Padhuka Sahasram-634 (Additional Ramblings)

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Sri:

 

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

 

Dear Bhaktas,

 

Adiyen wishes to share the following ramblings on the net and seeks

forgiveness from learned scholars of this forum for his indulgence.

 

This verse is most evocative in that it houses several gems of

profound Sampradayic significance. First, it emphasizes the fact that

worship offered to Lord Narayana is no doubt the ultimate form of

worship. However, worship offered to the Padhukas (Satari Soori/

Swami NammAzhwar and Sadhacharyas in his line) is several-fold

greater. The resulting benefit arising from devout service to the

Padhukas far exceeds anything gained from worshipping the Lord. How

is this true? It may be remembered that Bharata did not want to

accept the kingdom gained for him through the shenanigans of Kaikeyi

and Manthara. Instead, he chose the path of Kaimkaryam to the

Padhukas, by respectfully adorning his head with the Padhukas of Lord

Rama. In doing so, Bharata was compelled to accept the royal honors

due to a King (of the very kingdom he had spurned) since the Padhukas

as the empress of the entire Universe ruled over Ayodhya.

 

Next, since Bharata adorned his head with the Padhukas, he washed

away once and for all any stigma attached to the throne of the Raghus

on account of the heinous actions of Kaikeyi and Manthara. In the

Pattabhisheka Paddhati, Swami Desikan describes the joy of the Sun as

he shone with added splendor after the coronation waters of the

Padhukas were sprinkled on Bharata (due to the Veda-consecrated

waters of the Padhuka Pattabhishekam washing away the sins arising

from the actions of Kaikeyi and thereby exonerating the SuryaVamsham,

which was tainted by the actions of Kaikeyi).

 

Bharata was a Paratantran in that he was always subservient to the

will of Lord Rama. The second umbrella arising from the pearls of the

Padhukas adorning the head of Bharata is indicative of the fact that

he secured the benefit of the highest form of Kaimkaryam, i.e.,

service rendered to a Sadhacharya in the line of Swami NammAzhwar.

The bountiful blessings arising from this Kaimkaryam are unmatched as

described by Swami Desikan's Subhashita nivi salutation " ekaIva gurOr

dhruShtyA…. "

 

A fourth meaning arising from this verse is that Swami NammAzhwar's

delectable Tiruvaimozhi verses helped in bringing under a single

umbrella, the smattering of teachings contained in various

Upanishads, thereby bringing out their true import (the supremacy of

Lord Narayana and the procedure of unconditional, total surrender to

His Lotus Feet as the simplest means for attaining Him). For this

reason these verses shine forth as pearls creating the appearance of

a second umbrella containing the beacon light of Upanishadic

teachings.

 

Namo Narayana,

 

SriMuralidhara Dasan