Sri Ranganatha Paadhuka Sahasram

SrI:

SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Translations & Commentaries by Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari SadagOpan

Introduction: The PadhmarAga paddhathi is the 1st of the 4 chapters (17-20) dealing with 4 specific gems: Rubies, Pearls, Emeralds and Sapphires. In the previous section, Swami Desikan paid tribute to all the 4 of them. Now Swami Desikan singles out every one of them and devotes 30 verses for rubies (PadhmarAga Paddhathi), 50 for pearls (MukthA Paddhathi), 20 for emeralds (Marataka Paddhathi) and 30 for sapphires (Indhra Neela Paddhathi). Altogether, there are 130 verses for these 4 gems that follow the 50 verses of the previous Paddhathi (Bahurathna Paddhathi), which covered all of the 4 gems.

SlOkam 581 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

I surrender myself to Paaduka, who is another Mahalakshmi, being padmaragini (having Padmaraga=ruby gems) like Lakshmi (loving to live in the lotus), and who is ever bound to the Lord's feet only (like Lakshmi ever being one participating in all the roles, such as the control of all worlds, being Seshi, etc., permanently sharing in His duty).

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! adiyEn surrenders unto You, who is predominantly adorned with PadhmarAga stones. Their red color is close to that of the red lotus flowers. You are exclusively associated with service to Lord's sacred feet. You are like another MahA Lakshmi at the Lord's holy feet.

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! When adiyEn looks at the red rubies adorning You, adiyEn is reminded of another MahA Lakshmi, who stays only at the sacred feet of the Lord. MahA lakshmi stays only at the chest of Your Lord. Azhwar thinks of himself as the consort of the Lord performing kaimkaryam at the Lord's sacred feet.

3) The Lord's body has 4 colors corresponding to the above 4 gems. He also created these 4 colors at the beginning of the universe. Since rubies have the red color resembling MahA Lakshmi, Swami Desikan chooses this gem as the 1st of the 4 stones adorning the Paadhukai. PadhmarAgha literally means "having the color of red lotus", the flower has close affinity to MahA Lakshmi. The Paadhuka supports the lotus feet of the Lord; MahA Lakshmi has the lotus forests as one of Her homes. The other home for Her is the Lord's chest. She also serves the Lord's lotus feet by pressing them, when He engages in Yoga Nidhrai?

4) Swami Desikan performs Prapatthi to the SrI RanganAtha Padhukais adorned with the PadhmarAgaa gems and suggests that they will confer purushArTams including Moksham on him (PadhmarAghiNIm RanganAthasya PaadhukAm PrapadhyE). Those Paadhukais, which like MahA Lakshmi (PadhmarAgiNi) never leaves the Lord's sacred feet or their proximity (Tasya padhaika-niyathAm RanganAthasya PaadhukAm prapadhyE). They are like another MahA Lakshmi in the sense that they are adorned with red rubies, a color reminiscent of Periya PirAtti, who never leaves the Lord's side (PadhaikaniyathAm aparAm Padhma-VaasAmiva PaadhukAm prapadhyE). She is fond of the red lotuses (Padhma-RagiNi)?

SlOkam 582 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Paaduka! Taking into consideration the extreme tenderness of the Lord's Feet, You perhaps plan to spread tender sprouts on the path by means of the halo of the ruby gems.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! You contemplate on the beauty of the Lord's lotus feet, which is beyond thinking and description. You enhance the beauty of the steps taken by those lotus feet with Your red rubies resembling tender red shoots attached to those feet.

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! As Your Lord walks around with You, the red lustre from the rubies spreads all around the path. That makes adiyEn think that You are spreading tender red shoots for the soft feet of Your Lord to step on during these yAthrAs. Here Swamy NammazhwAr is enchanted by the dhivya soundharyam of the Lord's lotus feet.

3) The beauty of the Lord's soft feet is beyond conception and description (SourE: Padha-Padhma SoukumAryam athivAng-manasam). You reflect on their softness (vichinthya) and wish to protect them by spreading as it were soft, tender red shoots of creepers on His path through the spreading of Your red rays (PadhmarAga bhAsA padhavIm aahitha pallavAm paripushyasi)?

SlOkam 583 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Mother Paaduka! The effulgence from the ruby stones is already on the extreme; added to it, is the halo of the tender fingers of the Lord's foot. It then looks as if the Lord stands in a reddish flame. You perhaps affirm that it is beyond dispute that the Lord once lay in Fire (and created Siva)*. *Pancharatra

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh Mother PaadhukE! Your PadhmarAga gems are associated with the tender feet of Your Lord. There, they shine with such brilliance that His whole body seems to become invisible in that red effulgence. It seems that You provide evidence to the Aagamaa statement that Your Lord lies amidst the red flames of fire. (Swami Desikan refers here to the PaancharAthrA Aagamic statement that VishNu lies in the middle of fire to create Rudra. Swami Desikan also uses the word, "adhikam" with its double meaning in mind. This word can mean either excessive or above the head (adhi+kam). By the latter meaning, Swamy hints that the flame-like brilliance of the padhmarAgaa gems on the Paadhukais reach out and obscure as it were the head of the Lord standing on the Paadhukais.

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! Your PadhmarAga gems are shining with a brilliant red hue. Your Lord's sole of the feet are also tender red in color. When these red hues unite, it is like a shining red flame in the middle of which the Lord is resting as stated in the PaancharAthra AagamAs.

3. Lord's soft feet are red like the tender shoots of creepers (padha pallavam). The ruby gems on You are resplendent in their red color and unite with the Lord's soft-red feet (Thvam Padha pallava sanghibhi: pradhIpthai: adhikOllasibhi: PadhmarAgai:). That combination of red colors seems to testify to the truth of Aagamic statement that the Lord rested amidst flames to create Rudran (PadhmarAgai: MurArE: kvachith analE sayanam avisamvAdhayasi)?

SlOkam 584 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Sri: vivruNOthi rangapathirathnapAdhukE! thvayi padhmarAgamaNipaDdhathi: shuBhA nibidOrusanGhatanapIdanaksharan maDhukaItaBhakshathajapankavAsanAm

Oh Ranganatha Paaduka! The charming array of the ruby gems-which is incidentally very auspicious-is perhaps a continuity from the blood flow that the Lord caused by squeezing the asuras, Madhu and Kaitabha, between His thighs.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh RanganAthA's rathna paadhukE! The auspiciousness of the red hue associated with Your PadhmarAga gems seem to serve as the reminder of the blood that flowed from the bodies of the asurAs, Madhu and KaiDabhA, when lord HayagrIvan crushed them between His thighs. Your PadhmarAgA gems seem to remind us of that incident of yore vividly.

2) The inner meaning is that the red rubies of the Paadhukais are equated to Swamy NammAzhwAr's Paasurams dealing with His kaamam for the Lord. They remove the RajO and TamO guNams from those who experience them and create special raagam (desire) for the Lord.

3) Oh PaadhukE! Your rows of PadhmarAga gems are most auspicious (SubhA PadhmarAga-maNi Paddhathi). They highlight (VivruNOthi) the color of the thick blood (Kashathaja pankam) that flowed from the bodies of Madhu - KaiDabhaas, when the Lord crushed them (niBhiDa Uru sangadana peedana Madhu-Kaidabha kshathja panka vAsanAm vivruNOthi). During His avathAram as HayagrIvA, the Lord crushed the 2 demons between His thighs and destroyed them effortlessly. The blood flowed copiously and formed thick, muddy red pools (Madhu-KaiDabha Ksahtaja Pankam vivruNOthi).

SlOkam 585 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Sri: prathiyanthi rangapathipAdhukE! janA: thava padhma raga maNi rashmisanthathim aBhijagmuShAm thvadhanuBhAvaKhandithA dhaGha sanchayAdh vigaLitha amasrukChatAm

Oh Ranganatha Paaduka! People viewing the wide extent of the bright effulgence from Your red stones consider, whether it is the blood from the sins (and their Abhimani devatas) (of Your devotees), slain by you!

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! Your devotees recognize the rows of Your PadhmarAga gems and their rays as the blood flowing, when the sins of the unrighteous are cut into shreds by Your grace.

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: The inner meaning is that the sadAchArya sambhandham will banish all of our sins.

3) Oh PadhukE! When people witness the bright red hue of the rows of Your PadhmarAga gems (janA: Tava padhmarAga-maNi rasmi anubhAvam pasyathi), then they consider that the assembly of the red rays is like the freshly flowing blood arising from the cutting of the bundle of sins of those, who sought Your refuge (Thvath anubhAva khaNDithaath abhijagmushAm aga samchayaath vigaLithAm asrukchaDAm prathiyanthi).

SlOkam 586 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Sri: pashyanthi rangEshvarapAdhukE! thvAm poUrAnganA: sparshitharAgabhanDhAm shrungArayOnErjvalanasya dhIpthaI: angArajAlaIriva padhmarAgaI:

Oh Ranganatha Paaduka! The women-folk of the city fall in love with You. They now regard the red colour resulting rom the ruby gems, as the heaps of red hot charcoal left behind, from the Fire of Cupid.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Swami Desikan describes another result from the worshipping of the PadhukAs. In the earlier verse, he mentioned that the sins of people are destroyed through the worship of the paadhukais adorned with rubies. Here, he states that the desire of the ladies of Srirnagam are enhanced many fold by Paadhuka worship. Swami Desikan says: "Oh PaadhukE! The feet of of the Lord has become reddened through association with Your PadmarAga gems. When the ladies of Srirangam worship You, they consider You as the red ember of the fire of the God of love interested to kindle and enhance the love of the ladies of Srirangam for RanganAtha. You provide them the means for their enhanced desire for the companionship of Your Lord's lotus feet".

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh RangEswara PaadhukE! Those who recite Swamy NammAzhwAr's paasurams develop extraordinary devotion to Sri RanganAthan and intense desire to be near Him.

3) The ladies of SrIrangam (pouranganA:) see You united with the red rubies, which is tantamont to You being united with desire (ThvAm sparsitha raaga BhandhAm iva pasyanthi). They interpret You as being united with the red flames of ManmathA's fire (ThvAm srungAra-yOnE: jwalanasya dheepthai: angAra jaalairiva pasyanthi).

SlOkam 587 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Manipaaduka! I see in you the Dawn for the Sun of Ranganatha to appear. With Your appearance, our sin vanishes even as darkness disappears. Your Padmaraga gems also point to the blossoming of lotuses. You thus enable the Lord, worshipped by all his lieges to be seen by all!

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! You are like the dawn before the Sunrise of RanganAtha. Your padmarAga stones banish all TamO guNam and sins. Devotees worship You enmeshed with rubies. Just as the Sunrise chases away darkness and makes the lotus blossom, Your rubies destroy the darkness of ignorance. You announce the arrival of the lord with the light of Your padmarAga gems, which precede Him.

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Those who recite Swamy NammazhwAr's paasurams get themselves freed from sakala paapams and their TamO guNam disappears. Their mind is cleansed and they develop limitless devotion to the Lord.

3) The Paadhukais and their padmarAga gems are the cause for the removal of all blemishes (dhOshAgamasya hEthu) and removes the darkness of ajn~Anam (TamOpahAm). All worships them (asEsha vandhyAm). They are considered as the dawn (poorva sandhyA) for the Sun raise of Lord Ranganaatha (Rangesa Soorya udhyam).

SlOkam 588 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Paaduka! Your Padmaraga radiations provided a surface of tenderlings to suit the sensitive feet of the Lord. Even so, the same acts as a Deluge Fire to dry up the ocean of sins that we have made for over a long time.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! The glow of Your PadmarAga gems appear in one regard as the cool, tender red shoots and in another regard as the fire at the time of deluge, which burns our ocean of sins. Such are its diverse powers!

2) The inner meaning is that the deep reflections and the correct understanding of the bhAvam of Swamy NammAzhwAr paasurams will destroy all of our sins.

3) Oh PaadhukE! the radiance of Your PadhmarAga gems (Thvath PadhmarAga dhyuthi:) reach a beauty similar to the bed made of tender shoots at the lotus soft feet of SrI RanganAthan (Rangabhartu: padhAmbhOje pallava-samsthara aabhAm avApyathi). At the same time, those radiant rays from the PadhmarAga gems are like the Agni of deluge time for the ocean of our sins (Na: kalusha- ambhudhE: kAlAnathvam bhajanthE).

SlOkam 589 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Sri: nisarga siDdham maNi pAdha rakshE! dhEvasya rangavasaThapriyasya bAlArka varNA: padha padhmarAgam thvath padhmarAgA: punarukthayanthi

Oh Manipaaduka! A discerning relisher of Sriranga kshetra, Lord Ranganatha, has His Feet naturally lotus-like with that colour, which Your Padmaraga gems, resembling the early morning sun, only accentuate.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! The young sun of the morning quickens the blossoming of the lotuses and enhances their beauty. Similarly, the PadhmarAga gems serve as the young sun that doubles the beauty of the Lord's red lotus feet.

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: The inner meaning is that the people have already great desire for the Lord. That desire is enhanced multifold after hearing the paasurams of Swamy NammAzhwAr.

3) Swami Desikan is referring to the doubling /enhancement of the natural red hue of Lord RanganAthA's sacred feet (nisargasiddham Devasya Padha Padhma raagam) due to the admixture of the red radiance from the PadhmarAga gems on the Padhukai, which have the hue of rising Sun (Thvath BaalArka varNA: raagam Thvath PadmaarAgA:). Those PadhmarAga stones double the red hue of the Lord's holy feet (Thvath PadhmarAgA: punarukthayanthi).

SlOkam 590 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Manipaaduka! The Lord takes care of everything in the world appropriately, but enthusiastically and earnestly, with the able assistance of Mahalakshmi. His reputation for protection is a vast ocean in which Your red rubies would appear as corals.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh gem-bedecked PaadhukE! Lord and His consort are protecting the universe with determination. The Lord's fame, as the protector of this universe and its beings, is as profound as the ocean in its vastness. In that ocean of His valor, Your PadhmarAga gems are seen as the blossoms of the beautiful coral reefs.

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: The refernece here is to the dhivya dampathis protecting this world by every means and Swamy NammAzhwAr's celebration of this Vaibhavam.

3) Oh PaadhukE! The glory of Your Lord's Thiruvadi along with MahA Lakshmi and Your PadhmarAga gems protects the whole universe (Tava PadhmarAgA: PathnyA samam padhEna viswam paalayatha: MurArE: yasa:). Oh PaadhukE! Your PadhmarAgam's beauty is like the beauty of the red coral in the vast ocean of the glory of the Dhivya Dampathis.

SlOkam 591 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Paaduka! The splendour of Your Padmaraga gems bestows lustre on to the Chakra present as lines on the foot of the Lord.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh golden Paadhukais of the Lord! The radiant lustre of your cluster of rubies gives brilliance to the sign of the disc seen in the middle of the palms of your Lord's lotus feet. Your Lord's palm of the feet carry unique insignias like disc, conch, lotus, flag, kalpaka creeper et al in the form of lines to indicate His status as the Emperor of the universe.

2) Swami Desikan addresses the Paadhukais as golden Paadhukais (Kaanchana PaadhukE) to remind us about the golden base on which the rows of rubies (paaDala-rathna pankthi) are enmeshed. He sees the rubies emanating a brilliant lustre like agni jwAlai (archishmathi paaDala-rathna pankthi) from the golden base. That red lustre intensifies the tEjas from the chakra rEkai on the palms of the feet of the Lord (rEkhA-raTAngasya maha: prapanjam prasthouthi).

SlOkam 592 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Paaduka! The Lord's Feet have lines of lotus also. It is a nice piece of imagination to reason out that this lotus remains blossomed, never closing itself up, only because of the mild sunshine that your ruby gems emit.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! Your rubies serve as the morning sun to open the insignia of lotus on the holy feet of your Lord. The warmth of your rubies keeps however that lotus opens always. (The presence of lotus on the palms of one's foot indicate that the person has unlimited wealth. Swami Desikan hints that the PaadhukAs confer this bhAgyam to the Lord through its rubies).

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: The lotuses of the world blossom at the sight of Sun in the morning; they close at sunset. The lotus on the palm of the foot of the Lord is always in a state of blossom, thanks to the radiance of the rubies from the Paadhukais.

3) The rubies on the Paadhukais act as the morning sun (sONa-rathnai: bAlAtapam udhIrayanthyA Thvayaiva). There is a lotus in the form of rays (PadmApathE: paadha tala prarUDam rEkAmbhujam). That lotus never closes its petals. It is always in a state of blossom (rEkAmbhujam nithyam anidhram abhUth).

SlOkam 593 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Paaduka! We would say that You are another Mahalakshmi, reputed as Mangala devata. Like Her, You have Padma-raga; You too grant the highest abode to whomsoever coming into the circle of light as she grants to whomsoever She casts her glances on; she is very great and You too are greater than the Lotus Feet.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! We consider You as the equivalent to SrI Devi because of the many qualities that both of you share. Whenever both of Your eyes fall on anyone, that person recieves every type of auspicousness. SrI Devi prefers to live on the lotus flower. You stay next to the lotus feet of Your Lord. The glory of SrI Devi is large. You are larger than the Lord's feet so that You can accommodate His feet with comfort.

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! adiyEn considers You as the YajamAni of all KshEmams and wealth, a veritable MahA Lakshmi. The inner meaning is that AchAryAs are the avathArams of MahA Lakshmi. When their katAksham falls on us, we have no deficiencies in this or the other world.

3) Oh Maadhava PaadharakshE! You confer sakala KshEmams for those, who are blessed to be in the line of Your red rays from the rubies on You (Nithyam nijalOkapaTam gathAnAm srEya: disanthi). adiyEn considers You (Paadhukai) as the most distinguished goddess of auspiciousness (ThvAm MahIyaseem MangaLa DevathAm manyAmahE) .

SlOkam 594 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Sri: dhEvasya rangarasikasya vihArahEthO: AthmAnamanGhrikamalE vinivEdhya pUrvam prAyO nivEdhayasi shONamaNiprakAshaI: prathyUShapadhmakalikAm padha rakshiNi! thvam

Oh Paaduka! As one would receive with honours an important actor as he visits the theatre, You provide after 1st delivering yourself unto the Lord a bouquet of lotus buds-yet to blossom, in the morning- in the form of the lustre of the Padmaraga gems. It looks so!

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Swami Desikan describes the rubies on the PaadhukAs as the lotus buds offered to the Lord's feet during worship. He says: "Oh PaadhukE! You offer the lotus buds of Your rubies to the Lord's feet, which are going to engage in a novel dance on the stage of Srirangam. You take refuge in the Lord's feet 1st and then offer Your rubies to serve as lotus buds as a mark of Your reverence for those feet that are about to move on the stage of Srirangam.

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: The inner meaning is that SadAchAryAs place the aathmAs at the sacred feet of the Lord and during the rest of their life time on earth engage in kaimkaryams like adorning the Lord with fragrant flowers.

3) For the enjoyment of the Lord of Sriramgam during his dance on the stage of Rangam (Rangarasikasya dEvasya vihAra-hEthO:), You (Paadhukai) offer yourself 1st at the lotus feet of the Lord (poorvam aathmAnam angri-kamalE vinivEdhya). After that, You shower through Your rubies the red lotus bud like offerings (sONA-maNi prakAsai: prathyUsha padhmakalikAm prAya: nivEdhayasi).

SlOkam 595 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Mukunda Paaduka! Those sages, who knew what is the Truth, what is the supreme goal of man, perform to please You, with Your Padmaraga gems, with PraNava chanting, a homa; the havis is their soul. The fire with ghee oblations being poured on to, is Yourself (Atma samarpana).

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh Paadhukai of the Lord, which blesses one with Moksham! The rays of rubies are like the flames of the holy fire used by the sages in YaagAs to submit their souls to the accompaniment of PraNavam to attain freedom from the cycles of births and deaths.

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PadhukE! The kaanthi of the rubies on You is like the flames of Agni in sacrificial fire. Just like the havis placed on the agni kuntam for specific devathAs with manthram for them reaches them, the aathmA presented to sadAchAryans reaches the Lord. There is no doubt about it.

3) The subject is about the jeevAthma svaroopa dhravyam offered (prathi angmayasya havisha:) by AchAryAs (muninAm prEkshEpanAya). That is offered with Pranavam (SapraNavam) with huge amount of ghee (praNavEna prEkshapaNAya prAjyAm). That offering is like an agni JwAlai made up of the lustre of the rubies on the Padhukai (paryAya paavaka sikhAm prathIma:).

SlOkam 596 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Paaduka! As Lord Ranganatha is on an outing, a Homa for auspices is perhaps being performed. You with padmaraga gems become the fire; the stream of white flow-like milk-of the halo of rows of nails in the Lord's Feet, becomes the Ahuti, perhaps another Ganga river, since this also flows out of the Lord's Feet.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Here Swami Desikan compares the effulgence of the rubies to that of the sacred flames of a sacrifice in which milk is poured as the oblation. He compares the glow of rubies to that of Agni used in the Vedic sacrifices. He draws an analogy between the milk and the white effulgence of the Lord's toenails. He wonders whether the white milk--like flow from the Lord's toenails is the flow of GangA rushing out of the nails.

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! The red rubie are enmeshed on You. The red lustre of the rubies mixes with the white lustre of the toenails of the Lord. This admixture seems like the Lord performing homam with milk in the red jwAlais of Your rubies during the time of His sanchAram.

3) There is a homam known as PrasTAna MaangaLika Homam that Is performed prior to sanchArams. When Lord does this hOmam prior to His travels (vijaya YaathrAs), the red rubies with their lustre heighten the effulgence (shObai) of the Agni (PadmarAgai: SrI: sampadhyathE). In that Agni, the flow of the white lustre of the toenails of the Lord (RangEswarasya nakha rasmi dhArA), is like the offering of milk (KshIrAhuthi:).

SlOkam 597 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Paaduka! When the Lord returns, it is evening. The nails of His feet bathing in the red halo of Padmaraga gems, as if they were treated with red lac, acquire the spectre of a full moon reddened in the eastern sky.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! The red glow from Your rubies resembles red sandal paste. When that glow combines with the sheen from Your Lord's beautiful white toenails, it gives the impression of the beauty of Moon at dusk, when the sky is awash with ruby red color.

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! Your red rubies emanate lustre that resembles the red sandal paste. When that red lustre falls on the brilliant white nails of the Lord, it reminds one of the Moon's white orbit at tawny dawn.

3) There is the beautiful white sheen from the toenails of Sriya: Pathi (PadhmA-sahAya padha-padhma nakha kaanthi). The dawn-red beauty of the rubies enmeshed in the PaadhukAs blend with that white lustre (AruNa yaavakapanka LakshmIm aamunchathAm Tava sONAsamanAm kaanti Yoga:). Yaavaka Panka is the red sandal paste arising from saffron blended with yellow sandal paste (Kaanhti Yogam). The beauty produced (LashmIm aamunchathAm) by the admixture of this red sandal paste united with the white kaanthi of the toenails of the Lord creates an aura of the white Moon against the red dawn. (SandhyA anuranjitha sudhAkara-bhimbha sObhAm srayanthE)?

SlOkam 598 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Sri: sThAnE thavAchyuthapadhAvani! padhmarAgA: thEjOmayA: prashamayanthi thamO madhIyam chithram thadhEthadhiha yajjanayanthi nithyam rAgAthmakEna mahasA rajasO nivrutthim

Oh Paaduka! The light from Your padmaraga gems dispels my tamOguna; it is reasonable, since tamas is darkness. But what one fails to understand is how the rajo guna of mine embodied in my love for sensuous pleasures are also dispelled. For here Padmaraga removes the raga of mine!

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh Achyutha PaadhukE! Your rubies through their effulgence remove the darkness of my ajn~Anam. This is appropriate. But, how does their brilliant red color destroy my passionate nature (RajO guNam)? This is indeed difficult to understand. Swami Desikan plays here with the double meaning of the words TamO: and Raaga:. TamO can mean TamO guNam or darkness; similarly, raaga can mean red color or desire (passion). Swamy hints that the sacred nature of the effulgence from rubies destroy our passionate and dark nature and make us possess qualities of purity (satthva guNam) and auspicousness.

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: The inner meaning is that our Ajn~Anam is driven away by reflection on the paasurams of Swamy NammAzhwAr. When the ajn~Anam is removed, the anger and pride are also removed. Satthva guNam becomes dominant.

3) Oh PaadhukE! Your rubies have an overpowering luster (Tava PadhmarAgA: tEjOmayA;). They remove the darkness of mine born out of Nescience (Tava PadhmarAgA; madhIyam Tama: prasamayanthi). The mighty red lustre of the rubies (rAgAthmakEna MahasA) destroys the rajO guNam in me (madhIyam rajasa: nivrutthim janayanthi). This is indeed a wonder in this world (ithi yath iha chithram).

SlOkam 599 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Sri: padhmAkarAntharavikAsini! rangaBharthu: pIthvA padhAvani! maDhUni padhAravindhE shONOpaladhyuthimayIm suBhagaprachArAm manyE biBharShi mahathIm madharAgashoBhAm

Oh Paaduka! The Lord's Feet-a pair of lotuses-rise from the pond that is the space between the 2 palms of Lakshmi! The honey flowing from the feet-as if it were liquor-intoxicates You. But Your gait is lovely. Your red complexion comes from the Padmaraga gems.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! adiyEn thinks that Your rubies attained their expansive and brilliant red color from drinking the fermented honey of the lotus feet that has blossomed in the pond of MahA Lakshmi's hands. Swami Desikan uses his poetic imagination to paint a vivid picture. Lord's feet are the twin lotuses. They blossom in the hands of MahA Lakshmi (PadmA karam or a lotus pond). MahA Lakshmi holds the Lord's lotus feet in Her hands to press them. The rubies to reach the intoxicated state revealed by the reddening of their surfaces drink the fermented honey from the lotus feet. Swami Desikan links the brilliant red hue of the rubies with "madha Raaga sObhA", the special flushed effect arising from a state of drunkenness.

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! The red rubies are enmeshed on You. When You transport Your Lord during His sanchAram, the red lustre from the rubies and Your movement looks like that of one, who has drunk deeply the fermented honey from the Lord's lotus feet. The inner meaning is that Swamy NammAzhwAr is "intoxicated" with the enjoyment of the guNa-Vaibhavams of the Lord `s Thiruvadis.

3) MahA Lakshmi's sacred hands hold the lotus feet of the Lord (PadhmA kara anthara vikAsini Rangabharthu: Padha aravindham). The Paadhukai and the rubies on them appear like they are intoxicated by the drinking of the fermented honey from the Lord's lotus feet (Rangabharthu: padha aravindhE madhUni peethvA). The strident and beautiful sanchAram made by these radiant rubies enhances the red beauty of the rubies (sONOpala dhyuthimayeem subhaga prachAram mahathIm madha raaga sObhAm Bhibarshi).

SlOkam 600 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Sri: padhAvani! prasrumarasya kalEryugasya prAyENa samprathi nivArayithum pravEsham shrIrangasImni thava shONamaNi prasUtha: prAkAramAgnimayam AraBhathE prakAsha:

Oh Paaduka! The Padmaraga-red lustre erects a novel fortress of Fire that can effectively prevent the entry of the now-fast-spreading Kaliyuga evil.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! The red effulgence arising from Your rubies surrounds the boundaries of SrI Rangam like walls of fire and prevent the entry of the age of Kali inside the holy city, the home of Your Lord.

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: The inner meaning is that the comprehension of the paasurams of Swamy NammAzhwAr will remove Kali dhOshams (involvement with spiritually injurious matters due to the dominance of desire, anger, arrogance, jealous and the like).

3) Oh PaadhukE! The lustre of Your rubies are like a fort of Agni around the city limits of SrIrangam (sONAmaNi prasootha prakAsa: SrIranga-seemni agnimayam prAkAram aarabhathE). The spreading of the red rays from the rubies prevents the entry of Kali purushan in to SrIrangam (KalE: yugasya SrIranga-seemni pravEsam nivArayithum aarabhatE).

SlOkam 601 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Sri: lIlAgruhAntharavihAriNi ranganAThE lAkshArasaIraruNa rathna mayUKha lakshyaI: prAyENa ranjayathi pAdhasarOjayugmam saIranDhrikEva BhavathI maNi pAdha rakshE!

Oh Manipaaduka! As Lord Ranganatha is to proceed to the private hall to sport with His spouses, You perhaps serve as a waitress, to apply cosmetic make-up to His Feet, say with red lac decoration-namely, the red halo of Your Padmaraga gems.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! Your Lord goes from one consort's chamber to the other. During these times of relaxation, You transport Him. At those times, Your rubies with their red color appear to paint a red pathway marked by the red vegetable dye decorating Your Lord's feet.

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: There is a flower called Semparutthi. When one soaks that flower in the water, a red paste will result. That paste is painted over the feet of ladies for beautification. When the Lord travels with padhukais adorned with rubies, His feet look as thought they are painted with semparuthti paste (Sempanju Kuzhampu). This paste has the same effect like MaruthANi paste.

3) Semparutthi paste is LaakshA rasam in Sanskrit. Swamy equates the red hue of the rubies (aruNa rathna mayUkham) to the color of the painting with LaakshA rasam on the sacred feet of the Lord by the ladies of the inner chambers. These rubies redden multifold the lotus red feet of the Lord.

SlOkam 602 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Paaduka! As Lord Ranganatha walks across the street, admirers sprinle flowers on the path. These flowers, under the impact of the Padmaraga lustre falling on them look like stars in the red horizon of the evening dusk.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! When RanganAtha travels around the streets of Srirangam, His devotees shower a lot of white jasmine flowers as a sign of their affection and reverence. The red color from Your rubies falls on those white flowers and the mingling of the 2 makes it look like the red evening sky interspersed with stars of the evening. The scene is like the white stars against the background of what is known as "ManjaL Veyyil".

2) The Lord is having sanchAram in the streets of SrIrangam and is being transported by His Paadhukais, where the red rays from their rubies are falling on the copious rain of white flowers showered by the BhakthAs of the Lord (Viharatha: rangEsithu: raTyAntharE parikeeryamANaa: sumansa:). The admixture of the red rays from the rubies with the white mallikai pushpams (Thvath PadhmarAga kiraNa cchuraNAth) creates a special, beautiful effect (viz), the rows of white stars against the background of reddish dusk (sandhyAtapa antharitha taaraka pankthi lakshmIm bhajanthE).

SlOkam 603 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Sri: rangADhi rAja padha rakshiNi! biBhrathasthvAm gangA tharanga vimalE girishasya moULoU samvarDhayanthi mahasA thava padhma rAgA: shaIlAthmajA charaNaya AvakapankalakshmIm

Oh Rangarajapaaduka! Sive bears You on his head after cleansing his head, of all past red dye remanant, with the Ganga waters of his head. Nevertheless, Your Padmaraga gems bestow a beaming red colour on Siva's head to create an imagery of the red lac from Parvati's feet.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh RangarAja PaadhukE! RudrA's head wears You (SatAri) on his head. At that time, the red color from Your rubies fall on the head of Rudran washed by the white waters of GangA. That reminds me of the residue of the red lacquer dye from Parvathi's feet that stuck to RudrA's head, when he bowed before Her to quench Her anger as a part of their PraNaya kalaham.

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: The inner meaning is that the supreme devotee of the Lord, Rudran, places the paasurams of Swamy NammAzhwAr on His head and becomes blemish less.

3) Rudran has a siras, which is made blemish less by the flow of the sacred GangA water, which arose from the Lord's feet during the Thrivikrama avathAram. On that head rests the Paadhukai of the Lord (ThvAm Bhibratha: Girisasya GangA taranga vimalE mouLou). The red rays of ruby now fall on that sacred head of Rudran and enhance the red beauty marks that are already there (Tava PadhmarAgaa: mahasA LakshmIm samvardhayanthi). What is it that was there? The red marks from the LaakshA Rasam of Paarvathi’s feet lodged there during the lover’s fight are there. The red rays from the rubies enhance that red hue.

SlOkam 604 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Sri: sharaNamupagathAnAm sharvarIm mOharUpAm shamayithumudhayasThAnmanmahE bAlasUryAn padhasarasijayOgAdhranganAThasya BhUya: pariNamadharuNimna: pAdhukE! PadhmarAgAn

Oh Paaduka! The red lustre of Your Padmaraga gems is enhanced by the contact with the Lotus feet of the Lord. The gems now function as the rising suns that remove the night-darkness of nescience from the devotees, who surrender themselves unto You.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! Through Your association with the Lord's holy feet, the red glow of Your rubies increases. Those rubies appear like many little suns that help to banish the dark night of ignorance for those, who seek refuge in You.

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: The inner meaning is that the ajn~Anam of people are banished, when they study the moving paasurams of Swamy NammAzhwAr under SadAchAryAs.

3) Lord RanganAthA's lotus red feet enhances the red hue of the rubies on the Paadhukais (RanganAtasya padha sarasija yOgAth bhUya: pariNamath aruNimna: PadhmarAgA:). When one seeks them as the means for Moksham, the dark night of Ajn~Anam is banished by the rays of rubies, which are like the rays of the rising sun (PadhmarAgAn saraNam upagathAnAm mOharoopAm sarvarIm samayithum udhayasTAn Baala--sooryAn manmahE).

SlOkam 605 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Paaduka! Siva with his moon-digit bears You. He has got the colour for his locks of hair from the moon. They resemble bunches of grain stack in lustre. I fain conjecture that it is Your Padmaragas that conferred their quality-colour, for example- on the Jatas of Siva.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Here, Swamy Desikan describes the special fragrance, color and beauty that the matted locks of Rudra obtain, when the rays from the red rubies of the Paadhukais fall on His head. Swamy says: "Oh PaadhukE! RudrA's matted locks attain a golden red sheen due to association with the lustre of Your rubies. That makes the locks look like the sheaves of ripe winter rice crop. The white rays of the crescent Moon on Rudra’s head do not dilute this lustre. The fragrance of Your Lord's lotus feet also enters RudrA's matted locks, when the rays of Your rubies fall on them. Both an ethereal beauty and fragrance are acquired by RudrA's locks as a result of association with You.

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: The inner meaning is that Rudran celebrates Swamy NammAzhwAr paasurams by adorning them on His head.

3) Lord Sivan has crescent Moon on His tresses (ardhEndhu mouLi) and is further distinguished by the reddish gold matted locks on His head that seem to fight with each other (kaLamakaNisa kAnthi spardhinIbhi: jaDAbhi:) as He moves His head. On that siras fall the red rays from the rubies of the Paadhukais, which get enhanced in its red hue through contact with the red lotus feet of its Lord. Rudran adorns those red ruby rays, which have the sambhandham of the Lord's sacred feet and becomes fulfilled.

SlOkam 606 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Sri: prathiviharaNamEthE pAdhukE! rangaBharthu: padhakamalasaganDhA: padhma rAgAsthvadhIyA: tharuNa thapana maIthrIm udhvahadhBhir mayUKhaI: sThala kamala viBhUthim sThApayanthyavyavasThAm

Oh Paaduka! As the Lord takes a stroll, the Padmaragas move on; their sun-like lustre moves step by step; without a restriction on space; one sees a plethora of land-lotuses.

1. UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! When Ranganatha moves around on You, there arise land lotuses having Your lustre and the fragrance of Your Lord's Thiruvadi. They shine like young suns even if they do not last long, since they have no association with water.

2. Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: The inner meaning is that when one is blessed to understand the meanings of Swamy NammazhwAr's paasurams sung with great desire for PerumAl with the help of MahAns, then one's mind blossoms like the lotus bud that has seen Sunrise. This effect on the mind is shared by one and all independent of their loftiness or lowliness in education or wealth.

3. Lord RanganAthan's inner soul of the feet share the beautiful red hue of PadhmarAgA gems that adorn the Paadhukai (Rangabharthu: padha kamala sagandhA: ThvadhIyA: yEthE PadhmarAgA:). The rays of these rubies seem to have attained the friendship of the Baala Sooryan (yEthE padhmarAgA: taruNa-tapana maithrIm mayUkhai: udhvahadhbhi). During the Lord's sanchAram, they resemble lotuses blossoming out of the land (prathiviharaNam yEthE PadhmarAgA: sTala-kamala vibhUthim sTApayanthi).

SlOkam 607 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Paaduka! People, who have forsaken love in respect of all things, but cherish a love of the Padmaraga gems, would have their long-standing heaps of sins too consigned to the flame so to say, of the gems.

1. UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh MadhusUdhana PaadhukE! The Yogis characterized by their dispassionate nature are exhilarated when they see You. They are without raaga (attachment) or passion. Even these passionless acquire joy (passion) from seeing You. The red glow from the rubies on Your body spreads everywhere and destroys the heaps of sins of the people like fire flies destroyed by an open flame.

2. Srimath Andavan's anubhaavam: The inner meaning is the paasurams sung by Swamy NammAzhwAr with great desire for his Lord are considered red gems (padhmarAgam). The meanings of these paasurams immerse the rasikAs in an ocean of aananadham. The comprehension of the meanings of AzhwAr's paasurams also destroys the sins of the listener just like the fireflies falling into a bright lamp. Even sinners listen to AzhwAr's paasurams with great delight and feel uplifted.

3. Here Swamy Desikan focuses on the Yogis, who do not cultivate any desires (veetha raagAn) except attachment to the Lord; they also do not enjoy anything (anithara-bhOgAn) except Bhagavath anubhavam. The shining assembly of the bright red rubies on the Paadhukais (jaajvalyamAnA: ThavakAnAm aruNamaNi gaNAnAm prakAsa:) gladden (ranjayan) the hearts of these Yogis. The lustre from these red rubies destroys quickly and permanently the age old sins of people (ThAvakAnAm aruNamaNi prakAsA: muhu: janAnAm saasvatham paapa-raasim salabhayathi)?

SlOkam 608 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Paaduka! Your Padmaraga gems simulate the sun in being red; in exuding Vedic fragrance; in unfolding and blossoming the lotus each morning, the sun is famous, whereas the Padmaraga gems can do the embellishment on the Lotuses of the Lord's Feet; But whereas the sun dispels the darkness of night- which is superficial, the Padmaraga lustre can remove the sin-heaps of the devotees accumulated over a long time. This is inner darkness.

1. UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! Your red rays have Vedic association. They enhance the beauty of Your Lord's lotus feet like the Sun that opens up the lotus flowers in the ponds. They remove the darkness of ignorance like the rising Sun (AruNa).Thus it has the many charactrestrics of the Sun. Swamy Desikan plays on the word "aruNathvam " in this verse, where he describes the property of the rubies. This word can mean the Sun at dawn or redness. He points out that the rubies are like the red Sun at dawn and carries out all the duties of the Sun.

2. Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: The inner meaning is that AzhwAr's paasurams house inside them the essence of Vedic fragrances. These paasurams are very dear to the Lord. They fill the minds of the listeners with auspicious information about the svaroopam and SvabhAvam of the Lord and destroy ajn~Anam thoroughly.

3. Oh PaadhukE! Your rubies resemble the Baala Sooryan (ThAvakA: PadhmarAgA: aruNathvam dhadhathi) They contain inside the fragrance of the Veda manthrams (nigama-gandhA: nivahathi). They are filled with the red hue of the inner soul of the Lord's feet (Rangabharthu: padha kamala samruddhim bhAvayantha:). They remove the deep darkness of nescience (ThavakA: padhmarAgA: ghADam tamisram sakalayantha:).

SlOkam 609 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Sri: lAkshAlakshmIm aDhara ruchakE rangiNa: pAdha rakshE! vakthrAmBhOjE madhapariNathim padhmarAgadhyuthisthE karNOpAnthE kisalayaruchim dhEvi! SEvanathAnAm sImAnthE cha thridashasudhrishAm soUthi sindhUrashOBhAm

Oh Devi Ranganatha paaduka! When divine damsels come and bow before You in homage, when Your Padmaraga gems confer cosmetic gifts to them; the gems apply a red lac dye on the lip, give a lovable intoxicated look to their face, place a tender sprout on the ear and a vermilion dot on the parting line of the fore-portion of the head.

1. UtthamUr Swami's anubhaavam: Oh PaadhukE! You bless the wives of the DevAs, who worship You having many special beauty marks arising from Your rubies. You enhance the redness of the color of their lips painted earlier with the red dye. You make their lotus faces flushed with joy through Your redness. You enhance the beauty of the red ear ornament that they are wearing. You increase the loveliness of the vermilion mark adorning the partition between their rows of hair". Swami Desikan states that the wives of the DevAs absorb the divine glow of the red rubies of the PaadhukAs on the different areas of their faces.

2. Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: The inner meaning is that a full Comprehension of the meanings of the paasurams of Swamy NammAzhwAr creates all kinds of joy and comfort.

3. Swami Desikan is assesses the mutifold efffect of the radiance (Dhyuthi) of the PadhmarAgA gems here. There are the wives of DevAs, who have bent before the SaThAri (sEvAnathAnAm Thridasa-sudhrusAm) to offer their worship. The luster of the rubies falls then on the different areas of their faces. When they (rays of rubies) fall on the lips that look like a golden jewelry, the appearance is like red lacquer used in painting the lips (adhararuchakE laakshA LakshmIm iva). When these red rays fall on the entire face, then they remind one of the joyous state arising from inebriation (vakthrAmbhOjE madha-pariNathim iva). When it falls on the ear lobe region, they remind one of the tender green shoots (karna upAnthE kisalaya ruchim). When they fall on the dividing line between the rows of hair (vahidu), they remind one of the vermilion mark adorning that region (seemanthE sindhUra-sObhAm southi).

SlOkam 610 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Paaduka! The natural red lustre of the Padmaragas acquiring further augmentation from the Lord's Feet, is so much brilliant that before it, any number of suns would suffer the fate of being dismissed as mere fireflies.

1. UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! Through Your association with Your Lord's red feet, the lustre of Your rubies multiplies many fold in its redness. They thus become superior in their brilliance; even hoards of Suns look like fire flies in front of You, when You are united with Your Lord's holy feet.

2. Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: The inner meaning is that the true Jn~Anam acquired from AzhwAr's and AchArya's upadesams excels all the acquired saasthra Jn~Anams acquired without the help of the study of AzhwAr paasurams intrepreted by AchAryAs.

3. The red rubies of Yours with their association (sambhandham) to the Lord's lotus red feet attain a glorious hue (Tava aruNamaya: Hari Padha raagENa labdha mahimAna:) that makes the assembly of Suns look like the trivial assembly of fire flies (Tava yEthE aruNa-maNaya: dhyumaNi gaNam jyOthirinkhaNathAm gamayanthi).