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1-8
Sri:
SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,
Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:
661. vandhE gAruthmathIm vrutthyA maNisthOmaIscha pAdhukAm
yayA nithyam thuLasyEva harithathvam prakAshyathE
I pay obeisance to Paaduka, inset with green gems-emerals-which have
Garuda as their devata. Both Paaduka and Garuda are alike in their
duty assignment and in appearance/constitution. Paaduka resembles
Tulasi too. Whereas Paaduka exhibits Hari-tatva-(the principle called
Hari), Tulasi exhibits Harita-tatva (the greennenss).
Namo Narayana,
SriMuralidhara Dasan
Special Notes by V.Sadagopan (V.S):
We are commencing the Marakatha Paddhathi now.
There are 20 slOkams in this chapter, which extoll
the glories of the Emeralds adorning the PaadhukAs
of the Lord. Swamy Desikan explores the relations
between the green color of the Emeralds and GarudA ,
TuLasi , panic grass (aruham pul ) and other entities
with a green color in tis paddhathi.
1) UtthamUr Sawmy's anubhavam: I bow unto the PaadhukAs ,
which have a lot in common with GarudA in the areas of
their respective duties and the colored gems that
they like to wear. The PaadhukAs elaborate on the verdure or
Hari Tatthvam , just as TuLasi does. I offer my salutations
to GarudA and TuLasi , the peers of PaadhukAs in their
attributes.
Our Lord travels on GarudA , just as He travels on
the PaadhukAs. GarudA is the patron deity of emerald
gem and latter are seen on the PaadhukAs of the Lord .
There are two similarities between the Paadhukais
and GarudA : (1) Both GarudA and the PaadhukAs announce
the arrival of thier Lord through their presence.
(2)GarudA and the Paadhukais have a common feature with
the sacred TuLasi worn from head to foot by the Lord
in the form of TuLasi garlands. Lord's identity is
revealed from the TuLasi that is seen on His limbs.
>From its haritham (green hue) , TuLasi is said to
have verdure or greenishness (Haritatthvam). Both GarudA
and the Paadhukais transport the Lord , who is richly
adorned with the green TuLasi leaves . The emeralds on
the Paadhukais and the presiding deity for the green
hued emeralds(Garudan) also show thus the Hari Tatthvam like
Tulasi. All these three seem to elaborate on Hari Tatthvam.
The poetic genius of Swamy Desikan and his uncanny ability
to play with the multiple meanings of words are made
abundantly clear here.
2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam: The Paadhukais do the work of
Garudan.There is however a distinction. When Paadhukais transport
the Lord over His Raaja veedhis , it brings the Lord close to all,
who can not come into the temple for different reasons and makes Him
readily accessible to one and all .When the Lord travels on
the back of Garudan and moves around in the sky , He is not easy to
see and enjoy. Emeralds of Paadhukai like TuLasi is green
and is endowed with purity (parisuddham). Like TuLasi ,
the emeralds on the Paadhukais chase away the sins of
janthus and blesses one with auspiciousness. Swamy Desikan
salutes such a sacred Paadhukai with emeralds . Garuda Pacchai is
another name for emeralds. Garudan stands for Vedams .
Swamy NammAzhwAr has created the Tamizh Vedam of
Thiruvaimozhi to bring the anubhavam of perumAL close
to one and all .It is difficult to comprehend
the meanings of Sanskritic Vedams. Swamy NammazhwAr has
distilled however the clear meanings of the vedams
(Saaraarthams)like the glow of the emerald gem .
3)"VandhE PaadhukAm " says Swamy Desikan here and qualifies those
Paadhukais as being close to Garudan by occupation( VrutthyA )
and by the assembly of emerald gems( MaNi SthOmai: saha).
Those paadhukais reveal always the Hari tatthvam just like
TuLasi ( yayA PaadhukayA TuLasyEva nithyam Hari Tatthvam
PrakAsyathE )...(V.S).
Sri:
SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,
Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:
662. savilAsagathEShu rangaBharthu:
thvadhaDhInEShu bahiShkruthO garuthmAn
aDhigacChathi nirvruthim kaThanchith
nijarathnaIsthvayi pAdhukE! niviShtaI:
Oh Paaduka! When the Lord takes a stroll wearing You, Garuda has no
role of carrying the Lord. He has, however, no regrets; his
consolation is that You are adorned with green Marakata gems, which
have Garuda as their devata.
Namo Narayana,
SriMuralidhara Dasan
Specail Notes by V.S
Slokam 662:
1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! Garuda thinks
that the Lord's steps are not as beauitful , when He rides
on him compared to the steps that He ( the Lord) takes on You.
Therefore as the Lord of Emeralds , he (Garudan) presents You
with the gems named after him .This way , Garuda has
the opportunity to participate vicariously in the travels of
the Lord on You.
2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! Garudan experiences
sorrow , when he sees the joyous way in which the Lord travels
on Your back. He wishes htat he had that bhAgyam. He consoles
himself with the thought that the stones associated with his
name is enmeshed on the Paadhukais and that the Lord's Thiruvadi
is connected to those emeralds.
The inner meaning is that the Sanskritic Vedams are saddened
when they hear the ThiruvAimozhi recitation , The Vedams long
for the Lord to hear them. Then , the Vedams console themselves
with the thought that the ThiruvAimozhi deals after all with
the meanings of the Veda Manthrams. Even if ThiruvAimozhi is
not rooted in Sanskrit , the Vedams feel consoled that
the meanings of their manthrams are covered by Swamy
NammAzhwAr in His aruLiccheyalkaL.
3) Lord RanganAtha has many kinds of steps , while He
travels on Paadhukais in a sporitng manner ( Ranga bharthu:
TvadhadhInEshu savilAsa gathEshu Thvayi adhigacchathi).
When garudan witnesses this scene , he feels rejected
and becomes dejected ( garuthmAn bahishkrutha:). Then
he comforts himself by thinking that You are adorned
after all by the stones for which he is dEvathai
( GaruthmAn Thvayi nivishtai: nija rathnai: kaTamchith
nirvritthim adhigacchathi)....(V.S)
Sri:
SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,
Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:
663. samayE maNipAdhukE! murArE: muhurantha: puramugDhachEtikAsthE
harithAn haridashmanAm mayUKhAmsthuLasIpallavashankayA kshipanthi
Oh Manipaaduka! When the Lord proceeds to the harem, the attendant-
maids, in their ignorance try to relegate, to the outer side, what
they imagine to be Tulasi leaves but what are merely reflections from
Your emerald gems!
Namo Narayana,
SriMuralidhara Dasan
Special Notes by V.Sadagopan (V.S):
SlOkam 663 :
1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Oh MaNi PaadhukE! When You
approach Your Lord , the foolish lady servants of the inner
chambers try to brush off Your emerald rays , thinking that
they are tender shoots of TuLasi that have gotten loose from
the TuLasi garlands of the Lord . They vainly try to use
their brooms to clear the floors from the "fallen green TuLasi "
leaves.
2) Swamy Desikan focuses here on a happening in the inner
chambers of His divine consorts. There are woman servants
there (antha: pura chEDikA:). Swamy describes them as "mugdhA:
(asaDukaL or simpletons ). Why ? They witness the green rays
arising out of the emerald gems adorning the Lord's Paadhukais
(haridasmanAm harithAn mayUkAn) . They mistake them out of
their foolishness to be sacred TuLasi leaves (TuLasi pallava
sankayA) and try to sweep them away frequently ; they are
thus engaged in a foolish act ( haridasmanAm harithAn
mayUkAn muhu: kshipanthi)..(V.S)
Sri:
SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,
Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:
664. haritha sahasA harinmaNInAm praBhayA ranganarEndhrapAdharakshE!
thuLasIdhaLasampadham dhaDhAthi thvayi BhakthaIrnihitha:
prasUnarAshi:
Oh Rangaraja Paaduka! The heaps of flower petals cast on You in
reverential archana etc. turn to a green appearance by the effect of
light from Your emerald stones. They appear to be Tulasi leaves!
Namo Narayana,
SriMuralidhara Dasan
Special Notes by V.Sadagopan (V.S):
SlOkam 664:
1)UtthamUr Swamy 's anubhavam: Oh RanganAtha PaadhukE! The flower
bunches placed at Your feet by Your devotees absorb the green rays
of Your emeralds and quickly attain the color of green and thus
reach the status of the holy TuLasi .
2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam:Oh PaadhukE! Kaimkarya parALs
place the brilliantly white flowers like Mallikai , Mullai
and white lotus on You adorned with the beautiful emerald gems
radiating green rays. When the sEvArthis witness this
intermingling of the lustre of the white flowers with
the green rays arising out of Your emeralds, they get
the impression that the resulting green lustre is that of
the TuLasi leaves resting over You.
3) Oh the Paadhukais of the Lord of SrIrangam ( hE Ranga-
narEndhra paadhukE)! The heap of white flowers are placed
by devotees on You protecting the Thiruvadis of the Lord
( Bhakthai: nihitha: prasoona raasi:). The whiteness of thse
flower assembly intermingles with the brilliant green rays
originating from the emeralds positioned on You and
produces immediatelty a green halo (HarimaNInAm prabhayA
sahasA haritha:) around the Lord's Thiruvadis. This union
of the hue of the white flowers with the green rays of
the emeralds gives the impression of tender green shoots of
TuLasi adorning the Lord's sacred feet...(V.S).
Sri:
SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,
Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:
665. prasAdhayanthI maNipAdhukE! thvam vikshEpayOgEna vihAravElAm
harinmanOjnyA harikAnthisinDhO: sandhrushyasE shaIvalamanjarIva
Oh Manipaaduka! When the Lord takes a walk, with You in His Feet, He
enjoys the walk. The walk-gait makes Him an ocean of charm. To that
ocean the green herbal cleaner-the sea moss-is the radiance from Your
emeralds.
Namo Narayana,
SriMuralidhara Dasan
Special Notes by V.Sadagopn (V.S):
SlOkam 665: Oh MaNi PaadhukE! Through Your beautiful steps ,
You cleanse the places , where You come in to contact .Through
Your emeralds , Your green color is bewitching to behold.
You join with the pond of Lord's lustre and You cleanse
the waters through Your contact and make them fit for
the residence of Your Lord. You are very similar in these
attributes to the Saivala plant ,which has a cleansing
effect on the muddy ponds .
Swamy Desikan compares the green emerald's attributes
to that of the green moss like plant (Saivalam ) growing
in ponds . Both are beautiful to look at and have a pleasing
color. Both cleanse their environments , when they come in to
contact with blemishes . SaivalA plant cleanses the dirty waters
of the ponds. Emerald rays arising from the PaadhukAs cleanse
the samsAric afflictions and the sins of people.
2) The Lord's beauty is like a vast "shoreless" ocean.
The beautiful rays from the emeralds adorning His sacred
feet are like the velampAsi ( the dense bunch green moss )
on top of that ocean of the Lord's beauty .The presence of
VelampAsi in ponds clears the water from any muddy apperance
and is therefore considered beneficial .
The inner meaning is that the Lord gets mighty angry ,
when the sentient beings trespass the injunctions
outlined in His SaasthrAs. He becomes agitated.
In that mood , He thinks of punishing the offenders.
At that time , Swamy NammAzhwAr (SaThAri Soori) intervene
and calms down the anger of the Lord .
3) The key word in this slOkam is "prasAdhayanthi".
The green rays of the emerald delight the Lord and
reduces the anger of the lord and puts Him in
a benovolent disposition. The lord practises
"vikshEpa yOgam " or the act of placement of His
sacred Thiruvadi in the emerald gem adorned
Paadhukais. That generates a delightful
experience (ManOj~nam)for Him . Oh PaadhukE!
You shine then as the beautiful assembly of
green moss ( saivala manjarIva dhrusyathE)
for the Ocean of beauty ( Hari Kaanthi sindhO:)
that the Lord is ! You delight Him thus
(prasAdayanthi) through the brilliant green
lustre of Your emerald gems ...(V.S).
Sri:
SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,
Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:
666. baDhnAsi rangEshvarapAdharakshE! harinmaNInAm praBhayA
sPhuranthyA chUdApadhEShu shruthisundharINAm
mAngaLyadhUrvAnkuramAlyapankthim
Oh Ranganatha Paaduka! The emeralds in You emit a green halo that
looks like the garland of Durva grass (Aruhampul) encircling the
heads of the Veda-damsels standing beside You in obeisance.
Namo Narayana,
SriMuralidhara Dasan
Special Notes by V.Sadagopan (V.S):
SlOkam 666
1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Swamy Desikan compares
the intertwined green rays of the emeralds adorning
the Lord's Paadhukais to a garland made of panic grass
(aruham pul), which is a special plant of delight to
VinAyakA. Swamy says: " Oh RanganAtha PaadhukE!
Through Your resplendent green rays associated with
Your dense row of emeralds , You look like a garland of
auspicious panic grass on the heads of the VedAs (veda
siras) taking the form of ladies to be near their Lord".
2. SrImath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE ! The green
rays associated with Your emeralds are like an assembly of
aruham pul.The vedams taking the form of young women
place those rays on their heads (Upanishads) to experience
auspiciousness. During the marriage ceremonies , aruham pul
is placed on the heads of the kanyAs . Lord is the Master
(husband) for the ladies taking the form of Vedams
to serve their Lord. The inner meaning is that the Sanskritic
VedAs adorn the AzhwAr's Paasurams on their heads
for realizng auspiciousness.
3.Oh RangEswara PaadharakshE! Your emerald rays create
(bhadhnAsi)the impression that there are rows of garlands of
panic grass (dhUrvAnkura maalA) on the heads of the VedAs
that have taken the form of ladies (Sruthi sundarIs)
serving their Lord ( Sruthi sundarINAm chUDApadhEshu
maangaLya dhUrvAnkura maalya pankthim bhadhnAsi). This
effect arises from the unique lustre of Your emerald rays
( Thvam HarimaNInAm sphuranthyA prabhayA badhnAsi)..(V.S).
Sri:
SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,
Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:
667. acChEdhyarashminiyathaIrGhatithA haridhBhi:
sadhvarthmanA gathimathI maNipAdharakshE!
sandhrushyasE savithrumaNdalamaDhyaBhAjO
rangEshvarasya raThasampadhivAparA thvam
The movement of the Padhuka with unceasing green radiance from
emeralds, as also the movement of the sun's chariot drawn by horses,
in the celestial orbit is for the procession of Lord Ranganatha. It
is he who stands on the Paaduka and is in the centre of the solar
globe.
Namo Narayana,
SriMuralidhara Dasan
Special Notes by V.Sadagopan (V.S):
SlOkam 667
1) UtthamUr Sawmy's anubhavam: Here , Swamy Desikan
equates the Paadhukais to another chariot of the Sun.
The Paadhukais like the Sun's chariot (RaTam) are tied
with ropes. In the case of the Paadhukais , the green
rays of the emeralds are the binding ropes. They both
travel on divine routes. The Lord travls on the paadhukas
as well as on the other chariot of the Sun as Soorya
Mandala Madhyasthan. Swamy says: " Oh MaNi PaadhukE!
You appear like a second chariot of SooryA , where
its horses are tied for travel in the star-studded
skies . This time the green ropes that tie the horses
to the chariot are the rays of Your emeralds that are
imposisble to break apart. Your Lord is travelling on You
as the seated person at the center of the solar orbit
(Soorya Mandalam).
2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! On You are
enmeshed the beautiful green emerald gems. PerumAL wears
You and travels on MangaLa maargams. When we look at You ,
we recognize You as being equivalent to the chariot of
the Sun. PerumAL is seated at the center of the orbit of
the Sun .The inner meaning is that the AchAryAs are the raTams
for our Lord , who approaches the prapannAs through travel
on the chariot of AchAryAs.The jeevan comprehends the Lord
through AchAryAs alone.
3)SrI RanganATan is saluted by Swamy Desikan as
" Savithru maNDala madhya bhAjan " here . The Paadhukais
are recognized as " aparA RaTa:" or the other chariot
of the Lord. This chariot traveling on the auspicious
routes (sadhvardhatmanA gathimathi) is tied to the horses
that draw it with green emerald ray ropes firmly ( acchEdhya
rasmi niyathai: gaDithA). The Lord seated on You serving
as the other chariot of Sooryan is now possessed with
a great wealth ( savithru maNDala madhya bhAja:RangEswarasya
aparA raTa samapdhi iva samdhrusyasE)...(V.S).
Sri:
SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,
Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:
668. shyAmAyamAnanigamAnthavanOpakaNTA:
sThAnE padhAvani! harinmaNayasthvadhIyA:
paryanthashAdhvalavathIm praThayanthi nithyam
nArAyaNasya ruchirAm naKharashmigangAm
Oh Paaduka! The lustre from the Lord's feet-nails passes like a
stream of Ganga, with green fields close by. The nearby forest of
Vedanta acquires the verdant colour and fertility from the emeralds.
This forest is getting nutrients from the Ganga.
Namo Narayana,
SriMuralidhara Dasan
SrI:
Special Notes by V.Sadagopan (V.S):
SlOkam 668
1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! It is fitting
that the places that have come in to contact with the rays of
Your emeralds have become dark green meadows. The areas
close to the lustre of Your Lord's white radiance of toe nails
have become dark green through interaction with the green rays of
Your emeralds.
2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! The green emeralds
are enmeshed on Your surface. Through their green radiance ,
those emeralds make the forests of Upsnishads attain a greenish
black hue. The Lord of SrIrangam adorns You on His Thiruvadi .
The radiant white lustre of His toe nails remind one of
the fast flowing white waters of GangA river. When one looks
at that white radiance next to the green radiance of Your
emerlads , the scene evokes the image of green grass fields
on the banks of GangA river.
3)Oh PaadhukE! The dark green rays of Your emeralds makes
the nearby forests of Upanishads greenish black ( ShyAmAyamAna
nigamaantha vana upakaNDA: ThvadhIyA: harinmaNaya:). This situation
reminds one of the green grass fields on the banks of the river Ganga
flowing swiftly with white waters. This is an appropriate analogy
(sTAnE praTayanthi). The Lord's enchanting nails have the radiant
white hue recalling the white hue of Ganga river (RuchirA:
NaarayaNasya nakha rasmi GangA nithyam praTayanthi). Your
green rays emanating form the emeralds evoke the imagery of
fields full of green grass adjascent to the banks of the river
GangA ( paryantha sAdhvalavathIm praTayanthi )...(V.S).
Sri:
SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,
Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:
669. udhrishya kAmapi gathim maNipAdharakshE!
rangEshvarasya charaNE vinivEshithAthmA
prAyO harinmaNiruchA dhruDaBhakthibanDhA
prAdhuShkarOthi BhavathI thuLasIvanAni
Oh Paaduka! Even as, for a particular walk, the Lord wears You, You
have evidently dedicated Your-self at the Lord's service. The gem-
setting lattice is very well-designed to suit the foot shape. Even
so, Your Bhakti is firm-set. Further You appear to nurture a green
Tulasi garden by throwing the green halo of the emeralds. That is the
way of action of a discerning soul.
Namo Narayana,
SriMuralidhara Dasan
Special Notes by V.Sadagopan (V.S):
SlOkam 669
1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE ! It appears that
You have placed at the feet of Lord RanganAtha Your mind with
devotion to recieve a matchless boon. Your dense green rays of
emeralds look like dense forests of Tulasi placed at His
Thiruvadi to worship Him with the goal of obtaining a supreme
boon (Stay at the Supreme abode of the Lord).
2) SrImath Andavan's a nubhavam: When one looks at the green
envelope of rays arising from Your emeralds , it reminds
one of the Tulasi gardens created to worship the Lord
and perform saraNAgathi to gain mokshAnugraham.
3)Oh PaadhukE! Through the lustre of Your green rays
from the emeralds on You , You remind us of a vast garden
of TuLasi plants (BhavathI harinmaNi ruchA prAya: TuLasi-
vanAni prAdhushkarOthi). It also reminds one of the soul
placed at he Thiruvadi of the Lord of SrIrangam with great
Bhakthi for realizing the supreme boon of Moksham ( kaamapi
gathim uddhisya RangEswarasya CharaNE vinivEsitha aathmA
dhruda bhakthi bhandhA)...(V.S).
Sri:
SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,
Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:
670. sEvArThamAgathavathAm thridhashEshvarANAm
chUdAmaNiprakarashAliShu moULiShu thvam
samvarthayasyasuramardhanapAdharakshE!
svEnAshmagarBhamahasA shukapankthishOBhAm
Oh Paaduka! The Chiefs of the Devas come and stand in obeisance to
You. The gems in their crowns look like rows of paddy fields. The
green effulgence from Your emeralds fall on them resulting in an
imagery of green parrots sitting on the paddy stalks.
Namo Narayana,
SriMuralidhara Dasan
Special Notes by V.Sadagopan (V.S):
SlOkam 670
1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Oh Paadhukai of the Lord
who destroys the AsurAs ! DevAs are standing before You
to prostrate before You. Their heads sport crowns with
many bright red gems that make their heads look like
a field of ripe , red rice sheaves. The entry of
the green rays from Your emeralds amidst those ripe ,
red rice sheaves looks the flight of a group of green
parrots in their midst .
2)Oh PaadhukE! SrImath Andavan's anubhavam: The dEvAs wearing
beautiful crowns enmeshed with red rubies are standing at your
feet to prostrate before You . The interplay between the green
rays from Your emeralds and the rows of red gems on the DevA's
crowns at the time of their prostrations gives the appearance of
the flock of green parrots descending on the red field of
rice paddies.
3) Oh the Paadhukais of the Lord , who destroys asuras
( asuramardhana PaadharakshE)! The devAs have arrived
at the Thiruvadi of the Lord to prostrate before Him
( sEvArTam aagathavathAm thridasEsvarANAm --). Their
heads adorn crowns with dense rows of padhmarAga gems
( ThridasEsvarANAm chUDAmaNi prakarasAlishu mouLishu).
Amidst that rows of fields resembling ripe red rice
crops , Your green rays from the emeralds on You fall
( svEna asmagarbha mahasA samvarthayasi). That mingling
of the green rays on the red fields of rubies reminds
one of the flocks of green parrots landing on the reddish
rows of rice ready for harvest ( asmagarbha mahasA
sukha pankthi sObhAm samvarthayasi)...(V.S).