Sri GuNa Rathna Kosam : Part XXXIV: SlOkam 24

[Guest guest]

Dear BhakthAs:

 

From SlOkams 19-23 , Bhattar paid tribute to Sri RanganAyaki

as the Empress o the temporal world(Leela VibhUthi) and

the One beyond Space and Time (Nithya VibhUthi/Sri Vaikuntam)

and connected these two VibhUthis as Her BhOga SthAnam.

 

From slOkams 24-28 , Bhattar develops the reaons why Sruthis

as SvapramAnams do not find it necessary to refer to Her

separately each time they salute Her Lord as " Sath, Brahman,

JyOthi " et al.Their status as a dhivya Mithunam (Divine couple)

with " yEka SEshithva YOgam " is saluted by these slOkams .The first

of this pentad of SlOkams celebrate the ThirumAmaNi Mantapam ,

where the dhivya Dampathis as inseperable Ones receive

the kaimkaryams from the NithyAs and the MukthAs.

 

SlOkam 24 of Sri GuNa Rathna KOsam

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

tasyAm cha tvath krupAvan-

niravadhijanathA visrAmArhAvakAsam

samkIrNam dhAsya-thrushNA kalitha-

parikarai: pumbhir-Ananadhanignai: I

snEhAdh-asTAnarakshA vyasababhir-abhayam

Saarnga-chakrAsimukhyai:

AanandhaikArnavam SrI:

yuvayOr-AhurAsTAna-rathnam II

 

Meaning of this SlOkam (Dr.V.N.VedAntha Desikan )

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

Oh RanganAyaki! The Assembly-Hall(ThirumAmaNi MaNTapam)

is the best among all halls. It is the possession (Isvaryam)

of both of You.It is commensurate in size , to Your grace

and its volume .It is also commensurate with the volume of

persons, coming and resting in mental peace , who hold in

their hands the appurtenances of loving service such as

ChAmarA --in their yearning for rendering all kinds of

service to You Both. The Hall is full of such rejoicing

persons engaged in loving service to You Both.

 

These loving servants hold in their hands , the lovely

umbrellas, the ChAmarAs ,and other service-aids. They are

always informed by an anxiety and over-concern for

their Master's safety , though misplaced and unwarranted

it might be. They stand there ready for rendering service,

not in the sense of an ordained duty , but as a loving

act that would prove to be a rapturous experience .

These NithyAs and MukthAs have got to fear nothing

inview of the ever ready Nithyasoori weapons like ChakrA ,

SankhA , SaarngA and the like. They are the best guards.

They would not let any alien or dangerous element in.

When they are all there, What is there to fear ? All

are in eternal bliss. This is the picture of magnificient

Hall You preside over in the Lord's company.

 

Additional Observations by adiyEn

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

The AasthAnam of the dhivya dampathis is

recognized as the magnificient ,matchless gem

of an AasthAnam (AasthAna-Rathnam). The size of that

AasthAna Rathnam is as huge as the limitless krupA

of Sri RanganAyaki.ThirumAmaNi MaNTapam is the Sabhai

or DarbAr of the Dhivya dampathis .Guided by

the Veda Vaakyam (ChAndhOgya Upanishadic passage),

" PrajApathE: SabhAm vEsma prapadhyanthE " ,Bhattar

describes that ocean of bliss (ThirumAmaNi MaNTapam)

as " aanandhikArNavam SrI Bhagavthi YuvayO: aahu:

AaasthAna Rathnam " in the fourth paadham of this

slOkam .

 

That ThirumAmaNi MaNtapam is a delectable ocean of

nectar ( AanandhaikArNavam).In this Fourth Paadham ,

Bhattar addresses Sri Devi (Sri RanganAyaki) as

" Bhagavathi " to remind us that She is shADguNya-

Poornai just like Her Lord.He points out further

that this Aanandamaya arnavam (blissful ocean of nectar ) ,

which is the AaasthAna rathnam belongs to both of

them as revealed by the Sruthis ( Bhagavathi !YuvayO:

Aahu: AasthAna Rathnam ).

 

In the first Paadham , Bhattar gives us an idea

of the dimensions of that ThirumAmaNi MaNTapam:

" tasyAm Puri Thvath KrupAvath tvath dhayEva niravadhi-

janathA-visrAmArhAvakAsam nirvadhE: avadhi-soonyayA ,

asankhyAyA: janathaayA: janan samUhasya visramArha:

visrAnthi YOgya: avakAsa: antharam yasmin tataTOktham "

is the commentary of Sri Vatsya VeerarAghavaachArya.

Just like Her limitless KrupA , the size and dimensions

of this ManTapam has no boundaries (avadhi-Sonyam).

It provides the resting abode for innumerable NithyAs

and MukthAs as stated by the Sruthis.The first Paadham

housing the above rich thoughts is : " TasyAm cha Tvath

krupAvanniravadhi janathA visrAmArha avakAsam " .

 

The second Paadham is : " SankIrnam dhAsya-thrushNA

kalitha parikarai:pumbhi: aananda-nignai: " .The crowded

assembly of NithyAs and MukthAs seen in that

ThirumAmaNi maNTapam are longing to perform kaimkaryam

to the dhivya Mithunam with joy and are holding in their

hands the Umbrella ,fan and other objects for kaimkaryam.

Like Swamy NammAzhwAr had KrishNa ThrushNai , ( vEtkai for

KrishNA), these parijanams of the Lord and the MukthAs

have " Daasya ThrushNA " (unquenchable thirst for Kaimkaryam).

These PumAns or great souls are drenched in bliss (aanandha-

nignai:)at the thought of their kaimakrya sampath.

 

The Third Paadham of this slOkam is: " snEhAdh asthAna-

rakshA-vyasanibhir-abhayam Saarnga-chakrAsi-mukhyai: " .

The snEham or friendship or affection referred to here

is the PrEmai for the dhivya MangaLa vigrahams of

the Divine Couple by the great assembly of NithyAs

and MukthAs.They have the worries about any harm

falling on the Divine Couple , although such fears

are misplaced and unwarranted (asthAna RakshA vyasanibhi:).

This VyAkulam (klEsam or Bhayam)is like that of PeriyAzhwAr ,

who sang PallANDu to the Divine Couple, when he feared some

harm coming Their way in this mortal world . In Sri Vaikuntam's

Divine , bejewelled hall, the presence of the PanchAyudhams of

the Lord banish any fear about safety to the Divine Couple .

The state of Abhayam is assured and every one is devoid

of fear (Bhaya rahitham).

 

The great anubhavam of the Muktha Jeevan in the ThirumAmaNi

MaNTapam is described in exquisite detail in the 8th and

the 9th chapters of Parama Padha SOpAnam of Swamy Desikan.

The elaborations of this slOkam can be enjoyed there.

 

Srimath Azhagiya Singar ThiruvadigaLE saraNam,

Daasan, Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri SatakOpan