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Sri RanganAtha MaNi PaadhukhA Sahasram: Marathaga Paddhathi (19th Paddhathi )

From the Bhakti List Archives

V. Sadagopan • June 1, 1997 


Dear PadhukhA SevakAs of Sri RanganAthA :

Swami Desikan shifted his attention from eulogizing 
the pearls of the MaNi PaadhukhAs of the Lord at Srirangam 
to a salutation of the Emeralds embedded in the Lord's sandals .

He uses 20 verses to point out the significance of the emeralds
adorning the Lord's paadhukhAs . We will choose three illustrtative
slokams from this paddhathi ( Marathaga Paddhathi ) .

Through these twenty slokams associated with the emeralds , 
Swami Desikan explores the relationship between the 
green-hued emeralds and GarudA ( Garuda Pacchai ) ,
TuLasi , panic grass (Aruham pull ) and other entities 
with a green color .  This connections are  masterly 
hyper-links established by our Great AachAryA .  

Slokam 4 :

Haritha: sahasA harinmaNeenAm 
    prabhayA RanganarEndra PaadharakshE ! I
TuLasithalasambhadham dhadhAthi 
    tvayi bhakthai : nihitha prasoona raasi : II

O RanganAtha PaadhukhE ! Even the white buds of 
Mallikai and Mullai flowers showered on you by your 
devotees absorb the green rays of your emeralds and 
quickly attain the color of green and reach the status 
of the holy TuLasi dear to your Lord. 

Slokam 7 :

acchEdhya rasmi niyathai : gatithA haridhbhi:
    sadhvarthamanA gathimathi maNipaadharakshE ! I
sandhrusyasE savithru mandala  madhyabhAjO 
     RangEswarasya sampadhiva aparA tvAm II

Here , Swami Desikan equates the paadhukhAs to 
the chariot of the Sun . The PaadhukhAs like the Sun's 
chariot are tied to the multihued horses with the ropes.
In the case of the PaadhukhAs , the green rays of the emeralds
are the ropes . Both the PaadhukhAs and the Sun's chariot 
travel on sacred routes defined by the VedAs . At the center of
both the Sun"s chariot and the padhukhAs , the Lord's sacred
feet are found. 

Swami Desikan says in this context : " O maNi paadhukhE !
You appear like the second chariot of Surya NaarAyaNa Murthy ,
whose horses are tied together for travel in the celestial way 
by the  green rays of your  emerald gems . Those green  ropes are 
impossible to cut asunder . Your Lord , RanganAthA is travelling on 
you in that auspicious route and He is seen on you as the sacred one 
at the center of the solar circle (Surya Mandalam ) .

Slokam 11:

DarapariNatha dhoorvA vallaree nirvisEshai :
     marathagasakalAnAm maamsaLai : amsujAlai :
Pasupathi vidhruthA tvam tasya paaNou nishaNNam
     Madhuripu paadharakshE ! vanchayasi yENasAbham II

O Madhusoodhana PaadhukhE ! When Lord SivA places you 
on His head , your emerald rays enter His matted locks.The little
deer on one of His hands mistakes the green bundle of rays 
associated with your emerald to be a bundle of panic grass
(aruham pull ) and makes an attempt  to eat it .

The inner meaning of this slokam is that it is difficult to
understand the tattvAs preached by the AchAryAs. It is even 
more duifficult to follow them . 

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