The Crown Jewels

[Guest guest]

Srimate SrivanSatakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yatindra

Mahadesikaya nama:

 

The Crown Jewels

 

If the crowds milling about at the major jewellery shops are any

indication, then the Indian Government’s election-eve claim of

“India is Shining” would appear to be true (if one were

to studiously ignore the wide-spread unemployment, still-prevalent

squalor, abject poverty and absence of social security that haunt the

rural masses). Be that as it may, jewellery seems to have an undying

popularity, not only among women, but men too. From time immemorial,

we have seen womenfolk adorn themselves with ornaments of a wide

variety—bangles, chains, necklaces, bracelets, ear and nose

rings, “OddyANam”s worn around the midriff, anklets and

so on.

 

When we consider the matter, the need to deck oneself up appears to

be as fundamental as the ones for food, clothing and shelter. While

the rich and so-called upper middle class wear ornaments of gold, we

find the economically less-fortunate resorting to imitation

jewellery, to enhance their looks. It is thus evident that the

practice of adorning oneself cuts across economic, social and

religious barriers. We find too that this is true not only of current

times, but also of eras long past. No picture of an ancient king or a

queen is complete without a plethora of ornaments on his or her

person.

 

Taking this a bit further, we also find, from currently available

pictures and images of the Lord, that He too is partial to jewellery.

The arcchA moorthies of the Lord we find at various temples are not

only adorned with various types of ornaments, but in the image

itself, we find jewellery carved at appropriate places. All this is

evidence that, contrary to the argument advanced by some, it is not

we who have thrust our own mores on the Lord too. In fact, it is the

Lord’s own habits and predilections that we too follow (alas!

only when it suits us). Thus, in enhancing our looks with ornaments

of various kinds, we are but following in the footsteps of Emperuman,

who is perhaps the universe’s first user of gems and jewellery.

 

Any number of quotes could be adduced from the Scripture, to support

the aforesaid statement about the Paramapurusha wearing ornaments. In

fact, Sri Ramanuja furnishes a long catalogue of the adornments on the

Divine Person, in his Sharanagati Gadyam—

 

“KirIta, Makuta, ChoodAvatamsa, Makara Kundala, GraivEyaka,

hAra, kEyoora, Kataka, Srivatsa, Koustubha, MuktA Dama, udara

bandhana, PeetAmbara, KAnchI guNa noopurAdi aparimita divya

bhooshaNa!”

 

While adducing a list of ornaments worn by the Lord, Sri Ramanuja says

he is just giving us a sample and the actual number of adornments is

countless—“aparimitam”.

 

>From the Gadya citation, we find that the divine ornaments adorning

the tirumEni of the Paramapurusha, have a few unique characteristics

of their own. We have already seen that innumerability is one of

them. Following are some of the others-

 

1.“Ouchityam” or Suitability—The jewels that the

Lord wears are eminently suitable to adorn Him. They are quite in

tune not only with His magnificent physical characteristics like

incomparable and incredible beauty, brilliance, magnificence, etc.,

but also His unique traits like Paratvam, Saulabhyam, etc. If we take

His headgear for instance, it is a prima facie indicator of His

Paratvam, its length and radiance telling us at once, “Here is

the Master of all the Worlds”.

 

2.“Vaividhyam” or Variety—The jewels adorning the

Paramapurusha’s tirumEni are of an infinite variety, according

to the part of the divine torso they belong to. Even within the same

class of ornaments, there is a bewildering variety. Women would be

aware, for instance, that while a chain is just a chain for men,

there are any number of intricate varieties in the same, like the

“MAngA MAlai”, “KAnchikAmaNI”, “Rettai

vadam chain”, “GOdumai (wheat) chain” etc. All

these wide varieties of ornaments, with all the variants there are of

them, adorn the Lord’s tirumEni, making Him a walking exposition

of fashion jewellery.

 

3.“Vaichitriyam”—The ornaments adorning the tirumEni

of the Paramapurusha are varied not only in kind, but also in

composition, some being fashioned out of pure gold, some of gems and

precious stones, yet others of pearls, corals, and so on.

 

4.“AnantAscharyam”—they generate a feeling of

bewilderment, of inability to comprehensively take in the beauty and

brilliance of each of their number.

 

5.“Nityatvam”—These ornaments are as eternal and

everlasting as their wearer, not being prone to destruction and

re-creation.

 

6.“niravadyatvam”—Unlike jewellery worn by human

beings, which is subject to loss of weight, shine and purity over a

period of time, the Lord’s ornaments are ever pure, ever

radiant and ever at their best in adorning the Lord.

 

7.“niratisaya sugandhatvam”—These jewels are

unimaginably fragrant too. We find in the world that a rose made of

gold naturally lacks fragrance. Unlike their counterparts of the

material world, the divine adornments are extremely sweet-smelling.

They are so scented as to afford pleasure to even the Lord, who is

the repository of all fragrance—“Ya: Sarvagandha:”

 

8.“niratisaya sukha sparsatvam”—Normally all

ornaments, since they are made of metal, are hard on the skin. We

thus find bangles or chains leaving their imprint on the soft skin of

the wearer. We have also come across several cases of nose and ear-

rings causing sores. The divine adornments, on the other hand, are

extremely soft and yielding, and cause absolutely no strain to the

Paramatma’s baby-skin—on the contrary, they afford

comfort and ease, apart from being good-looking.

 

9.“Niratisaya oujjvalyam”—The brilliance and

splendour of these ornaments make them resemble a hundred Suns, with

the important exception that while the Sun’s lustre is lost

when he sets, these adornments continue to be luminous forever.

 

10.”aparimitatvam”—The adornments to the divine

torso are indeed countless. While using this adjective, Sri Ramanuja

has in mind Sri Nammazhwar’s words, “eNNil

palkalan” and “pala palavE AbharaNam” etc.

 

11.”Divyatvam”—These ornaments are made of entirely

different quality of material, fashioned out of Suddha Sattva, and

are as different from their mundane counterparts, as I am, from Sri

Satakopa Muni.

 

Having seen a sample of the traits of the divine ornaments, we shall

now catalogue a cross section of them, following the footsteps of Sri

Bhashyakara. It is indeed a tribute to the Sage that he has been able

to describe these adornments on the Paramapurusha’s tirumEni,

as a result of his constant contemplation of the same and of a

realisation as good as seeing the Lord in person—“darsana

samAnAkAram”. Here are the various items of jewellery which Sri

Ramanuja sees the Lord wearing on His magnificent person—

 

1. “KiriItam”—The Lord wears a tall and

gem-studded headgear, which is an instant indication of His

overlordship of the universe—“SarvAdhipatya

soochanArttham” says Swami Desikan. Here is a beautiful sloka

from the Devanayaka Panchasat, telling us that the Lord’s

KirItam is an instant identification of the Parabrahmam, the Lord and

Master of all beings, whether they be mortals or celestials, and that

its brilliance and splendour drives away the gloom of ignorance from

our souls—

 

“VisvEsvaratvam iha darsayitum kshamastE

nAtha! tvayApi shirasA vidhrita: KirIta:

Ekeekrita dyumaNi bimba sahasra deepti:

Nirmoolayan manasi mE nibidam tamisram”

 

2. “Makutam”—This refers to the top portion of

the KirItam, the “Crowning Glory”, so to

say—“KirItAgra avayavO nAyakAdhAra:”, according Sri

Sudarasana SUri. According to the Shilpa ShAstram, types of Makutam

are different, depending upon the wearer, says Swami Desikan.

3. “ChoodA” is the pendant worn on the scalp. Readers

would be familiar with “ChoodAmaNi pradAnam” in Srimad

Ramayanam, where Tiruvadi obtained from Piratti this ornament and

handed it over to Sri Rama, as a token of having met Sri Janaki.

4. “avatamsam”—refers to the ornamental

adornment to the ears, worn over the ears, as distinct from the ear

rings, which are worn through a hole pierced in the lower ear-lobe.

5. “Makara Kundalam” represents ear- rings shaped

like an alligator, adding additional seemliness to the already

beautiful ears. Sri Valmiki tells us that there was none in Ayodhya

who was not adorned with these Kundalams—“na akundalI na

amakutee”. These crocodile-shaped ornaments are what give the

Emperuman at a nava Tirupati divyadesam, the sobriquet “Makara

nedum kuzhai kAdar”. Sri Nammazhwar finds Tirukkurungudi Nambi

resplendent with this adornment—“minnu noolum kundalamum

mArvil tiru maruvum”

6. “GraivEyakam”—is the necklace worn around

the beautiful mid portion between the face and the chest.

7. “HAram” is what is worn on the chest, around the

neck. This chain or garland of gold is extremely lengthy,

necessitating its having to be worn in two strands, it would appear

from Sri PeyAzhwar’s words, “Peiya varai mArbil pErAram

pooNdu”. And it is this ornament that captivates Sri

Tiruppanazwar—“Tiru Ara mArbadandrO adiyEnai

AtkoNdadE”. It is perhaps with prior knowledge of

Emperuman’s liking for such “HArams” that Indra

makes a present of a beautiful and brilliant golden chain to Sri

Rama, as a tribute on His Coronation— “MAlAm

jvalantIm vapushA kAnchanIm shata pushkarAm Raghavaya dadou

VAyu: VAsavEna prachOdita:” More than any garland made of

precious metals, the Lord likes to adorn Himself with one made of

multi-coloured flowers, fresh from the jungle, known as the VanamAla,

also known as “VaijayantI”. Sri Krishna never used to

forsake this VanamAla and wore it with élan, says Swami

Desikan—“VaijayantI vibhooshaNam”. This VanamAla is

colourful, fragrant and has an inalienable association with other

adornments to the Lord’s chest like Sri Mahalakshmi and the

Koustubha MaNi and is as splendorous and magnificent as the Lord

HImself—this is what we learn from the following Devanatha

Panchasat sloka— “VarNa kramENa VibudhEsa! VichitritAngI

smEra prasoona subhagA VanamAlikEyam hridyA sugandhi: ajahat KamalA

MaNIndrA nityA tava sphurati moortiriva dviteeyA” 8.

“KEyooram” is what is worn around the shoulders or

biceps, perhaps the equivalent of the present (or is it the past) day

“Vanki”.9. “Katakam”s are special

bangles, suited to males, worn on the wrists.10. “Sri

Vatsam” is a “Maru” on the Lord’s chest.

Unlike the other ornaments which can be separated from the divine

tirumEni, this Maru forms part of Emperuman’s torso, giving the

Lord the unique sobriquet, “Sri Vatsa Chihna:”11.

“Koustubham” is a brilliant gem adorning the Lord’s

chest, signifying the Jeevatmas. Describing the closeness the Jeeva

enjoys to Emperuman, Swami Desikan describes him as “Koustubha

stthAnIyanAi koNdu”. We become “krita krityAs”,

achieving the very objective of our existence, by merely

contemplating the Lord’s broad chest, as adorned by the

Koustubham, VanamAla, Srivatsam and Sri Mahalakshmi, says the

Devanayaka Panchasat sloka which follows— “durdAnta

daitya visikha kshatta bhangamVeerasya Vibudha nAyaka! BAhu

madhyamSrIVatsa Koustubha RamA VanamAlikAngamChintAnubhooya labhatE

charita artthatAm na:” 12.”MuktA dAmam”—These

are strings of pearls worn around the Lord’s neck and chest, in

single, double and triple strands.13.”udara

bandhanam”—is worn by the Lord around His ample midriff,

the stomach which is the refuge of all the worlds during the cosmic

deluge. This particular adornment is so beautiful as to steal a

permanent place in Sri Tiruppanazhwar’s mind—“tiru

udara bandham en uLLatthul nindrulAgindradE”. Perhaps this

refers to the ordinary rope Sri Yasoda used to tie-up the

Parabrahmam, and which the Lord accepted with so much affection and

which gave Him the indelible name “DAmOdaran”.14.

PeetAmbaram”—Though rightly to be counted under the

category of apparel, this cloth made of yellow silk so suits

Emperuman with His black complexion, that the Lord simply dazzles

with the PeetAmbaram around His midriff—“PeetAmbara

susObhitam” says Sri Krishnashtakam. This is described by Sri

Nammazhwar as “PAngu tondrum pattu”. A variant of this is

the red silk, of which Sri PAN PerumaL is enamoured—“arai

sivanda Adayiyn mEl chendradAm en sindayE”15.”KAnchI

guNa”—refers to the almost invisible golden thread

holding the PeetAmbaram in place. The Lord’s tirumEni is

extremely soft and so is the yellow silk, necessitating its being

held in place by the KAnchI.16. “Noopuram” is the

“silambu” worn around the fingers of the Lord’s

tiruvadi. Of all the ornaments, this is the most enjoyable for

Prapannas like us, as it adorns the part of the Lord’s tirumEni

we revere the most. Sri Ramanuja, after cataloguing the aforesaid 16

items, adds an “etc.”, to indicate that the list is not

exhaustive and that only the principal ornaments have been covered.

Some of these left out items of jewellery would appear to be the

following, gleaned from the sree sooktis of other Acharyas and

Azhwars—1. “angulIyakam” or the Ring—worn on

the Lord’s finger. We come to know of this from the Srimad

Ramayana episode where Sri Rama sends the “KaNayAzhi” to

Sri Janaki, through Siriya Tiruvadi, to serve as identification.

“angulIyaka pradAnam” thus occupies an important turning

point in Srimad Ramayana, with Tiruvadi succeeding in imparting to

the despairing VaidEhi, the assurance of imminent rescue by Sri

Raghava.

2.”YagyOpavItam” or the sacred thread, which adorns the

Lord’s broad and dark chest, like a streak of lightning in a

cloudy sky. “PudayAr pon noolinan” says Sri Nammazhwar,

highlighting the beauty of this particular adornment.

3. All the weapons of the Lord,(the principal of which are Sudarsanam

the Discus, PAnchajanyam the Conch, KoumOdakI the Mace,

“nAndakam” the Sword and the bow “ShArngam”)

also double as glorious adornments to the Lord. The brilliant Chakram

and the beautiful white Shankham, everyone would agree, serve as much

as deadly weapons in dealing with the dastardly, as magnificent

ornaments providing splendorous sidelights on either side of the

Lord.

4. Last, but definitely not the least important of the Lord’s

adornments, in fact the most distinguished of them, is Sri

Mahalakshmi, who resides permanently on His chest, enhancing His

radiance and magnificence manifold—“Vaksha: peeteem Madhu

vijayinO bhooshayanteem sva kAntyA”

5.”Kazhal” or anklet, is worn by the Lord around His

ankles. We find evidence of this ornament in Sri Nammazhwar’s

pasurams, “kOlamAm en chennikku un kamalam anna kurai

kazhalE”, “andru tEr kadaviya PerumAn kanai kazhal

kANbadu endru kol kaNgaLE” etc.

6. “angi” or a gem or pearl-studded coat, as is worn by

Sri Ranganatha on the Vaikuntta EkAdasi day, known variously as

“Mutthangi”, “VajrAngi” etc. It is such an

angi made of precious stones, a “RatnAngi” that Sri

DeivanAyakan of Tiruvaheendrapuram wishes to wear and for which

strenuous efforts are under way by eminent bhAgavatAs, which deserve

all our material and moral support.

 

An important difference between our wearing ornaments and the Lord

doing so, is that while in our case it is we who derive the benefit

of the adornments, through enhanced looks, etc., in the Lord’s

case, it is the ornaments who attain brilliance and magnificence

through association with the Lord’s tirumEni, says Swami

Desikan—“Bhoosha Ayudhai: adhigatam nija kAnti

hEtO:”

 

To conclude, the number, variety and magnificence of the Lord’s

adornments is indeed beyond description or even contemplation.

However, be they ever so splendorous, the Lord likes these ornaments

much less than certain others, which we can offer Him. More than

garlands of gold, more than a gem-studded and glittering Crown, more

than a hundred ornaments of unimaginable value, what the Lord values

more is a single gesture of “anjali” or surrender, on our

part. What He likes more than a whole lot of adornments is the

offering of palms joined in supplication, shaped like a lotus, the

gesture of Sharanagati. This is the conclusion of Sri Nammazhwar, the

forerunner of Surrendered Souls (“Prapanna Jana

Kootasttha:”)—“DesamAna aNikalanum en kai kooppu

seigayE”. Which is the golden crown He wears with pride?

Nothing other than our unalloyed devotion and love untinged with

expectation, says the Azhwar, adding that this affection of ours is

so pleasing to Emperuman that He wears it on His tirumeni as the most

precious of ornaments and the most magnificent of silken apparel

too—

“kaNNi enadu uyir kAdal kanaka sOthi mudi mudalA

eNNil pal kalangaLum Elum Adayum akhdE”.

 

He likes most garlands of verses of praise which don’t wilt,

which He also considers better than a

PeetAmbaram—“ennudaya vAsakam sei mAlayE, vAn pattAdayum

akhdE”.

 

It may or may not be possible for us to submit to the Lord ornaments

of gold, silver, gems and other precious stones, in tune with His

splendour and magnificence—however, it is definitely well

within our capabilities to offer Him the adornments which are the

dearest to Him, viz., our “anjali”—our palms folded

in devotion, our love and affection in abundant measure and our

unstinted words of abundant praise.

 

Srimate Sri LakshmINrisimha divya paduka sevaka SrivanSatakopa Sri

Vedanta Desika Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

Dasan, sadagopan

[Guest guest]

SrI:

SrImathE Gopaladesika mahadesikaya namah:

 

Dearest sri Sadagopan Iyengar Swamin,

 

what a wondreful narration! Somply brilliant post like

all your other posts. I am sure your inbox is getting

clogged with such email appreciations on all your

artilces.

 

This one - is treat for our eyes (by visualizing the

AbharaNams and thereby the divine Dhivya mangaLa

vigraham of PerumAL..

 

The way you ended by saying that our anjali alone is

the best ornament that he wishes to wear.. brought

ings tears in my eyes while reading. You alone can

write so well strating from lowkika life, talkin us

slowly step by step with your able hands holding our

small fingers and enaling us reach the top and enjoy

the scene along with you in the same manner as you

do..

 

You fit aptly on theritthezhudi vaasitthum kEttum ..

[which again was a great article on Time pass].

 

May Lord sriya: Pathi Sriman Narayanan Bless you

hundred years more on this land and make many such

greatest posts for generations to come...

Take care..

Regards

Namo Narayana

dAsAnu dAsan

 

 

 

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