Sri GuNa Rathna Kosam : Part X , Third SlOkam (cnclusion ).

[Guest guest]

Sri RanganAyakyai Nama:

 

In the previous posting , adiyEn mentioned :

>We have now the context for the third slOkam

>of Sri GuNa Rathna Kosam :

>

>anukala-tanu-kANDAlingana-aarambha-sumbhath

>prathidisa bhujasAkha SrisakhAnOkahardhi:

>sthana-nayana-guLuccha-sphAra-pushpadhvirEpA

>rachayathu mayi LakshmI Kalpavallee katAkshAn

 

Meaning of the slOkam given by Dr.V.N.Vedantha Desikan :

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" The Lord is a veritable Kalpaka tree; Goddess

MahA Lakshmi , a kalpaka creeper that has grown in

close and fast embrace of the tree. The tree (that

the Lord is) grows fast , prolifically , and with

thousands of twigs and branches. These are His hands

(and fingers) . They grow in all directions in

an eager enthusiasm to surround His consort from

all sides in tight embrace.

 

If the tree growth is so much rich and fertile,

the kalpaka creeper too draws rich sustenance

and nutrient-rich blooming bunches --which are

indeed the richly grown up breasts .Her eyes look

like black beetles that hover round the flowers in

the tree-creeper matrix.

 

Both the tree and the creeper grow , as it were,

in mutual support and nurture , to a rich panorama

of flowers and beetles!

 

Lakshmi in that context --May She shower Her rich

rain of gracious kindliness on me and immerse me

in that blessed bath! ".

 

Additional comments (adiyEn):

*****************************

 

In the first slOkam , Swamy Parasara Bhattar

offered his anjali to Sri RanganAyaki :

" Sriyai: kruthOnjali: ".

 

In the second slOkam , the key words are:

"SriRangarAja MahishIm Sriyam aasrayAma:".Here,

He sought refuge at Sri RanganAyaki's sacred feet.

 

In the third slOkam , the subject of coverage

of today , the prayer is: " rachayathu mayi

LakshmI Kalpavallee KataakshAn " ( May Sri RanganAyaki

drench adiyEn with the nectarine showers of Her

glances graciously and keep me soaked in that

auspicious bath!).

 

The prayer is set in the context of a Kalpaka tree

(Lord RanganAthan )and Kalpaka creeper ( Sri RanganAyaki)

in tight embrace.The effect of that intense embrace

on the Lord and His divine consort is described

with majestic poetic vision by Swamy ParAsara Bhattar

in the first three lines of the slOkam .

 

The First line : The tight embrace

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" anukala-tanu-kANDAlingana-aarambha -sumbhAth "

is the first Paadham .

 

anu is a prefix that means along side , after or

behind. "kala " means sweet , delicate and pleasing

effect (asphashta maddhuram ).Anukala-tanu ( trunk

of the kalpaka tree here) kANDAlinganam or the sweet

and tight embrace of the Kalpaka tree (Lord) by

the Kalpaka creeper (Sri RanganAyakee) is visualized

here. The beginning of the tender and yet tight

embrace between the Mithunam (couple ) leads to

some dramatic happenings that are described

in the second Paadham.

 

The Second Paadham

*******************

 

" prathidisa bhuja-saakha - SrisakhAnOkahardhi:"

 

Once the creeper commences its embrace of

the trunk of the kalpakA tree , latter ( the tree)

grows prolifically and shoots out thousands of

branches with verdant leaves. These branches

are the Lord's hands rushing to surround and hold

His consort from every side tenderly. The Kalpaka tree

glistens with new leaves on its multitudinous branches

the moment the creeper embraces it.It shines with new

and ever increasing lustre every second. The branches

stretch in every direction in an effort to return

the embrace of the creeper (Sri RanganAyaki).

 

The Third Paadham

*******************

 

"sthana nayana guLaccha sphAra pushpa dhvirEphA "

 

The Kalpaka creeper responds to the loving and

tight embrace of the branches (arms of

the Sahasra-hastha Sri Sakhan , Lord RanganAthan).

The Kalpaka creeper of Sri RanganAyaki is adorned

by two rich blooming bunches of flowers ( two

sthanams) and two black bees ( Her karu vizhigaL /

limpid , rapidly moving ,daya-laden , dark-hued eyes ).

 

It appears as though the verdant tree is now rich

with flower blossoms , which are the object of

attention of the hovering bees . All these happened

as a result of the anyOnyam of the dhivya dampathis

of Srirangam . Both the tree and creeper support

and nourish each other . Swamy ParAsara Bhattar paints

a beautiful word picture of happenings in

" the Tree-Creeper matrix".

 

A flowering fruit tree in this world removes the taapams

of the people through its shade giving properties.

It blossoms and fills the air with its fragrance.

It yields fruits .It serves as the Kozhu kompu

(the leaning stick ) for the creeper near it.

Both the creeper and the tree thrive thru this

mutually reinforcing relationship.The Kalpaka tree

representing the Lord is celebrated by the thousand

branches of VedAs removes the Taapa Thrayams and

comforts the prapannAs under His shade . The kalpaka

creeper circling this Kalpaka tree reveals the anantha

kalyANa guNams and sings the glories of the tree ( Lord

RanganAthA).She reveals to all of us that Her Lord

is the paradEvathai as a PathivrathA SirOnmaNi ,

while being His equal in every way .

 

This passage reminds adiyEn of the passage in BhU sthuthi:

 

" tvath sangamAth bhavathi Maadhavi Labdha pOsha:

SaakhA sathai: adhigatha HarichandanOsau

 

Here BhU devi/Maadhavi , the Sankalpa-kalpa LathikA

( One who grants the desired wishes of bhakthAs

by Her sankalpam alone) is seen as the tender creeper

circling the Harichandana tree of Lord and providing

Him nourishment and strength (labdha pOsham)and

enhancing His glory.

 

Fourth Paadham:

****************

 

"rachayithu mayi LakshmI Kalpavalli KatAkshAn "

 

Here Swamy ParAsara Bhattar prays for those

Daya-laden katAkshams of the KalpakA creeper

to fall on Him and drench him with the anugrahams

of Kaimkaryam to Her at Srirangam and nithya

kaimkaryam to Her and Her Lord at Parama Padham .

 

Srimath Azhagiya Singar ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam ,

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri SatakOpan