Sri Bhagavad Dhyana Sobhaanam

[Guest guest]

Dear members of the Prapatthi Group :

 

In the series dealing with the one sloka that

is etched in my memory among the different works of Swami Desikan ,

I must confess that the sloka that I am going to describe here

is the one that attracts my attention in a never failing manner .

 

The slokam is the eigth one in Sri Bhagavad Dhyana Sobhaanam ,

which is modelled after Amalanadhi Piran of ThiruppaNazhwar .

In this context , I must mention that Munivahana Bhogam that

Sri Mani Varadarajan was seeking is covered in the third Sillarai

Rahasyam book released by Poundarikapuram ANdavan Asramam

with the help of funds raised by Sri MuraLi Rangaswami. Getting back to

the eight slokam . It is as follows :

 

SAABIPRAAYA SMITHA VIKASITHAM CHARU BIMBHAADHAROSHTAM

DUKKAAPAAYA PRANAYINI JANEH DHURA DHATTAABHIMUKYAM I

KAANTHAM VAKTHRAM KANAKA TILAKAALANKRUTHAM RANGABHARTHU:

SVAANTEH GJAATAM MAMA VILAGATHI SWAGATHODHAARA NETRAM II

 

Here Swami Desikan is overpowered by the beauty, compassion and

welcoming and meaningful smile of the Lord Of Srirangam , just as Thiruppaaanar

was

overcome . He recognizes the well meaning , caring smile which adorns the

face of the Lord . He sees that this special smile lights up the entire

countenance of Sri Ranganatha .He is radiant at the thought that

the Prapanna has finally coming towards Him . His lower and upper lips are

beautiful

with a red hue reminiscent of the ripe Bimbhaa (Kovai ) fruit . Swami Desikan

senses that the Lord of Rangam turns his benovolent face towards the

chetana , who is rushing towards Him in quest of the remedy for his

samsaaric ills . Sri Ranganatha recognizes those aartha prapannas

from an enormous distance, wherever they are and casts his auspicious

glances on them . The Prapannas are exhilirated by the darsanam of the

most beautiful golden tilakam decorating the Lord's forehead . That draws

them like a beacon towards Him . Next , they come into contact with

those majestic and welcoming eyes full of Dayaa and concern for the well being

of

the Prapanna. Swami Desikan prays in this slokam that his mind

be etched forever with the picture of that unforgettable countenance

of Sri Ranganatha ..

 

The key words that defy traslation in this slokam are

(1 ) Saabhipraaya smitha vikasitham

(2) Dukkhaapaya Pranayini Janeh Dhoora Dhattabhi mukyam

and (3 ) SvaagathOdhaara Netram .

 

Swami Desikan suggests that the smile of the Lord has

Artha Pushti (saabhipraaya: ). That smile understands the earlier zigs

and zags of the Prapanna and does not reveal the depth of awareness

of the limitations of the Prapanna and his previous apachaaraas .

He is Sarvaantharyaami. He is Sarva Saakshiand Yet He welcomes

the Prapanna with Ruchi , who is propelled towards Him through

His own grace as though by an undercurrent of devotion and a sense

of absolute surrender . He recognizes that the Prapanna is benefitting from

Ajnaatha Sukrutham ( Punyam acquired through nondeliberate effort )

and Aanushankikam ( PuNyam acquired through the power of circumstance

of being in front of Him ) . Therefore His smile is full of meaning and

depth of understanding . That smile lights up his face like a fully

blossomed lotus(smitha Vikasitham )

 

In the second set of words , Swami states that Sri Ranganatha's auspicious

glances

fall on and comfort the Prapannas , who pray to Him for the redress of their

Samsaaric

ills even from a tremendous distance . Swami Desikan states that the

penetrating

and compassion-drenched glances of the Lord fall on that Prapanna ,however far

he or she is . The very thought of Sri Ranganatha by the suffering Prapanna

results in the immediate blessing of the Darsana Sowbhagyam of the Lord's

benovolent eyes regardles of the physical distance that separates the Prapanna

from Srirangam .

 

In the description of the eyes of the Lord , Swami Desikan chooses

the words "SvaagathOdhaara Netram ". Those beautiful and captivating eyes

appear to be full of majesty and compassion in welcoming the prodigal

son home .

 

All of us should think of those eyes as our Uphaayam, Upeyam ,

Praapyam and Purushaartham in the manner revealed by our

Acharya , who was one of the greatest Rasikaas of the Anga

Sowndharyam of Sri Ranganatha .

 

In his Parama Padha Sobhaanam, Swami Desikan discusses the four kinds of

Sukrutham (PuN yam ) as Yaadhrucchikam , Ajnaatham, Aanushnakikam and

Praasankikam. All of these confer their blessings even without any

intended effort . Sri Ranganatha accepts these as excuses to cast

his Dhaya-laden glances on us and blesses us as though we have done a

great act of penance . That is His compassionate nature to move like

a lightning towards us , when we take one step towards Him.

 

All of these thoughts race through my mind , when I recite this slokam .

 

Sri Ranganayaki Sametha Sri Rangaraja Para Brahmaneh Nama :

 

V . Sadagopan