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RPS Naadha Paddathi : part 14. 13

From the Bhakti List Archives

V. Sadagopan • March 8, 1997 


Dear Members of the Prapatthi Group :

I will cover slokas of RPS from 451 to 460 in this posting .

Verse 71/Slokam 451 of RPS
*********************************

Sage NaradA is known as a great expert in playing 
the VeeNA for Hari Nama Sankeerthanam . Here Swami 
Desikan states that the Naadham generated by the PaadhukhAs
is superior to the Naadham arising from the VeeNA of NaradA .
Swami says : " O PaadhukhE ! Your Lord offers his exclusive 
audience (EkAntha SevA) to His grandson NaradA . On such an
occasion , He sends away His retinue and servants and moves 
around in novel and delightful steps. The extraordinary music 
generated by you in response  to the Lord's desire  to please His
grandson makes latter(NaradA)  stop his veeNA playing and listen to 
your sunAdham .NaradA feasts his eyes on the His grandfather, 
the Lord and fills his ears with your incomparable music " . 

The inner meaning of the slokam is that Deva Rishis like NaradA
listen with pleasure and reverence  to NammAzhwAr's Sri Sookthis .

Verse 72/Slokam 452 of RPS
**********************************

In this verse , Swami Desikan compares the Naadham 
raised by the PaadhukhAs to those raised by the bangles of 
the ladies of Srirangam and explains that sambhandham .

When the ladies of Srirangam hear the naadham of the PaadhukhAs ,
they rush out from the interior to the front portion of  their houses.
At that time , their golden bangles inlaid with precious stones 
move around and collide and create a naadham that appears like
the response of the ladies to the PaadhukhA naadham . Reference 
to the gem-studded bangles suggest rich women in prosperous
households . Swami seems to suggest that the rich people 
are also eager to hear the Sri Sookthis of AzhwAr ( PaadhukhA Naadham ) .

Verse 73/Slokam 453 of  RPS
**********************************

Swami Desikan compares the Naadham generated by
the PaadhukhAs to the different naadhams heard during
Soma YagAs . The key steps of Soma YagAs are the three savanAs
( Squeezing and offering of SomA juice at dawn , noon and evening ) .
During the performance of a Soma YagA , sthothrAs are sung by
priests ( SomayAjulus ) proficient in rendering Sama GAnam . 
Another class of specialists known as Hothrus recite sasthrams
(not Saasthrams) at the same time . Sasthrams unlike sthotrams
do not have sama vedic recitations (GAnam ) . SasthrAs are 
straightforward recitations of appropriate Veda ManthrAs . 
Both SthothrAs and SasthrAs announce as to whom 
the havis (offering ) is intended . 

Swami Desikan says that the Naadham generated by 
the PaadhukhAs  are like the sthothrAs 
and sasthrAs recited  during the savana portion of a soma yagAm.
He states : " O PaadhukhE ! When RanganAtha enters the Yaga saalA
to receive the offerings (Havis) of those performing the Yagams , you
are followed by the VedAs. You transport RanganAthA on your back to 
the Yaga SaalA . The Naadham arising from your movements   
during those occasions sounds like the eulogies (sthothrAs) 
and attribute descriptions (SasthrAs ) associated with the three
savanAs at the Yajna Vaatams (Yaga SaalAs ) " .

The inner meaning is that the yajamAnAs of the YajnAs
address the Lord and invite Him to accept the Havis ,
since He( Ranganatha ) is the Devathi Devan . SthotrAs and 
sasthrams are used during the thre SavanAs of the YagAs. 
They describe and sing about the anantha KalyANa guNAs
of the Lord . AzhwAr"s Thiruvaimozhi deals with  the limitless
auspicious attributes of the Lord , which is also the topic of 
coverage of the sthothrAs and sasthrams .

Verse 74/Slokam 454 of RPS
*********************************

In this slokam , Swami Desikan states that the AzhwAr"s paasurams
instruct us that Sriman NarAyaNA is the sole protector of all the jeevans
of this universe and that the VedAs preach the same doctrine of 
Sarva Rakshakthvam of the Lord . The slokam is a beautiful one:

charaNa kamalam yethath RanganAthasya Nityam 
saraNamithi janAnAm darsayanthee yathAvath I
prathipadhamapi hrudhyam PaadhukhE ! svadhubhAvAdh
anuvadathi param teh Naatham aamnaya pankthi: II

" O PaadukhE ! VedAs follow the Lord and serve as an accompaniment 
to the Naadham generated by you . During your travels with the Lord , Your 
Naadham instructs the people that the Lord"s lotus feet are the only source
for their protection and salvation . VedAs endorse your lofty message at each
step of their journey , as they follow you and your Lord ". 

Verse 75/Slokam 455 of RPS
*********************************

Swami Desikan refers to a tradition in Srirangam in this
slokam . When Lord RanganAthA leaves His Garbha Graham 
on uthsavam days , he steps down by the "Melappadi " and turns
in the northern direction .Only after that turn , the MangaLa Vaadhyams
start their service . Swami Desikan hints here that  the Naadham 
of the MangaLa Vaadhyams at Srirangam are the prathi Dwani 
(echo ) of the MangaLa dwani of the Naadham (AzhwAr's Thiruvaimozhi )
originating from the Lord's PaadhukhAs . 

Swami says : " O PaadhukhE ! When RanganAthA leaves His bed 
of AadiseshA and travels with you to protect His devotees , your naadham
is heard  first by the waiting devotees. The naadham of other musical
instruments are heard thereafter. RanganAthA's conch (Paanchajanyam )
follows and amplifies your naadham next . The other instruments
sound afterwards " .

Verse 76/Slokam 456 Of RPS
*********************************

In this slokam , Swami Desikan reveals the links between 
the VedAs and NammAzhwAr's Thiruvaimozhi . He says :
" O PaadhukhE ! You have taken the form (body ) of NammAzhwAr
( vakuLa dhara Tanu: tvam ) and are blessing the world with 
Thiruvaimozhi , which has the eternal fragrance of the Lord's 
lotus feet as a result of your union with them . When I listen to 
the Naadham generated by every one of your steps , I recognize 
that the VedAs dwell on the upadesam that you give (viz)., 
Sriman NaarayaNan is Sarva Veda PrathipAdhyan, Jagath
KaaraNan and sarva Rakshakan . The meaning of the Vedic
passages are made clear through your delectable naadham 
(RamaneeyA ninAdhA : ) and you help the ancient VedAs in 
this manner to describe the divine fragrance of the Lord's
lotus feet ( Hari CharaNa Saroja Aamodha : ) for the benefit 
of the devotees of RanganAthA ".

Verse 77/Slokam 457 of RPS
********************************

In this slokam , Swami Desikan refers to the Adhyayana
uthsavam at Srirangam during the autumn (saradh Kaalam ).
Many eminent sanyAsis(Raja Hamsams ) assemble at Srirangam
at that time to hear the Naalyira Divya Prabhandham . AchAryALs are
present as well . They serve as the disciples of the PaadhukhAs
( NammAzhwAr /SatAri Suri ) during that occasion .

Swami says : " O PaadhukhE ! When RanganAthA starts on His 
journey in the autumn season after Hari Sayana UtthAna ekadasi 
to control the enemies of the DevAs , He travels on your back . 
The naadham generatd by you at this time attracts many king swans,
which normally reside on the lake Maanasa Saras in distant 
HimalayAs . They leave their traditional home on hearing your 
Naadham and flock to your side on the banks of Cauveri to receive
instructions from you on the doctrines of VedanthA dealing with 
the glory of the lotus feet of your Lord " .

Verse 78/Slokam 458 of RPS
**********************************

Here Swami Desikan compares the PaadhukhAs to
a strict AchArya , who instructs the disciples with rigor.
He visualizes the PaadhukhAs as wearing the dazzling 
white utthareeyam ( upper garment ) , a formal symbol of an 
Acharyan and AchAram . The uttareeyam is the resplendent 
white nails of the Lord shining above the paadukhAs .
The paadhukhA as an Acharyan is visualized as the strict 
Acharyan  firmly instructing and chastising erring
students , who have difficulty grasping the instructions.
The reference is to NammAzhwAr 's Thiruvaimozhi 
passages , where He instructs us not to engage in
deeds not sanctioned by saasthrAs .

Swami Desikan says : " O PaadhukhE ! During your travel
with your Lord , you seem to be wearing the dazzling white
effulgence of Your Lord's toe nails as the upper clothe of
( Uttareeyam ) your body . That appears like the formal pose of 
AchAryAs ,when they are engaged in instructing and 
correcting the students receiving instructions on 
VedAs and VedAnthA from You . The naadham arising from 
the movement of your gems sound like your voice 
engaged in the act of an AcharYan intent on giving
instructions and correcting strictly the mistakes of 
the disciples (Raja Hamsams residing in the ponds) 
seated near you " .

Verse 79 /Slokam 459 of RPS
*********************************

Here Swami Desikan compares the Naadham of
the PaadhukhAs to the Aaloka Sabdhams used 
at Srirangam , when the Lord returns to His aasthAnam
(sanctum sanctorium ) after particiating in His darbhAr 
to listen to the devotees . 

Swami Desikan says : " O PaadhukhE ! When RanganAthA  
returns to His inner chambers after His darbhAr to join His
consorts , You announce His arrival through your naadham
and perform the aaloka sabdhA service " .

Aaloka sabdhA services consists of the utterances to
guide the way of the Lord . Jaya Vijayee Bhava , Swami
Yethsarikai " ar some of the Aaloka sabdhAs that are used,
while the Lord is transported on Kaitthalam . The intent is to 
avoid any jolts to the Lord during that kaitthala sevai .

Verse 80/Slokam 460 of RPS
**********************************

Here , Swami Desikan reveals that it was the paadhukhA naadham 
that blended with the VeNu ghAnam of KrishNA to captivate the hearts 
of the Gopis on the sand banks of Yamuna river at Thiru AaipAdi .
He points out that it was not  the VeNu GhAnam of KrishNA alone 
that won the hearts of the Gopis that rushed to the banks of the 
river inspite of the objections of their elders . 

Swami Says : " O PaadhukhE ! KrishNA the charming cowherd 
played on His flute and thousands of Gopis followed Him to
the banks of YamunA  even when they were strictly forbidden
by their brothers and fathers not to join KrishNA . It was  the Naadham
arising from you that intoxicated the minds of the Gopis to run 
after KrishNA's veNu ghAnam .Your Naadham entered His flute
and emerged as the music generated by Him to attract the Gopis
to His side effortlessly " .

The inner meaning is that he jeevan fails to recognize
due to its avivekam that there is an eternal Iswaran ,
who exists as the Jagadh Rakshakan . When the Jevan 
due to some sukrutham (good deeds of the past) recognize 
Iswara Svarupam  and wish  to offer homage , the elders discourage 
the jeevans from such pursuits. These elders themselves are 
lax in their aacharams and anushtAnams and do not engage
in Bhagavadh anubhavam . When the blessed jeevan learns 
Thiruvaimozhi from a proper AachAryan , the jeevan jumps
over the hindrances of the obstructors and reach the side of
the Lord very quickly . 

Sri RanganAtha MaNi PaadhukhE ! Thubhyam nama: 
Swami Desikan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam 
Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan