9. VaithALikA Paddhathi
Sloka #241
241. namasthE pAdhukE! pumsAm samsArArNavasEthavE
yadhArohasya vedhAnthA vandhivaIthALikA: svayam
Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)
Oh Paaduka! My prostrations to You who is served by the Upanishads acting as panegyrists and announcers, say, at the time of the Lord wearing You who is the bridge for humans to cross the ocean of samsara.
Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan
(1)This ninth paddhathi has ten slOkams . This paddhathi has been constructed in the form of court singers waking up Lord RanganAthA and requesting Him to adorn His holy PaadhukAs to conduct His dialy duties. Court poets or singers appointed for waking up a king are known as Vandhis or VaithALikAs or BodhakArAs. Tis paddathi derives its name from that of the vaithALikAs waking up Sri RanganAthan …V.S
(2) In this verse , Swami Desikan indicates that the court singers , who wake up RanganAthA in the morning hours are none other than the Upanishads and VedAs.The ten verses of this paddhathi address RanganAthA Himself , since He alone enjoys the two states of being awake and engaging in Yoga NidhrA . PaadhukAs on the other hand do not experience the above two states ..V.S
(3) Much of the references in these ten slOkams about the ThiruppaLLi Yezhuchci of RanganAtha will have echos in the Ten Pasurams of ThoNDaradippoDi AzhwAr’s ThiruppaLLIyezucchi Paasurams.. V.S
(3) Sri UtthamUr Swamy’s anubhavam: “Oh PaadhukE ! You are the bridge to cross the ocean of SamsArA. AdiyEn’s salutations to You for serving as such and helping the populace .
The Upanishads themselves assume the form of court singers to announce the different divisions of time of the day and night for RanganAthA and request Him to adorn the Paadhukais in the context of performance of His duties. These VaithALikAs serve as reminders of the time and occasion for RanganAthA to mount the Paadhukais for His many travels to protect His bhakthAs and punish their enemies.
(4) Srimath Andavan’s anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE ! AdiyEn salutes You, who removes the cycles of births and deaths of the people. Upanishads wake up Your Lord and eulogize Him .
Through these salutaions ,Upanishads exhibit twin functions (viz)., vandhis (eulogizers) and VaithALikAs ( Those who provide the wake up call ).
(5) Swami Desikan salutes the Paadhukais as “SamsArArNava Sethu” or the dam over which people travel to escape from repeated births and deaths .Upanishads have a dedicated role in RanganAthA’s court . Their goal is to request the Lord to wake up, adorn His Paadhukais to conduct His daily duties ( Yath aarOhasya VedAnthA: svayam vandhi-VaithALikA: ).
9.வைதாளிக பத்ததி
நமஸ்தே பாதுகே பும்ஸாம் ஸம்ஸார அர்ணவே ஸேதவே
யதாரோஹஸ்ய வேதாந்தா: வந்தி வைதாளிகா: ஸ்வயம்
பொருள் – ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதனின் பாதுகையே! உயிர்கள் பிறந்து இறப்பதையே தனது இயல்பாக உடையது ஸம்ஸாரம் என்ற கடல் ஆகும். இந்தக் கடலில் அணை போன்றுள்ள உனக்கு என் நமஸ்காரங்கள். உபநிஷத்துக்கள் செய்வது என்ன? பெரியபெருமாளைத் துயில் எழுப்பி, உன்னைச் சாற்றிக் கொள்ளவேண்டும் என்பது அல்லவா? (வைதாளிகர்கள் என்பவர்கள் எம்பெருமானைத் துயில் எழுப்புபவர்கள் ஆவர். இங்கே வைதாளிகர்களாக உபநிஷத்துக்கள் உள்ளன என்றார்).
Sloka #242
242. uchithamupacharishyan ranganAtha! praBhAthE
viDhishivasanakAdhyAn bAhyakakshyAniruDdhAn
charaNakamalasEvAsoUKhyasAmrAjyaBhAjAm
praThamavihithaBhAgAm pAdhukAm AdhriyEthA:
Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)
(Vaitalika entreats:) “Oh Ranganatha! Brahma, Siva, Sanaka and others are waiting in the outer apartment; pray bear the Paaduka, which takes prime place among those who relish the pleasure of service at Your Feet, so that You may grant suitable audience to them.”
Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan
(1) Sri UtthamUr Swamy’s anubhavam: ” Oh RanganAthA! At this time of dawn , BrahmA , SivA , Sage SanakA and others are waiting at the outter court as directed by VishvaksEnA. Oh Lord ! Please wear Your gem-studded Paadhukais , which are the first among those enjoying the bliss of Your darsanam because of its uniterrupted sevices to You . Please bless Your loyal PadhukAs first by acending on them and then come to Your outer court to give Your darsanam to Your son , Grandson and the assembled sages .
(2) Srimath Andavan’s anubhavam: Oh RanganAthA ! the enjoyment of the assoication with Your sacred feet is equivalent to the wealth of having the title of an emperor. Paadhukais is the first among those , who seek refuge at Your holy feet. Please wear those Paadhukais of the highest repute and bless the others with Your sEvA BhAgyam at this time of dawn. Thus sing the Upanishads reminding the Lord to awaken and adorn His Paadhukais.
(3) The humble prayer of the Upanishads is: ” Oh RanganAthA! PaadhukAm aadhriyEThA:” ( Please favor the Paadhukais by wearing them . What are the unique attributes of those Paadhukais that Upanishads request the Lord to wear ? They perform kaimkaryam to the lotus feet of the Lord ( CharaNa kamala sEvA ). It enjoys the bliss from such a sEvai (CharaNa kamala sEvA soukhyam ). That kind of bhAgyam is only available to the elite, who are considered to possess the title of emperors ( SaamrAjya BhAjAm ). Even among those having such a ” charaNa kamala sevA soukhya saamrAjyA BhaajAm” , there is a hierarchy . The first among such equals is the Paadhukai , since it has the BhAgyam of association with the Lord’s charaNa Kamalam first thing in the morning. Upanishads appeal to the Lord to wear the Paadhukais with such a mahimai..V.S
உசிதம் உபசரிஷ்யந் ரங்கநாத ப்ரபாதே
விதிசிவ ஸநக ஆத்யாந் பாஹ்ய கக்ஷ்யா நிருந்தாந்
சரண கமல ஸேவா ஸௌக்ய ஸாம்ராஜ்ய பாஜாம்
ப்ரதம விஹித பாகாம் பாதுகாம் ஆத்ரியேதா:
பொருள் – ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதா! உனது திருப்பள்ளியெழுச்சிக்கு முன்பாக வந்து விட்ட சிவன், நான்முகன், ஸநகர் போன்றவர்கள் முன் வாயிலில் நிறுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளனர். அவர்களை நீ தகுந்த வழியில் உபசாரம் செய்யவேண்டும். ஆகவே உனது திருவடிகள் என்னும் தாமரைகளின் சுகம் பெறுபவர்களில் முதல் இடம் பிடித்துள்ள பாதுகையை, இதன் மூலம் சக்ரவர்த்தி என்ற பட்டம் பெற்ற பாதுகையை, நீ சாற்றிக் கொண்டு எழ வேண்டும்.
Sloka #243
243. padhmAjuShtam Bhajathu charaNam pAdhukA labDhavArA
prathyAsannAsthava parijanA: prAtharAsThAnayOgyA:
arDhOnmEShAdhaDhikasuBhagAm arDhanidhrAnuShangAm
nABhipadhmE thava nayanayOrnATha! pashyanthu shOBhAm
Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)
(Vaitalikas wake the Lord up:) “Oh Ranganatha! May the Paaduka secure its turn to enjoy Your Feet that were so far enjoyed in service of Mahalakshmi! Your private attendants are waiting to see Your half-wake and half-asleep eyes, which are charming for that very reason, this charm also being reflected in the half-blossomed navel-lotus (by reason of the simultaneous impact of an eye that is sun and the other eye that is moon)”.
Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan
(1) Sri UtthamUr Swamy’s anubhavam:Oh RanganAthA! May the Paadhukais get reunited with Your holy feet comforted (pressed ) by the lotus-soft hands of MahA Lakshmi!Your lotus-soft eyes are half open like the lotus flowers at dawn. Your sevants have assembled now in the outter courtyard and are waiting for You to open Your eyes fully and command them about their duties . Since You have to wear Your PaadhukAs to move about and since it will be difficult for You to get into them , when Your eyes are half-open , please open them fully. When You open Your eyes fully at dawn in response to our (Upanishad’s) prayers , the only half-open lotus left would be the one growing out of Your navel that houses Your son, BrahmA .
(2) Srimath Andavan’s anubhavam: Oh Lord RanganAthA ! At the morning time, when Your servants are assembled at Your outter court, Your eyes are half-open and half-shut. The lotus on your navel is in the same state because of the effect of your two eyes ( the Sun and the Moon ) on them {( Lotus flowers open on seeing the Sun and close at sunset { moon rise }} . May Your servants enjoy this rare sight at dawn ! May Thou wear the PaadhukAs on Your sacred feet pressed by the lotus-soft hands of Periya PirAtti and grant Your darsanam to Your servants !
(3) The holy feet of the Lord are ” PadhmA jushtam charaNam ” ( the sacred feet worshipped by Sri RanganAyaki). The Paadhukais have the rights of association with the holy feet pressed by Sri RanganAyaki. May those Paadhukais be united with Your holy feet ( PadhmA jushtam charaNam bhajathu) at this dawn ! The seravants blessed to serve You at Your Morning court have assembled closely ( prAtharAsthAna YogyA : tava parijanA: prathyAsannA:). May Thou adorn Your PaadhukAs and walk to the outter court to let Your servants enjoy Your half-open and half-closed eyes at dawn , which have their own extraordinary beauty ( ardhOnmEshAth adhika subhagAm ardhanidhrAnushangAm nayana sObhAM) and influence the lotus on Your navel, which is also half-open and half-shut (nayanayO: sObhAm naabhi padhmE pasyanthu)..V.S
பத்மா ஜுஷ்டம் பஜது சரணம் பாதுகா லப்தவாரா
ப்ரத்யாஸந்நா: தவ பரிஜநா: ப்ராதராஸ்தாந யோக்ய:
அர்த்த உந்மேஷாத் அதிகஸுபகாம் அர்த்த நித்ராநுஷங்காம்
நாபீ பத்மே தவ நயநயோ: நாத பச்யந்து சோபாம்
பொருள் – ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதா! காலை வேலையில் உனக்குத் தொண்டு புரியும் பணியாளர்கள் வந்து விட்டனர். உனது தாமரை போன்ற கண்களில் உள்ள உறக்கம் பாதி கலைந்தும் கலையாமலும் உள்ளதால், உனது இமை பாதி மூடியும் திறந்தும் உள்ளது. இந்த அழகைக் கண்டு, நாபிக் கமலத்தில் உள்ள தாமரை மலர், உனது கண்கள் போல மலர்ந்தும் மலராமலும் உள்ளது. இந்த அழகை அவர்கள் அனுபவிக்கவேண்டும். இரவு முழுவதும் உனது திருவடிகளை வணங்கி வருடிய மஹாலக்ஷ்மியின் சேவையை இனிப் பகலில் பாதுகை ஏற்றுக் கொள்ள வேண்டும் (ஆகவே துயில் எழுவாயாக).
Sloka #244
244. upanamathi muhUrtham sheShasiDdhAnthasiDdham
thadhiha charaNarakshA ranganATha thvayaIShA
mrudhupadhamaDhirUDA manjuBhi: shinjithaI: svaI:
upadhishathu janAnAm uthsavAramBhavArthAm
Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)
(The panegyrists entreat:) “Oh Lord Ranganatha! The Muhurtha prescribed as auspicious by the Adishesha-formulated astrology is close at hand. Please wear the Paaduka gently, whereupon the devotees outside will get to know, from the gently sounding melody of the jingle, that Your festival is about to start.” (The Lord, Namperumal is proceeding to Vahana-mandapa)
Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan
(1) Sri UtthamUr Swamy’s anubhavam: ” Oh RanganAthA ! The auspicious period of fourty eight minutes (muhUrtham) set for Your travel according to the rules of astrology established by AdhisEshA has approached. Therefore ,Let Your beautifully jingling paadhukAs announce to those waiting outside about Your adorning them and alert the assembled kings , dEvAs and servants that You have started for the hall of fstivities.
(2) Srimath Andavan’s anubhavam: ” Oh RanganAthA !Dawn has arrived . Please wake up and adorn Your Paadhukais and begin Your travel towards the festival hall ; then the waiting servants will alert themselves to serve You.”
(3) Lord RanganAthA is now fully awake. The Upanishads praise Him and remind Him that the time (muhUrtham )set by AdhisEshA to ascend the Paadhukais to initiate the day’s uthsavams has approached…V.S
(4) Swami states that AdhisEsahn has set the muhUrthams for the day’s uthsavams ( Sesha SiddhAntha siddham muhUrtham upanamathi).Therefore, the Upanishads request the Lord to ascend gently on the awaiting Paadhukais (yEshA charana rakshA thvayA mrudhu padham adhirooDaa );a mangaLa naadham arises then from the jingling of the bells on the Paadhukais caused by the union of the Lord’s charaNams with the Paadhukais . That auspicious naadham would help to annouce to the awaiting people about the commencement of the Lord’s daily uthsavams ( Charana rakshA manjubhi: svai: sinjithai: janAnAm uthsava aarambha vaarthAm upadisathu)…V.S
உபநமதி முஹுர்த்தம் சேஷ ஸித்தாந்த ஸித்தம்
தத் இஹ சரணரக்ஷா ரங்கநாத த்வயைஷா
ம்ருதுபதம் அதிரூடா மஞ்ஜுபி: சிஞ்ஜிதை: ஸ்வை:
உபதிசது ஜநாநாம் உத்ஸவ ஆரம்பவார்த்தாம்
பொருள் – ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதா! சுபமான முஹுர்த்த காலம் வந்துவிட்டது. ஆதிசேஷனின் அவதாரமாகிய உடையவரின் ”எம்பெருமானார் தரிசனம்” என்னும் முறைப்படிச் செய்ய வேண்டியவைகள் நடைபெற வேண்டும். உனது திருவடிகளைக் காப்பதில் குறியாக உள்ள உனது பாதுகைகள் மீது உனது திருவடிகளை மெதுவாக எடுத்து வைப்பாயாக. பின்னர் நீ அழகாக நடந்து வரும்போது ஒலிக்கின்ற பாதுகைகளின் ஒலி, மக்களுக்கு அன்றைய உற்சவம் தொடங்கியதை அறிவிக்கட்டும்.
Sloka #245
245. rangADhIsha! marudhgaNasya makutAdhAmnAyabrundhasya vA
prathyAnIya samarpithA viDhimuKhaIrvArakramAdhAgathaI:
vAhArOhaNasamBhrutham shramaBharam samyagvinEthum kshamA
lIlAsamcharaNapriyA sprushathu thE pAdhAmbujam pAdhukA
Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)
(The Vandis, the panegyrists entreat:) “Oh Lord Ranganatha! Brahma and the like present the Paaduka (as SATAARI) on the heads of the numerous Devas and/or on the Veda Parayana savants, in strict order of the protocol, and then return the Paaduka to Your Feet. You apparently derive a welcome relief from the strain of travel on vehicle (like Garuda Vahana); may the Paaduka get gently into Your Feet, Which now cherish liking for a leisurely walk (with the Paaduka on)! (From the Vahana Mandapa, the Lord goes on walk called Patthi Ula).
Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan
(1) Sri UtthamUr Swamy’s anubhavam: In the last verse , the VaithALikAs in the form of Upanishads invited Lord RanganAthA to come to the hall of festivities on His Paadhukais and ascend thereafter on His vAhanam of GarudA for His travel around the streets of Srirangam . RanganAthA did that and GarudA brought Him back to the hall of uthsavam. Here , the VaithALikAs request the Lord to descend from GarudA , ascend His PaadhukAs and reduce His fatigue from the just-concluded travel through the enjoyment of a small excursion on the back of the soft paadhukais..The VaithALikAs say: ” Oh Lord RanganAthA ! When You participated in Your uthsavams on the back of GarudA , Your son BrahmA officiated at those festivals (BrahmOthsavams). At the conclusion of the uthsavam , BrahmA placed Your Paadhkais first on his head and next on the heads of the prostrating VedAs and afterwards returned them back to Your holy feet. The PaadhukAs are now ready to carry You on a jaunt to banish any fatigue from Your earlier journy on the back of GarudA.Your Paadhukais are soft like lotus petals and they will give You great comfort . Please ascend on them “.
(2) Srimath Andavan’s anubhavam: Oh RanganAthA ! at the end of Your uthsavams , please bless Your BhakthAs with the bhAgyam of receiving Your SatAri on their heads . Then enjoy the sweet joy of travelling on them . It is traditional for the Lord of Srirangam to have patthi ulA (ullAsa sanchAram ) at the end of uthsavams and before returning to His aasthAnam.
(3) Oh RangAdhIsa ! You might have acquired fatigue from getting on the top of Your vaahanams and descending from them (Vaaha aarOhaNa sambhrutham sramam ).At that time , Your paadhukais , which are quite capable of removing that weight of discomfort ( Srama Bharam samyak vinEthum ) arising from Your fatigue are ready to carry You on an enjoyable excursion on their lotus-soft back . For this “leelA sancharaNam ” , may Your lotus soft feet unite with the waiitng Paadhukais …V.S
ரங்காதீச மருத்கணஸ்ய மகுடா ஆம்நாய ப்ருந்தஸ்ய வா
ப்ரத்யாநீய ஸமர்ப்பிதா விதிமுகை: வாரக்ரமாத் ஆகதை:
வாஹா அரோஹண ஸம்ப்ருதம் ச்ரமபரம் ஸம்யக்விநேதும் க்ஷமா
சீலா ஸஞ்சரண ப்ரியா ஸ்ப்ருசது தே பாதாம்புஜம் பாதுகா
பொருள் – ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதா! உன்னுடைய பாதுகையை நான்முகன் முதலான தேவர்கள் வரிசையாக நின்று தங்கள் தலையில் ஏற்கின்றனர். வேதங்களும் தங்கள் தலைகளில் ஏற்றுக் கொள்கின்றன. இவ்விதம் சஞ்சரித்த பாதுகை, இப்போது மீண்டும் உன்னிடம் சமர்ப்பிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இவ்விதமாக பலவிதமான வாகனங்கள் மீது ஏறி சஞ்சாரம் செய்த காரணத்தினால் பாதுகைக்கு மிகுந்த களைப்பு ஏற்பட்டிருக்கும். இவ்விதம் அமர்ந்தபடி சென்ற பின்னர், சற்று நேரம் நீ பாதுகையை அணிநது கொண்டு உல்லாசமாக நடப்பதை அல்லவோ பாதுகை விரும்பி நின்றது? ஆகவே உனது திருவடிகளை அவை தொடவேண்டும்.
Sloka #246
246.vruttham kramENa bahuDhA niyutham viDhInAm
arDham dvithIyamidham ankuritham thavAhna:
nIlAsaKhIBhirupanIya nivEshyamAnA
mankthum praBhO! thvarayathE maNipAdhukA thvAm
Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)
(The entreaty to come for Abhisheka:)”Oh Lord Ranganatha! A lakh of Brahmas have come and gone. (A lakh of your commands had been obeyed.) Everything has gone in strict order. The afternoon of the day-of course, all Time is subservient to You!-comes on. Goddess Neela has come accompanied by her mates, to present to You, (to be near You) Your Paaduka. Please consent to have Tirumanjanam.”!
Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan
(1)Sri UtthamUr Swamy’s anubhavam: Here, the Upanishads taking the form of euologisers suggest that the Lord should take His MaadhyAhnika SnAnam , now that noon time is approaching.They remind Him that He has descended from GarudA , taken His stroll , blessed bhakthAs and the next item on His agenda is His sacred bath due at noon time . The Upanishads according to Swami Desikan address Lord RanganAthA this way : ” Oh PrabhO! The day at Srirangam is half done.The half day on this earth is equivalent to two thousand individual yugAs (time divisions) on BrahmA’s scale of counting .During the period upto noon , You sat on Your throne with Sri RanganAyaki and conducted the affairs of Your leelA vibhUthi. You dispensed justice and blessed Your devotees. Now , the second halfof the day is about to start. NeeLA dEvi has sent Her assistants to bring Your Paadhukais so that You can mount them and travel to the site of Thirumanjanam for the performance of Your noon rituals.
(2) Srimath Andavan’s anubhavam : Oh Lord RangAnaathA ! Many BrahmAs have come and gone. The Sixteenth Naazhikai has now arrived. The Paadhukais brought over by the lady servants of Nappinnai is hastening You to attend to the noon abolutions.
(3) Swamy Desikan salutes the ancient nature of Lord RanganAthA and His AchArya Paramparai here . He has no beginning, middle or end (Adhi madhyAntha rahithan). Swamy says in this context : ” VidhInAm niyutham kramENa bhaudhA vruttham” ( Many a Brahma , the count by Lakshams , have come and gone in orderly succession ).It is the second half of Your day ( Tava ahna: idham dhvithIyam ardahm ankuritham )that is just commencing .The thOzhis (sakhis) of NeeLA PirAtti have brought at Her behest Your MaNi PaadhukAs near You .Those Paadhukais is hatening You to start on Your travel to the abhishEka graham ( Thirumanjanam hall )…V.S
(4) It is intersting that Swamy Desikan thinks of NeeLA PirAtti here .She is the One , who is bold and can command the Lord as indicated by the ThiruppAvai Taniyan of ParAsara Bhattar.That is why ANDAL appeals to Her, when She sings Her Thiruppaavai and reminds the Lord of His duties (PaarArthyam )..V.S
வ்ருத்தம் க்ரமேண பஹுதா நியுதம் விதீநாம்
அர்த்தம் த்வதீயம் இதம் அங்குரிதம் தவாஹ்ந:
நீளாஸகீபி: உபநீய நிவேச்யமாநா
மங்த்தும் ப்ரபோ த்வரயதே மணிபாதுகே த்வாம்
பொருள் – ப்ரபோ! ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதா! வரிசையாகப் பல லட்சம் நான்முகன்களின் ஆயுள் காலம் முடிந்து விட்டது. இதோ பார்! உனது தினத்தின் பிற்பகல் வந்து விட்டதை இது உணர்த்துகிறது. நப்பின்னை பிராட்டியின் தோழிகள் மூலம் கொண்டு வந்து சமர்ப்பிக்கப்பட்ட பாதுகையானது, உன்னைத் திருமஞ்சனம் செய்து கொள்ள அழைக்கிறது.
Sloka #247
247. dhivyApyasarOBhirupadarshithadhIpavargO
rangADhirAja! suBhagE rajanImuKhEsmin
samrakshiNI charaNayO: savilAsavrutthi:
nIrAjanAsanamasoU nayathu svayam thvAm
Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)
(Vandis now seek permission for Harati:) “Oh Lord Ranganatha! The evening sets in; the eternal damsels of Sri Vaikunta stand in regular arrays with lamps in their hands. We request You to walk through in this pleasant moment, in light, leisurely, walk, with Paaduka on and be seated in the special mandapa, for the damsels to present to You an auspicious harati.”
Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan
(1) Sri UtthamUr Swamy’s anubhavam: Evening approaches now at Srirangam. The Upanishads as Vandhis and VaithALikAs invite Lord RanganAthA to participate in the DheepArAdhanam (lamp worship) to be performed by the divine damsels (apsaras). The Upanishads say : ” Oh RanganAthA ! We request You to ascend Your PaadhukAs and walk to the hall , where the Apsaras ladies are waiting to offer You worship through raising of the lamps on their beautiful hands .The Paadhukais are waiitng to bring You over there with their customary grace and elegance. (2) Srimath Andavan’s anubhavam: It is Saayam sandhyA kaalam . The attendants at the Lord’s temple at Srirangam bring many kinds of lit lamps for evening worship . Afterwards KshIrAnnam is offered . MangaLAratthi follows . Swamy Desikan thinks of this occasion and blesses us with this slOkam . Swamy Desikan States through the VaithALikAs : ” Oh The Lord of Srirangam ! The celestial damsels have arrived with bright lamps in their hands to offer You dhIpArAdhanam to You . Please wear Your Paadhukais and arive at the hall, where they are waiting for You to receive their offering. (3) It is rajanImukham or Saayam sandhyA kaalam at the Lord’s city. This is a time filled with beauty ( asmin subhagE rajanImukhE ) . At Ranga VilAsa MaNtapam , the celestial women of exquisite beauty are assembled with different kinds of lit lamps to perform neerajAsanam ( dheepArAdhanam ) to their Lord . The Paadhukais of the Lord is in a playful mood ( charanayO; SamrakshiNi asou savilAsa vrutthi:) are ready to carry the Lord to the MaNtapam to enjoy the samarpaNam from the assembled Apsaras women . The VaithALikAs sing to the Lord and remind Him to accept this Kaimkaryam and arrive at the Mantapam onthe back of the Paadhukais…V.S
திவ்ய அப்ஸரோபி: உபதர்சித தீப வர்கே
ரங்காதிராஜ ஸுபகே ரஜநீமுகே அஸ்மிந்
ஸம்ரக்ஷிணீ சரணயோ: ஸவிலாஸ வ்ருத்தி:
நீராஜநாஸநம் அஸௌ நயது ஸ்வயம் த்வாம்
பொருள் – ஸ்ரீரங்கராஜனே! பரமபதத்தில் உள்ள அப்ஸரஸ்கள் பலரும் ஸந்த்யா காலம் ஆகி விட்டபடியால் தீபம் ஏந்தி, உனக்கு மங்கள ஆலத்தி எடுக்க வந்துள்ளனர். உன்னுடன் எப்போதும் உல்லாசமாக நடக்க வேண்டும் என்ற எண்ணமும், உனது திருவடிகளை எப்போதும் பாதுகாக்கவேண்டும் என்ற எண்ணமும் கொண்ட பாதுகையானது, உன்னை ஆலத்திக்கான ஆஸனத்தில் எழுந்தருளச் செய்ய வேண்டும்.
Sloka #248
248. AsanAdhuchitham AsanAnantharam
ranganATha! yadhi ganthumIhasE
sannathEna viDhinA samarpithAm
saprasAdhamaDhiOha pAdhukAm
Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)
“Oh Lord Ranganatha! May You be pleased to proceed from one asana to another, accepting at every stage, to kindly wear the Paaduka on the Feet, the Paaduka being respectfully presented to You by Brahma, who is Your formal worshipper!”
Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan
(1) Sri UtthamUr Swamy’s anubhavam: In the previous slOkam , NeerAjAsanam or worship through ceremonial waving of lamps was described. There are number of AsanAs prescribed for the nithyArAdhanam of the Lord suchas SnAnAsanam , AlamkArAsanam , neerAjanAsanam et al . Here the Upanishads in thre form of VaithALikAs request Sri RanganAthan to travel to different sites , where the AsanAs are being offered and travel to these sites comfortably on the back of the Paadhukais. The VaithALikAs request the Lord to accept the Padhukais offered by Brahma dEvan for this purpose.
(2) Srimath Andavan’s anubhavam: The Upanishads pray to the Lord this way : ” Oh RanganAthA ! Please accept the different upachArams (aasanAs)being readied at different sites of Your temple. BrahmA is waiting with Padhukais in hand to help You travel to these different sites.
(3) BhagavathArAdhana kramam is made up of six different aasanams like ManthrAsanam ,snAnAsanam ,alankArAsanam , BhOjyAsanam ,PunarmanthrAsanam and paryankAsanam . The Paadhukais’ role in these AarAdhanam is hinted by the VaithALikAs(Upanishads) here. They say to the Lord: ” Oh RanganAthA ! If You are desirous of moving on from one aasanam to another during the Aaraadhanam that is being performed for Your preethi ,Please accept and ascend on the gem-bedecked Paadhukais held by BrahmA in his hands and travel to these different sites”. The Upanishads request Sri RanganAthan to accept with delight the PaadhukAs from the hands of BrahmA , who is prostrating before the Lord ( SannathEna VidhinA samarpithAm PaadhukAm saprasAdham adhirOha )..V.S
ஆஸநாத் உசிதம் ஆஸநாந்தரம் ரங்கநாத யதி கந்தும் ஈஹஸே
ஸந்நதேந விதிநா ஸமர்ப்பிதாம் ஸப்ரஸாதம் அதிரோஹ பாதுகாம்
பொருள் – ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதா! நீ ஓர் ஆசனத்தில் இருந்து மற்றோர் ஆசனத்திற்குச் செல்ல விரும்புகின்றாய் போலும். அதனால்தான் நான்முகன் தனது கைகளில் உனது பாதுகையைத் தயாராக வைத்துக்கொண்டு நிற்கிறான் போலும். அவற்றைச் சாற்றிக் கொள்வாயாக.
Sloka #249
249. parijanavanithABhi: prEShitha: prAnjalisthvAm
praNamathi madhanOyam dhEva! shuDdhAnthadhAsa:
phaNipathishayanIyam prApayithrI salIlam
padhakamalamiyam thE pAdhukA paryupAsthAm
Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)
“Oh Lord! Manmatha the attendant in charge of Your harem, comes and waits on You to request You, at the instance of the maid-servants, to be pleased to proceed there. May the Paaduka be worn now to let You walk on to the Adisesha couch!”
Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan
(1) Sri UtthamUr Swamy’s anubhavam: Night is approaching. VaithALikAs eulogize RanganAthA and remind Him that the servants of the inner apartment of the palace have sent ManmathA ( Kaama dEvA ) to request You to join Your consorts there. ManmathA is standing before You to grant his request .The VaithALikAs say : ” Oh RanganAthA ! Please grant manmathA his request so that Your consorts will be pleased .May Thou approach Your PaadhukAs , which are ready to transport You with elan to the inner apartments of Your palace, where Your bed rooms are located.
(2) Srimath Andavan’s anubhavam: Oh Lord ! The servants of the inner apartments have sent ManmathA to You to request You to visit the inner chambers. Please wear the Paadhukais and travel to the inner chambers of Your palace to unite with Your Devis for the night.
(3) Manmathan is described here as ” SuddhAntha dAsa:” or the servant of the antha: puram (innner chambers). That is why he has been selected by the parijana Vanithais ( The lady servants of the inner chamber)to make this request . ManmathA is standing with folded hands in front of You ( ayam madhana: prAnjali: thvAm praNamathi). The Paadhukais will transport You playfully (saleelam prApayathri) to Your bed of AdhisEshan waiting for You at the inner chambers …V.S
பரிஜநவநிதாபி: ப்ரேஷித: ப்ராஞ்ஜலிஸ்த்வாம்
ப்ரணமதி மதநோ அயம் தேவ சுத்தாந்ததாஸ:
பணிபதி சயநீயம் ப்ராபயித்ரீ ஸலீலம்
பதகமலம் இயம் தே பாதுகா பர்யுபாஸ்தாம்
பொருள் – ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதா! அந்தப்புரத்தில் வேலைக்காரர்கள் மூலம் மன்மதன் அனுப்பப்பட்டுள்ளான். அவன் உன் முன்பாக குவிந்த கைகளுடன் நின்று கொண்டு வணங்கியபடி உள்ளான். ஆதிசேஷன் என்ற படுக்கைக்கு உன்னை எழுந்தருளிச் செய்ய பாதுகை தயாராக உள்ளது. ஆகவே தாமரை போன்ற உனது திருவடிகள் பாதுகையை விரைந்து அடைய வேண்டும்.
Sloka #250
250. ithi nigamavandhivachasA samayE samayE gruhIthasanketha:
aBhisarathi ranganATha: prathipadhaBhOgAya pAdhukE! BhavathIm
Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)
Oh Paaduka! The Lord Ranganatha thus proceeds to each of the regular activity (referred to as asana), on the suggestion by the panegyrists who are virtually Vedas in the Lord’s case. For every such asana in accordance with the implicit scheme, (known to the Lord and to You), He wears You with fondness.
Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan
(1)Sri UtthamUr Swamy ‘s anubhavam: In the last eight slOkams , PaadhukA’s kaimkaryams from dawn to night were described. In this slOkam , Swami Desikan points out that RanganAthA enjoys the proximity (Closeness) of His consorts at night , whereas He enjoys union with His Paadhukais during the whole day. Here Swami Desikan hints at the union between the Lord and SatAri Soori NammAzhwAr , which is more frequent and intense than with His own consorts. Swami Desikan says: ” Oh PaadhukE ! Lord RanganAthA is cued in by the VaithALikAs about the different occasions during the day and night , when He should unite with You . Your Lord benefits from those promptings and joins You with great affection “.
(2)Srimath Andavan’s anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE ! Thus when the Upanishads alert You about the different time divisions of the day and night , You adorn Your Paadhukais to enjoy those occasions.
(3) Swami Desikan salutes Lord RanganAthA and His Paadhukais through the words of the Upanishads ( Nigama Vandhi vachas ).The Upanishads alert Lord RanganAthA about the various activities of the day in a timely manner (SamayE samayE ) so that He can enjoy ( prathipadha BhOgAya) the sukham of union with His Paadhukais …V.S
இதி நிகமவந்திவசஸா ஸமயே ஸமயே க்ருஹீதஸங்கேத:
அபி ஸரதி ரங்கநாத: ப்ரதிபதபோகாய பாதுகே பவதீ
பொருள் – நம்பெருமாளின் பாதுகையே! இப்படியாக அந்தந்த காலத்தில் இவற்றைச் செய்யவேண்டும் என்று வேதங்களாகிய வந்திகள் (துதி செய்பவர்கள் எனலாம்) மூலம் ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதன் உணர்கிறான். அந்தந்த காலத்தில் சுகங்களை அனுபவிக்கும் பொருட்டு உன்னை அடைகிறான்.
VaithALikA Paddhathi SampUrnam
வைதாளிக பத்ததி ஸம்பூர்ணம்
English Source Text: sundarasimham.com
Tamil Source Text: namperumal.com
