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1-8
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).