Sri Nyasa Tilakam --Part 3

[Guest guest]

Dear Members of the Bhakthi group :

 

In the earlier two postings , the structure , organization ,

poetic metres and the summary of thoughts enshrined in

the master work of Swami Desikan were covered .

 

In this concluding piece , I will focus on the second sloka

of Nyasa Tilakam that explains the significance and

symbolism of the right hand of Sri Ranganatha displaying the

Abhaya Mudra , a gesture that assures freedom form fear for the

chetanas , who have sought refuge at his holy feet . Although the

other slokas of this master piece cover significant doctrines

related to Prapatthi and the post-prapatthi life of a Prapanna , this

particular slokam dealing with the Abhaya hastham of the Lord of

Srirangam " mesmerizes" me .

 

The slokam is so comforting and reassuring that each time we

stand before Sri Ranganatha that we should remind ourselves

about the deep meaning of this verse and the profound message

it carries .

 

The moving second slokam of Nyasa Tilakm is as follows :

 

PRAAYA : PRAPHADHANEH PUMSAAM POWNA: PUNYAM NIVAARAYAN I

HASTHA : SRIRANGA BHARTHURMAAM AVYAATH ABHAYA MUDRITHA : II

 

Swami prays for the protection of the right hand holding the Abhaya Mudraa.

( Sriranga Bharthu : Hastha: Maam avyaath ) . Why this special attention

to the right hand and the Abhaya gesture seen there ?

 

Swami Desikan suggests in the way of Utpreksha Alankaaram

( poetic fancy ) that the Abhaya Pradhaana gesture symbolizes

Lord's "prohibition " against repeating the act of Prapatthi since

he has already assured that seeking refuge once at his lotus feet

will be sufficient to receive his unfailing protection (Sakrudheva

Prapannaaya Tavaasmithi cha yaachateh , Abhayam Sarva

BhoothebhyO Dadhaamyetath vratham mama ) .

 

Swami suggests that the Abhaya Mudra appears like the Lord's

command to the Prapanna to stop repeating the performance of

Prapatthi . His Abhaya Mudra appears like it is saying , "Halt ,

Cease doing another Prapatthi ! Enough . I will protect you

for the Prapatthi that you performed already " .

 

Sri D. Ramaswamy Iyengar reminds us of what great Acharyas

tell their disciples at the time of Prapatthi . They say : " Now that you

have become a Prapanna , fix your gaze henceforth on

the Abhaya Mudra of the Lord and derive comfort and solace

from the way it promises protection ".

 

Here we are reminded by the spirit of the two halves of

the Charama sloka . In the first half (Maamekam Saranam

Vraja ) ,the Lord invites the Prapannas to seek refuge at his

sacred feet ; in the second half , He states unequivocally ,

Maa Sucha: and gives us hope and courage and says

" do not grieve any more " . The messsage then is to rely on

Lord's Charanaaravindham till Prapatthi and thereafter

shift our focus to the Abhaya Mudra and the message it carries .

 

Moved by this profound message housed in this slokam ,

Swami Desikan used it " in toto " as the second verse of his

ManipravaaLa work Abhaya Pradhana Saara , which extolls the

SaraNaagathi SaastrA aspects of Srimad RamaayaNam . Once

again , Swami Desikan included this message in his Tamil work

Adaikkala Patthu . Here, Swami was moved by the sight of the

Abhaya Hastham of Lord Varadaraja of Kanchi and said :

 

" UMATHADIGALAI ADAIHINREHN YENRU ORUKKAAL

URAITTHAVARAI AMAIYUM INI YENBAVAR POL ANJAL

YENA KARAM VAITTHU "

 

The Prapanna's statement during Prapatthi is " Umathu

Adigalai adaihinrehn ( I seek refuge at your holy feet as

my Means for Moksham ) " . The Prapanna states once ( Orukkaal

Uraithavarai ) that he sought refuge under the cool shade of

the Lord's lotus feet . The Lord responds with the Abahya Mudra

and seems to indicate "enough , it is enough that you asked

My protection once ( Amaiyum ini yenbavar pol Anjal yena

karam vaitthu ) ."

 

This then is the message of the Abhaya Hastham of the

Saranaagatha Rakshaka Kaaruneekan , Sriman NaarayaNan ..

 

Swami Desikan Thiruvadigaleh SaraNam.

 

Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan