KurEsar's Sri VaradarAja Sthavam: Part IX: SlOkam 2

[Guest guest]

Dear BhakthAs:

 

During this Brahma MuhUrtham (early mornign hours),

adiyEn feels blessed to reflect on the second slOkam of

Sri VaradarAja Sthavam .

 

This Second slOkam is recognized by the commentators

as the one containing the essence of the Dhvaya Manthram ,

sacred to our tradition.

 

This second slOkam is also revered as the One containing

Sri DevarAja manthram ; hence it has immense manthra

siddhi .

 

Sriman SrivathsAngAcchAr Swamy has blessed us with

a rich commentary on this slOkam . adiyEn will cover that

first and then additional related information .

 

The Second SlOkam

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

 

Srinidhim nidhim apAram arTinAm

arTiTArtha paridhAna dhIkshitham

Sarva-bhUtha-suhrudham DayAnidhim

DevarAjam adhirAjam aasrayE

 

(meaning): adiyEn seeks refuge at the lotus feet of

the Lord of all dEvAs , who is the possessor of

the wealth of DayA , who always thinks of

the well being of His creations ( animals, birds,

trees, humans, dEvAs and all chEthnams and

achEthanams). He has taken the vow to bless

all of His BhakthAs, who seek Him with the boons of

PurushArthams . He is like a limitless mine of

auspiciousness . He is also the wealth principle

for the Sarva MangaLa SvarUpiNi , PerumdEvi ThAyAr

Herself .

 

adiyEn's preliminary observations

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

Here , KurEsar invokes the word " nidhim "

three times in this slOkma ( Sri-nidhim ,

Nidhim-apAram and DayA-nidhim )and qualifies

" nidhim " with the most auspicious " Sri " sabdham first,

apAram (Limitless ) and DayA sabdhams next .

The Sarva MangaLathvam of Sri sabdham (MangaLAnAM

MangaLam) is placed at the very beginning of

this slOkam to invoke reverence for this

Dhivya Mithunam (Divine Couple).

 

He is apAra Nidhi ( an Ocean of wealth/Isvaryam ,

whose shores could not be discerned) . One can ask:

For Whom is this apAra nidhi intended ? Is it just

for His pleasure ? Is He a miser , who hoards His

apAra Nidhi? No ! He uses this inexhaustible waealth

for the benefit of those , who approach Him and seek

those Isvaryams from Him such as Jn~Anam , VairAgyam ,

AchArya Bhakthi, achala Bhakthi for Him , BhAgavatha

SevA BhAgyam , Kaimkarya Sri and last but not the least,

Moksha Siddhi.The Moolavar at Hasthigiri wears in one

of His hasthams , the message " Maa Sucha: " ( Do not

grieve). The larger message is the charama sLokam:

" Completely relinquishing all dharmAs , seek Me

alone for refuge. I will release You from all

the sins " . KurEsar salutes DevarAja PerumAL here

as " ArthinAm apAra Nidhim " .Who are these arthis,

that seek Him ? He has already answered this question

in Bhagavath Githai ( 7.16):

 

chathurvidhA bhajanthE maam janaa: SukruthinOrjuna

aarthO jig~yAsu: arTArTI Jn~Ani cha Bharatharshabha

 

" Four types of men(and women ) of good deeds worship

Me, Oh ArjunA ; these are the distressed , the seekers

after knowledge , the wealth-seekers and the men of

Knowledge(Jn~Ani) " .

 

He is also the DayA Nidhi .He has the wealth of

Divine DayA or KaruNA .He has as His wealth both the

Devis: Sri and DayA .He has also three more: BhUmi,

NeeLA and PaadhukA Devis.Here the emphasis is on

the Aadhi Devi,Sri Devi and the equally important

DayA Devi , who became the object of adoration of

Swamy Desikan later at the ThiruvEnkatam hills.

 

AdiyEn will focus next on SrivathsAngAcchAr Swamy's

rich comentary and conclude with aditional

personal observations on the greatnes of this

DeavarAja mathra SlOkam .

 

Srimath Azhagiya Singar ThiruvadigaLE Saranam ,

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri SatakOpan