Maha Lakshmi Krithis of Dikshitar-- Part 3

[Guest guest]

Dear Members ofthe Bhakthi Group:

 

The glory (Sreyas) of Maha Lakshmi has been

established by the Vedas as " Sruthimitasampathi).

Swami Desikan decribes one aspect of that Sreyas

in one of the daya sataka Slokam beginning with the

words" TVATUDHAYA TULIKAABH RAMUNAA ---". He

describes her unique role bridging Her Lord and the

Acharyas here.

 

He recognizes in this slokam that She is the pen/brush

(writing/painting tool ) in the hands of her Lord, when

He wishes to write/Paint His Siddhanthams on the canvas

known as Acharyas. The Lord is a great artist/Painter.

He wants to paint on the minds(Canvasses) of the Acharyas His

Siddhanthams. Those canvasses are very fit and appropriate

to receive and hold the writings/paintings of the Lord. In the task

of the Lord, Maha Lakshmi serves as the Pen/Brush for the Lord

to complete His writing task. If it were not for Her, the Lord

could not the pictures of Tatvaarthaas on the Minds(Canvasses)

of Acharyaas.If the Pen/Brush were not to be available,

then the Acharyaas wont have any material to help their

disciples. Swami Desikan goes on to say in this slokam

that Maha Lakshmi is the power that was behind Acharyaas like

Nammazhwaar,Natha Muni, Alavandhaar to possess the special

Jnanam and Anugraha Siddhi. He concludes here that Saranagathi at Your holy

feet alone can serve as the means to gain Moksha Palan.This section of the

slokam is as follows:

 

YATIPATHI YAAMUNA PRABRUDHAYA: PRATAYANTHI DHAYEH

JAGATHI HITAM NA NASTVAYI BHARANYASANAADADHIKAM

 

Swami Desikan celebrated further by hailing Her as

"KRUPANA JANTHU CHINTAAMANEH, KRUPEH"

AND" NIGAMA SOWDHA DEEPA SRIYAA :".Here ,

Swami recognizes her as the most merciful,boon-granting

Chintamani Ratnam for those suffering Jivans. In the second

salutation, he pays tribute to Her Jnana Svarupam. He recognizes

her as the brilliant lustre(Deepam) in the big mansion of the Vedas.

 

The Purvaacharya of Swami Desikan, Alavandhaar blessed us

with Cathussloki to establish the Sri Tatvam . In one of the

slokas, he reveals her Kataksha Mahima this way:

 

EESHAT TVAT KARUNAA NIREEKSHANA

SUDHAASANTUKSHANAATH RAKSHYATEH

SAMSRUTYAKSHARA VAISHNAVAATHSU

NRUNAAM SAMBHAVYATEH KARHACHIT

 

Here Alavandhaar reveals the mysteries of Lakshmi

Tantram. He says that Maha Lakshmi is very dear to

the Lord (Aravinda Lochanan). Without Her Anugraham,

there is no chance for the Jivans to receive the blessings

of Isvaryam( Worldly Riches), Kaivalyam and Moksham .

 

Kuresa, who came later echoed Alavandhaar"s thoughts in

the following portion of his Sri Stavam Sloka :

 

YASYAA : KATAKSHA VEEKSHAA KSHANA

LAKSHAM LAKSHITAA MAHESAASSYU :

SRI RANGARAJA MAHISHEE SAA

MAMAPI VEEKSHATAAM LAKSHMEE:

 

Here, he describes the jivans getting indescribable

wealth in this and the other world due to the falling of

Sri Ranganayaki"s glances even for a second on them.

He prays for those auspicious glances to fall on him as well.

 

Kuresa points out in yet anothe rslokam of Sri Stavam that

even the Lord considers himself as a fortunate or blessed one

(Dhanyan ), when Her glances fall on Him :

 

TAVA EEKSHANAATH SVAATMAANAM DHANYAM MANYATEH

 

Kuresa reveals further that the Lord practises EKASESHITVAM

by following closely His consort"s hints revealed through her

facial expressions and the lifting of Her Eye brows and

performs accordingly the creation, protection and the

destruction of the worlds.

 

YASYAA VEEKSHYAA: MUKHAM

TATINGITHA PARAADHINOH VIDATTEKILAM

 

The Lord reveals directly in Agasthya Samhita that

Maha Lakshmi is his AAHLAADHINI SAKTHI or

the transcendent power of delight .He says that He has no

independent existence without Her . Swami Desikan

exhoes these thoughts thru his choice of words:

"PATHI : TVAT PAARAARTHYAM PRATAYATHI

VRUKSHASHMAADHARA PATHI: "

 

Here, Swami Desikan reveals that the Lord is contented to

describe Himself as subservient to Her and is pleased , when

the jivans address Him as Laksmi Narasimha, Kamala Kaantha,

Sriya: Sri: , Indiraa Klaathra , Lakshmi Varaha, Seetha Rama et al.

 

Kuresa"s son, Parasara Bhattar celebrated the glories of

Maha Lakshmi(Ranga Nayaki) in his Guna Ratna Kosam

and described Her husband's dismay and happiness at the

sight of Her as Vijaya Lakshmi in Viswa Rupam form.

He says that Sriman Narayana is overcome with a sense of affection and

wonder at the sight of Her avataram as Viswa RoopiNi with thousands of

limbs. He says that the Lord is caught up in the whirlpool of her

leelas and goes round and round in those swirling waters (Neer Chuzhi )

and is wonder struck .

 

Adi Sankara in his beautiful verses of kanaka Taara Stotram

offers his eulogies to the greatness of Maha Lakshmi. He begs

for the blessings of this Mangala Devataa this way:

 

MAATHUSSAMATHA JAGATHAAM MAHANEEYA MURTHI:

BHADHRANII MEH DISATHU BHARGAVANANDANAAYAA:

 

He visualizes Her as sititng on the red lotus and shining with

the lustre of the red lotus and prays to Her to cast Her glances on him

to get the blessings beyond Aswamedha Yaagam and other

Vedic Sacrifices.:

 

In a moving sloka of Kanaka Taara Sthuthi , he paints a

beautiful word and sound picture of Her this way and requests

for Her Anugraham this way:

 

SARASIJA NILAYEH SAROJA HASTEH

DHAVALATHAMAAMSU GANDHA MAALYA SOBEH

BHAGAVATI HARI VALLABEH MANOKJYEH

TRIBHUVANA BHOOTHIKARI PRASEEDHA MAHYAM.

 

MAY SRI DEVI'S BENEFICIENT GLANCES FALL ON ALL

THE MEMBERS OF THIS SPECIAL GROUP OF BHAKTHAAS.

 

V. Sadagopan