Sri RanganAtha MaNi PaadhukhA Sahasram: Marathaga Paddhathi (19th Paddhathi )

[Guest guest]

Dear PadhukhA SevakAs of Sri RanganAthA :

 

Swami Desikan shifted his attention from eulogizing

the pearls of the MaNi PaadhukhAs of the Lord at Srirangam

to a salutation of the Emeralds embedded in the Lord's sandals .

 

He uses 20 verses to point out the significance of the emeralds

adorning the Lord's paadhukhAs . We will choose three illustrtative

slokams from this paddhathi ( Marathaga Paddhathi ) .

 

Through these twenty slokams associated with the emeralds ,

Swami Desikan explores the relationship between the

green-hued emeralds and GarudA ( Garuda Pacchai ) ,

TuLasi , panic grass (Aruham pull ) and other entities

with a green color . This connections are masterly

hyper-links established by our Great AachAryA .

 

Slokam 4 :

 

Haritha: sahasA harinmaNeenAm

prabhayA RanganarEndra PaadharakshE ! I

TuLasithalasambhadham dhadhAthi

tvayi bhakthai : nihitha prasoona raasi : II

 

O RanganAtha PaadhukhE ! Even the white buds of

Mallikai and Mullai flowers showered on you by your

devotees absorb the green rays of your emeralds and

quickly attain the color of green and reach the status

of the holy TuLasi dear to your Lord.

 

Slokam 7 :

 

acchEdhya rasmi niyathai : gatithA haridhbhi:

sadhvarthamanA gathimathi maNipaadharakshE ! I

sandhrusyasE savithru mandala madhyabhAjO

RangEswarasya sampadhiva aparA tvAm II

 

Here , Swami Desikan equates the paadhukhAs to

the chariot of the Sun . The PaadhukhAs like the Sun's

chariot are tied to the multihued horses with the ropes.

In the case of the PaadhukhAs , the green rays of the emeralds

are the ropes . Both the PaadhukhAs and the Sun's chariot

travel on sacred routes defined by the VedAs . At the center of

both the Sun"s chariot and the padhukhAs , the Lord's sacred

feet are found.

 

Swami Desikan says in this context : " O maNi paadhukhE !

You appear like the second chariot of Surya NaarAyaNa Murthy ,

whose horses are tied together for travel in the celestial way

by the green rays of your emerald gems . Those green ropes are

impossible to cut asunder . Your Lord , RanganAthA is travelling on

you in that auspicious route and He is seen on you as the sacred one

at the center of the solar circle (Surya Mandalam ) .

 

Slokam 11:

 

DarapariNatha dhoorvA vallaree nirvisEshai :

marathagasakalAnAm maamsaLai : amsujAlai :

Pasupathi vidhruthA tvam tasya paaNou nishaNNam

Madhuripu paadharakshE ! vanchayasi yENasAbham II

 

O Madhusoodhana PaadhukhE ! When Lord SivA places you

on His head , your emerald rays enter His matted locks.The little

deer on one of His hands mistakes the green bundle of rays

associated with your emerald to be a bundle of panic grass

(aruham pull ) and makes an attempt to eat it .

 

The inner meaning of this slokam is that it is difficult to

understand the tattvAs preached by the AchAryAs. It is even

more duifficult to follow them .

 

Sri RanganAtha MaNi PaadhukhE ! Thubhyam Nama:

Swami Desikan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

Oppiliappan Kovil VaradAchAri Sadagopan