saranagati deepika

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Today , adiyEn will cover the Fifth slOkam
of Sri SaraNAgathi DhIpikai , where Swamy Desikan
uses double entendre(slEdai) to link the ThirumEni of
the Lord of ThirutthaNkA and the Lakshmi Saras
from which SrI Maragathavalli ThAyAr arose:

Swamin GabhIra-subhagam sramahAri pumsAm
Maadhurya-ramyamanagam maNibhnaga-dhrusyam
VEgaantharE vithunuthE prathiBhimbha-sObhAm
LakshmIsara: sarasijAsrayam-angakam tE---(5)

(Meaning): Oh Lord of ThirutthaNkA! Your ThirumEni
with its beautiful limbs is majestic and beautiful
(just as the LakshmI saras , which is deep and
beautiful); the beauty of Your ThirumEni removes
all the samsaaric afflictions of those , who are blessed
to have the darsana soubhAgyam ( just like LakshmI saras ,
which provides relief for the heat of summer for those ,
who dip in it ); Your ThirumEni is most bhOgyam ( just like
the enjoyable aspect of dip in the cool waters of LakshmI
Saras in the scorching summer); Your ThirumEni has all
saamudhrikA LakshaNam and hence it is blemishless ( just like
the LakshmI Saras has untainted water);Your ThirumEni is
like a beautiful piece of Indhra Neelam gem ( Just like
the deep blue waters of LakshmI Saras); Your ThirumEni
is the place of residence of MahA LakshmI/Maragathavalli
( just like the Lakshmi Saras is the home for lotuses);
Both Your ThirumEni and LakshmI Saras are adjascent to
Vegavathi river and Your shadows are beautifully
reflected in the middle of that river. Both Your
ThirumEni and LakshmI Saras have a lot in common.

Additional Comments: The key passage in this slOkam ,
where Swamy Desikan uses the slEdai playfully are :
" SwAmin! tE angam ,LakshmI Sara: VEgAntharE prathiBhimba
SObhAm vithanutE ".The place where the Lord's ThirumEni's
beauty and that of LakshmI Saras is the middle of
the river VEgavathi , where both are reflected as
Bhimbha-Prathibhimbham . The Lord's ThirumEni with its
blemishless limbs (anagam )are most enjoyable,majestic
and beautiful( maadhurya ramyam, gabhIram and subhagam).
Those captivating limbs on enjoyment removes the heat of samsAric
afflictions ( pumsAm Srama haari). The hue of the Lord's ThirumEni
resembles a piece of dark blue stone ( MaNi bhanga dhrusyam).
It is also the place of residence of ThAyAr ( SarasijA aasrayam).
Swamy Desikan suggests Lakshmi Saras to have attributes that
remind one of the ThirumEni of DhIpa PrakAsan and enjoys
both of them as Bhimbha-Prathibhimbham in the middle of fast
flowing (VEgavathi) river .