJA RENAVA: II 

(MEANING ) : The blessed ones wearing joyously  the Lord's PadhukAs 
on their head protect the universe through the power of those sacred
PadhukAs . Even the dust particle from the feet of those blessed souls
has the power to protect the people of the universe . Bharata was the first 
blessed soul to reveal the power of those Padhukas of the Lord . Swami
Desikan refers to Bharata's role in the second verse of the Padhuka
Sahasram :

BHARAHTAAYA PARAM NAMOASTHU TASMAI 
PRATHAMODHAAHARANAAYA BHAKTHI BHAAJAAM I
YADHUPAJNAMASESHATHA: PRUTHIVYAAM 
PRATHITHO RAGHAVA PADHUKAA PRABHAAVA : 

(MEANING ) : The illustrious one , who first wore Sri Ramachandra's
PadhukAs on his head was his brother Bharata. He conducted the 
affairs of the state as the representative of those holy PadhukAs 
during his brother's  exile . This verse salutes Bharatha as 
the blessed soul , who illustrated the significance , power 
and the holiness of the Lord's sandals through his worship 
of them .The PadhukA prabhavam ( the gloryof the  Sandals 
of the Lord ) was established first ( PrathamodhaaharaNam ) 
by Bharatha . 

The concept of those Padhukaas enquiring about the Yoga 
Kshemam of the people of the universe brings one's thoughts to
the Sahasra Namam pala sruthi verse : 

ANAYAA: CHINTAYANTHO MAAM YEH JANAA: PARYUPAASATEH I
TESHAAM NITYAABHIYUKTHANAAM YOGA KSHEMAM VAHAAMYAHAM II

(meaning ) : Bhagavan Sri Krishna says : " With reference to those 
who find it  impossible to live (like Bharatha ) without thinking of Me,
I undertake the responsibility of bringing about their union with Me 
and keeping that union for ever . "

Sri Ramachandra Para Brahmaneh Nama : 

Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan