Sri RanganAtha PaadhukhA Sahasram : YanthrikA Paddhathi (YP) --26th chapter

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Dear BhakthAs of Sri RanganAtha :

 

The word YanthrikA stands for the arrangement ,

which is in the front portion of the PaadhukhA to serve

as a toe hold . By grasping that yanthrikA between the big toe and

the rest of the fingers of the foot , one can use the paadhukhAs

for walking. In the ten verses of this chapter dedicated to

the YanthrikAs (restraints) on the paadhukhAs that permits

movement , Swami Desikan celebrates their importance .

Until now , he praised the whole paadhukhAs ; now , he

focuses on an important limb of the paadhukhAs

without which one could not move about .

 

Slokam 1 of YP / Slokam 801 of RPS

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udhagra yanthrikAm vandhE paadhukhAm yannivEsanAth I

upayarpi padham VishNO : pratyAdhishta prasAdhanam II

 

I salute the upward rising limb of the PaadhukkAs , the yanthrikA .

By placing His feet on the paadhukhAs and holding onto the

toehold (Knob ) , VishNu proves that there is no need for decoration

in the upward portion of the paadhukhAs .

 

Swami Desikan suggests that the foothold through its decorative

aspects matches the base of the paadhukhAs and eliminates the

need for any additional decorations .

 

The inner meaning is that the SadAchAryAs are not only provide

great joy to the Lord , but they also become objects of decoration

for the land .

 

Slokam 2 of YP/ Slokam 802 of RPS

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Here , Swami Desikan points out that the foot hold on the

paadhukhAs not only serve as decorations , but also protects

the feet of the Lord through the shade it provides for the Lord's feet .

He says : O PaadhukhE ! You protect the Lord's feet on the ground

from thorns and sharp stones . At the same time , through your foot

hold , you provide shade for the feet . Your foot holds serve in this

context as umbrellas " .

 

The inner meaning is that AzhwArs and AachAryAs not only

perform duties that please the Lord , but they also save their

devotees from any harm . Through initiation into moola manthram

and other rahasyams , they make sure that the prapannAs are

blessed with auspiciousness both in this and the other world .

 

Slokam 3 of YP / SLoakm 803 of RPS

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Murabhin maNi paadhukhE ! tvadheeyAm

anagaAmanguLi yanthrikAmavaimi I

svyamunnamithAm pradEsineem tEh

paramam daivatham yekam ithi ruchantheem II

 

Here Swami Desikan explains why the foot holds of

the paadhukhAs acquired the name of YanthrikAs.

Since the foot holds restrain the big and other toes

from leaving or parting with the paadhukhAs , it has

gained the name of YanthrikAs or restrainers . Further ,

it seems to stand up as the index finger of the paadhukhAs

to point out that Sri RanganAthA is the supreme Lord and

the Universal controller , who manages the creation ,

protection and destruction of the sentients and the insentients

of this universe .

 

Swami Desikan says : " O PaadhukhAs of MurAri ! Your blemishles

yanthrikAs shoot up , while hugging your Lord's big toe and the

other toes of the feet . By this act , they seem to suggest that they

are serving as your index fingers to point out that there is none ,

who is superior to your Lord of anantha kalyANa guNAs .

 

The inner meaning is that NammAzhwAr has asserted at many

of his paasurams that Sriman NaarAyaNA is the overlord

of all Gods .

 

Slokam 4 of YP / Slokam 804 of RPS

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Swami Desikan compares now the yanthrikA to the naadham

(sound ) known as ardha mAtrA (half letter ) that is above the

three syllables of PraNavam ( AUM ) . The paadhukhAs have a front ,

middle and rear portion and these thre sections remind one of the

three syllables of PraNavam ( A , U , M ) . The praNava naadham

however does not arise until the ardha maatrA is added . Then it

becomes complete and resonates with its inimitable majestic

sound . Swami Desikan suggests that the YanthrikA is the ardha

maatrA that provides the finishing touch for the padhukhAs to

match the praNava naadham . He says : O PaadhukhE ! When I

have the sevA of your YanthrikA , I am reminded of the makaaram

that stands for the jeeva svarupam . In the PaadhukhA , the yanthrikhAs

are pre-eminent . Similarly , the makAram is central to praNavam .

It is so because praNavam is intended to remind one that the jeevan

is a seshan of the Lord .

 

The inner meaning is that the pre-eminent attribute of

a sadAchAryan is the firm grip that he or she has on

the Lord's lotus feet .

 

Slokam 5 of YP / Slokam 805 of RPS

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O Paadhukhas protecting the Lord's feet ! You are like

the chariot on which your Lord rides for His sports. Your

yanthrikA is like the binding pin on the yoke( kooparam )

in front of the chariot . ( The yoke is attached to the rest of

the chariot by a wodden fixture that is essential for the

integrity of the chariot and its safe operation . This unit is

known as yErkkAl mookaNai . ) .

 

Slokam 6 of YP / Slokam 806 of RPS

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SankE bhavathyA: subhagam pratheekam

RangEsa paadhAnguLi sangrahArtham I

thrANAya paadhAvani ! vishtapAnAm

ajnAkarimanguLi mudhrikAm tEh II

 

O PaadhukhE ! Your yanthrikA has taken a lovely form

to grip the toes of your Lord and stands tall . It appears like

the index finger raised to command the people of the world

to follow the injunctions laid out by your Lord in SaasthrAs .

 

In an earlier verse , Swami Desikan suggested that the

yanthrikAs shoot out like index fingers to announce the

supermacy of the Lord. Here, he states that the towering

yanthrikAs are like index fingers that command the people

to achieve purushArthams by observing the Lord's laws .

 

Slokam 7 of YP / Slokam 807 of RPS

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O paadhukhE ! I consider your Yanthrikas as the novel

lotus flowers arising out of the holy feet of your Lord.

Your two yanthrikAs in this context appear like twin lotus

flowers with their long stalks found in the two hands

of MahA Lakshmi .

 

Slokam 8 of YP / Slokam 808 of RPS

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O PaadhukhE ! Your yanthrikA stands even above the Lord's

feet .Hence , it is not such a great thing for you to be on the

crowned heads of the DevAs . Your yanthrikA outstrips you

in glory through towering over the holy feet of your Lord.

Compared to that glory , your achievement of resting on

the heads of DevAs pale into insignificance.

 

Slokam 9 of YP/ Sloam 809 of RPS

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O PaadhukhE ! You support and lift the sacred feet

of the Lord , which are pressed by MahA Lakshmi .

When we meditate on those holy feet of the Lord ,

they appear like the crown for you , the empress of

the three worlds. Your YanthrikA in this context

appear like the white umbrella over that crown

announcing your soverignity .

 

Slokma 10 of YP/ Slokam 810 of RPS

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prathamA kalEva bhavathi charaNAvani !

bhaathi Rangachandramasa: I

srungOnnathiriva yathra sriyam

vibhAvayathi yanthrikA yoga : II

 

O PaadhukhE ! You shine like the first day crescent

moon known as RanganAthA . Your yanthrikA appears

like the elevation at the corner of that young crescent

moon and adds to your beauty.

 

If one considers the paadhukhAs of the Lord as the first

kalA of the full Moon , then the bottom portion of that crescent

moon would be the paadhukhAs and the top portion would be

the yanthrikAs in this analogy .

 

Sri RanganAtha Divya maNi paadhukhE ! Thubhyam nama:

Swami Desikan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

Oppilaippan Kovil VaradAchAri Sadagopan