Raghu Veera Gadhyam--Ayodhya Khandam (Continued )

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GS 25 : PRANATHA BHARATA MAKUTATATA

SUGATITHA PAADHUKAAGRYAABHISHEKA

NIRVARTHITHA SARVA LOKA YOGA KSHEMA !

JAYA ! JAYA !

 

(meaning ) : O Lord who looked after the Yoga Kshemam

of the entire world by placing your Padhukas snugly on the

head of your brother Bharata , who ruled as a representative of

those sacred Padhukas after performing the coronation ceremony

( Padhuka pattAbhishekam ) for them . Hail to Thee ! Hail to Thee !

 

( Musings on GS 25 ) : The sorrowing Bharata journeyed to Chitrakutam

with his mothers and Acharyas. He begged his brother to accept

the kingdom and return to Ayodhya to be coronated as the king of

Kosala desam . Rama refused to accede to the request of his dear

brother since he could not break the pledge that he gave to his father.

The heart-broken Bharata fell at Rama's feet and the compassionate

Rama placed his padhukAs on his brother's head . Bharata carried

those PadhukAs on his head back to Nandigramam and performed

the coronation ceremony for them and ruled the land as the representative

as those PadhukAs until Rama returned from his exile after fulfilling his

avathara mission. Swami Desikan states that Rama took care of the

welfare and protection ( Yoga Kshemam) of the world through his

gracious act of blessing Bharata with his sacred padhukAs.

 

The source of sanctity for all holy things is hteir contact

with the Lord. The Padhukas that bear the weight of the Lord

and accompany Him in his journeys are the most sacred

due to their Bahgavad Sambhandam . Swami Desikan composed

more than 1000 verses to celebrate the holiness of the Padhukas

worshipped by Bharata. In the very first slokam of PadhukA Sahasram,

Swami focuses on their unique ability to protect the worlds :

 

SANTHA: SRIRANGA PRUTHVEESA CHARANA THRAANA SEKARAA: I

JAYANTHI BHUVANA THRAANA PADHA PANKAJA RENAVA: II

 

(MEANING ) : The blessed ones wearing joyously the Lord's PadhukAs

on their head protect the universe through the power of those sacred

PadhukAs . Even the dust particle from the feet of those blessed souls

has the power to protect the people of the universe . Bharata was the first

blessed soul to reveal the power of those Padhukas of the Lord . Swami

Desikan refers to Bharata's role in the second verse of the Padhuka

Sahasram :

 

BHARAHTAAYA PARAM NAMOASTHU TASMAI

PRATHAMODHAAHARANAAYA BHAKTHI BHAAJAAM I

YADHUPAJNAMASESHATHA: PRUTHIVYAAM

PRATHITHO RAGHAVA PADHUKAA PRABHAAVA :

 

(MEANING ) : The illustrious one , who first wore Sri Ramachandra's

PadhukAs on his head was his brother Bharata. He conducted the

affairs of the state as the representative of those holy PadhukAs

during his brother's exile . This verse salutes Bharatha as

the blessed soul , who illustrated the significance , power

and the holiness of the Lord's sandals through his worship

of them .The PadhukA prabhavam ( the gloryof the Sandals

of the Lord ) was established first ( PrathamodhaaharaNam )

by Bharatha .

 

The concept of those Padhukaas enquiring about the Yoga

Kshemam of the people of the universe brings one's thoughts to

the Sahasra Namam pala sruthi verse :

 

ANAYAA: CHINTAYANTHO MAAM YEH JANAA: PARYUPAASATEH I

TESHAAM NITYAABHIYUKTHANAAM YOGA KSHEMAM VAHAAMYAHAM II

 

(meaning ) : Bhagavan Sri Krishna says : " With reference to those

who find it impossible to live (like Bharatha ) without thinking of Me,

I undertake the responsibility of bringing about their union with Me

and keeping that union for ever . "

 

Sri Ramachandra Para Brahmaneh Nama :

 

Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan