Sthothra Ratnam of AaLavandhAr-- Part 2

[Guest guest]

Dear members of the Prapatthi group :

 

Before focusing on the individual slokas of this

magnificient and pioneering sthothram by AaLavandhAr,

it may be interesting to study Swami Desikan's analysis

of the architectonics of this sthothram . Swami starts off by

stating that YaamunA Muni composed Sthothra Ratnam

to house the rich meanings of Dwaya manthram.

 

His analysis of the different sections that form natural

grouping of thoughts is as follows :

 

1. YaamunA salutes the Acharyas , who opened his

spiritual eye (slokams 1-5) and particularly his

grandfather , RangaNATHA MUNI .

 

2. Beginning of the sthothram in slokam 6

 

3. The awesome parathvam of the Lord is hinted and the

insuficiency and diffidence of the poet to tackle that

profound subject of the Parathvam is indicated ( slokam 7)

 

4. The sowlabhyam of the Lord is invoked to overcome

the fear of tackling such a profound topic( Slokams 8-9 )

 

5. Elaboration of the NaarAyana Sabdhaartham ( Slokams 10-21 )

 

6. Observance of Prapatthi ( slokam 22 )

 

7. declaration of his appropriateness

(Svayogyaa Kathanam /adhikaaram) by

YaamunA for the performance of his Prapatthi

( sloakms 23-27)

 

8. Statement of the fact that the simple-to-perform Prapatthi

has a disproportionately large dividends ( slokams 28-29 )

 

9. Revelation of the meaning of the uttara KanTam of

Dwayam as that which deals with the fruit of the Prapatthi

(slokams 30-46)

 

10. expression of his regret over hitherto wasted days

due to his lack of intensity to pursue the fruits of Prapatthi

thru the observance of the appropriate Upaayam (slokam 47).

Nirvedam over his missed opportunities.

 

11. Mahaaviswasam on the fruits to be gianed by Prapatthi

( slokams 48-51)

 

12. Examination of the principles of Bara SamarpaNam

( slokams 52-53)

 

13. prayer to give strength to observe strictly the conduct

of post-prapanna life and sathsangam ,

while being on this earth ( slokams 54-57)

 

14. statement on the Lord's kaaruNyam, sambhandham

(bhandhutvam ) as the hope for his Prapatthi ( slokam 58-63 )

 

15. Reminding the Lord of his saraNAgatha RakshaNa

vratham of the Lord and prayer to include him in that

vratham ( slokam 64)

 

16. statement on the glories of the anugraham& sambhandham

of the Acharya for successful Prapatthi and inclusion of his

fearlessness(nirbhayam ) as a result of performing prapatthi ,

even if he does not have the qualifications of his own

(naicchiyaanusandhaanam )--slokam 65 (final slokam ).

 

AalaVandhAr , Swami Desikan ThiruvadigalE SaraNam ,

 

Sri vaishNava Daasan ,

 

Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan