A Summary of the remaining chapters of RPS ( 15-32)

[Guest guest]

Dear Members of the Prapatthi Group :

 

On this first day of the Tamil New Year , Isvara ,

I would like to summarize the rest of the chapters

of RPS and offer this posting as IsvrArpaNam .

 

In the last posting , We were in the 15th Chapter known as

the Rathna SaamAnya Paddhathi . In my last posting ,

I described the meaning of the Verse 485. We will come

back to individual verses later.

 

Rathna SaamAnya Paddhathi (15)

*************************************

In this chapter , Swami Desikan salutes NammAzhwAr

as the PaddhukhAs , his Paasurams as Gems on the PaddhukhAs

and their lustre as the taatparyam (deep Meanings ) of the

Pasurams of the AzhwAr. There are 50 slokams in this Paddhathi .

 

Bahu rathna Paddhathi (16)

************************** ****

 

In this chapter, Swami Desikan eulogizes the white, black & red-hued

gems adorning the PaadhukhAs . He points out that inspite of the

presence of so many different colored gems on the PaadhukhAs ,

each of them shine forth individually at their specific places on

the PaadhukhAs . They retain their distinct lustres even , when

positioned next to each other. Swami States that he has elected those

PaadhukhAs with many colored gems as his UpAyam for salvation .

There are 50 slOkAs in this chapter as well .

 

PadmarAga Paddhathi (17)

******************************

This chapter shines with 30 slOkAs dealing with the rubies

adorning the PaadhukhAs. Swami is reminded of MahA Lakshmi,

when he salutes the red gems. He goes on further to connect them to

the AchAryAs , who resemble the Jagan MaathA in their compassion .

 

MukthA Paddhathi( 18)

*************************

Here Swami Desikan focuses his attention on the shining

white pearls embedded in the PaadhukhAs . He points out that

the pearl like paasurams of the AzhwAr have for their subject ,

the Lord , who is the Sesha Bhoothan for the paasurams. By this

statement , Swami Desikan alludes to the Lord being under the

influence of the AzhwAr (SvAdheenar ) . The Lord comes to the side

of the AzhwAr , when requested . This chapter has 50 verses.

 

Marathaka Paddhathi (19 )

*****************************

The focus of this chapter is the green emeralds embedded

in the PaadhukhAs .There are 20 slOkams in this paddhathi .

 

Indraneela Paddhathi (20 )

******************************

The bluish saphire gems of the PaadhukhAs get the attention

of our Aachaarya in this chapter with 30 slOkams .

 

Bhimbha -Prathibhimbha Paddhathi(21)

*********************************************

Here , Swami Desikan is moved by the mirror like lustre

of the PaadhukhAs and visualizes them as a gem-studded

mirror. He states that the paadhukhAs are the embodiment

of clarity . There are 20 slOkams in this chapter.

 

Kaanchana Paddhathi (22)

*****************************

The lustre associated with the gold in the paadhukhAs

are the object of praise here. There are 20 slokams in

the Kaanchana Paddhathi . In one slokam , Swami Desikan

salutes the "Kaanchana Sriyam " of the paadhukhAs.

This phrase has the double meaning of (1) the holy feet of the Lord

that are affiliated with the shining , golden PaadhukhAs

and (2) the Lord with the holy feet , who has been blessed

with the golden Sri Devi .

 

Sesha Paddhathi (23)

************************

This is one of the smallest paddhathi . It has only

10 slOkAs . Swami describes the PaadhukhAs as

the reincarnation of AdiseshA , who is celebrated for

his Kaimkarya Sree . As LakshmaNA , Adi SeshA

seved the Lord in the forests of DandakAraNyam

and in AyOdhyA .

 

Dvandhva Paddhathi (24)

*****************************

There are 20 slOkams in this chappter that celebrate

the inseparability of the pair of Lord's paadhukhAs .

They are like a couple in Swami"s mind . This joint

presence reminds Our AcharyA about the Ekaseshitvam

of the divine couple as indicated by the letters A and U of

PraNavam . When the Jivan in the form of the letter of M

joins the A and U ( the Divine Couple ) , then the goal of life

is attained. Swami Desikan hints that the jeevan that holds

the pair of inseparable paadhukhAs gets connected to

the Divya Dampathis .

 

SamnivEsa Paddhathi (25)

******************************

Samnivesam means form (uruvam in Tamil ) . Here

Swami Desikan describes the form taken by the paadukhAs

in different incarnations of the Lord. In VamanAvathAram ,

the PaadhukhAs were small befititng the small form of the Lord.

In TrivikramAvathAram , they grew to gigantic proportions.

One is remided of the Upanishadic statement " ANOraNeeyAn

MahathOrmaheeyAn " .

 

YanthrikA Paddhathi (26)

***************************

This is another small chapter with 10 slOkams.

The subject of adoration is the toe hold of the PaadhukhAs.

 

RekhA paddhathi (27)

***********************

The lines (RekhAs) found on the surface of

the PaadhukhAs are the objects of salutation here.

This is yet another short paddhathi with 10 slOkams.

Swami explains that the lines on the PaadhukhAs are

the codes for the meaning of the VedAs . One can enjoy

their beauty , but can not reproduce them .

 

SubhAshitha Paddhati (28 )

********************************

In this paddhathi with 10 slOkams , Swami Desikan

provides clues to the specific actions of the Lord ,

when he incarnated as Sri RamachandrA . The meaning

of BharathA's AarAdhanam to the PaadhukhAs

is also explained here.

 

PrakeerNa Paddhathi (29)

******************************

Swami describes many sangathis here .

Sangathi means message. In the 80 slOkams of this

paddhathi , Swami Desikan has many messages for us.

These are the blessings described by the VedAs.

He calls them " SrEyassAdhanam AamnathAm " .

These sangathis are messages that should be known

to Mumukshus or those who seek Moksham. These

sangathis deal with the rupam and the glory of the PaadhukhAs

that confer on us many auspicious blessings .

 

Chithra Paddhathi (30)

*************************

There are 40 gem of slokAs here . As Kavi Simham ,

Swami Desikan houses the wonderful svarupa , rupa ,

GuNa , Vibhava cheshtithams of the PadhukhAs in slOkAs

that have corresponding sabdham ( aural attribute) ,

Artha gowravam ( majestic and deep meaning ) and

Chithram (geometric pattern ) . Through these extraordinary

verses , he salutes the PaadhukhAs of the Lord of Srirangam

and prays for his Aathma Kshemam . The title of Chitra Paddhathi

arises from the symbolism of the slokAs like RangOli . Chithram

has two meanings . It can mean colorful geometric pattern (Yanthram ).

It can also mean wonderous . The profound nature of these colorful

slOkams are set in the various formations known as

Shodasa TaLa Padmam (16 petalled Lotus Yanthram ) ,

Ashta TaLa Padmam ( 8 petalled Lotus yanthram ) ,

Garuda gathi chakra Bhandham ( formation resembling the

flight pattern of GarudA ) and SarvathObhadra Bhandham

( formation that is auspicious in all directions , places and

times ) et al .

 

In these 40 slOkams , Swami Desikan describes the saakshAthkAram

of the PaadhukhAs of BhagavAn (NammAzhwAr ) and enjoys his

extradorinary state of happiness arising from the enjoyment of the Lord

and the AzhwAr . This Maanasa SaakshAthkAram results in the

creation of these 40 profound verse that are unmatched anywhere

in his granthams.

 

Nirveda Paddhathi (31 )

**************************

Suddenly , the union with the AzhwAr dissolves and Swami Desikan

is reduced to tears. He cries out about the loss of union (SamslEsham )

like the AzhwAr himself, when he went through VislEsham ( separation

from the experience of the Lord ) . The santhosha anubhavam ends and

that leads to lamentations . Swami comes down to the earth as it were

and remembers Prakruthi and his life in this world fill of sorrows .

He expresses his disgust (NIRVEDAM ) at SamsAram . He screams

aloud and appeals for the mercy of the PaadhukhAs and begs them to

bless him soon with Moksham .

 

This slokam is a moving one :

 

prapathyE paadhukhAm dEveem paravidhyAmiva svayam I

yaamarpayathi dheenAnAm dayamAnO Jagadhguru : II

 

Here Swami states that he has performed Prapatthi at

the feet of the Paadhukhais , which is verily the DayA Devi of the Lord

and symbolize the two para VidhyAs recognized as Bhakthi

and Prapatthi . Swami pints out the relationship between

PerumAL and the AchAryAs here . He says : Jagadhguru :

DayamAna: DheenAnAm arpayathi . The Lord , who is

the jagadh Guru out of his merciful nature (DayamAna : )

presents (arpayathi ) to the meek and helpless (DheenAnAm ),

the AchAryAs .

 

Pala Paddhathi(32)

*********************

 

This paddahthi has 37 slOkams and leads to a total count

of 1008 slokams for the great grantham of Swami Desikan

revered as Sri PaadhukhA Sahasram .

 

This paddhathi is a description of the happy state of mind of

Swami Desikan resulting from the compassionate response

of the powerful PaadhukhAs of the Lord to his prayer in the

previous Paddhathi (NirvEda Paddhathi ) . The chitra and

the NirvEda paddhathis dealt with the means to attain Moksham .

The Pala Paddhathi celebrates the fruits attained from

following those means . The slOkams of this paddhathi

are the devotional celebration of the anubhavam of

the parama Palam or Moksha Siddhi .

 

I will conclude this summary of the chapters 15-32 of

RPS with the last slokam of the Pala Paddhathi :

 

Jayathi YathirAja Sookthi : Jayathi

Mukhundasya Paadhukha YugaLee I

tadhubhaya dhanA : trivEdhim

AvandhayanthO jayanthi bhuvi santha : II

 

(meaning ) : The sookthis of YathirAja ( RamAnujA

and the AzhwArs-AchAryAs ) stay victorious. Lord

MukhundhA's pair of paadhukhAs stay triumphant .

The great AachAryAs who hold both the Sri Sookthis

of RamAnujA and other SadAchAryAs as their invaluable

wealth stay victorious and shine through their own holy and

blemish-free granthams rooted in the correct intrepretation of

the three vEdAs .

 

SrimathE NigamAntha MahA DesikAya Nama :

Sri RanganAtha Divya maNi PaadhukhAbhyAm Nama :

Srirasthu; Subhamasthu .

 

Isvara Samvathsaram , First Day of ChitrA Maasam

 

Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan