ThiruvahIndhrapuram RathnAngi Kaimkaryam: Part IV

[Guest guest]

ChithrabhAnu Kaarthikai Chathurthi, Punarvasu ,

 

SrI:

 

Dear BhakthAs:

 

Let us enjoy the third slOkam of Sri DEvanAyaka

PanchAsath today:

 

SlOkam III

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dhivyE dayA jalanidhou dhivishanniyanthu:

theerTam nidarsithavathas-thrijagannivEshyam

prAcha: kavIn nigama sammitha sUnruthOkthIn

PrAchEthasa: prabrudhikAn praNamAmi abhIshNam

 

Extended Meaning

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Here Swamy Desikan's salutation is to ancient bards

like VaalmIki and others (PrAcha: KavIn PrAchEtasa

prabrudhikAn praNamAmi). Swamy Desikan declares humbly that

he wants always to offer his salutations( PrAcha: kavIn

abhIkshanam praNamAmi) to the maargha darsIs

(path showers) like Aadhi Kavi VaalmIki , who composed

ithihAsam like SrImad RaamAyaNam , where in they elaborated

on the rites of SaraNAgathi as the step celebrated in the VedAs.

 

Here Swamy Desikan states that the limitless DayA of

Dhaiva Naayakan ( dhvishad-niyanthu: dhivyE jala nidhou)

is like the deep undrying ocean . Although

there are many access points to take bath in that vast

ocean , the upAyam ( means/route/ThuRai) of Prapatthi is

the most approriate , unfailing and fruitful one for gaining

Moksham by the beings of all the three worlds ( Thri Jagatth

nishEvyam theerTam ). This upAyam has been celebrated by

Sages like VaalmikI in VibhIshaNa SaraNAgathy and by Sage

VyAsa through the charama slOkam in Srimad Bhagavad Gita

housed in MahA BhAratham . Their statements about

the importance of SaraNAgathy are rooted in Vedic truths

and are pleasing to the chEthanams (nigama sammitham

and soonruthOkthi) . Swamy Desikan states that

he prostrates before those ancient sages at

the beginning stage of the eulogy on Lord DEva NaaTan

of ThiruvahIndhrapuram. Swamy identifies sages VaalmIki

and VyAsa as those who pointed the way of adopting

the upAyam of SaraNAgathi (thIrtham nidharsithavatha: )

celebrated in the VedAs and which is pleasing and easy

to perform ( nigama sammitha: soonrutha ukthi).

 

Additional Thoughts

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In the first slOkam of this eulogy to Lord DEvanathan ,

Swamy Desikan established the Lord of ThiruvahIndhrapuram

as the God of all dEvAs and prayed to Him to protect

him from samsAric afflictions ( PhaNipura NaaTa: paathu

mAm DEva NaaTa:) .In the second slOkam , Swamy Desikan

saluted the Guru Paramparai that protects the chEthanams

of the three worlds ( Jaganthi gOpthrIm Guru pankthim

aham prapadhyE).In the third slOkam , Swamy Desikan offers

his praNAmams to the Adhi Kavis , who distilled the essence of

VedAs and showed us the supermacy of Prapatthi as the upAyam

for securing Moksha Siddhi ( PrAcha: KavIn PrAchEthas

prabruthikAn abhIkshNam praNamAmi).

 

DEva Naayakan's KaruNai is compared to a cool comforting

Ocean for those scorched by the heat of samsAram and

the ancient Kavis are compared to wise guides , who could

point out the way to step in to that ocean of mercy

using the path of SaraNAgathy to enjoy the benefits of

Moksha Sukham . The way shown by them have proven

to be in consonance with the path shown by the VedAs

and truly pleasing and effective. Swamy Desikan states

that SaraNAgathy path is fit to be observed by the chEthanams

of all the three worlds ( Thri JagannishEvyam TheerTam ).

 

PrAchEthas is a partronymic of Aadhi Kavi ValmIki .

Let us reflect on the three salutatory slOkams that

we recite during the PaarAyanam of SrImadh RaamAyaNam:

 

kUjantham Raama RaamEthi madhuram madhurAksharam

aaruhya kavithA saakhAm vandhE VaalmIki kOkilam

 

VaalmikEr-munisimhasya kavithAvanachAriNa:

sruNvan Raama kaTA-nAdham kO na yAnthi parAm gathim

 

ya: piBhan sathatham Raama charithAmrutha saagaram

athrupthastham munim vandhE PrAchEthasam-akalmasham

 

The first of the above three verses compares sage Vaalmiki

to a nightingale warbling sweetly the Taaraka-phOshaka

naamam of Raama , while sitting on the branch of poetry .

Swamy Desikan , the Kavi Simham was sitting on a similar

branch of poetry and singing the praise of Lord Deva Naayakan

at ThiruvahIndhrapuram .

 

The second slOkam identifies Sage VaalmIki as Muni Simham

( Lion among the sages). Those who travel in the verdant

forest of VaalmIki's poetry reach the supreme abode of

Parama Padham through hearing of the simha naadham of

Sage Vaalmiki dealing with SrI Rama charithram . This slOkam

asks a rhetoric question and answers it : SruNvan Raama KaTA

naadham , kO na yaanthi ParAm gathim ? Yes , they do reach

without fail the highest of states and are blessed with

nithya kaimkarya anugraham at SrI Vaikuntam .

 

The third slOkam salutes the blemishless PrachEtas Muni

(VaalmIki) as one who is unsatiated from drinking the nectar

of the ocean of SrI Raama charithram . The Aadhi Kavi delves

deep into the nectar ocean of SrI Raama charitham and drinks deep

from that ocean and yet is not fully satisfied. He goes on

drinking from that nectar ocean without experiencing any

satiety ( aparyAtha amrutha DayA samudhram ) .

 

Swamy Desikan asks us to dip in to that ocean of

DayA ( Lord DevanAthan )and achieve the Parama PurushArTam .

 

Swamy Desikan ThiruvadigaLE saraNam ,

SrI Taranga Mukha Nandini SamEtha SrI DeavanAyaka SwAminE nama:

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri SadagOpan/SaThakopan