You are here: SriPedia - Oppiliappan - Archives - May 2006

Oppiliappan List Archive: Message 00003 May 2006

 
May 2006 Indexes ( Date | Thread | Author )
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]


SrI:

Dear Sriman Sadagopan Iyengar :

Members of the many lists missed your
writings during the past few weeks .

Thanks for the delightful article on Nooouram
of the dhivya dampathis.

Welcome back !
V.Sadagopan


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <sadagopaniyengar@xxxxxxxx>
To: <Srirangasri@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <malolan_net@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; 
<oppiliappan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <tiruvenkatam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; 
<ramanuja@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: <radha@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <haritha2511@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, May 01, 2006 4:12 AM
Subject: [Oppiliappan] Noopuram


> Srimate SrivanSatakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:
>
>
>
>                                                            Noopuram
>
>
>
> There are a number of ornaments women are fond of wearing. Jewels 
> embellish and enhance a lady's beauty and sometimes even bring out latent 
> beauty. Ornaments thus serve as inseparable companions of womenfolk, who 
> would rather be seen dead than without their adornments. Be it ear rings, 
> nose-rings, chains of various designs and types, ranging from simple, 
> single stranded ones to those with multiple strands and pendants, dazzling 
> golden belts (Oddyaanam), anklets of shining silver-all these add 
> considerably to women's looks.
>
>
>
> Jewels are thus an integral part of our lives and deserve occasional words 
> of appreciation. However, have you heard of an entire work of epic 
> proportions devoted to a single ornament? I am definitely not 
> exaggerating, for a famous Tamizh poet has considered the jewel to be 
> important enough to spin an engrossing tale around the ornament and the 
> incidents it gives rise to. It is again no exaggeration to say that this 
> single jewel was responsible for the death of an exalted monarch and his 
> consort, apart from causing untold loss to life and property, flowing from 
> the burning down of an ancient city by a wronged woman, whose property the 
> jewel was.
>
>
>
> By now, readers would have guessed that I am talking about the Silambu or 
> Noopuram as it is known in Sanskrit. There would be none who has not heard 
> of Silappadhikaaram and the way it revolves around the ornament. The 
> Kaavyam is considered among the five great ones of Tamizh literature, is 
> avidly perused by the learned and unlettered alike, and is still the 
> subject of hot debates at Patti Mandrams.
>
>
>
> Apart from its forming the subject matter of Silappadikaaram, does the 
> Noopuram have any significance in the Sampradayam? The answer is Yes, and 
> we shall see here a few occasions where the ornament comes in for 
> appreciative mention in our spiritual lore.
>
>
>
> As with every thing else, we shall turn first to that eternal guidebook, 
> Srimad Ramayanam, for inspiration. And the Epic doesn't fail us, for we 
> find an extremely heartening reference to the Noopuram in the Kishkinda 
> Kaandam. Sri Rama and Sri Lakshmana reach Kishkinda, searching en route 
> for the abducted Mythily. Sri Hanuman takes them to Sugriva, who promises 
> to make all-out efforts for locating Sri Janaki. Some members of Sugriva's 
> army then show Rama a bundle of ornaments cast off by a woman who was 
> being dragged by Ravana in the skies. Sugriva requests Sri Rama to 
> identify whether the jewels are those of Sita. Sri Rama is overwhelmed by 
> emotion at the sight of these jewels and His eyes cloud with copious tears 
> at the thought of beloved Sita, making it impossible for Him to look at 
> the ornaments, much less identify them. He turns to the faithful Lakshmana 
> and advises him to see if the jewels are those of Sita.
>
>
>
> It is here that Lakshmana comes out with an extremely moving speech, which 
> amply demonstrates his devotion towards his brother's wife and his 
> attitude of extreme rectitude and propriety. ''Since I have never looked 
> at my respected sister-in-law in the face and have always had my head 
> bowed with devotion while in front of Her, I have never had occasion to 
> see the ornaments adorning the upper portion of Her tirumeni. However, I 
> can readily identify the Noopuram which She wore on Her feet, since I 
> prostrate before Her daily. That is, in fact, the only ornament I am 
> familiar with, my glances being forever concentrated on Her holy feet, in 
> devotion and propriety'', says Lakshmana. Here is the beautiful slokam of 
> Sri Valmiki-
>
>
>
> 'Naaham jaanaami kundale, naaham jaanaami keyoore
>
> Noopure tu abhijaanaami nityam paada abhivandanaat'
>
>
>
> It is not only Sita Devi who wears a Noopuram-even Sri Goda Devi's feet 
> are adorned with gem-studded Silambu. And when She walks gracefully, these 
> Noopurams emit a sweet sound that is nectar to the ears of Her Divine 
> Consort, says Swami Desikan in Goda Stuti-
>
>
>
> 'Tvat preyasa: shravanayo: amritaayamaanaam
>
> Tulyaam tvadeeya mani noopura sinchitaanaam'
>
>
>
> For those who wonder whether the sounds of a Noopuram could be as sweet as 
> all that, here is confirmation from Sri Valmiki, who describes Sri Hanuman 
> as being impressed by the strong and sweet resonance emanating from the 
> Lankan women's ornaments, when they moved-
>
>
>
> 'Sushraava Kaanchee ninaadam, noopuraanaam cha nissvanam'
>
>
>
> 'Noopuraanaam cha ghoshena Kaancheenaam ninadena cha
>
> Mridanga tala ghoshaischa ghoshavadbhi: vinaaditam'
>
>
>
>>From all the aforesaid, you would arrive at the conclusion that the 
>>Noopuram is an entirely feminine ornament, serving as an adornment for 
>>ladies' tender feet. However, you would be entirely mistaken, for many are 
>>the instances in our religious lore which describe the Lord's feet too to 
>>be adorned with the Silambu. Here is a beautiful slokam from Srimad 
>>Bhagavatam, attesting to this-
>
>
>
> 'Shanka chakra gadaa padma vanamaalaa vibooshitam
>
> Noopurai: vilasat paadam koustubha prabhayaa yutam'
>
>
>
> Here is another couplet from the same source, painting a glorious portrait 
> of Sri Krishna, adorned from head to foot with various ornaments-among 
> them the Noopuram-- and gladdening the eyes and minds of onlookers beyond 
> measure-
>
>
>
> 'Kaanchee kalaapa paryastam lasat kaanchana noopuram
>
> Darsaneeyatamam shaantam mano nayana vardhanam'
>
>
>
> The Adhyaatma Ramayana tells us that not only Sri Krishna, but Sri Raghava 
> too was adorned with Noopuram-
>
>
>
> 'Noopurai: katakai: bhantam tathaiva vanamaalaya
>
> Lakshmanena dhanu: dvandva karena parisevitam'
>
>
>
> Even at SriVaikunttam, the Lord's feet are adorned with Noopuram. This we 
> come to know from Sri Ramanuja's Gadyams-'Peetaambara kaanchee guna 
> noopuraadi aparimita divya bhooshana', says the Bhashyakara, reserving for 
> the Noopuram a pride of place among the innumerable ornaments fortunate 
> enough to adorn Emperuman's tirumeni, by reserving its mention at the end 
> of a long list of jewels.
>
>
>
> Lest you think of the Noopuram as just another ornament, Swami Desikan 
> tells us that it has a glory all of its own, having been responsible for 
> originating a magnificent river known as the Silambaaru or Noopura Ganga. 
> All of us know that when, during Trivikramaavataram, the Lord's feet 
> reached Satyalokam in the process of measuring the second foot of land 
> promised by Mahabali, Brahmaa performed Tirumanjanam for the Tiruvadi, the 
> resultant flow becoming the holy Ganga. However, a part of the water which 
> touched the Noopuram on the Lord's feet became a separate stream and fell 
> atop the Tirumaalirum solai hills, attaining the name Noopura Ganga. Swami 
> Desikan tells us that this Noopura Ganga is much holier than the famed 
> Ganga, as the former is unpolluted by the touch of other Devatas. While 
> Ganga, on its way from the worlds above to earth, had to be borne by Sri 
> Rudra in his matted locks, to lessen its destructive speed, the Noopura 
> Ganga fell straight from the Lord's Noopuram to earth, thus making it more 
> sacred and pure. And the waters of the Noopura Ganga are sweeter too (I 
> can personally attest to this, having spent some time on the banks of the 
> Ganga at Varanasi). This episode is chronicled by Swami Desikan in Hamsa 
> Sandesam thus-
>
>
>
> 'Yasyotsange Bali vijayina: tasya manjeera vaantam
>
> Paatho divyam Pasupati jataa sparsa soonyam vibhaati'
>
>
>
> The Hamsa Sandesam has another interesting tale to tell about Sri Sita 
> Devi's Noopuram, the only ornament with which Sri Lakshmana is familiar. 
> The Noopuram found by the Vaanara veeras at Kishkinda was the one worn on 
> Sita Devi's right foot. Once She reached Lanka and was imprisoned at 
> Ashoka vanam, Sri Janaki removed the other Noopuram on Her left foot and 
> kept it, along with the other ornaments, tied in a piece of cloth to the 
> branch of the Simsupa tree, underneath which She was forced to spend Her 
> time, watched constantly by the demoniac minions of Ravana. Though She was 
> unmindful of the other jewels, Sita used to take out the Noopuram 
> frequently and heave a sigh of sorrow at the plight of the ornament, which 
> was personally fitted on Her foot by Sri Raghava. At the other end, Sri 
> Rama too fondly looks at the other Noopuram, seeing Sri Mythily in it, 
> finding it as sweet-sounding as a swan's song, eagerly awaiting the day 
> when He would be able to restore it to its rightful place on Sri Janaki's 
> left foot. Here is the beautiful slokam, which establishes Swami Desikan's 
> credentials as a poet par excellence, much superior to Kalidasa-
>
>
>
> 'Vaktum maargam kilava sumateem jagmusha: tat padaabjaat
>
> Manjeerasya tvat upama rute:  dakshinasya asya tulyam
>
> Ankaaroode charana kamala mat karena upadeyam
>
> Vaamam shaakha shikara nihitam veekshya gaadam vishannaam'
>
>
>
> The Noopuram has made me wax rather long. We will wind this up with a 
> quote from Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatam, which tells us to surrender to 
> the lotus feet of Sri Srinivasa, adorned by Noopurams which are covered by 
> fragrant flowers-
>
>
>
>           'Aa noopura arpita sujaata sugandhi pushpa
>
> Sourabhya sourabha karou sama sannivesou
>
> Sowmyou sadaa anubavanepi navaanubhaavyou
>
> Sri Venkatesa charanou sharanam prapadye'
>
>
>
> Srimate Sri Lakshmi Nrisimha divya paduka sevaka Srivan Satakopa Sri 
> Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> 



------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> 
Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing
http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/XUWolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~-> 

 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Oppiliappan/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    Oppiliappan-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
 



[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next] [Date Index ] [Thread Index ] [Author Index ]
Home Page
http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia
oppiliappan-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe to the list