Sri Ranganatha PadhukhA Sahasram(RPS ): Part 12-- Pushpa paddhathi

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Dear Members of the prapatthi Group :

 

In this posting , I will cover the twelfth of the thirty two

Paddhathis of RPS by Swami Desikan . This twelfth Paddhathi

has thirty verses. It covers the flower worship performed by

BrahmA , Maheswaran , IndrA and the Devas as well as by

Humnas to the PadhukhAs of the Lord and the fruits attained

by them through the performance of such a flower AarAdhanam .

 

(meaning and comments ) : Swami says : " I seek refuge in the sacred

PadhukhAs of RanganAthA on which fall the shower of flowers

(Pushpa Vrushti ) aimed at the Lord Himself during

the occasions of His travel ".

 

The DevAs and the humans shower flowers on RanganAthA

as a mark of their homage to Him. After touching the upper limbs

of the Lord , these flowers come to rest at His holy feet , where

the PaadukhAs are . It appears therefore that the shower of flowers

were indeed for the PadhukhAs themselves. The end stage of the worship

of BhagavAn has been identified as the worship of

the BahgavathAs (AcharyAs) in Bhagavadh GithA . Swami Desikan

suggests here that the padhukhA archanA is same as

Bhagavatha ArchanA .This slokam containing these thoughts

is as follows :

 

SowrE: sanchAra Kaaleshu pushpavrishti : divaschyuthA I

paryavasyathi yatraiva prapadhyE thaam padhAvaneem II

 

In the thirtieth and final slokam of this paddhathi , Swami Desikan

visualizes a scene , where Maheswaran performs ChurNAbhishekham

and GangA Jala Abhishekham of the padhukhAs . This slokam is as

follows :

 

chooDAragvadharajasA choorNa snapanam vidhAya thE purvam I

Rangesa PaadhukE ! tvAm abhishinchathi mowli gangayA Sambhu : II

 

Here Swami Desikan connects the traditional choorNAbhishkham

( Thirumanjanam with scented powders ) performed for RanganAthA

prior to His bathing with holy waters with the Thirumanjanam

performed by Maheswaran (Sambhu ) for the PadhukhAs . Swami

Desikan Says : " O RanganAthA paadhukhE ! Sambhu performs

the choorNabhishekham with the pollens of the yellow Konrai flowers

( Cassis acacia ) adorning His head , when He prostrates before You .

Next , He bathes You with the waters of GangA resident in His matted

locks . Thus You receive both choorNAbhishekham as well as

GangAbhishekham from your devotee , Sambhu .

 

During the rest of this posting , I will comment on a few of the

remaining slokams .

 

In the second verse , Swmi Desikan points out that the PadhukhAs

are doubly blessed because of its association with the Lord's lotus

feet as well as the lotus hands of Maha Lakshmi . The Lord's consort

takes daily the PadhukhAs in Her lotus hands and presents them to Her

Lord to wear them . PadhukhAs are worn by Him and therefore PadhukhAs

have his Thiruvadi Sambhandham . Therefore , Swami Desikan states

that the PadhukhAs are doubly honored both by the hands of Sri DEvi

and the Holy feet of the Lord as well during His gathAgathAni

(Coming and goings ) .

 

In the third verse , Swami describes the scene , when Sambhu

prostrates before the PadhukhAs of RanganAthA . Sambhu has

pirai chandran (Digit of the Moon ) and Ganga waters in His

matted locks. When Sambhu prostrates before the padhukhAs ,

Swami says that it looked like He was offering Arkyam with the waters

of Ganga and placing the KetakA (Thazhai ) flowers at the altar of the

padhukhAs . That is the pushpArchanam performed by MahEswarA

to the holy PadhukhAs .

 

In the fourth verse , Swami Desiakn establishes the fragrance

(Surabhitvam ) of the SatAri Suri and the padhukhAs as one and the

same. He points out that the fragrance of the Vakula flower

( Mimusops Elengi ) garland and the fragrance of

the pushpams resting on the PadhukhAs as a result of the

PushpAnjali of devotees are ever lasting . It is well known that the

VakulA flowers have the property of maintaining their fragrance

for a long time without any change in the intensity of that fragrance .

 

In the fifth verse , Swami Desikan equates the four PushpArchanAs

performed at Sri VaikunTam , Satya Lokam ( BrahmA's world ) ,

AyodhyA and Srirangam with the four sthAna ArchanAs done during

the daily AarAdhanam : Kumbham (Pot ) , Agni (fire ) , Sthandilam

( prepared ground rice for sacrifice ) and bimbham (Image reflected

in the mirror ) .

 

In the sixth verse , Swami describes the five apsaras ladies

( RambhA, Urvasi , TilotthamA et al ) performing PushpArchana

to the padhukhAs with flowers from five different celestial trees

( paarijAtham , Harichnadhanam,MandAram et al ) .Swami points out that

the five celestial nymphs perform this PushpArchanA to the PadhukhAs

to obtain its beauty and elegance so that they can continue to be

youthful and attractive forever .

 

In the eigth verse , Sawmi Desikan points out that those who are

fortunate to worship the PadhukhAs of RanganAthA even with one

or two leaves of Tulasi or flower petals attain material wealth way

beyond what they even dreamed off ! After they end their earthly lives ,

these fortunate souls play with the celestial nymphs in Indra"s

nandavanam in svargam .

 

In the tenth verse , Vedantha Desikan refers to the benefits of

Maanasa pushpa archanA of the sandals of Hayagriva-RanganAthA.

Maanasa Flowers have been identified as eight ( Nonvilence et al )

in number. Our AchaaryA states those who offer this type of archanA

are worshipped by the Devas with bent heads decorated by MandAra

flowers .

 

In the next series of slokams , Swami Desiakn decribes the benefits

attained by ArchanA of the PadhukhAs with dhruvA grass (panic grass),

Lotus flowers , Jaathi , Mullai , Mallikai and other flowers.

 

In the twenty ninth verse , Swami Desikan points out the difference between

the boon-giving kamadhenU and the PadhukhAs of the Lord . He says :

" O padhukhE of the Moksham-giving Lord of Srirangam ! There are

people , who feel uncomfortable that they are unable to bring flowers from

ParijAtha tree or earthly flowers or TuLasi leves or even blades of Panic

grass. They pine over their inabilities to collect any one of the above

material

for worship and are very unhappy about their lot . You however bless them

with every thing out of the fullness of your merciful heart. In this regard ,

You are even better than KamadhEnu . She needs atleast a handful of

fresh grass to be brought to her as a mark of rspect , before she can

grant the wishes of people , who beseech her blessings. You on

the otherhand do not expect anything from those , who approach

You . The small act of wearing you on their heads(SatAri ) for a moment

is sufficient for you to give them more than what they hoped for .

Let KamadhEnu stand where she is ! We do not need her, when You

are with us. Let KamadhEnu stand at her customary place

(i.e )., entrance of Sage VasishTA's hermitage and help him .

You give us everything even if we are unable to bring you

anyhting because of your unmatchable compassion and

generous disposition .

 

Sri RanganAtha Divya MaNi PadhukhE ! Thubhyam Nama :

Swami Desikan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam .

Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan