Sri Ranganatha PaadhukhA sahasram: 21st Paddhathi

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Dear Sri Ranganaatha PaadhukhA SevakAs :

 

Bhimbha -Prathibimbha Paddhathi (BPP) is the 21st among

the 32 paddhathis of Sri RanganAtha PaadhukhA Sahasram (RPS ) .

We are now at the 711st slokam level out of the 1,008 that

this great AcharyA composed in praise of NammAzhwAr ,

the PaadhukhAs of Sri RanganAthA . There are 20 verses

in BPP. In the earlier paddhathis , Swami Desikan had focussed

on the individual gems adorning the PaadhukhAs of the Lord.

In BPP , he describes the reflections and the counter-reflections

of the many images on the sacred gems embedded in the PaadhukhAs .

 

Slokam 1 of BPP /Slokam 711 of RPS

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SowrE: suddhAntha naareeNAm vihAramaNi darpaNam I

prasatthEriva samsthAnam padhattrANam upaasmahE II

 

We meditate on the PaadhukhAs , which are known for their

crystal clear nature . They serve hence as the unique mirror

for the ladies of the Lord's antha: puram to check on their

own beauty .

 

Slokam 2 of BPP / Slokam 712 of RPS

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KamalApathi PaadhukhE ! kadAchidh

vihagEndrastvayi bimbithO vibhAthi I

savilAsa gathEapi Rangabharthu :

nijamAthmAnamivOpadhAthu kaama: II

 

O PaadhukhAs of the consort of MahA Lakshmi !

GarudA is standing near your Lord. His body is

reflected on your gems . This reflection of GarudA

on you seems to suggest that GarudA is desirous of

transporting His Lord even when you are busy with that

pleasurable task . He seems to have entered in you

out of His desire to offer His service.

 

The inner meaning is that the Paasurams of NammAzhwAr

are Veda saaram . When One hears these paasurams , one is

reminded o fthe Vedams. Garudan is considered as

Veda Murthy or veda Purushan . He is therefore resident

in the Pasurams ( gems ) of the SatAri /paadhukhA ( AzzhwAr ) .

 

Slokam 7 of BPB /Slokam 717 of RPS

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padhArpaNAth prathamathO haridasmaramyE

madhyE tava prathipalan maNipaadharakshE I

manyE nidarsayathi RangapathiryugAnthE

nyagrOdhapathrasayitham nijamEva roopam II

 

Here , Swami Desikan describes the moment when

Sri RanganaathA bends slightly forward to enter into

the PaadhukhAs . Hisshadow falls at this time on the row

of emeralds adorning the center of the PaadhukhAs .

Swami Desikan describes the effect of that image on his mind .

He says : " O MaNi PaadhukhE ! Prior to entering you ,

your Lord bends to position His feet . At that time , the reflection

of His body is seen on the rows of emeralds at

your mid-portion . That green image reminds me of

your Lord showing His form lying on a pupil leaf

at the time of the universal deluge " .

 

Slokam 14 of BPP / Slokam 724 of RPS

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prathidisam upAyathE Devi ! yaatrOsavArtham

tvayi viharaNakaalE bimbhithE jeevalOkhE I

vhasi maNigaNaistvam paadhukhE ! Rangabharthu :

kapalitha sakalArtham kaanchidh anyAm avasthAm II

 

O Devi PaadhukhE ! When you travel on the Raja Veedhis

of Srirangam , the reflections of the countless number of

devotees assembled to offer their salutations to the Lord

are seen on you . That reminds me of the stomach of the little

child floating on the leaf of a pupil tree at the time of the universal

deluge. Like your Lord , You seem to keep them protected in

your stomach made up of your gems .

 

Swami Desikan suggests that many , many reflections of

the devotees of the Lord thronged to offer their slautations

to the PaadhukhAs are seen on its gems. The containment of

the multitudinous reflections of people on the gems reminds

him of the God Child , which swallowed the entire universe

for its protection during the PraLayam and floated

on the oceans on top of a pupil leaf .

 

Slokam 20 of BPP / Slokam 730 of RPS

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HaripadhanakEshu bhavathi prathipalathi tavaitadhapi rathnEshu I

uchithA mitha: padhAvani ! bhimbhaprathibhimpathA yuvayO : II

 

O PaadhukhE ! Your image is reflected on the nails of your

Lord's sacred feet . Those holy feet inturn are reflected on your

gems . It appears only appropriate that your Lord's feet and

yourself are united forever through the tradition of Image and

Counterimage (Prathibimbham ) .

 

Sri RanganAtha Divya MaNi PaadhukhE ! Thubhyam Nama:

Swami Desikan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

Oppiliappan Kovil VaradAchAri Sadagopan