Lord RanganAthA's Thirumanjana Kattiyam by SwamyParAsaraBhattar:PartXII /SlOkam12 .

[Guest guest]

SrI :

 

Dear BhakthAs of Periya PerumAL :

 

In the 12th slOkam of Thirumanja kattiyam , Bhattar compares

Lord RanganAtha to Meru Mountain ( Malai) :

 

asEshAsaapoorthim vidhadhatham anEkai: Sva-vibhavai:

prasidhyat kalyANam prakaDatara peethAmBara ruchim

kruthasvAsTyOthsEdhAth nikhila sumana: preethi jananam

Bhavantham manyEaham Sura-sikhriNam RanganrupathE !

 

Dr.S.Padmanabhan's Comments :

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

In this verse , the Lord of Srirangam is likened to the celestial mountain

( Mount Meru) . The mountain by its vast slopes covers all the directions

(aasApUrthi) . It is fmous for its gold ( KalyANa) .It has drunk as it were

,

the brilliance of the sky ( peetha - ambhara) . It brings joy to all the

gods by providing lofty and secure residences for them ( svAsthya

uthsEdha:) . It is also the place for several animals to live( satthva

nivAsa) .

This applies to the imagery of the Meru Mountain .

 

When the comparison of the mountain applies to Lord RanganAtha ,

He fulfills the desires of all ( aasApoorthy) by His manifold gestures

of magnanimity . He brings in the welfare ( kalyANa ) for all and

is fond of Yellow silk ( PeethAmbhara) . Because of His great concern

for the well being of the people ( SvAsthyOsedha: ) . He is a source of

great delight for the virtuous. He is the repository of the quality of

Satthva ( serenity ) .

 

Bhattar's detailed VyAkyAnam :

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

In one of his most elaborate introductions to this slOkam ,

Bhattar quotes profusely from the Upanishads , the Dhivya Prabhandhams

to salute Lord RanganAtha as the Jagath Srushti KaaraNan by acting

in His three roles as Nimittha ( instrumental) , UpAdhAna (Causal)

and SahakAri (accessory) KaaraNan .

 

Bhattar sums the Jagath KaaraNam role ( agent behind the creation of

the world) with the Upanishadic MahA Vaakyam: " Sarvam khalvidham

Brahma tajjalAnidhi saantha upAseetha " and the Smruthi Vaakyam :

" sarvagathvAth anantasya Sa yEvAham avasthitha: MatthassarvEham

Sarvam Mayi Sarvam SanAtanE " . Out of His compassion , He has created

all these worlds of sentients and insentients . In this created world ,

He incarnates at different times for protecting the meek and punishing

the wicked ( ParithrANAya SaadhUnAm , vinAsAya dhushkruthAm ,

Dharma samsTApanArtthAya sambhavAmi yugE yugE ) .

 

Oh RanganAtha! You fulfill the wishes of those who seek You as protection

Ishata PrApthi for aasrithAs) and remove their distresses ( anishta

nivrutthi) . It is in this context of Your resolute and perrenial presence

that Sruthis and Smruthis salute You as Parvatham ( VishNu ParvathAnAm

athipathi , Meru RoopAsccha VishNO ) . AzhwArs compare You for the same

reason to an emerald hill ( Thihazh PasumsOthi Maragathak-kunRam ,

ThirumAl uru okkum Meru ) .

 

You are the MahA Meru supporting the Universes (ThrailOkyAdhAram aana

MahA Meru) and therefore it is appropriate to compare You to that divine ,

Golden Meru Mountain . You are the Preethi Janakar ( creator of Joy)

for all the worlds and its beings .

 

Bhattar's Commentary on the individual Passages of the slOkam

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

1. " asEshAsA poorthim vidhadhama sEshais-sva-vibhavai " : NaayinthE !

Oh RanganAtha ! Through Your many avathArams , You have granted

Your aasrithALs every kind of boon that they desired ( aayur-aarOgyam

bhOgAmscchaiva Aanushinkikaan dadhAthi dhyAyathAm nithyam

apavargaprathO Hari: and Sakala PhalaprathO VishNu: ) . You are

the most generous MahA Meru , which grants all what Your devotees

desire ( vENDiRRellAm tarum kOthilen VaLLal) . You are the MahA Meru

with the peaks of Your glories spreading in all directions .

 

2. " Prasiddhayath KalyANam " : You are celebrated for Your anantha kalyANa

guNams (ParAsya Sakthir Vividhaiva srUyathE) : " Sathya Kaama , Sathya

Sankalpa ! " , Sarva KalyANa GuNAthmakOsaou " , " UyaRvaRa uyarnalam

udayavan " . MahA Meru in comparsison has the celebrated golden hue

( KalyANa ) spreading in all directions .

 

3. " prakaDatara PeethAmbhara ruchim " : Oh RanganAthA ! You have

the most beautiful garment made up of Yellow silk : " MahArajanam Vaasa: " ,

" PeethkavAdai udai thAzha " , " Peethaka Vaadai PirAnAr " . As for MahA

Meru mountain , it makes the entire sky golden with its hue .

 

4. " kruthassvAsTyOthsEkAn nikhila sumana: preethi-janakam " :

Oh RanganAthA ! You bless the prapanna janangaLs with Moksham:

" na cha punarAvartathE na cha punarAvartathE " ( freedom from

return to this earth again ) . You make those who comprehend You through

the practise of nivrutthi dharmams become similar to You ( " Brahma vEdha

Brahmaiva bhavathy " ) . You do not seperate from such fortunate souls ever

( " puNaik-kodukkilum pohavottArE " ) . You become dear to those bhAgyasAlis

through the granting of Moksha phalam by guiding them through Bhakthi or

Prapatthi yOgams. As for MahA Meru , it reaches out all the way to Svarga

lOkam through its glories and pleases the DEvAs ( Preethi janakam ) .

 

5. Bhavantham manyEaham Sura sikhariNam Ranga Nrupathe ! : Oh RanganAtha !

It is for these reasons , adiyEn compares You to the MahA Meru mountain .

 

SrI RanganAtha ParabrhamaNE Nama:

Daasan , Oppiliappan KOil VaradAchAri Sadagopan

 

Srimate Sri Laksminrisimha Divya Paduka Sevaka

Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya Nama: