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Srimate SrivanSatakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

 

                 Seeing Red
 

When do you your eyes acquire a reddish tint? "When you contract 
Conjunctivitis!" (popularly known as "Madras Eye") remarks my daughter, looking 
over my shoulder at the computer. Levity apart, when your eyes take on a 
reddish hue for whatever reason, they acquire an unseemliness, which makes 
people avert their faces. We do not associate blood-shot eyes with anything 
good. In fact, in some, such eyes are indicative of excessive intake of 
alcohol, while in others, the condition is caused by sleeplessness. In women, 
the condition is induced by prolonged crying. Whatever be the reason therefor, 
red eyes do spoil your looks and indicate an abnormality.

 

Surprisingly, however, the same condition is the subject matter of admiration 
and adoration, when it is found in the Lord. People have written pages on the 
very same reddishness in the Lord's eye, which they find unseemly in others. 
"Kangal sivandu periyavaai" remarks one Azhwar, while another enthuses about 
the "Sentaamarai Kannan". When Tiruppanazhwar catalogues the captivating 
features of the Lord's eyes, reddishness is one trait, which he finds 
remarkable-"Kariyavaagi pudai parandu milirndu sevvariyodi neenda apperiyavaaya 
Kangal". 

 

The Lord is extremely colourful-His curly hair is jet black ("Mai vanna narum 
kunji"), His broad and beautiful eyes are tinged with red, His teeth are a 
dazzling white, His lips a captivating red again ("Kovvai chevvaai"), He wears 
a Vanamaala with a selection of vividly colourful flowers and His complexion 
that of brilliant beaten gold ("Pon meni kanden"). However, amidst all this 
riot of colour, it is His bewitching eyes, which captivate the devotee and make 
him lose all self-control. The beauty of these lotus eyes is enough to drive us 
mad with desire, says Tiruppanazhwar-"periyavaaya Kangal ennai pedamai 
seidanave". Even seasoned Rishis who have banished all desire and emotion from 
their hearts are floored by these captivating eyes, says the Jitanta 
Stotram-"Jitante Pundarikaksha!". It is these eyes that rivet the onlooker's 
attention and prevent him from proceeding further to enjoy other parts of the 
Lord's tirumeni. It is these eyes which show Him up to be the Overlord of the 
Universe, says Sri Nammazhwar-"anaittulagum tozhum aravinda lochanan".

 

If Emperuman's eyes are of such scintillating beauty, they owe it in no small 
measure to their reddish tint. We have a doubt here-why should the Lord's eyes 
be red, of all colours? Why not green or blue, for that matter?

 

A quick look at Srimad Ramayanam and Aruliccheyal reveals several reasons why 
the Lord's eyes are red.

 

1.      The Paramapursha's eyes are verily lotus blooms. ("Ramo Raajeeva 
lochana:"-"Sentaamarai Kannan") And lotus flowers are red (though there is a 
white variety too-Ven Taamarai-the majority of these blooms are red). Hence 
there is no surprise that Emepruman's eyes sport a reddish tinge. This is the 
purport too of the name "Lohitaaksha:" occurring in Sri Vishnu 
Sahasranamam-"Rakta Raajeeva nayano Lohitaaksha: prakeertita:"

 

2.      The Divine Consort sports a complexion like a lotus-"Padma Varnaam" 
says the Sri Suktam. Our eyes reflect what is constantly opposite them. Since 
Sri Mahalakshmi is the inseparable Consort, who has vowed to stay with the Lord 
without a second of separation, Her colour rubs off on Emperuman too, so to 
say, imparting a reddish tinge to His eyes.

 

3.      As we have seen above, sleeplessness can be a cause of eyes being red. 
If you want to test the truth of this, try keeping awake for a whole night and 
look at your eyes in the morning. But why should the Lord be sleepless? To the 
contrary, He is always to be seen reclining on His soft and smooth snake bed, 
which would lull even an incurable insomniac to sleep. However, we are told 
that the Lord never sleeps, but only feigns slumber-"uranguvaan pol yogu 
punarnda oli mani vannan Kannan". With His eyes shut, He is always devising 
newer and newer strategies for ensuring emancipation for the vast majority of 
souls suffering in bondage. It is hence no wonder that without sleep, the 
Lord's eyes are red.

 

 People say that wealth is sure to drive away sleep, because the rich man is 
always worried about what would happen to his wealth and constantly thinks 
about safeguarding and multiplying it manifold. Similarly, Emperuman, who is 
the Lord and Master of all sentient beings and non-sentient objects, cannot but 
keep awake with worry as to their well-being.

 

4.      On some occasions, the Lord's eyes acquire a deep reddish hue due to 
anger. Though He is by nature extremely compassionate and a stranger to anger, 
yet, in His role as the Universal Protector, He has occasions to display anger. 
Srimad Ramayanam speaks of several instances of Sri Rama's eyes acquiring a 
reddish tinge on account of anger. One such is the unresponsive attitude of 
Samudra Raja, when Sri Rama lies on the seashore on a bed of grass, seeking the 
former's permission for building a bridge across the waters to Lanka. When, 
despite sincere entreaties, the God of Waters doesn't appear and fails to 
oblige, Sri Rama's justifiable anger makes His eyes blood-red, we are told-

"Samudrasya tata: kruddho Ramo raktaanta lochana:". In His legendary 
confrontation with Ravana, Sri Raghava's eyes acquire a deep shade of red due 
to anger, with His brows knit in a terrifying frown-"Sa kritvaa bhrukutim 
kruddha: kinchit samrakta lochana:'

 

5.      The commentaries to Tiruppavai tell us of another reason why 
Emperuman's eyes are red. Expanding on the phrase, "senkan tirumukhatthu selva 
Tirumal", Sri Jananyaacharya observes that the pleasure of regaining Jeevatmas 
(Chetana laabham) also makes the Lord's eyes red. Considering our propensity to 
go astray and away from Him, when we reform, perform Prapatti and reach Him at 
His divine abode, the Lord is as delighted as a father would be, at the return 
of a long-lost prodigal son. Thus immeasurable happiness also imparts 
reddishness to Emperuman's eyes, says the commentary-"alabhya laabhattaale 
sivanda kangal"

 

6.      Vyaakhyaana Chakravartthi Sri Periyavacchan Pillai, commenting on the 
line "Senkan siru siride emmel vizhiyaavo" (Tiruppavai) ascribes another reason 
for the ever-present tinge of red in the divine eyes-"Vaatsalyattaale 
sivandirukkai" says he, telling us that Emperuman's overflowing love and 
compassion for us makes His eyes red. Swami Desikan too concurs with this 
interpretation, in his Munivaahana Bhogam-"ananyar pakkal anuraagatthukku 
keetru edukkalaam padiyaana sivanda varigal".

 

7.      According to Saamudrikaa Lakshanam, the eyes of royals are tinged with 
red. And since the Lord is the King of all Kings--"Raajaadi Raaja: sarveshaam", 
is it any wonder that His eyes have such a tint?

 

Red is indeed a beautiful colour. When we chose the very first saree the bride 
is to wear during the wedding ("Koorai Pudavai"), we chose red. The deep beauty 
of corals is a thing all women enjoy and appreciate. Most of the beautiful 
flowers, whether it is a rose or a lotus or Iruvaaakshi, are red. More than 
anything else, it is because Red is the colour Emeperuman's eyes are tinged 
with, that our liking for the tint goes up manifold. It is this reddish tint 
sported by the lotus-like eyes that floors and enslaves onlookers, say Azhwars 
and Maharshis-"Taamarai kangalukku attru teerndu". Red is the colour of the 
cloth Matadors use to enrage and ultimately subdue the Bull. It would appear 
that the Lord too uses this matchless colour in His eyes, to win over our 
hearts.

 

Srimate Sri LakshmiNrisimha divya paduka sevaka SrivanSatakopa Sri Narayana 
Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

dasan, sadagopan

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





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