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Sri:

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:

811. sUchayanthIm svarEKhABhiranAlEKhyasarasvathIm
alEKhanIyasoUndharyAmAshrayE shoUripAdhukAm

I cling to the Paadukas of the Lord-the Paaduka that possesses 
streaks which represent the unwritten Vedas and which are of a beauty 
that cannot be depicted by writing.

Namo Narayana,

SriMuralidhara Dasan

Special Notes by V.Sadagopan (V.S):

Introduction to rEkhA Paddahthi : THis Paddhathi is the 27th
Paddhathi of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram . It has ten 
slOkams that salute the rEkhAs (lines) found on the surface of 
the PaadhukAs .Since our Lord's sacred feet rest on the PaadhukAs ,
the auspicious lines and patterns found on His holy feet are also
seen as imprints on the surface of the PaadhukAs. 

SlOkam 811:

1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: I surrender unto the Lord's
Paadhukais bearing the lines and patterns of indescribable beauty.
Through those beautiful lines, the PaadhukAs denote the unwritten
VedAs. 

Swamy Desikan suggests that the rEkhAs are not alphabets
or words. They represent the VedAs cherished by the oral tradition.
When the devotees who have learnt the VedAs throught the oral 
tradition look at these rEkhAs, they are immediately reminded of the 
different sections of the VedAs. They recognize the representation of 
the various sections through the pattern of the rEkhAs on 
the Paadhukais.

2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam: The people belonging to the fourth 
varNam do not get initiated into the learning of the VedAs. Swamy 
NammAzhwAr was born in the fourth varNam and did not get initated 
into the Sanskritic VedAs out of His respect for VarNAsrama 
dharmams. (As an amsam of VishvaksEnar , he had full awarenes sof the 
Vedams and their messages) For the benfit of all including the people 
born in the fourth varNam, Swamy NammAzhwAr created the Tamil Vedam 
(His dhivya Prabhandhams). The recitation of His Four Tamil 
Prabhandhams remind one of the content of the other Four Vedams in 
Sanskrit(dEva BhAshai) . 

3) Through its lines and patterns , the Paadhukais of the Lord of 
Srirangam reminds one symbolically of the Vedams that can not be 
written down and can be learnt only through the oral route ( sva 
rEkhAbhi: anAlEkhya Sarsvatheem soochayanthim ). Swamy Desikan 
offers his SaraNAgathy to those Paadhukais of the Lord , whose beauty 
can not be described by writings ( alEkhaneeya soundharyAm Souri 
paadhukAm aasrayE)...(V.S). 







Sri:

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:

812. maNimoULiniGharShaNAth surANAm vahasE kAnchanapAdhukE! vichithram
kamalApathipAdhapadhmayOgAdhaparam lakshaNamADhirAjyasAram

Oh Paaduka! There are, of course, on Your gold surface, the streaks 
caused by the Lord's Feet placed on You. They are in effect, 
testimony to Your being the Super-empress of all worlds. Nevertheless 
the additional streaks that are carved on You by the friction caused 
by the bejewelled crowns of devas, are, I would say, a special and 
significant evidence for Your above-mentioned status.

Namo Narayana,

SriMuralidhara Dasan

Special Notes by V.Sadagopan(V.S):

SlOkam 812 

1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! You carry on Your 
surface all the rEkhAs seen on Your Lord's Holy feet. Further,
You carry other lines not seen on Your Lord's holy feet. These new
lines are made from the scratches made by the crowns of DevAs , 
when they prostrate before You. Through these extra rEkhAs generated 
by the DevAs, You assert Your soverignity over the DevAs.

2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam:PaadhukAs are the queen for all worlds.
This bhAgyam arises form PaadhukA's union with the Lord's holy feet 
and the DevAs and BhAgavathAs of the Lord prostrating before them..

3) Oh Golden PaadhukE (Kaanchana PaadhukE)! You have a distinct 
mark (lakshaNam). That is the prostration of the crowned heads of 
the DevAs( Thvam SurANAm maNimouLi nigarshaNAth vichithram) .
You are united with the Lord's lotus soft feet ( KamalApathi paadha-
padma yOgam). As a result, You bear a special distinction of the 
title of Empress ( Paadha Paddma yOgAth aparam adhirAjya saaram 
lakshaNam vahasE)....(V.S).








Sri:

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:


813. aBhithO maNipAdhukE! sPhuranthyasthava 
rEKhAvithathEsthaThAviDhAyA: 
muravaIripadhAravindharUDaIranukalpAyithamADhirAjyachinhaI:

Oh Manipaaduka! Now that we have seen above that You have status-
proclaiming streaks on all Your sides, the streaks delineating Vajra, 
Ankusa, etc, thereby emphasizing the Lord's Superlordhip are 
relegated to the background; the Lord's are secondary to Yours! This 
is proof that by this indication You enjoy a superiority over the 
Lord Himself. (The implication is that the devotees, Azhwars, and 
Acharyas, deserve greater reverence than the Lord)

Namo Narayana,

SriMuralidhara Dasan

Special Notes by V.Sadagopan (V.S):

SlOkma 813:

1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam:Oh MaNi PaadhukE! As referred to
earlier, Your surface is decorated with all the lines and patterns 
seen on Your Lord's feet and others contributed by the DevAs. All 
these lines and patterns on the Lord's feet are evidences for the 
Lord's status as the Master of LeelA and Nithya (bhOga) vibhUthis. By 
having additional lines and patterns on Your surface , You appear to 
excel Him as a soverign of the two VibhUthis ( Iswaryams).

2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam:The inner meaning is that our Lord is 
the Emperor of the universe due to His unparalleled beauty , DayA and 
forbearance. In these aspects, AchAryAs are one step loftier than 
their Lord .

3) Oh PaadhukE ! Your surface is decorated with shining lines and 
patterns on all the four sides( abhitha: sphuranthyA taTAvidhAyaa: 
tava rEkhA vithatE:). Your Lord bears the lakshaNams of the Emperor 
of the world through the rEkhAs on the sole of His sacred feet 
(Muravairi padhAravindha rooDai: aadhirAjya chihnams). The additional 
lines on Your surface qualify You to exceed the status of Your Lord ( 
Tava rEkhA vithatE: aadhirAjya chihnai: anukalpAyithAm)...(V.S).






Sri:

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:

814. reKhAyA vinamathAm dhivoUkasAm moULirathnamakarImuKhOthThayA
pAdhukE! vahasi nUnamadhBhutham shoUripAdhapariBhOgalakshaNam

Oh Paaduka! The devas make their obeisance to You in extreme 
reverence and humility, when the gemstudded fish-shaped adornments on 
their crowns cause a similar fish-shaped streak on You. But I would 
rather attribute the fish-shaped streaks on You to the impression 
gained from similar streaks on the Lord's Foot, during Your sensuous 
enjoyment of the Foot as a love enjoys with her lover, (here, Foot). 
(The true devotees of the Lord are worthy of obeisance even by the 
devas. That respectability arises from their unintermittent contact 
with the Lord).

Namo Narayana,

SriMuralidhara Dasan

Special Notes by V.Sadagopan (V.S):

SlOkam 814

1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! You are the mistress of 
Your Lord . When I see the extra lines on You arising from the 
scratchings of the DevA's crown jewels in the form of fishes , I am 
reminded that they arose from the love play between You and Your 
Lord. They seem to be the marks of love play between both of You.

2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam:The dEvAs have a special kind of 
ornament on their crowns that has the form of the fish. When dEvAs
prostrate with their crowned heads before Paadhukais, additional 
rEkhAs are created on the surface of the PadhukAs. Those extra rEkhAs 
seem to testify to the fact that the Lord's holy feet enjoyed their 
union with You. 

3) Oh PaadhukE! On Your surface are lines formed through the contact 
of the gem-studded fish-like part of jewelery adorning the crowns of 
prostrating dEvAs ( vinamatAm dhivoukasAm mouLi rathna makaree mukha 
uTthayA rEkhA). Through those rEkhAs , You bear evidence to the 
enjoyment that Your Lord had by uniting with You ( rEkhayA 
adhbhutham Souri-Paadha-ParibhOga lakshaNam vahasi. This is certain
(noonam)....(V.S). 






Sri:

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:

815. thridhashamakutarathnOllEKharEKhApadhEshAth
pariNamayasi pumsAm pAdhukE! mUrDhni lagnA
narakamaThanasEvAsampadham sADhayithrI
niyathiviliKhithAnAm niShkruthim dhurlipInAm

Oh Paaduka! When You are placed on human heads, the streaks on You 
(resulting from the devas' crowns rubbing against the Paaduka during 
obeisance) remove the bad streaks, called bad fate-letters written by 
Brahma. They thus become blessed with great affluence of Service to 
the Lord. (The placement of Paaduka on one's head changes his fate 
for the best. One can change one's fate by resorting to Acharyas, 
Bhagavatas, etc).

Namo Narayana,

SriMuralidhara Dasan

Special Notes by V.Sadagopan (V.S):

SlOkam 815 

1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Oh Paadhukai of the Lord ,
who destroyed NarakAsuran ! When You are placed on the heads 
of Your devotees , the lines on You caused by the DevA's crowns 
erase the inauspicious letters carved by Brahama dEvan on their skulls
at the time of their creation. Their sins are removed as a result and
they become blessed to perform service to Your Lord.

2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam :Oh PaadhukE! the collision of the 
hard gems adorning the crown of prostrating dEvAs with Your soft 
surface leaves a lot of uneven marks . Through those rEkhAs , You 
destroy the moksha virOdhis of the chEthanams that prostrate before 
You by wiping off the bad signs written on their skulls at the time 
of their birth. 

3) Oh PaadhukE ! You make it possible for the chEthanams to gain
Moksha Iswaryam ( Kaimkaryam for the Lord , who destroyed NarakAsuran)
by staying on their heads ( Thvam NarakamaTana sEvAsampadham 
saadhayathree). This happens through your staying on the heads of 
the prostrating chEthanams ( PumsAm Moordhni lagnA Thvam 
NarakamaTana mOkshasampadham Saadhayathree). The instrument
for such transformation are the rEkhAs arising from the scratches ( 
ullEkha ) of the hard gems on the heads of prostrating dEvAs ( 
Thridasa makuDa rathna ullEkha rEkhA apadEsAth). Those rEkhAs act as 
the excuse (apadEsam) to wipe out the bad writings on the heads of 
the suffering chEthanams( rEkhA apadEsAth niyathi vilikhitAnAm 
dhurlibheenAm nishkruthim pariNamayasi)...(V.S). 

Post Script: Today is DheepawaLi day of SvabhAnu Samvathsaram .
As adiyEn wrote these special notes , it is striking that the Lord's
vaibhavam of destroying the unrighteous NarakAsuran linked itself up
through the vaak of Swamy Desikan on this special day of DhIpAwaLi.
The salutation to the Lord as NarakamaTanan is such a fortunate
coincidence for this special festival day (Otober 24, 2003). 







Sri:

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:

816. padhakamalathalAntha: samshrithAnyAthapathra
DhvajasarasijamuKhyAnyaIshvarIlakshaNani
avagamayasi shoUrE: pAdhukE! mAdhrushAnA
mupari pariNathaI: svaIrdhEvi! rEKhAvishEShaI:

Oh Paaduka Devi! You it is who inform us through Your lines that the 
Lord has on his foot, in the nether portion, lines showing umbrella, 
flag, lotus flower, etc., thereby proclaiming that He has 
superlordship as His inherent status. 

Namo Narayana,

SriMuralidhara Dasan

Special Notes by V.Sadagopan(V.S):

SlOkam 816

1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! VedAs and AagamAs
state that the Lord's feet has the marks of umbrella , flag , disc , 
conch and others to denote His role as the Lord of the two VibhUthis. 
It is not easy for us to see them. We can however see them as 
imprints on Your surface arising from the contact of the Lord's feet 
on You. We then infer that what we see originated from Your Lord's 
feet. You make it possible thus for us to see the lines and symbols 
associated with the Lord's feet.

2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! we see on Your surface 
the marks of Umbrella, Lotus , banner and other Iswarya lakshaNams of 
an Emperor. We assume therefore that Your Lord has all these signs 
on the sole of His feet to imprnt them on Your top surface through
the union of His feet with You.

3) Oh PaadhukA Devi ! With the lofty marks of chakravarthy chihnams 
on Your surface You remind us that You are the emperor of the 
Universe ( Thvam svai: upari pariNathai: rEkhA visEshai: mAdhrusAnAm 
Iswarya-lakshaNAni avagamayasi).What are those marks on You ? They 
are the ones on Your Lord's sacred feet like umbrella , banner , 
lotus and similar unique signs associated with the status of the Lord 
as the Emperor of the Universe ( Souri: padhakamala tala antha: 
samsrithAni aatapathra dhvaja sarisaja mukhyAni IswareelakshaNAni)...
(V.S). 






Sri:

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:

817. snAthA padhAvani! chiram puriBhujya mukthA
pAdhEna ranganrupathE: shuBhalakshaNEna
rEKhAntharaIrnavanavaIrupashOBhasE thvam
samskArachandhanavilEpanapankalagnaI:

Oh Paaduka! (After Tirumanjanam bath and the usual application of 
sandal-paste, the Lord wears the Paaduka) Now Your surface shows in 
addition to the usual lines, the additional sandalpaste streaks-which 
are evidence for the enjoyment You have had with the Lord. It adds to 
Your charm and lustre. (This is like Nammazhwar being referred to as 
exuding the special fragrance of Tulasi, implying his having had 
physical union with the Lord)

Namo Narayana,

SriMuralidhara Dasan

Special Notes by V.Sadagopan (V.S):
SlOkam 817

1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! You are given 
the ceremonial bath and sandal paste is applied on Your surface 
before uniting You with Your Lord's feet. On those wet sandal paste 
regions , the lines and marks of the Lord's feet are imprinted .
Thus a duplicate set of lines and marks are seen on the surface of 
the wet sandal paste reflecting the ones permanently marked on 
Your dry surface .You shine with both sets of lines and patterns of 
the Lord's feet.

2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam: When the Lord is ready to go on 
sanchAram outside , the archakAs bathe You and decorate You with 
wet sandal paste . Your Lord places His sacred feet on You and 
transfers the impressions of the rEkhAs that He has on the sole of 
His feet denoting His Emperorship of the Universe. You shine with 
those marks , which provide proof that Your Lord enjoyed very much 
His union with You.

3) Oh PaadhukE! You have enjoyed Thirumnajanam (sacred bath )
and have the auspicious marks of the Lord's feet as a result of 
Your long enjoymentof those sacred feet ( SnAthaa , subhalakshaNEna
RanganrupathE: paadhEna chiram paribhujya mukthA).You shine 
with newer and newer lines and patterns on Your surface that arise 
from the contact of the decorative sandal paste on You with the 
Lord's feet (Thvam samskAra chandhana vilEpana Panka: lagnai: 
navanavai:rEkhAntharai: upasObhasE)....(V.S).







Sri:

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:

818. BhakthyA muhu: praNamathAm thridhashEshvarANAm
kOtIrakOtikaShaNAdhupajAyamAnaI:
ABhAthi shoUricharaNAdhaDhikAnuBhAvA
rEKhAshathaIsthava padhAvani! kApi rEKhA

Oh Paaduka! As the devas pay obeisance, in great reverence, to You 
and frequently too, hundreds of additional streaks are formed on You. 
In this respect You have greater charm and status that the Lord's 
Feet.

Namo Narayana,

SriMuralidhara Dasan

Special Notes by V.Sadagopan (V.S):

SlOkam 818

1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam : Oh PaadhukE! Your glory 
is indeed superior to the Lord in that many, many lines are formed 
everyday by the crowned heads of dEvAs, when they come in to 
contact with You during their worship. The jewels of their crowns rub 
on You and form scratch marks anew daily. These lines originate 
from the dEvAs, who have aspects of divinity. Through these extra 
and abundant lines, You surpass the number of lines on Your Lord's
feet and Your superiority is inferred. 

2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE ! All the dEvathais like
Brahma, Rudran, Indhran prostrate before You. At that time, the sharp 
edges of their crowns scratch Your soft surface. Many new lines are 
formed on Your surface during these occasions . As a result, Your 
surface has more rEkhAs than the Lord's own feet. You stay effulgent 
with this distinction.

3) You have hundreds of rays formed as a result of the rubbing of 
the tips of the kirItams of the devout dEvAs, who often prostrate 
before You ( BhakthyA muhu: praNamathAm ThridasEsvarANAm
kODeera kODi kashaNaath upajAyamAnai: Tava rEkha sathA:).
As a result of these abundant rEkhAs, You possess a vaibhavam
which is a little more than Your Lord's feet (Souri charaNAth 
adhikAnubhAvA kaapi rEkhA aabAthi)...(V.S). 






Sri:

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:

819. pAdhAvani! prathipadham paramasya pumsa:
pAdharavindhapariBhOgavishEShayOgyA
svABhAvikAn suBhagaBhakthivishEShadhrushyAn
rEKhAthmakAn vahasi pathralathAvisheShAn

Oh Paaduka! You are prone to experience communion with the Lord 
frequently. Befitting this previlege, You bear on Yourself natural 
streaks, that clearly depict leaves and creepers as a sweetheart is 
wont to paint on her face and body before joining her lover. (It is 
obvious that Azhvars and Acharyas bear the true emblems of 
Paramabhakti on them, which qualifies them for merger with the Lord. 
Here, in this verse, 'subhaga Bhakti' may also mean pleasant 
devoton apart from well-demarcated).

Namo Narayana,

SriMuralidhara Dasan

Special Notes by V.Sadagopan (V.S):

slOkam 819

1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! As the dear mistress of 
Your Lord, You carry the special decorative marks in the form of Your 
lines and patterns. They are similar to the patterns formed on 
women's bodies with vermillion by her lover. Those patterns of 
vermillion disappear with time. The lines and patterns formed as a 
result of love play between You and Your Lord however are permanently
seen on Your surface and attest to the everlasting love between both 
of You.

2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam: Swamy Desikan refers to MakrikA 
pathrams (the drawings created on the cheeks and shoulders of a lady 
during bhOgam) here. The rEkhAs on the Paadhukais reminds Swamy 
Desikan of these makarikA pathrams associated with love play . The 
inner meaning is that the AzhwAr and AchAryAs have superior bhakthi 
for the Lord that He is delighted to enjoy.

3) Oh PaadhukA ! You have the fitness to be united with the sacred 
feet of PurushOtthaman, Your Lord often ( Thvam Prathipadham 
Paramasya Pumsa: pAdhAravaindha paribhOga visEsha yOgyA) . You adorn 
His lotus feet. You display naturally born rows and rows of 
delightful rEkhAs on Your surface born out of superior bhakthi to 
Your Lord , which remind us of the Makarapathrams drawn
by lovers ( Thvam svabhAvikAn subhaga bhakthi-visEsha dhrusyAn 
rEkhAthmakAn pathralathA-visEshAn vahasi)...(V.S). 








Sri:

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:

820. rEKhApadhEshathasthvam prashamayithum praLayaviplavAshankAm
vahasi maDhujithpadhAvani! manyE nigamasya mAthrukAlEKhyam

Oh Paaduka of the Lord! When the Deluge comes, all get destroyed. One 
naturally fears as to what would happen to the Vedas. They have to be 
guarded. You fulfill this need by maintaining a master copy, so to 
say, in the forms of streaks on You; with that original being on You, 
there can be no ground for a fear that the Vedas would be lost. 
(Paaduka-worship guarantees Vedic knowledge. Though the Vedas are 
referred to as 'the unwritten word', it is in relation to our study 
only. The Lord keeps it in a symbolic manner. The Tamil Vedas are 
kept as Paaduka-streaks, Paaduka being Nammazhvar himself.)

Namo Narayana,

SriMuralidhara Dasan

Special Notes by V.Sadagopan (V.S):

SlOkam 820

1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Oh Paadhukais of HayagrIvan , who 
destroyed Madhu and Kaitaba! At he time of universal deluge , when 
every one worries whether the VedAs will disappear, You show that You 
are preserving and protecting the VedAs through Your rEkhAs. 
Normally, VedAs can not be written. However on on Your body surface , 
they become symbolically represented as rEkhAs in a condensed form .

PaadhukAs are the symbol of Swamy NammAzhwAr. He seems to carry 
ThiruvAimozhi or the Tamil vEdAs in the form of rEkhAs to protect and 
preserve them forever. Thus both the Aryan and Dravidian vEdAs are 
preserved by the PaadhukAs through the form of etched lines 
representing them on their surfaces. 

2) Oh PaadhukE ! VedAs stay in a dimunitive, subtle state, which 
makes one doubt whether they exist ( Nigamasya praLaya viplava 
aasankAm prasamayithum rEkhA ). During the time of creation , the 
VedAs are in an expanded form . When there were doubts about the 
existence of VedAs during the time of PraLayam , the rEkhAs on the 
PaadhukAs appear like the first edition of a book to assure their 
existence ( aasankAm prasamayithum rEkhA upadEsatha: mAthrukA lEkhyam 
vahasi)...(V.S).