Sri Stuthi-3

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Dear Friends,

 

In this note, I shall summarize Shlokas 3 and 4 of the Sri Stuthi.

Swami Desikan describes the benefit of eulogizing Periya Piratti

Thayar and establishes that She is the reason for the Paratvam of

Lord Narayana.

 

3. Stotavyatvam Dishati Bhavati Dehibhi: StUyamAnA

TAmEva TvAmanitaragati: StOtumAshamsamAna: I

SiddhArambha: SakalabhuvanashrlAghanIyO BhavEyam

SevApEkshA Tava CharaNayO: ShrEyasE Kasya Na SyAt II

 

You are the one who is extolled by all. Because of your Stuthi

we have the good fortune of being able to take part in its recantation.

Oh Devi of such great Mahima! I too desire to sing

your Stuthi. Even as I commence the task of singing your Stuthi,

all my undertakings are blessed with success (Sakala KArya

Siddhi). I have the firm faith that soon I shall be famous around

the world (for composing your Stuthi). This is not in the least

surprising. Without a doubt, those who glorify you through your

Stuthi will be blessed with undying fame.

 

The inner meaning of this verse is that Bhagavan's name becomes

easily utterable to those who first recant the name of Thayar. Since

anyone who utters the name of Bhagavan becomes blessed in all

respects, it is Periya Piratti Thayar who is responsible for conferring

Bhagavan's blessings to the beneficiary. The significant salutations in

this verse are "Dehibhi:" and "SiddhArambha".

The term Dehibhi: is used to denote all from the lowliest of Jivans

to the exalted four-faced Brahma. Swami Desikan refers to the fact

that Periya Piratti Thayar is saluted with reverence by all ranging

from the lowliest Jivans to Brahma. SiddhArambha refers to the fact

that even those who contemplate on recanting the Sri Stuthi are

blessed with the boon of success in their endeavors (KArya Siddhi).

Granting this boon at the commencement of the recitation of the Sri

Stuthi is the hallmark of Mahalakshmi. This verse bears eloquent

testimony to the uniqueness of Her blessings.

 

4. YatsankalpAdhBhavati KamalE Yatra DehinyaMIshAm

JanmasthEmapraLayarachanA JangamAjangamAnAm I

TatkalyANam Kimapi YaminAmEkalakshyam SamAdhoU

PurNam TEja: sphurati BhavatI PAdalAkshArasAnkam II

 

This verse refers to the exalted status of Periya Piratti Thayar.

Swami Desikan leaves his imprint on this verse with a couple of

outstanding characteristic usages. For example, the usage JanmasthEma

praLayarachana and TatkalyANam Kimapi are also found in the Daya

Shatakam, where Swami Desikan eloquently describes Daya as an important

KalyAna GuNam of the Lord of Seven Hills-Srinivasa. H.H. Srimad Andavan

Swamigal of Srimad Paundarikapuram Ashramam astutely observes that

without the prefix Sri, the term Nivasan does not make sense at all and

uses this argument to establish the eternal relationship between Lord

Narayana and Sri to bring out the elevated status of Sri residing in the

Lord's Vakshasthalam. It is this eternal

relationship between Lord Narayana and Sri which is responsible for

his Parathvam according to Swami Desikan.

 

Lord Narayana is responsible for the creation, preservation and

destruction of the Universe. By taking up residence in the Lord's heart,

Periya Piratti Thayar makes it doubly lustrous and auspicious.

By saluting the Lotus feet of this Thayar who resides in the Lord's

Vakshasthala, one is conferred with the benefit of knowledge and insight

about the Lord. Serving as a manifestation of the Lord's

mercy, her benevolent glances confers the grace of the Lord.

The inner meaning here is the concept of SharaNagati. Swami

Desikan instructs the desirous to seek the blessings of the Mother

of the Universe by saluting Her Lotus feet as a prelude to obtaining the

grace of Lord Narayana and establishes that such an approach is

bound to be blessed with success.

 

Thus, Swami Desikan brilliantly mirrors the experience of Sri

Ramanujacharya's SharaNagati Gadyam.

 

Namo Narayana,

 

Muralidhar Rangaswamy

 

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