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1-8
Sri:
SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,
Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:
731. kalyANaprakruthim vandhE BhajanthIm kAnchanashriyam
padhArhAm pAdhukAm shoUrE: padha Eva nivEshithAm
I worship the Paaduka, made of gold, of unique auspiciousness, suited
to the Lord's Feet; the Paaduka is an affluence-mark. Like
Mahalakshmi, the Paaduka too acquires a place in His body.
Namo Narayana,
SriMuralidhara Dasan
Special Notes by V.Sadagopan(V.S):
Kaanchana Paddhathi
There are twenty verses in this section known as
Kaanchana Paddhathi . After focusing on the different kinds of
the gems adorning the Paadhukais , Swamy Desikan shifts his
attention now to the Gold on which the gems are embedded .
SlOkam 731
1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: I salute the most auspicious
Paadhukais made of gold . It has limitless glories. I salute
the Padhukais , which protect the matchless feet of the Lord ;
those Paadhukais also sat on the royal throne at AyOddhi.
2) SrImath Andan's anubhavam:Here Swamy Desikan describes
the golden roopam of the Paadhukais. It is made up of gold.
Its lustre is incomparable. Since the Paadhukais have a vaibhavam
matching that of the Lord's sacred feet , He is adorning them on
His illustrious feet.
On the Chest of the Lord is Vakshasthala Lakshmi. When one
looks at the golden Paadhukai , one sees another MahA Lakshmi ,
who is superior even to the Vakshasthala Lakshmi residing
at the Lord's sacred feet . Since the Paadhukai is fit for
the sthAnam of the Lord , Raamachandran blessed the Paadhukai
with the gift of His sthAnam itself.
The inner meaning here is that the Jn~Anam, OudhAryam and
DayA of a SadAchAryan are matchless. Even Bhagavaan is unable
to quantify the auspicious qualities of His SadAchAryans
precisely. Therefore , Our Lord maintains the AchAryAs
at the level of His own SthAnam. PerumAL incarnates
therefore as SadAchAryan. That is why Swamy Desikan says:
" There is no doubt about a sishyan realizing Moksha anugraham,
once he has sought the protection of a SadAchAryan. Those who
do not have SadAchArya sambhandham will not be invited by
the Lord to His Saayujyam , even if they may have all
the superior Aathma GuNams".
3)Swamy Desikan describes the Paadhukais as "KalyANa
prakrutheem " ( as having the natural disposition of
causing auspiciousness to the world and its people).
"KalyANa prakrutheem " also refers to the Paadhukais
made of Gold. Its lustre has indescribable beauty ( Kaanchana
Sriyam). Kaanachana means gold. Kaanchana SriYam can
also refer to the Paadhukais having the lustre arising from
its golden form . I salute those Paadhukais (SourE:
PaadhukAm vandhE), which is a close fit for the sacred
feet of the Lord ( padhArham) and is placed at that
lofty sthAnam( padha yEva nivEsithAm) by the Lord Himself.
Sri:
SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,
Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:
732. maDhujiththanukAnthithaskarANAm jaladhAnAmaBhayam viDhAthukAmA
chapalEva thadhamGhrimAshrayanthI BhavathI kAnchanapAdhukE!
viBhAthi
Oh Gold Paaduka! The clouds had ostensibly stolen the complexion from
the Lord; perhaps they sent You to plead with the Lord and afford
safety for the clouds. On such a mission the lightning sent had
remained as gold Paaduka at the Lord's Feet, I conjecture!
Namo Narayana,
SriMuralidhara Dasan
Special Notes by V.Sadagopan (V.S):
SlOkam 732
1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Oh Golden PaadhukE!
You appear like the golden lightning that has arrived
at the Lord's feet to beg the Lord to forgive the clouds
that stole the bluish-black lustre of His. Swamy Desikan
imagines why the PaadhukAs appear like a bolt of lightning
at the Lord's feet. He says that the Paadhukais have
taken that color and form (of the lightning) to plead on
behalf of the clouds of the rainy season that stole
the unique lustre of the Lord.
2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam:Oh PaadhukE! When one
experiences your extraordinary lustre, one is reminded
of the golden-hued lightning. The lightning normally
resides inside the rainy clouds.Why should it be seen
now at the Thiruvadi of the Lord ? The lightning is
considered as the wife of the rainy cloud, which stole
the beautiful color of the Lord.The lightning appears
to have arrived at the Lord's Thiruvadi to plead
forgiveness for her husband's apachAram to the Lord.
3)The rainy clouds have acquired the dark bluish hue
through the act of stealing of the Lord's hue ( Madhujith
Tanu kAnthi taskaranam). Those bluish-black rain-laden clouds
want to be free from the fear of punishment from the Lord
for their daring act of stealing of the kAnthi of the Lord
( JaladhAnAm abhayam vidhAthukAmA ). Who is going to interced
with the Lord and beg Him not to be angry at the Cloud?
It is only the wife of the cloud, the lightning that is
going to do it by firmly holding on to the feet of the merciful
Lord ( Abhayam vidhAthukAmA Tadhangrim aasrayanthee Chapalaa).
Oh Golden PaadhukE! You shine like that golden lightning
( Thvam ChapalEva vibhAthi)..(V.S).
Sri:
SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,
Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:
733. nikaShIkrutharamyakruShNarathnA
BhavathI kAnchanarampadham vyanakthi
paripuShyathi pAdhukE! yadhIkshA
sahasA na: samalOShtakAnchanathvam
Oh Paaduka! You are made of gold. Your grade is assessed by rubbing
You against the black whetstone that the Lord is. You are pure gold
and black gems (and the gem of Krishna) stay in You. One who enjoys
the worship of yourself would develop a contempt for other articles
as for a worthless clod of mud. What a great bestower You are!
Namo Narayana,
SriMuralidhara Dasan
Special Notes by V.Sadagopan (V.S):
SlOkam 733
1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! Your Lord
KrishNA is the touch stone broadcasting the beauty of
Your golden color. Your association with the glorious
black touch stone of KrishNA enhances You both .You are
the most supreme among golds.All other forms of gold
are like pieces of burnt mud (OttAnchalli) , when compared
to you.
Swamy Desikan hints that the supreme quality of the gold
of the Paadhukais is attested by the blusih-black touch stone,
Lord KrishNA. The gold of this earth can not match the lustre
or quality of the gold of PaadhukAs. Those who get access to
the gold of Paadhukais and the gem (touch stone) of KrishNA
will gain detatchment and dispassion from worldly affairs
without doubt.
(2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! You are made of
Gold. On You are enmeshed the dark blue Indhraneelam gems
(Sapphires). The proximity of those blue gems enhances Your
lustre manyfold. When one experiences that divine lustre
of Yours , one equates the gold as having the same value of
a piece of worthless roasted clay .
The inner meaning is that for one , who has the bhAgyam of
attaining a SadAchAryan comprehends clearly the Svaroopam of
JeevAthmA and ParamAthmA . For such a BhAgyasAli, even
the position of Brahma (Lofty Brahma pattam) looks like
a worthless piece of mud.He develops VairAghyam and
dispassion for the perishable pleasures of this world.
(3)Oh PaadhukE! Your golden form is enhanced in its
beauty by having the Indhraneela stones as Your
touch stone( Nikasheekrutha ramya krushNarathnA Bhavavthee).
As a result of that association , You shine with a golden
lustre that is indescribable ( Bhavathee Kaanchana sampadham
vyanakthi). The effect of experiencing that special lustre
leads one to acquire immediately a dispassionate state of
mind that treats gold and a piece of mud as having the same value
(Yath sampadham sahasA IkshA paripushyathi; sama lOshta
Kaanchanathvam paripushyathi)...(V.S)
Sri:
SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,
Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:
734. suraBhirnigamaI: samagrakAmA kanakOthkarShavathI padhAvani!
thvam dhishasi prathipannamADhavashrIranishOnnidhramashOkavaIBhavam
na:
Oh Paaduka! With the fragrance of the Vedas, You grant to us all our
requirements; You bear the excellence of gold. You have acquired the
prosperity, called the Lord. You ever confer grieflessness on us.
Namo Narayana,
SriMuralidhara Dasan
Special Notes by V.Sadagopan(V.S):
SlOkam 734
(1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! You have
the fragrance of the VedAs and are full of auspicious
qualities desired by every one. Heightened by Your sheen of
Gold , You possess the illustrious wealth known as Maadhava
and cause freedom from sorrow for us all the time .( The word ,
"Surabhi" of this verse has two meanings : fragrance or spring
season.If one uses the word Surabhi to denote the spring season ,
the verse glorifies the golden Paadhukais as having all the rich
attributes of this season.
2)SrImath Andavan's anubhavam:Oh PaadhukE! You are constituted by
Gold. You exude vedic fragrance. You possess all of the lofty
aathma guNams. You bless all those, who seek Your protection
with the full joy of mOksha Sukham.In this regard, You are like
the Lord Himself. The inner meaning is that the SadAchAryans are
like PerumAL Himself. For those , who approach them , SadAchAryAs
instruct them with the auspicious upadesams of the VedAs and
help them attain mOksham.
3)Oh PaadhukE! You have the Lord as Your wealth( Thvam
Maadhava SrI:); You have Vedic fragrance ( Thvam nigamai:
surabhi:); You have the loftiness of being golden ( Thvam
kanaka uthkarshavathee).You bless us always with the wealth of
the ever-radiant , sorrowless world ( Thvam na: anisa unnidhram
asOka vaibhavam disasi).Madhava SrI means the beauty of VaikAsi
month known for the blessings of the spring season (Surabhi:/vasantha
ruthu)with its blossoming AsOkA tree, SeNpakam and the songs of
nightingales...(V.S).
Sri:
SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,
Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:
735. sathivarNaguNE suvarNajAthE:
jagathi KyAthamasoUraBhAdhavarNam
shruthisoUraBhashAlinA svahEmnA
BhavathI shoUripadhAvani! vyudhAsThath
Oh Paaduka! Gold has virtues of colour-lustre and high-grade purity.
But it has no fragrance. Lest this stigma should attach to gold, You
have acquired the Vedic fragrance; I guess.
Namo Narayana,
SriMuralidhara Dasan
Special notes by V.Sadagopan(V.S):
SlOkam 735
1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Oh Paadhukais of the Lord!
The class of material known as gold has no fragrance. This is
well known.You remove that defect by having the fragrance of
the VedAs incorporated in Your goldness.
1) VedAs are the breath of the Lord and has full fragrance .
VedAs are also of the form of divine sound and is made by
the god of wind (Vaayu) known as GandhavAham. There is thus
a relationship between the fragrance of VedAs emanating from
GandhavAham and the Lord's breath enhancing that fragrance).
2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! You have removed
the deficency of the gold, which has no fragrance of its own.
It has lustre but no fragrance. Through association with You ,
that gold has been transformed to a superior kind of gold
imbued with Vedic fragrance.The inner meaning is that Swamy
NammazhwAr's prabhandhams are the essence of Vedic Upadesams.
Links to them are an absolute necessity for every one.
Just having birth in a noble lineage or possessing all
auspicous guNams without the sambhandham of Swamy NammAzhwAr's
SrI Sookthis will not lead to sukham.
3)Oh the Paadhukai protecting the Lord's Thiruvadi
( Oh Souri PadhAvani)! There is a pervasive apavAdham
in the world that although the lustrous gold is beautiful
to look at, it has no fragrance associated with it (SvarNa jAthE:
varna guNE sathi , asourabhAth jagathi khyAtham avarnam).
Oh PaadhukE! Through Your intrinsic svabhAvam as a superior
kind of Gold with intrinsic Vedic fragrance (Sruthi sourabhasAlinA
svahEmnA avarNam vyudhAsTath), You have removed the well known
deficency of the ordinary gold..(V.S).
Sri:
SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,
Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:
736. prathipannamayUrakaNTaDhAmnA parishuDdhEna padhAvani! svakEna
kamalAsthanaBhUShaNOchitham thadhBhavathI rathnamalankarOthi
hEmnA
Oh Paaduka! You are the gold that scintillates like the peacock neck.
Such a purest gold rightly adorns the gem, that Ranganatha is, that
is a fit ornament to the chest of Lakshmi.
Namo Narayana,
SriMuralidhara Dasan
Special Notes by V.Sadagopan (V.S):
SlOkam 736
1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! In Your pure
radiant form , Your color resembles the golden color seen
on the neck region of the peacocks. With that beautiful
golden color , You become fit to decorate the black gem of
a Lord adorning the breast region of Maha Lakshmi.
In Taathparya ChandrikA , Swamy Desikan suggested that
the true color of the gold is seen in the necks of
peacocks based on the rules of silpa sAsthrA.Here,
Swamy Desikan states that the beauty of the dark gems
of KrishNA is enhanced by the golden color of His PaadhukA.
(2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam:Oh PaadhukE! MahA Lakshmi,
the embodiment of Gold BINDS together with the Indhraneelam
gem , Her Lord , as an AabharaNam.Oh PaadhukE! You serve as
an alankAram for that PerumAL.
(3)Oh PaadhukE! You possess a blemishless golden hue
similar to the one seen on the necks of peacocks
( Prathipanna mayUra KaNDa dhAmnA parisuddhEna svakEna
hEmnA bhAsathi). with Your golden sheen , You serve as
decoration for that famous bluish-balck gem (Your Lord) ,
who shines as the aabharaNam for the sacred chest of
MahA Lakshmi ( svakEna hEmnA KamalA sthana bhUshaNa
uchitham tath rathnam alankarOthi)...(V.S).
Sri:
SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,
Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:
737. kAnthyA param puruShamApraNaKhAth suvarNam
karthum kshamA thvamasi kAnchanapAdharakshE!
anyAdhrushIm dhishasi yA vinathasya dhUrA
dhAragvaDhasthabakasampadhamindhumoULE:
Oh Gold Paaduka! Your gold effulgence transforms the Lord from the
nail-tip through the whole body as one of pure gold. And after all,
You convert, as well, the moon digit of the (distant) kneeling Siva
into a bunch of yellow konrai flowers!
Namo Narayana,
SriMuralidhara Dasan
Special Notes by V.Sadagopan(V.S):
SlOkam 737
1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Oh Golden PaadhukE!
Upanishads declare that Your Lord is of golden hue
from head to toe . That came about because of Your
influence. With Your extraordinary powers , You
made Your golden sheen spread all over Your Lord;
with that same power, You convert the color of
KonRai flowers on ChandrasEkara"s head to a golden
color that is matchless.
(2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! PerumAL
has a hue like the dense and dark clouds rainy season.
Inspite of His dark color, once Your golden lustre
falls on Him , His entire body takes on a golden sheen.
Lord Sivan offers His prostrations to You from a long
distance. At that time, Your golden kaanthi falls on
His bent head and the Crescent Moon there. As a result ,
the Moon takes on a golden sheen and resembles an unusual
golden KonRai flower bunch.
(3)Oh Golden PaadhukE! You become fit to transform
Your dark-hued Lord in to a golden sheened one from
head to toe ( Thvam KaanthyA param Purusham aapraNakhAth
suvarNam karthum kshamA asi). Lord Sivan is saluting YOu
from a distance( DhUrAth vinathasya IndhumouLi:).Your
golden rays fall on the crescent Chandran on the head of
Lord Sivan and create the beauty of another kind of
golden KonRai flowers ( IndhumouLE: anyAdhruseem
AaragvadhastaBaka sampadham disasi)..(V.S).
Sri:
SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,
Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:
738. chadhrAkruthi: kaThamakalpayaThAsthadhAnIm
vaImAnikapraNayinIvadhanAmbujAnAm
vikrAnthikAlavithathEna nijEna DhAmnA
bAlAthapam balivimardhanapAdhukE! thvam
Oh Paaduka of Bali-suppressor! When You went up above, the lotus-
faces of the celestial damsels blossomed in joy. How come a gold-
Paaduka-that is Chandra-like, works like the mild heat of the sun to
make the lotuses blossom?
*Chandrakrithi=moon-shaped; gold-a pun.
Namo Narayana,
SriMuralidhara Dasan
Special Notes by V.Sadagopan (V.S):
SlOkam 738
(1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam:Swamy Desikan is reminded of
the meaning of Gold for ChandrA and builds this verse to connect
the attribution of golden PaadhukAs to that of ChandrA.Swamy says:
" Oh Paadhukais of the Lord which smashed the arrogance of
Bali Chakravarthy! How did You in Your ChandrA (golden) form
perform the miracle of opening the closed eyes of the wives of
the DevAs shut by the injustices of Bali? At the time of Your
Lord's incarnation as Thrivikrama , His foot shot out and
Your golden sheen grew with it and served as the Young Sun ,
whose rays opened the closed lotus eyes of the wives of
DevAs. How did You of the form of ChandrA , the enemy of
the lotuses perform the miracle of opening the lotus
eyelids of the consort of the DevAs?".
(2)SrImath Andavan's anubhavam: During ThrivikramAvathAram ,
the body of the Lord grew to gigantic proportions .
The Paadhukais grew proportionately with the growing
legs/body and cast their golden lustre all around. The lotus
like faces of the consorts of DevAs bloomed with joy as
a result of the contact with those golden rays.
(3)Swamy Desikan uses here the double meanings of the word
Chnadra ( Moon and Gold).He says: " Oh Paadhukai of the Lord,
who destroyed the arrogance of Bali Chakravarthy ( Bali-
Vimardhana PaadhukE)! You have a body made of gold
(Thvam ChandrAkruthi:). Your golden lustre spread around at
the time of ThrivikramAvathAram ( TadhAnim VikrAnthikAla
vitathEna nijEna dhAmnA). What was the result of those
golden rays as they fell on the lotus like faces of
the sorrow-stricken wives of the DevAs? Those golden
rays served as the morning Sun for the lotus-like faces of
the DEva Sthrees and made them bloom joyously ( nijEna hEma
dhAmnA VaimAnika PranayinI vadhana ambhujAnAm bAlAtapam
akalpayaTA:)...(V.S).
Sri:
SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,
Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:
739. lEBhE thadhApraBhruthi nUnamiyam BhavathyA:
kAnthyA kavErathanayA kanakApagAthvam
yAvanmukundhapadhahEmapadhAvani! thvam
puNyam viBhUShithavathI puLinam thadhIyam
Oh Gold Paaduka of the Lord! When the Lord is on the shores of the
Kaveri, and You graced, by Your presence, the holy sands, from then
on the river acquired the name Kanakapaga. It is certain! Hema,
Kanaka=gold
Namo Narayana,
SriMuralidhara Dasan
Special Notes by V.Sadagopan(V.S):
SlOkam 739
(1)UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam:In the previous verse ,
Swamy Desikan suggested that ChandrA got the power of
SooryA with the help of the PaadhukAs; in this verse ,
Swamy states that river Ponni ( the golden hued Cauvery)
also got its golden color form the PaadhukAs. Swamy says:
" Oh Golden PaadhukAs of MukundhA! The river Cauvery attained
its golden color from You and came to be known as the river
Ponni from the day on which You occupied its banks and
spread Your golden lustre.Basking under that golden lustre,
the river inherited/derived its golden lustre leading up to
its name of Ponni.
(2)SrImath Andavan's anubhavam:Oh PaadhukE! River CauvEry
is known as the golden one (Ponni). You arrived at SrIrangam.
Your golden hue fell on the river and made it golden since
that time.
(3)Oh Golden Paadhukai of MukundhA ( Mukundha Padha hEma-
padhAvani)! When You decorated the pure sand hills of
the river Cauvery with Your golden rays ( Thvam Yaavath
TadhIyam PuNyam puLinam vibhUshithavathi), from then on
(TadhA Prubruthi) , this cauvEry river ( Iyam KavEratanayA)
became a golden river (BhavathyA kAnthyA kanakApagathvAm
lEbhE)..(V.S).
Sri:
SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,
Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:
740. chithram sarOjanilayAsahithasya shOrE:
vAsOchithAni charaNAvani! samviDhithsO:
sadhyO vikAsamupayAnthi samADhiBhAjAm
chandhrAthapEna thava mAnasapankajAni
Oh Paaduka! In order that the hearts of yogis will be fit to receive
the Lord and His consort and retain the Couple, You make the heart-
lotuses blossom, by the impact of Your moonshine, so to say, by the
lustre of Your gold that is sunshine for the process.
Namo Narayana,
SriMuralidhara Dasan
Special Notes by V.Sadagopan (V.S):
SlOkam 740
(1)UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! You desired
to create many residences for the Lord with His consort
MahA Lakshmi. So, You made the heart lotuses of many yOgis
bloom. The miracle of it all is that You used the cool rays
of the Moon to make those heart lotuses bloom. Normally , it
is the Sun that makes this happen since Moon is not a friend
of the Lotuses.However in Your presence,the question of any
enimity does not exist". There is no inconsistency here, if
we have the meaning of ChandrA to be gold instead of the Moon .
Swamy Desikan states here that the Paadhukai (Swamy NammAzhwAr)
through His Tamil vedam (ThiruvAimozhi) opened up the heart
lotuses of Ygis like Naadha Muni to recieve the Lord and His
consort there. The cool lustre of ThiruvAimozhi made the heart
lotuses of the Yogis bloom.Normally , they bloom due to the warm
rays of the Four VedAs(Sun). Swamy NammazhwAr also established
that worship of the Lord without His consort is fruitless .
All of this was made possible by the compassionate SatAri/
PaadhukA (Swamy NammAzhwAr).
(2)SrImath Andavan's anubhavaM:Here again , Swamy Desikan
uses the double meaning of "Chandra" to mean the Moon and
Gold. He suggests playfully that the Moon's rays made
the lotuses bloom. Normally , the Moon's rays have the opposite
effect. Swamy Desikan says in this context: " Oh PaadhukE!
You desire to create many places of resdence for the dhivya
dampathis. With Your golden rays, You make the heart lotuses
of the Yogis bloom and get prepared to recieve the dhivya
dampathis on those lotuses.
(3)Oh PaadhukE! You desire to create many appropriate places
for the residence of Your Lord with His consort ( hE CharaNAvani!
SarOjanilayA Sahithasya SourE: VaasOchithAni samvidhathsE).
You choose the heart lotuses of the Yogis ( SamAdhibhAjAm
maanasapankajAni chinthayasi). With Your golden lustre,
immediately make the heart lotuses bloom ( Tava ChandrAtapEna
sadhya: vikAsam upayAnthi). This is a wonder (Chithram)..(V.S).
Sri:
SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,
Dear Bhaktas,
Adiyen wishes to share a few additional reflections on verse 740 from
the Padhuka Sahasram. Swami Desikan reveals here the mahOpakaram of
the Padhukas to yogis engaged in meditation of the Lord residing in
the cavity of the heart. The mahanarayanOpanishad extols the Lord
as "yO antha samudhrE kavayO vayanthi". The Padhukas (Swami
NammAzhwar's Pasurams) outline the procedure for such an exalted Lord
to remain enshrined forever in the heart-lotus.
The ChandOgya Upanishad glorifies Brahman, who resides in the cave of
the heart. This enables us to readily recognize that the deity being
meditated upon in Dahara vidya discussed in the 8th Chapter of the
Chandogya Upanishad is Lord Narayana. Let us see how.
Specifically, the Chandogya Upanishad states "aTha yadhidham asman
brahmapurE dhaharam pundarIkam vEshma, dhaharOsminnanthara AkAsha:
thasmin yadhantha: thadhanvEShruvyam thaddhAva vijijnyAsithavyam"
Meaning: The body is the city of Brahman There is a small abode here
that is the heart. There is a small ether within that abode. That
ether and that which is within that ether are both to be meditated
upon. The Upanishad further explains that the eight qualities like
apahathapApmA (unaffected by sin), vijara: (unaffected by old age),
vishOka: (free from sorrow), vimruthyu: (imperishable) vijiDhathsa:,
apipAsa: (free from thirst), sathyakAma: (lover of truth),
sathyasankalpa: (he who wills the truth), AthmA (soul) Esha: for the
Brahman. In the Vedanta Sutras, Veda Vyasa establishes that dhahara
is Brahman. Brahman is characterized by eight qualities and he is to
be meditated upon as such.
Dahara vidhya is also expounded upon in the Mahanarayana Upanishad
mantram
"dhaharam vipApmam paramEshva BhUtham yath puNdarIkam
puramaDhyasaggamsTham I thathrApi dhaharam gaganam
vishOkasthasminyadhantha sthadhupAsithavyam"
Meaning: That small lotus of the heart, which is opposed to all that
is defiling and which is the abode of paramatman, is stationed in
the middle of the body of the aspirant. Even there, the small ether
which is within that abode, and which is characterized by
sinlessness and others and that which is within that ether-both are
to be meditated upon.
The very next mantram of the Mahanarayana Upanishad connects this
upasana to Lord Narayana through the mantram
YadhvEdhAdhoU svara prOkthO vEdhAnthE cha prathiShTitha: I thasya
prakruthilInasya ya: parassa mahEshvara:
Meaning: The pranava is ordained to be recited at the beginning of
the Veda and also at the end of it. The letter akAra into which it
merges is the source of it. He that is denoted by that akAra is the
supreme Lord.
We may note here that "A" is the vowel without which no consonant can
be pronounced. This indicates the all-pervasiveness of Lord Narayana.
Eloquent testimony in support of this fact can be seen from Lord
Krishna's Bhagavad Gita declaration "aksharANAm akArOsmi".
Swami NammAzhwar, whose pasurams it may be remembered embed the
essence of the Upanishads (sahasra shAKhOpanishad samAgamam), affirms
that the Supreme Being, Brahman, glorified in the Dahara Upasana of
Chadogya Upanishad and Mahanarayana Upanishad is Lord Narayana, who
is never separated from Sri. Swami Desikan brings out this message in
the Sri Stuthi salutation "yOgAramba tvaritha manasO
yushmadhAikantiyuktam", i.e., the purport of AshtAnga Yoga, the
process by which Yogis meditate on the Supreme Being enshrined in
their heart lotus is to eulogize the Lord and his consort Sri
together.
Swami Desikan brilliantly eulogizes this mahOpakaram of Swami
NammAzhwar through the analogy of the gentle moonlight helping
illumine the dark cavity in the dark cavity of the heart-Lotus. It
may be asked how lotuses can blossom in moonlight? Swami Desikan
answers this right away by noting that the moonlight is merely a
reflection of the sunshine radiated by the Golden Padhukas. What a
brilliant word-play!
Another important meaning from this verse is that the Dahara vidya is
an extremely complicated Upasana adopted by Bhakti Yogis. Success in
their efforts comes about only on account of the limitless blessings
of the golden Padhukas, which radiate sunshine that is subsequently
reflected as moonlight in the cave of the heart lotus of Bhakti
Yogis.
Namo Narayana,
SriMuralidhara Dasan