Sri Ranganatha PadhukhA Sahasram(RPS)-- Part 7

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Dear Memebers of the Prapatthi group :

 

We will enjoy the Seveth Paddhathi of RPS revered as

Abhisheka Paddhathi in this posting . This Paddhathi has

30 Slokams in celebration of the PadhukhA Pattabhishekam .

 

The first slokam refers to Sri Rama's generous gesture

just before leaving on his exile to fulfill the promise made to

his Father and mother Kaikeyi . At dawn was the set time for

his crowning(PattAbhishekam ) . The insistence for the two

boons by queen Kaikeyi led to the situation that resulted in

RamA's departure for the forest for 14 years at dawn . RamA was not a bit

upset over the turn of events . LakshmaNA on the other hand was

furious about the injustice meted out to his dear brother . There was

the assembly of material (SaamagriyAs ) collected for the coronation

ceremony in the morning , when Pushya Nakshatram was going to be

in ascendance . Prior to his departure for the forest , Rama looked with

affection at the pattAbhishekha SaamagriyAs and prayed that they

do not go to waste and that they are put to good use. RamA went around

(did PrathakshiNam to ) the SaamagriyAs in a clock-wise manner and

prayed to YOU ( Sri RanganAthA ) as his family deity for such

a happening , where some one most deserving be blessed through

the usage of the SaamagriyAs assembled for his own PattAbhishekam .

His wish came true and PattAbhishekham to Your (Sri RangaAthA's )

PadhukhAs took place . The first slokam containing these thoughts

is as follows :

 

paahi na pAdhukhE ! YasyA vidhAsyan abhishEchanam I

aabhishEchnikam Bhaandham chakrE Rama: PradhakshiNa : II

 

The inner meaning of this slokam is that Sriman NaarAyaNan

honors the SadhAcharyAs and recognizes such homage to

the SadhAcharyAs from the prapannAs as even more sacred than

the homage offered to Him .

 

The fifth slokam describes the actual Pattabhishekham

to the Rama PadhukhAs by the Kula Brahaspathi , Acharya VasishTA .

This slokam states that the Acharya of IshvAku kulam , who was very knowledgable

 

about the unsurpassed glories of the PadhukhAs placed them on the

simhAsanam of the IshvAkhus and conducted the Coronation ceremonies

according to the prescribed Vedic rites. This slokam is as follows :

 

NivEsya Rangeswara paadharakshE !

bhadrAsanE saadharamabhyashinchath I

vasee VasishTO manuvamsajaanAm

maheekshithAmvamsa purohithastvAm II

 

In the twenty second slokam of this Paddhathi , Swami Desikan

explains why Acharya VasishTA took all those special troubles(efforts )

to perform the PattAbhshekham of the PadhukhAs of Sri RamachandrA.

He says :

 

alaghurabhishEka vyAruthairambhubhisthE

dinakarakula dhainyam PaadhukhE ! KshALayishyan I

sa kalu kamalyOnE: soonurAdhattha manthrEshu

adhikha niyama yOgAm SakthimAtharvaNeshu II

 

( Meaning and comments ) : O PadhukhAs of Sri RamA !

When your Lord left for the forest , there was a vaccum in the kingdom

and there was ArAjakam . The dharmA broke down and the citizens were

helpless. Acharya VasishTA wanted to address this calamity and

decided to observe the different vrathams to acquire special powers to

empower you further througth he rightfully conducted

Pattabhishekham to You .

 

The inner meaning is that the people of the world suffer ,

when there are no SadhAchAryAs to guide them about the

true meanings of Tattva, Hithaa , purushArthams and as a

result miss the opportunity to receive the anugraham of the Lord.

Swami Desikan hints that the proper "prathishtai " of the SadhAchAryAs

and the Sasthroktha worship of them and service to them would

help the people overcome their samsAric afflictions and qualify them

to receive the blessings of the Lord Himself . It was indeed to

help us, the suffering jeevans, that Nathamuni performed YogAbhyAsam

and had the darsanam of NammAzzhwAr , who blessed Natha Muni

with the nAlAyira Divya Prabhandham and the sakala SaasthrAs as well

as the knowledge about the life history of the other AzhwArs (AzhwAr

paramparai ) .

 

In the twenty sixth slokam , Swami Desikan states that the manthrams

used by Acharya VasishTA during the sacred bathing of the padhukhAs

with the waters of holy rivers removed the vysanam of the citizens of

AyodhyA . They were grieving over the absence of their Lord amidst them .

The santified waters falling on the padhukhAs chased away their grief .

 

The inner meaning of this slokam is that the blessed jeevans , who have

acquired the SadhAcharya sambhandham do not suffer from the separation

from their Lord , if that happens to them . This insightful observation by

Swami Desikan is particularly appropriate for us living far away from our

ArchA murthys of the divya Desams such as Sri Rangam,

Kancheepuram , Thiruvenkatam and Oppiliappan Koil.

 

Sri RanganAtha MaNi PadhukhE ! Thubhyam Nama:

Swami Desikan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

Oppiliappan Koil VartadAchAri Sadagopan