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Sri RanganAtha PaadhukhA Sahasram : YanthrikA Paddhathi (YP) --26th chapter

From the Bhakti List Archives

V. Sadagopan • June 8, 1997 


Dear BhakthAs of Sri RanganAtha :

The word YanthrikA  stands for the arrangement , 
which is in the front portion of  the PaadhukhA to serve 
as a toe hold . By grasping that yanthrikA between the big toe and 
the rest of the fingers of the foot , one can use the paadhukhAs
for walking. In the ten verses of this chapter dedicated to
the YanthrikAs (restraints) on the paadhukhAs that permits 
movement , Swami Desikan celebrates their importance . 
Until now , he praised the whole paadhukhAs ; now , he 
focuses on an important limb of the paadhukhAs 
without which one could not move about . 

Slokam 1 of YP / Slokam 801 of RPS
*****************************************

udhagra yanthrikAm vandhE paadhukhAm yannivEsanAth I
upayarpi padham VishNO : pratyAdhishta prasAdhanam II

I salute the upward rising limb of the PaadhukkAs , the yanthrikA  .
By placing His feet on the paadhukhAs and holding onto the 
toehold (Knob ) , VishNu proves that there is no need for decoration
in the upward portion of the paadhukhAs . 

Swami Desikan suggests that the foothold through its decorative 
aspects matches the base of the paadhukhAs and eliminates the
need for any additional decorations . 

The inner meaning is that the SadAchAryAs are not only provide 
great joy to the Lord , but they also become objects of decoration 
for the land . 

Slokam 2 of YP/ Slokam 802 of RPS 
****************************************

Here , Swami Desikan points out that the foot hold on the 
paadhukhAs not only serve as decorations , but also protects
the feet of the Lord through the shade it provides for the Lord's feet .
He says : O PaadhukhE ! You protect the Lord's feet on the ground 
from thorns and sharp stones . At the same time , through your foot 
hold , you provide shade for the feet . Your foot holds serve in this
context as umbrellas  " .

The inner meaning is that AzhwArs and AachAryAs not only 
perform duties that please the Lord , but they also save their
devotees from any harm . Through initiation into moola manthram
and other rahasyams , they make sure that the prapannAs are 
blessed with auspiciousness both in this and the other world . 

Slokam 3 of YP / SLoakm 803 of RPS
*****************************************

Murabhin maNi paadhukhE ! tvadheeyAm 
   anagaAmanguLi yanthrikAmavaimi I
svyamunnamithAm pradEsineem tEh 
   paramam daivatham yekam ithi ruchantheem II

Here Swami Desikan explains why the foot holds of
the paadhukhAs acquired the name of YanthrikAs. 
Since the foot holds restrain the big and other toes 
from leaving or parting with the paadhukhAs , it has 
gained the name of YanthrikAs or restrainers . Further ,
it seems to stand up as the index finger of  the paadhukhAs 
to point out that Sri RanganAthA is the supreme Lord and 
the Universal controller , who manages the creation ,
protection and destruction of the sentients and the insentients
of this universe . 

Swami Desikan says : " O PaadhukhAs of MurAri ! Your blemishles
yanthrikAs shoot up , while hugging your Lord's big toe and the 
other toes of the feet . By  this act , they seem to suggest that they
are serving as your index fingers to point out that there is none ,
who is superior to your Lord of anantha kalyANa guNAs . 

The inner meaning is that NammAzhwAr has asserted at many 
of his paasurams that Sriman NaarAyaNA is the overlord
of all Gods . 

Slokam 4 of YP / Slokam 804 of RPS
******************************************

Swami Desikan compares now the yanthrikA to the naadham
(sound ) known as ardha mAtrA (half letter ) that is above the 
three syllables of PraNavam ( AUM ) . The paadhukhAs have a front , 
middle and rear portion and these thre sections remind one of the 
three syllables of PraNavam ( A , U , M ) . The praNava naadham 
however does not arise until the ardha maatrA is added . Then it 
becomes complete and resonates with its inimitable majestic 
sound . Swami Desikan suggests that the YanthrikA is the ardha 
maatrA that provides the finishing touch for the padhukhAs to
match the praNava naadham . He says : O PaadhukhE ! When I 
have the sevA of your  YanthrikA , I am reminded of the makaaram 
that stands for the jeeva svarupam . In the PaadhukhA , the yanthrikhAs
are pre-eminent . Similarly , the makAram is central to praNavam .
It is so because praNavam is intended to remind one that the jeevan 
is a seshan of the Lord . 

The inner meaning is that the pre-eminent attribute of 
a sadAchAryan is the firm grip that he or she has on 
the Lord's lotus feet . 

Slokam 5 of YP / Slokam 805 of RPS
******************************************

O Paadhukhas protecting the Lord's feet ! You are like 
the chariot on which your Lord rides for His sports. Your 
yanthrikA is like the binding pin on the yoke( kooparam )
in front of the chariot . ( The yoke is attached to the rest of 
the chariot by a wodden fixture that is essential for the 
integrity of the chariot and its safe operation . This unit is 
known as yErkkAl mookaNai .  ) . 

Slokam 6 of YP / Slokam 806 of RPS
*****************************************

SankE bhavathyA: subhagam pratheekam 
     RangEsa paadhAnguLi sangrahArtham I
thrANAya paadhAvani ! vishtapAnAm 
     ajnAkarimanguLi mudhrikAm tEh II

O PaadhukhE ! Your yanthrikA has taken a lovely form
to grip the toes of your Lord and stands tall . It appears like 
the index finger raised to command the people of the world 
to follow the injunctions laid out by your Lord in SaasthrAs . 

In an earlier verse , Swami Desikan suggested that the 
yanthrikAs shoot out like  index fingers to announce the 
supermacy of the Lord. Here, he states that the towering 
yanthrikAs are like index fingers that command the people
to achieve purushArthams by observing the Lord's laws .

Slokam 7 of YP / Slokam 807 of RPS
*****************************************

O paadhukhE ! I consider your Yanthrikas as the novel
lotus flowers arising out of the holy feet of your Lord. 
Your two yanthrikAs in this context appear like twin lotus 
flowers with their long stalks found in the two hands 
of MahA Lakshmi .

Slokam 8 of YP / Slokam 808 of RPS
*****************************************

O PaadhukhE ! Your yanthrikA stands even above the Lord's
feet .Hence , it is not such a great thing for you to be on the 
crowned heads of the DevAs . Your yanthrikA outstrips you 
in glory through towering over the holy feet of your Lord. 
Compared to that glory , your achievement of resting on
the heads of DevAs pale into insignificance. 

Slokam 9 of YP/ Sloam 809 of RPS
***************************************

O PaadhukhE ! You support and lift the sacred feet 
of the Lord , which are pressed by MahA Lakshmi . 
When we meditate on those holy feet of the Lord , 
they appear like the crown for you , the empress of 
the three worlds. Your YanthrikA in this context 
appear like the white umbrella over that crown 
announcing your soverignity .

Slokma 10 of YP/ Slokam 810 of RPS
******************************************

prathamA kalEva bhavathi charaNAvani ! 
           bhaathi Rangachandramasa: I
srungOnnathiriva yathra sriyam 
           vibhAvayathi yanthrikA yoga : II

O PaadhukhE ! You shine like the first day crescent
moon known as RanganAthA . Your yanthrikA appears 
like the elevation at the corner of that young crescent 
moon and adds to your beauty. 

If one considers the paadhukhAs of the Lord as the first
kalA of the full Moon , then the bottom portion of that crescent
moon would be the paadhukhAs and the top portion would be
the yanthrikAs in this analogy . 

Sri RanganAtha Divya maNi paadhukhE ! Thubhyam nama: 
Swami Desikan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam 
Oppilaippan Kovil VaradAchAri Sadagopan