Sri RanganAtha PaadhukhA Sahasram(RPS ) : Part 14.7

[Guest guest]

Dear Members of the Prapatthi Group :

 

I will cover just one verse of Naadha Paddhathi( Verse 46)

in this posting . Like every slokam of RPS , this one has

such a depth of meaning and beauty .

 

Verse 46/RPS SLokam 426

 

prAyENa sahyaduhithur nadharAjakanyA

jaamAthu: aagamana suchanam eehamAnA I

manju praNAdha subagai : maNi paadhukhE ! tvaam

antharyuthAm akrutha Yowdhaka ratna kantai : II

 

This slokam with a vivid imagery and depth of meaning

relates to Sri RanganAthA's arrival

at the banks of Cauveri during the uthsavams and describes

the service that the PaadhukhAs render during those occasions.

 

Swami Desikan dwells here on the hierarchy of relationships

between Samudra Raajan (Nadha raajan ) , Mother Cauveri

( Sahya KanyA , the daughter of Sahya Mountain and the wife of

Nadharaajan ) and the daughter of the Cauveri-Samudra Raajan

dampathis ( MahA Lakshmi, Sahya Duhithu : ) and finally ,

Sri RanganAthA ( the MaapiLLai /son-in-law of Cauveri and Samudra

Raajan and the husband of MahA Lakshmi ) .

 

Swami Desikan states here that the sweet and unmistakable sound

arising from the coming together (Clanging/interplay ) of

the different rathnams(gems) placed inside the Kumizhi

( toe-hold ) of the PaadhukhAs by MahA Lakshmi

has a specific purpose. That naadham serves as an alert

(aagamana Suchanam ) intended by MahA Lakshmi

( Nadharaaja KanyA )to invite the attention of

the fast-flowing cauvery maathA rushing to meet her

husband to slow down and be ready to receive the son-in-law

( JaamAthu Sri RanganAthA with due honors , once He

arrives at her banks . This is the wish of the dutiful daughter

and She makes this alert possible with the beautiful sounds

(Manju PraNAdham ) of the PaadhukhA's gems .

 

MahA Lakshmi rose out of the milky ocean during the time of

the churning for nectar by the Lord . The king of the Oceans and Cauveri

gave their daughter in marriage to Sri RanganAthA . At that time , the king

of the oceans presented his daughter with many beautiful gems .

The bride placed those valuable dowries inside the Kumizhi of

Her Lord's PaadhukhAs . When Sri RanganAtha moves around adorning

the PaadhukhAs blessed by the hands of MahA Lakshmi ,

the gems placed inside the Kumizhi generate

the Manju PraNAdham . During the occasion of the travels of the Lord

to the banks of Cauveri , the sweet sounds generated by the gems inside

the Kumizhi serves as an early announcement/alert system for

the busy mother-in-law .The daughter and her mother seem to "plot "

together as it were to get set for the Raaja MaryAdhais

for the VIP son-in-Law .

 

Swami Desikan says : " O PaadhukhE ! Sri Devi wishes to provide advance

information to Her mother Cauveri about the arrival of her son-in-law .

Therefore , She placed inside ( antha YuthAm ) your kumizhi

the many music-producing gems that She received as Her dowry

( Yowthaka rathna Kantai: ) from Her parents during the occasion

of Her svayamvaram on the banks of the milky Ocean . The sweet sound

that you generate through these gems enclosed in your kumizhi

executes the strategy of MahA Lakshmi to alert Her mother Cauveri

to receive her son-in-law with due honors .

 

The inner meaning is that MahA Lakshmi helps the suffering Jeevans

by empowering the AchAryAs like NammAzhwAr. Jeevans get caught

in the snares of SamsAram and commit many sins due to the engagement

in acts not permitted by the ShAsthrAs . The Lord gets annoyed and

wills that the Jeevans do not get a glimpse of the auspicious

blessings ( nallathu Theriya vEnDaam ) waiting in store for them .

When the Jeevans appeal to MahA Lakshmi , their mother, and pray for

enlightenemnt , She out of Her compassionate nature and Her

guNam celebrated as Purushakaaram ( pleading with the Lord through

intercession on behalf of the suffering jeevan ) agrees to come to their

rescue. She empowers the AcharyAs with the gems to create

the true knowledge ( JnAnam via a clear understanding of

Artha Panchakam and Rahasya Trayams ) and helps to alter the mind set

of Her own Lord towards the erring jeevans .

 

It is in this context that MahA Lakshmi according to Swami Desikan

blessed NammAzhwAr with the gems of DayA , Patience/tolerance ,

vinayam , Bhakthi and true Jnaanam , which together culminated in

the creation of the sanctifying and sacred Naadham of Thiruvaimozhi .

 

Sri Ranganayaki Sametha Sri Rangaraja Para BrahmaNE Nama :

Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan