Sri Stuthi-10

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Dear Friends,

 

This post is a continuation of the Sri Stuthi series with a summary of

verses 20-22. Swami Desikan is building up the climax in these

verses. These are exclusively devoted to the concept of SharaNagati

to the Lotus feet of the Lord and the exalted role of Periya Piratti

Thayar in this process. These verses are extremely moving and bring

out the message of Prapatti with consummate effect.

 

20. SevE Devi TridashamahiLAmoULimAlArchitam TE

SiddhakshEtram ShamitavipadAm Sampadam PAdapadmam I

YasminnIShannamitashirasO YApayitvA SharIram

VartishyantE Vitamasi PadE VAsudevasya DhanyA: II

 

Here Swami Desikan pays glowing tribute to the Lotus feet of Periya

Piratti Thayar in preparation for seeking SharaNagati from the Lord.

You (Lotus feet) are worshipped with flowers which then adorn the

heads of Deva MahiShIs; you near whom no harm can approach; you

on account of whose auspicious arrival heralds the conferring of

all riches; Oh Devi of such glory! I salute your Lotus feet. Through

the grace of your Lotus feet one is freed of the afflictions arising

from this evanescent body and attains residence at Sri Vaikuntam

permeated by Shuddha Satvam.

 

In this context, Seva means Bhakti, and Upasana of Thayar. Swami

Desikan specifically uses this salutation to denote that this is the

UpAyam for being freed from the cycle of birth and deatth indicating

that Mahalakshmi Thayar's grace is a pre-requisite to obtaining Moksham.

Swami Desikan then refers to the results of performing

SharaNagati. As a result of this act, one is freed of afflictions

arising from the body. Swami Desikan desires precisely this boon.

The usage Vitamasi denotes Sri Vaikuntam in which only Shuddha Satvam

prevades. This Lokam of Lord Vishnu (Vasudeva) is radiant with

splendour and light of Shuddha Satvam and has no trace of the darkness

caused by Rajo and Tamo guNams. The Shrutis celebrate this aspect of

Sri Vaikuntam through the salutations "Tamasa: ParAkE" and "Tamasa

ParastAt".

 

21. SAnuprAsaprakatitadayaI: SAndravAtsalyadigDhai:

Amba SnigDhairamrutalaharIlabDhasabrahmacharyaI: I

DharmE TapatrayavicharatE gADataptam KshaNam MAm

AkinchanyaglapitamanaGhairArdrayEThA: KatAkshaI: II

 

In this Shlokam Swami Desikan presents the path of Prapatti to the

Lotus feet of Lord Narayana and extols the exalted role played by

Periya Piratti Thayar in this process.

 

You who are ever compassionate and merciful! Your Vatsalyam (pure

untainted unmitigated love) which knows no bounds resembles the

waves of Amritam! Your purifying merciful glances is what I seek to

cross the ocean of Samsara as a result of which I am affected by the

three types of illnesses.

 

In the previous verse, Swami Desikan prays to Periya Piratti Thayar

to render him fit for Moksham. In this verse, Swami Desikan extols

VAtsalya as the foremost auspicious attribute (KalyANa GuNam) of

Lord Narayana. The best is description of this attribute is like the

love of a cow for its calf that comes seeking milk. DoShAdarshitvam is

the attribute of the Lord as a result of which he ignores the faults

of his Bhaktas and blesses them. This is also glorified in the Daya

Shatakam salutation "BhAvitam SrinivAsasya Bhakta DoShEshva Darshanam".

It is this aspect of the Lord that is denoted by the

auspicious attribute of VAtsalyam. It is precisely because of this

aspect of the Lakshmi KatAksham that a Prapanna is graced by the Lord.

 

Akinchinya is an expression of one's inability to obtain Moksham by

any other means. Swami Desikan states in this verse that this

great boon of Moksham which cannot be obtained by any other means is

possible only through the grace of Mahalakshmi Thayar resulting from

her glorification through this Stuthi.

 

The three kinds of afflictions referred to in this verse are -AdyAtmika,

Adi Bhowdika and Adi Daivika. It is very difficult to

ameliorate and be cured of these afflictions. Swami Desikan states

that the merciful glances of Mahalakshmi Thayar filled with VAtsalyam,

not only rids one of these afflictions but also provides them with

the boon of Moksham which is akin to an endless shower of Amrutam.

 

22. SampadyantE BhavaBhayatamIBhAnavastvatprasAdAt

BhAvA SsarvE Bhagavati HaroU BhaktimudvElayanta: I

YAchE Kim TvAmahamihayata: ShItaLOdArashIlA

BhuyO BhuyO Dishasi MahatAm MangalanAm PrabandhAn II

 

Oh Bhagavati! You who are completely endowed with the six auspicious

qualities! After receiving your blessings there is no need for anything

else. All my thoughts have been converted into Bhakti for you and this

is like the Sun light dispelling the darkness caused

by SamsAric association. What more can I ask of you? I have been the

beneficiary of your cool mercy and auspicious attributes. You have

conferred me with all auspiciousness already. When there is nothing

that you have not conferred already or when there is nothing that

cannot be obtained as a result of offering prayers to you, what more

can I ask for?

 

In this verse, Swami Desikan states that there is no need to ask

anything of Mahalakshmi Thayar. All auspiciousness will automatically

result from just an utterance of her Stuthi.

 

The salutation Bhagavati HaroU also denotes the grace of Bhagavan

accompanying that of Thayar. The message is that Prapannas should

not crave for anything other than the supreme blessing of Moksham.

Those who believe in the Lord's assurance of protection "Yogakshemam

VahAmyaham" should not beg for anything else. Thus with the salutation

of KimyAchE, Swami Desikan reminds Prapannas of their goal

and duties and states that begging for anything else is an exercise

in futility. This Shlokam succinctly establishes the concept of

MahAvisvAsam for Prapannas. In the KAmasikAshtakam, swami Desikan

declares "When You have decided to protect someone, where is the

need for other portectors? When you have decided not to protect

someone, of what use are other protectors?" In this salutation

Swami Desikan echoes a similar message and encourages all Prapannas

to crave for the grace of the supreme Lord.

 

Padma PriyE Padmini Padma HastE PadmAlayE PadmadaLAyatAkshi

VishvapriyE VishNu ManOnukUlE Tvat PAda Padmam Mayi Sannidastva

 

Namo Narayana,

 

Muralidhar Rangaswamy

 

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