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PrakeerNa paddhathi : Part 5 ( Slokams 861-870 )

From the Bhakti List Archives

V. Sadagopan • June 28, 1997 


Dear Sri PadhukhA SevakAs :

Slokam 861 of RPS/ Slokam 31 of PKP
******************************************

Here , Swami Desikan summarizes the services that
the PaadhukhAs render to Bhumi Devi . He says : 
Oh, PaadhukhE ! You seem to present new dresses to 
Bhumi Devi through the weaving of the myriads of your 
colorful rays ( VasundharAyA : rathna BhAsA  varNamsukam 
Vitharasi ) . You remove Her burden of  carrying the demented 
scholars with incorrect views on your Lord's primordial nature
and auspicious attributes .You clear the world of such "scholars "
causing mischief and lighten Bhumi Devi's burden . This way ,
you offer kaimkaryam to Bhumi Devi , who  carries your weight
and also thank Her for Her help through the presentation 
of the colorful new dresses woven out of your colordul rays .

Slokam 862 of RPS/ Slokam 32 of PKP
*******************************************

In this slokam , Swami Desikan visualizes the PaadhukhAs 
as the integrated effulgence of three distinctly different jyothis :
SuryA , Agni and the Moon . He says : " Oh , PaadhukhE ! Through
the assembly of the multicolored effulgence of your gems , You are 
recognized as ChitrabhAnu or SuryA . Through your purity and glory ,
You are recognized as Agni . Through your own golden hue , You also 
shine like ChandrA . You thus become the integrated essence
of the above three Jyothis and remove all of the darkness of 
the Universe. You serve as the integrated and extraordinary 
Jyothi that banishes the darkness of our Aj~anam .

The inner meaning is that the SadAchAryAs shine like the Sun
through their mastery of Saasthra Jn~nams ; through their 
sadAchAram , they are pure and resplendent as Agni 
( Paavakthvam ) ; through their compassion and anugraha
visEsham , they delight the hearts of their disciples like the cool
lustre of the Moon .  Through the combination of all the three 
types of lustre , they drive away the darkness of aj~nam and
Vipareetha J~nanam . 

Slokam 863 of RPS/Slokam 33 of PKP
******************************************

Swami Desikan compares here the PaadhukhAs to
the early evening sky , when the partly red sky is illuminated 
by the stars and the Moon . He says : " Oh, RanganAtha
PaadhukhE ! With your red corals , you become the beautiful
object of worship of the people . With your golden sheen ( golden
color of the Moon ) combined with the lustre of your shining 
pearls , You are like the early evening sky decorated by
the stars and the Moon . In this blessed state , you remove 
all of the sufferings of your devotees " . 

The suggested inner meaning is that the SadAchAryAs 
delight the hearts of their devotees through the combination 
of their sathva GuNAs , sharpness of intellect and serve as
the holy sandhyA kaalam that banishes  the sorrows of their 
devotees .     

Slokam 864 of RPS/ Slokam 34 of PKP
********************************************

Oh, MaNi PaadhukhE ! When the Lord travels on the raja
Veedhis of Srirangam , You make the most beautiful and soft 
feet of your Lord travel in comfort by spreading affectionately 
in His path the tender petals of lotus , white and blue lillies 
through your multicolored rays and  announce His arrival 
majestically with your delightful Naadham arising from the 
movement of your gems .

The suggested inner meaning is that the great devotees of 
our Lord like NammAzhwAr include in their divya Sookthis 
many fragrant and soft (easy-to-absorb) concepts for 
the benefit of the easy travel of the Lord in the hardened  
hearts of  populace and win them over.

Slokam 865 of RPS/ Slokam 35 of PKP
********************************************

Oh, PaadhukhE ! When you travel with the Lord in 
the inner chambers of His palace , the  lustre
arising from Your rays and the naadham generated 
by your enachanting movements grow further the special
affection that the consorts of the Lord have for Him .
The Devis equate your lustre and the naadham to 
the act of Manmathan engaged in sharpening 
his arrows on a  grinding stone ( SaaNaikkal ) . 

Slokam 866 of RPS/ Slokam 36 of PK 
******************************************

In the 854th verse , Swami Desikan compared the PaadhukhAs
to the sacred feet of the Lord. Here , he takes that comparison 
one step further. He says : " Oh , MaNi PaadhukhE ! 
Sri RanganAthA's holy feet have white toe nails that shine like 
the pearls on You . Those sacred feet shine with a lustre similar to
the rubies on You. They contain lines and patterns , similar to
those seen on You . Therefore , You become equal in status 
to the sacred feet of your Lord and become the object of worship
of one and all . Your devotees celebrate and salute your lovely 
steps and gait and recognize their equality with Your Lord's feet .

The inner meaning is that the SadAchAryAs resemble the Lord's 
sacred feet and are worshipped by their devotees and confer 
the boon of Moksham through their special relationship 
with their  Lord .

Slokam 867 of RPS/ Slokam 37 of PKP
*******************************************

Oh, MaNi paadhukhE ! The red rays originating from 
your rubies grow multifold after Your sacred bath 
( Thirumanjanam ) and spread around the boundaries 
of the city of AyOdhyA to form an encircling  wall of fire 
( Mathil of Agni ) to defend it from any enemy . 

The inner meaning is that SadAchAryAs through their 
presence in one location protect the populace from
calamities through their Brahma tEjas and AnushtAna
balam . 

Slokam 868 of RPS/ SLokam 38 of PKP
*********************************************

Oh, Raaghava PaadharakshE ! The brilliant red rays associated 
with your rubies as you sit on the throne of Raghus appear 
like the tongues of fire remeniscent of the parAkramam (valor )
of BharathA , who soundly defeated the enemies of the kingdom
of AyOdhyA ruled by You . 

The inner meaning is that the establishment of a SadAchArya
on the throne of illustrious poorvAchAryAs create a lustre (tEjas)
in their devotees and endow the SadAchAryA as well with 
a special lustre that enables them to defeat the enemies of 
the injunctions decreed by the Lord .

Slokam 869 of RPS/ Slokam 39 of PKP
*******************************************

Oh, MaNi PaadhukhE ! Through your auspicious sounds 
(Subha PraNAthA ) , you seem to serve as the sister of 
the bridegroom , your Lord,  in His wedding with His brides,
the VedAs . During that wedding , you perform the ceremony of
tying the wedding thread ( Maangalya soothram ) around 
the necks of the VedAs taking the form of the brides of your Lord. 
Although He ties the Maangalya Soothram as the bridegroom ,
you assist Him as the traditional sister (NaathanAr ) of the groom ,
who has to assist in the tying of that knot. 

The inner meaning is that the SatAri Suri (NammAzhwAr ) 
established in his divya sookthis that the Lord alone is 
the subject  of the VedAs and thereby preserved 
the sambhandham between the Lord and His VedAs .

Slokam 870 of RPS/ Slokam 40 of PKP
*******************************************

vichithra varNA sruthi ramya sabdhA :
   nishEvyasE naakasadhAm sirObhi : I
mMadhudhvishastvam maNi paadharakshE !
    SrEyaskaree sAsana pathrikEva II

Oh, MaNi PaadhukhE ! with your enchanting colors
of your gems and the delectable sounds associated 
with your diverse movements , you have a status like 
the auspicious VedAs and confer your blessings on 
one and all . With all these attributes , you appear
like the document containing your Lord's commandments,
which are worn on the heads of the DevAs with 
utmost reverence.

The inner meaning is that the Sri Sookthis of NammAzhwAr ,
which is a blend of sacred letters ( SukhAksharams) and
auspicious sounds ( Subha Dhvanis ) are like 
the commandments of the Lord Himself and hence 
are borne on the heads of BhagavathAs with 
great reverence . 

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