(No subject)

[Guest guest]

Sri Ranganayaki Sametha Sri Ranganatha Swami Para Brahmane Namaha

 

Hello all,

 

I just thought I would start a discussion on the Sri Ranga Gadhyam composed

by

Sri Ramanujacharya. In particular, I would like to share with all of you a

couple

of things about the Ranga Gadhyam that I learnt from my Guru. Please feel

free to provide your comments.

 

The Sri Ranga Gadhyam was composed by Sri Ramanujacharya during his visit to

Srirangam after an extensive tour of several holy places. First off, I must

mention that Gadhyam form of praising the Lord is unique to the Sri Vaishnava

tradition. The Sri Ranga Gadhyam exemplifies the aspect of Dasya (servant of

the Lord) and Sharanagati

(surrender) to the Lord.

 

The composition is motivated by Sri Ramanujacharya standing in front of the

Sanctum Sanctorium of Sri Rangam, viewing the Lord (Sri Ranganatha) in all

his majesty. Sri Ramanujacharya is moved by this glorious sight and starts

his description of the Lord with

 

"Swaadheena Trivida Chetana Chetana Swaroopa Stithi Pravruthi Bhedam

Klesha Karmaadhya Shesha Dosha Samsprushtam.

Swabhavika NavadhikaThishaya Gyana. Bhalaishvarya Veerya ............."

 

where the acharya describes all the noble qualities and great attributes of

the Lord (who Ramanuja refers to as his master "Asmat Swaminam") and desires

to always perform service to the Lord ("Nitya Kinkaro Bhavami").

 

In the next stanza the acharya expresses all his shortcomings. In doing so,

he is speaking on behalf of mankind and bringing to the forefront all

the bad qualities in human beings and makes a confession of having all

the bad qualities.

 

"Swaathma Nithya Niyaamya. Nithya Dasyaikarasathma swabhavanu sandhana poorvaka.

Bhagavanda navadika thishaya swamyaarthyakila guna gananubhavajanitha

navadhikathishaya preethikarithaaseshaavasthochitha sesha shesha kaikarathi

roopa........................

samasthatma Guna Viheenaha"

 

Ramanujacharya goes on to say that despite all his (and that of the rest of

mankind) shortcomings he has no

other person to turn to except Lord Ranganatha and prays that he forever

be engaged in service to the Lord (Nitya Kinkarathaam Praarthayae).

 

After praising the Lord in the first stanza and then candidly describing

his own shortcomings in the next stanza, the acharya then asks what next?

In the concluding part of the Gadhyam, the acharya goes into ecstacy and

states that although the Lord is aware of his shortcomings and bad qualities,

the Lord never hesitates to give him refuge when he (the acharya) surrenders to

the Lord

"Anaalochita Visheshaa Shesha

Loka Sharanya" and that the Lord is like a cow giving milk to a calf in

this respect "Ashrita Vaatsalyaika Mahodadae".

 

Regards,

 

Muralidhar Rangaswamy