Sri Ranganatha PadhukhA Sahasram(RPS) : Naadha Paaddhathi--Part 14.6

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Dear Members Of the Prapatthi Group :

 

Swami Desikan was the ghantAvatharam . The Naadham

arising from the ThiruvenkatamudayAn"s Ghanta ( MaNi )

is Pranava Naadham . Hence the fourteenth paddhathi

of Sri RanganAtha PadhukhA Sahasram known as Naadha

Paddhathi has a special NaadhOpAsana-related

significance. The PraNava Ghosham generated by the

GahantA is Saama Udhgeetham , which is the same as

the Naadham generated from the recital of the Thiruvaimozhi

of NammAzhwAr . In view of this , the 100 verses of Naadha

Paddhathi has a close relationship to NammAzhwAr"s

Thiruvaimozhi in content and style.

 

Verse 36 of Naadha Paddhathi/ 416th Verse of RPS

 

Here Swami Desikan addresses the PadhukhAs and

describes his own inadequacies in adequately praising

the Vaibhavam of the PaddhukhAs . He says : " O PaadhukhE !

Your Naadham is instrumental in deflecting me from my

propensity for engagement in Worldly pleasures. You have

directed me toengage in eulogising you , who is the object

of praise by the VedAs . You have taken mercy on me inspite of

my lowliness and have blessed me even if I do not deserve it .

Your timely instructions through your Naadham makes me

persist in the worthy efforts to sing your praise through the verses

of PaadhukhA Sahasram .

 

Verse 37/RPS 417

 

In an earlier verse , Swami Desikan equated the Naadahm of

the PaadhukhAs to that of PraNavam or OmkAram . Here , he

equates the Naadham to that of a sound assuring the devotees

of freedom from fear . He says: " O MAni PaadhukhE ! When you

start on yur Lord's auspicious campaigns to root out the enemies of

the DevAs ,You generate a sound that identifies you as the one ,

who has vowed to protect the three worlds from any harm. You seem

to be assuring the virtuous people everywhere that they will have

total freedom from fear of any kind.

 

Verse 38/RPS 418

 

Here Swami Desiakn compares the Naadham of the PaadhukhAs

to mantra Japam and prayOgam . He says : " O PaadhukhE !

You join with the playful gait of the Lord engaged in destroying

the enemies of the DevAs and generate sweet sounds as a

result of these movements with Him . At hat time , the Naadham

originating from you resemble rare incantations that chase

away the enemes of the DevAs . "

 

Verse39/RPS 419

 

Here Swami Desikan describes the timing of the sounds

generated by the PaadhukhAs and the Lord's Conch known

as Paanjajanyam . He says : " O MaNi PaadhukhE ! When

Lord RanganAthA gets up from His serpent bed during the

autumn mornings to protect the righteous people , your sweet

sounds are heard first . They announce the Lord's intentions .

Sri RanganAthA's divine conch sound comes thereafter.

The Conch seems to take the cue form You (the PaadhukhAs)

to beoadcast the Lord's departure on His mission to address

the requestsof the waiting world .

 

Verse 40/RPS 420

 

Here , Swami Desikan praises the Ghosha Vaibhavam of

the PaadhukhAs of Sri RanganAthA . Swami uses the double

meaning of the word Ghosha in this verse to mean either the

colony of cowherds or the loud sound . Gosha Vaibhavam can

mean in this context either the wealth of the cowherd colony or

the majestic Naadham of the PadhukhAs .He says : " O PaadhukhE !

KrishNA took the form of the son of NandagopA and became a GopA

Himself. You were then attached to His lotus feet in the cowherd

colonies at Gokulam and BrindAvanam, which were known for their

properity. You became a Gopi and had GoshA Vaibhavam then . Your

qualifications for the status of a Gopi stem from Your Lord"s love for

you , similar to the love He had for the other Gopi"s of BrindAvanam.

When He left BrindAvanam and settled in Srirangam as RanganAthA ,

you still exhibit the status of the Gopi and possess GoshA vaibhavam.

Your Lord does not go anywhere without you because of his permanent

affection for you .Hence you continue to be His Gopi . Your GoshA vaibhavam

at Srirangam also continues from the the majestic GoshA that you

generate , when you transport your Lord ."

 

O RanganAtha MaNI PaadhukhE ! Thubhyam NamO Nama :

Swami Desikan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam .

Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan