Sri Ranganatha PaadhukhA Sahasram ( RPS ): Naadha Paddhathi --Part 14

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Dear Members of the Prapatthi Group :

 

We are now at the FOURTEENTH CHAPTER of the RPS

eulogising the Vaibhavam of the PaadhukhAs of the Lord of the

Fourteen worlds (Chathur Dasa Bhuvneswaran ) . In the previous

paddhathi (ParAga Paddhathi ) , Swami Desikan celebrated the

sacredness of the specks of dust associated with the RanganAtha

Divya MaNi PaadhukhAs . Here , he shifts his attention to the holy

and the most delectable Naadham created by the PaadhukhAs as they

transport the Lord from place to place . Just as the dust is made of many

individual specks , Naadham ( the enjoyable musical sound )produced by

the paadhukhAs is constitued by many notes and moods . Overpowered by

the enormity and majesty of the many notes and moods of this Naadham ,

Swami engaged in NaadhOpAsanA and blessed us with

one hundred verses in celebration of the uniqueness of

the sacred NaadhAm created by the MaNi PaadhukhAs .

This Naadha Paddhathi is therefore one of the longest of

all the 32 Paddhathis of RPS . Thus almost one tenth of RPS

reverberates with the Naadham associatd with the divine paadhukhAs .

Swami"s poetic imagination and devout Bhakthi for the Lord of

Srirangam and NammAzhwAr find a fertile ground in this Paddhathi .

In view of its significance , I will translate this entire Paddhathi over

a few postings to gain an appreciation of the greatness of

Sri VedAntha Desikan , NammAzhwAr and Lord RanganAtha

and our ancient sampradhAyam .

 

Verse 1 :

 

srutheenAm bhooshaNAnAm thE sankhE RangEndra PaadhukhE I

mitha: sangarsha sanjAtham raja: kimapi sinjhitham II

 

(Meaning ) : O RanganAtha PaadhukhE ! When I hear your melodious

sound , I conclude that it is generated by the vigorous rubbing together

of the VedAs , which serve as your jewelery. During their eforts to compete

with one another to praise You , they seem to generate the notes that

form the melody associated with your movement .

 

(Note ) : RanganAthA's PadhukhAs have many gems and jewels

as decorative objects embedded in them . Swami equates them to

the different branches (SaakhAs ) of the VedAs. The word SinjithAm

here refers to the toe hold ( Kumizhi ) on the PaddhukhAs . When

the Lord's feet come in to contact with the gem-inlaid toe holds

(SakhAs of the VedAs ) , the contact process seems to produce

speck of dusts (notes of music or Veda Rks ) that are most enjoyable

to listen to .

 

The inner meaning is that the ThiruvAimozhi composed by

SaTakOpa Suri is the distillation of the essence of the four

VedAs and was blessed by the Lord. This is the SaarArtham .

 

Verse 2 : Here Swami is in a reflective mood and makes an

observation about the composition of RPS and the foul-mouthed

critics , who might not fully understand the depth of his devotion

to the PadhukhAs (NammAzhwAr and Thiruvaimozhi ) of the Lord.

He says : " O MaNi PaadhukhE ! when ill-wishing critics with their

foul mouths decry this compostion of mine on your glories , it

appears that you reject their foolish talk with your sweet sounds .

You seem to indicate through your sacred Naadham that you

reject them as well " .

 

Swami says here " dhurjanAnAm achamathkAra vachAmsi

manju nAdhai: avadheerayasi " . The words " achamathkAra

VachAmsi " suggests naive criticism of vicious minded , who do

not understand the true purport of the slokams of RPS . Swami

suggests that the deficiencies of the critics arise from their

lack of upadesam from the SadAchAryAs on Artha Panchakam

dealing with Iswara Svarupam , Jeeva Svarupam et al. He

hints that there so many HithOpadesams in the many verses

of ThiruvAimozhi .

 

Verse 3 : Here Swami touches on the protocol of relationship

between younger and older people . He says : " O PaadhukhE !

Your sounds(Naadham ) appear to me as your responses to

the VedAs performing their AbhivAdhanAs to you . The reciprocating

musical notes raised by the movement of the alankhArams(gems )

on you suggest that they are your pratyabhivAdhanam . "

 

AbhivAdhanam is the respectful salutation by a junior person to an

elder . PratyabhivAdhanam is the response of the older person

wishing hte younger person long life. During the uthsavams of

RanganAthaA , VedAs are recited. NaadhAm is generated by the

movement of the Lord as His PadhukhAs respond to that movement .

Swami Desikan compares here the Vedic recitations to AbhivAdhanams

( AbhivAdhayE Bhargava Veethahavya thryaa Rishaya :

PravarAnvitha Vaathoola gothra: Aapasthambha soothra:

Yajus saakAdhyAee Srinivaasaraghava sarmA asmi bhO: )

to the PadhukhAs, the Naadham of the PaadhukhAs reciprocate with

the PratyabhivAdhanams ( aayushmAn Bhava Somya Srinivasaraghava

Sarman et al ) .

 

Verse 4 : In this verse Swami Desikan refers to the Kaimkaryam

of the PadhukhAs in the Lord's LeelA vibhothi (Srirangam ) and

His Nitya Vibhoothi ( Sri VaikunTam) . He says : " O PadhukhE !

The Nadham arising from you seem to query us about our opinion

on our enjoyment of RanganAthA in union with you . Your sweet sounds

seem to ask us whether we prefer the enjoyment of RanganAthA

in union with you here at Srirangam or in His supreme abode

at Sri VaikunTam . This is the intrepretation of Sri Uttamur SwamigaL .

 

The Andavans of Srirangam intrepret the query of the PadhukhAs

in a different way . That intrepretation is as follows :

" O PadhukhE ! When we the listeners react to your Naadham ,

it appears as though you are asking the question : What appeals to you

rasikAs ? is it the appearance of the Lord in His Ranga VimAnam

at Srirangam or his presence on me or His darsanam at Sri VaikunTam ? ".

 

Verse Five : In this verse , Swami Desikan focuses on the naadham

originating from the inner chambers of the Lord of Srirangam . He says :

" O MaNi PaadhukhE ! When RanganAthA travels on you to the inner chambers

of His abode , the melodious sounds raised by the coming together

of the gems adorning you appear to be conversing with the sweet Naadham

generated by the bells attached to the ankle ornaments of Sri RanganAyaki ,

as She moves towards Her Lord to welcome Him. The mingling of these

two naadhAs --Yours and that of the anklet bells of Sri RanganAyaki --

resemble an ongoing conversation between them .

 

Sri RanganAtha Divya MaNi PaadhukhE ! Thubhyam NamO nama :

Sri Swami DEsikan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri SadagOpan