Padhuka Sahasram-37

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>Sri:>

>SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,>

>Translation of Paaduka Sahasram by U.Ve. Sri V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin

>

>37. BhaktiprahvapurapraBhanjanajatAvAtIsanIdaspura

> tchUdAragvaDhavAsanAparimaLastyAnE stuma: PAdhukE

> RangakshONiBrudhamGripadmayugaLIpUrNaprapatthE: Phalam

> Nishchinvanti VipaschitasshamaDhanA nityam yaduttamsanam

>

>We praise the Paadukas which have acquired a strong fragrance from the

>Konrai blossoms derived from the head marked by knotty locks of hair,

>of Siva (the conqueror of Tripura), who is bent-headed at the Lord's feet

>with deep devotion. Vidwans, whose great wealth is their self-control,

>give the considered verdict that the status of ever-bearing the

>Paadukas on one's head is the reward and fruit of one's total surrender

>performed at the lotus feet of Ranganatha.

>

>Namo Narayana,

>Adiyen,

>SriMuralidhara Dasan

 

NOTES BY V.SADAGOPAN(V.S):

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

 

(1)UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam : The tranquil sages known for

their strength of penance (thapO bhalam )adorn Sri RanganAtha

PaadhukhAs on their heads and assert that act is equivalent to

attaining the fruits of complete Prapatthi through mind ,

speech and body .In a similar vein , Ahirbudhnyan ( Parama Sivan )

stands witness to the glory of Lord RanganAthA's PaadhukhAs

by adorning them on His matted-locks decorated with the golden

yellow KonRai flowers. Through this sambhnadham , the Lord's

PaadhukhAs are infused with the fragrance of the KonRai flowers

decorating thejatai of Parama Sivan. By this display of His devotion

to Lord RanganAthA's Paadhukhais , Parama Sivan, who destroyed

the three cities through His roar demonstrates that He stands

in the front ranks of Sri VaishNavAs.

 

(2)Andavan Anubhavam : Lord SivA wears the PaadhukhAs of His

Lord ranganAthA on His head always.This results in the Paadhukhais

acquiring the fragrance of the KonRai flowers that decorate

the jatai of Lord SivA.The evolved ones state that they have

performed SaraNAgathi to have the bhAgyam of wearing always

the Lord's Paadhukhais on their heads.AdiyEn salutes the paadhukhais

of such illustrious repute .

 

(3)Swami Desikan refers to the PoorNa prapatthi performed by

the sages of great distinction in this slOkam through

the adornment of the Lord's PaadhukhAs on their heads .

Poorna prapatthi is done through the SaraNAgathi with

the unity of Mind , Speech and body . AzhwArs like NammAzhwAr,

Thirumangai and AchAryAs like AlavandhAr have performed such

Poorna prapatthi at the Lord's lotus feet . They ask

the Lord to place His sacred feet on their heads .They

pray with folded hands ( Kaayikam), they appeal to Him

(Vaachikam ) and seek it through prayer(Manas).Examples

of such PoorNa prapatthi are :

 

(a)-- nee oru nALL paDikkaLavAha nimirttha ninn paadha pangayamE

talaik KaNiyAi --ThiruvAimozhi:9.2.2

( Oh Lord of ThiruppuLingudi ! Please place Your lotus

feet , in a size that will match my head and rest them

on my head as a mark of distinction and decoration for

my head )

 

(b) --kOlamAm yenn sennikku unn kamalamanna kurai kazhalE--

ThiruvAimozhi :4.3.6

( Oh Lord! Please do come to me and place Your beautiful

lotus soft feet on my head . It will be a magnificient

decoration for my head and good proof for our union

and a pleasing response to the worship adiyEn performed).

 

© " AdicchiyOm talaimisai neeaNiyAi, AazhiyamkaNNA

unn kOlap Paadham--- " ThiruvAimozhi:10.3.6

(Oh KaruNA samudhram ! Oh KaNNA !Your eyes reveal

Your parama udhAra svabhAvam . Please place Your

sacred feet on my head ).

 

(d) " KathA puna: ...Tvath CharanAmbhujam madhIya

MoordhAnam alankarishyathi? " --Alavandhaar's

SthOthra Rathnam : SlOkam 31

( Oh ThrivikramA ! when would the pair of Your

lotus feet become my sirObhUshanam just as

BharathA was blessed ?).

 

(e) The most direct reference to have the SatAri Soori's

golden feet on his head is that of Madhura Kavi

AzhwAr :

" naavinAl naviRRinbham yeithinEn

mEvinavan Ponnadi MeymayE "

 

NammazhwAr sought the boon of having the sacred

feet of the Lord on his head and carried them around

as SatAri Soori. His dear sishyar Madhura kavi did not

seek the Lord's paadha Kamalam , but opted for

the golden feet of his AchAryan as sarvasvam .

The PaadhukhA's mahimai is thus revealed to us...V.S

 

Swami Desikan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan