Sri Ranganatha Paadhuka Sahasram

SrI:

SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Translations & Commentaries by Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari SadagOpan

Introduction: We are commencing the Marakatha Paddhathi now. There are 20 slOkams in this chapter, which extol the glories of the Emeralds adorning the PaadhukAs of the Lord. Swami Desikan explores the relations between the green color of the Emeralds and GarudA, TuLasi, panic grass (aruham pul) and other entities with a green color in this paddhathi.

SlOkam 661 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

I pay obeisance to Paaduka, inset with green gems-emeralds, which have Garuda as their devata. Both Paaduka and Garuda are alike in their duty assignment and in appearance /constitution. Paaduka resembles Tulasi too. Whereas Paaduka exhibits Hari-tatva (the principle called Hari), Tulasi exhibits Harita-tatva (the greennenss).

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: I bow unto the PaadhukAs, which have a lot in common with GarudA in the areas of their respective duties and the colored gems that they like to wear. The PaadhukAs elaborate on the verdure or Hari Tatthvam, just as TuLasi does. I offer my salutations to GarudA and TuLasi, the peers of PaadhukAs in their attributes. Our Lord travels on GarudA, just as He travels on the PaadhukAs. GarudA is the patron deity of emerald gem and latter are seen on the PaadhukAs of the Lord.

There are 2 similarities between the Paadhukais and GarudA: (1) Both GarudA and the PaadhukAs announce the arrival of their Lord through their presence. (2) GarudA and the Paadhukais have a common feature with the sacred TuLasi worn from head to foot by the Lord in the form of TuLasi garlands. Lord's identity is revealed from the TuLasi that is seen on His limbs.

From its haritham (green hue), TuLasi is said to have verdure or greenish (Haritatthvam). Both GarudA and the Paadhukais transport the Lord, who is richly adorned with the green TuLasi leaves. The emeralds on the Paadhukais and the presiding deity for the green hued emeralds (Garudan) also show thus the Hari Tatthvam like Tulasi. All these 3 seem to elaborate on Hari Tatthvam. The poetic genius of Swami Desikan and his uncanny ability to play with the multiple meanings of words are made abundantly clear here.

2)Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: The Paadhukais do the work of Garudan. There is however a distinction. When Paadhukais transport the Lord over His Raaja veedhis, it brings the Lord close to all, who cannot come into the temple for different reasons and makes Him readily accessible to one and all. When the Lord travels on the back of Garudan and moves around in the sky, He is not easy to see and enjoy. Emeralds of Paadhukai like TuLasi are green and are endowed with purity (parisuddham). Like TuLasi, the emeralds on the Paadhukais chase away the sins of janthus and bless one with auspiciousness. Swami Desikan salutes such a sacred Paadhukai with emeralds. Garuda Pacchai is another name for emeralds. Garudan stands for Vedams. Swamy NammAzhwAr has created the Tamizh Vedam of Thiruvaimozhi to bring the anubhavam of perumAL close to one and all. It is difficult to comprehend the meanings of Sanskritic Vedams. Swamy NammazhwAr has distilled however the clear meanings of the vedams (Saaraarthams) like the glow of the emerald gem.

3) "VandhE PaadhukAm" says Swami Desikan here and qualifies those Paadhukais as being close to Garudan by occupation (VrutthyA) and by the assembly of emerald gems (MaNi SthOmai: saha). Those paadhukais reveal always the Hari tatthvam just like TuLasi (yayA PaadhukayA TuLasyEva nithyam Hari Tatthvam PrakAsyathE).

SlOkam 662 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Paaduka! When the Lord takes a stroll wearing You, Garuda has no role of carrying the Lord. He has, however, no regrets; his consolation is that You are adorned with green Marakata gems, which have Garuda as their devata.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! Garuda thinks that the Lord's steps are not as beautiful, when He rides on him compared to the steps that He (the Lord) takes on You. Therefore as the Lord of Emeralds, he (Garudan) presents You with the gems named after him. This way, Garuda has the opportunity to participate vicariously in the travels of the Lord on You.

2)Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! Garudan experiences sorrow, when he sees the joyous way in which the Lord travels on Your back. He wishes htat he had that bhAgyam. He consoles himself with the thought that the stones associated with his name are enmeshed on the Paadhukais and that the Lord's Thiruvadi is connected to those emeralds.

The inner meaning is that the Sanskritic Vedams are saddened when they hear the ThiruvAimozhi recitation, The Vedams long for the Lord to hear them. Then, the Vedams console themselves with the thought that the ThiruvAimozhi deals after all with the meanings of the Veda Manthrams. Even if ThiruvAimozhi is not rooted in Sanskrit, the Vedams feel consoled that Swamy NammAzhwAr covers the meanings of their manthrams in His aruLiccheyalkaL.

3) Lord RanganAtha has many kinds of steps, while He travels on Paadhukais in a sporitng manner (Ranga bharthu: TvadhadhInEshu savilAsa gathEshu Thvayi adhigacchathi). When garudan witnesses this scene, he feels rejected and becomes dejected (garuthmAn bahishkrutha:). Then he comforts himself by thinking that You are adorned after all by the stones for which he is dEvathai (GaruthmAn Thvayi nivishtai: nija rathnai: kaTamchith nirvritthim adhigacchathi).

SlOkam 663 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Manipaaduka! When the Lord proceeds to the harem, the attendant- maids, in their ignorance try to relegate, to the outer side, what they imagine to be Tulasi leaves but what are merely reflections from Your emerald gems!

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh MaNi PaadhukE! When You approach Your Lord, the foolish lady servants of the inner chambers try to brush off Your emerald rays, thinking that they are tender shoots of TuLasi that have gotten loose from the TuLasi garlands of the Lord. They vainly try to use their brooms to clear the floors from the "fallen green TuLasi" leaves.

2) Swami Desikan focuses here on a happening in the inner chambers of His divine consorts. There are woman servants there (antha: pura chEDikA:). Swamy describes them as "mugdhA: (asaDukaL or simpletons). Why? They witness the green rays arising out of the emerald gems adorning the Lord's Paadhukais (haridasmanAm harithAn mayUkAn). They mistake them out of their foolishness to be sacred TuLasi leaves (TuLasi pallava sankayA) and try to sweep them away frequently; they are thus engaged in a foolish act (haridasmanAm harithAn mayUkAn muhu: kshipanthi).

SlOkam 664 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Rangaraja Paaduka! The heaps of flower petals cast on You in reverential archana etc. turn to a green appearance by the effect of light from Your emerald stones. They appear to be Tulasi leaves!

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh RanganAtha PaadhukE! The flower bunches placed at Your feet by Your devotees absorb the green rays of Your emeralds and quickly attain the color of green and thus reach the status of the holy TuLasi.

2)Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! Kaimkarya parALs place the brilliantly white flowers like Mallikai, Mullai and white lotus on You adorned with the beautiful emerald gems radiating green rays. When the sEvArthis witness this intermingling of the lustre of the white flowers with the green rays arising out of Your emeralds, they get the impression that the resulting green lustre is that of the TuLasi leaves resting over You.

3) Oh the Paadhukais of the Lord of SrIrangam (hE Ranga- narEndhra paadhukE)! The heap of white flowers are placed by devotees on You protecting the Thiruvadis of the Lord (Bhakthai: nihitha: prasoona raasi:). The whiteness of this flower assembly intermingles with the brilliant green rays originating from the emeralds positioned on You and produces immediately a green halo (HarimaNInAm prabhayA sahasA haritha:) around the Lord's Thiruvadis. This union of the hue of the white flowers with the green rays of the emeralds gives the impression of tender green shoots of TuLasi adorning the Lord's sacred feet.

SlOkam 665 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Manipaaduka! When the Lord takes a walk, with You in His Feet, He enjoys the walk. The walk-gait makes Him an ocean of charm. To that ocean the green herbal cleaner-the sea moss-is the radiance from Your emeralds.

1) Oh MaNi PaadhukE! Through Your beautiful steps, You cleanse the places, where You come in to contact. Through Your emeralds, Your green color is bewitching to behold. You join with the pond of Lord's lustre and You cleanse the waters through Your contact and make them fit for the residence of Your Lord. You are very similar in these attributes to the Saivala plant, which has a cleansing effect on the muddy ponds.

Swami Desikan compares the green emerald's attributes to that of the green moss like plant (Saivalam) growing in ponds. Both are beautiful to look at and have a pleasing color. Both cleanse their environments, when they come into contact with blemishes. SaivalA plant cleanses the dirty waters of the ponds. Emerald rays arising from the PaadhukAs cleanse the samsAric afflictions and the sins of people.

2) The Lord's beauty is like a vast "shoreless" ocean. The beautiful rays from the emeralds adorning His sacred feet are like the velampAsi (the dense bunch green moss) on top of that ocean of the Lord's beauty. The presence of VelampAsi in ponds clears the water from any muddy apperance and is therefore considered beneficial.

The inner meaning is that the Lord gets mighty angry, when the sentient beings trespass the injunctions outlined in His SaasthrAs. He becomes agitated. In that mood, He thinks of punishing the offenders. At that time, Swamy NammAzhwAr (SaThAri Soori) intervenes and calms down the anger of the Lord.

3) The key word in this slOkam is "prasAdhayanthi". The green rays of the emerald delight the Lord and reduce the anger of the lord and put Him in a benovolent disposition. The lord practises "vikshEpa yOgam" or the act of placement of His sacred Thiruvadi in the emerald gem adorned Paadhukais. That generates a delightful experience (ManOj~nam) for Him. Oh PaadhukE! You shine then as the beautiful assembly of green moss (saivala manjarIva dhrusyathE) for the Ocean of beauty (Hari Kaanthi sindhO:) that the Lord is! You delight Him thus (prasAdayanthi) through the brilliant green lustre of Your emerald gems.

SlOkam 666 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Sri: baDhnAsi rangEshvarapAdharakshE! harinmaNInAm praBhayA sPhuranthyA chUdApadhEShu shruthisundharINAm mAngaLyadhUrvAnkuramAlyapankthim

Oh Ranganatha Paaduka! The emeralds in You emit a green halo that looks like the garland of Durva grass (Aruhampul) encircling the heads of the Veda-damsels standing beside You in obeisance.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Swami Desikan compares the intertwined green rays of the emeralds adorning the Lord's Paadhukais to a garland made of panic grass (aruham pul), which is a special plant of delight to VinAyakA. Swamy says: "Oh RanganAtha PaadhukE! Through Your resplendent green rays associated with Your dense row of emeralds, You look like a garland of auspicious panic grass on the heads of the VedAs (veda siras) taking the form of ladies to be near their Lord".

2.Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! The green rays associated with Your emeralds are like an assembly of aruham pul. The vedams taking the form of young women

place those rays on their heads (Upanishads) to experience auspiciousness. During the marriage ceremonies, aruham pul is placed on the heads of the kanyAs. Lord is the Master (husband) for the ladies taking the form of Vedams to serve their Lord. The inner meaning is that the Sanskritic VedAs adorn the AzhwAr's Paasurams on their heads for realizng auspiciousness.

3. Oh RangEswara PaadharakshE! Your emerald rays create (bhadhnAsi)the impression that there are rows of garlands of panic grass (dhUrvAnkura maalA) on the heads of the VedAs that have taken the form of ladies (Sruthi sundarIs) serving their Lord (Sruthi sundarINAm chUDApadhEshumaangaLya dhUrvAnkura maalya pankthim bhadhnAsi). This effect arises from the unique lustre of Your emerald rays (Thvam HarimaNInAm sphuranthyA prabhayA badhnAsi).

SlOkam 667 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

The movement of the Padhuka with unceasing green radiance from emeralds, as also the movement of the sun's chariot drawn by horses, in the celestial orbit is for the procession of Lord Ranganatha. It is he who stands on the Paaduka and is in the centre of the solar globe.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Here, Swami Desikan equates the Paadhukais to another chariot of the Sun. The Paadhukais like the Sun's chariot (RaTam) are tied with ropes. In the case of the Paadhukais, the green rays of the emeralds are the binding ropes. They both travel on divine routes. The Lord travls on the paadhukas as well as on the other chariot of the Sun as Soorya Mandala Madhyasthan. Swamy says: "Oh MaNi PaadhukE! You appear like a second chariot of SooryA, where its horses are tied for travel in the star-studded skies. This time the green ropes that tie the horses to the chariot are the rays of Your emeralds that are imposisble to break apart. Your Lord is travelling on You as the seated person at the center of the solar orbit (Soorya Mandalam).

2)Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! On You are enmeshed the beautiful green emerald gems. PerumAL wears You and travels on MangaLa maargams. When we look at You, we recognize You as being equivalent to the chariot of the Sun. PerumAL is seated at the center of the orbit of the Sun. The inner meaning is that the AchAryAs are the raTams for our Lord, who approaches the prapannAs through travel on the chariot of AchAryAs. The jeevan comprehends the Lord through AchAryAs alone.

3) SrI RanganATan is saluted by Swami Desikan as "Savithru maNDala madhya bhAjan" here. The Paadhukais are recognized as "aparA RaTa:" or the other chariot of the Lord. This chariot traveling on the auspicious routes (sadhvardhatmanA gathimathi) is tied to the horses that draw it with green emerald ray ropes firmly (acchEdhya rasmi niyathai: gaDithA). The Lord seated on You serving as the other chariot of Sooryan is now possessed with a great wealth (savithru maNDala madhya bhAja: RangEswarasya aparA raTa samapdhi iva samdhrusyasE).

SlOkam 668 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Sri: shyAmAyamAnanigamAnthavanOpakaNTA: sThAnE padhAvani! HarinmaNayas thvadhIyA: paryanthashAdhvalavathIm praThayanthi nithyam nArAyaNasya ruchirAm naKha rashmigangAm

Oh Paaduka! The lustre from the Lord's feet-nails passes like a stream of Ganga, with green fields close by. The nearby forest of Vedanta acquires the verdant colour and fertility from the emeralds. This forest is getting nutrients from the Ganga.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! It is fitting that the places that have come in to contact with the rays of Your emeralds have become dark green meadows. The areas close to the lustre of Your Lord's white radiance of toenails have become dark green through interaction with the green rays of Your emeralds.

2)Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! The green emeralds are enmeshed on Your surface. Through their green radiance, those emeralds make the forests of Upsnishads attain a greenish black hue. The Lord of SrIrangam adorns You on His Thiruvadi. The radiant white lustre of His toe nails remind one of the fast flowing white waters of GangA river. When one looks at that white radiance next to the green radiance of Your emerlads, the scene evokes the image of green grass fields on the banks of GangA river.

3) Oh PaadhukE! The dark green rays of Your emeralds makes the nearby forests of Upanishads greenish black (ShyAmAyamAna nigamaantha vana upakaNDA: ThvadhIyA: harinmaNaya:). This situation reminds one of the green grass fields on the banks of the river Ganga flowing swiftly with white waters. This is an appropriate analogy (sTAnE praTayanthi). The Lord's enchanting nails have the radiant white hue recalling the white hue of Ganga river (RuchirA: NaarayaNasya nakha rasmi GangA nithyam praTayanthi). Your green rays emanating form the emeralds evoke the imagery of fields full of green grass adjascent to the banks of the river GangA (paryantha sAdhvalavathIm praTayanthi).

SlOkam 669 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Paaduka! Even as, for a particular walk, the Lord wears You, You have evidently dedicated Your-self at the Lord's service. The gem-setting lattice is very well-designed to suit the foot shape. Even so, Your Bhakti is firm-set. Further You appear to nurture a green Tulasi garden by throwing the green halo of the emeralds. That is the way of action of a discerning soul.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! It appears that You have placed at the feet of Lord RanganAtha Your mind with devotion to receive a matchless boon. Your dense green rays of emeralds look like dense forests of Tulasi placed at His Thiruvadi to worship Him with the goal of obtaining a supreme boon (Stay at the Supreme abode of the Lord).

2)Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: When one looks at the green envelope of rays arising from Your emeralds, it reminds one of the Tulasi gardens created to worship the Lord and perform saraNAgathi to gain mokshAnugraham.

3) Oh PaadhukE! Through the lustre of Your green rays from the emeralds on You, You remind us of a vast garden of TuLasi plants (BhavathI harinmaNi ruchA prAya: TuLasi- vanAni prAdhushkarOthi). It also reminds one of the soul placed at he Thiruvadi of the Lord of SrIrangam with great Bhakthi for realizing the supreme boon of Moksham (kaamapi gathim uddhisya RangEswarasya CharaNE vinivEsitha aathmA dhruda bhakthi bhandhA).

SlOkam 670 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Sri: sEvArThamAgathavathAm thridhashEshvarANAmchUdAmaNiprakarashAliShu moULiShu thvam samvarthayasyasuramardhanapAdharakshE! svEnAshmagarBhamahasA shukapankthi shOBhAm

Oh Paaduka! The Chiefs of the Devas come and stand in obeisance to You. The gems in their crowns look like rows of paddy fields. The green effulgence from Your emeralds fall on them resulting in an imagery of green parrots sitting on the paddy stalks.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh Paadhukai of the Lord who destroys the AsurAs! DevAs are standing before You to prostrate before You. Their heads sport crowns with many bright red gems that make their heads look like a field of ripe, red rice sheaves. The entry of the green rays from Your emeralds amidst those ripe, red rice sheaves looks the flight of a group of green parrots in their midst.

2)Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! The dEvAs wearing beautiful crowns enmeshed with red rubies are standing at your feet to prostrate before You. The interplay between the green rays from Your emeralds and the rows of red gems on the DevA's crowns at the time of their prostration gives the appearance of the flock of green parrots descending on the red field of rice paddies.

3) Oh the Paadhukais of the Lord, who destroys asuras (asuramardhana Paadha rakshE)! The devAs have arrived at the Thiruvadi of the Lord to prostrate before Him (sEvArTam aagathavathAm thridasEsvarANAm --). Their heads adorn crowns with dense rows of padhmarAga gems (ThridasEsvarANAm chUDAmaNi prakarasAlishu mouLishu). Amidst that rows of fields resembling ripe red rice crops, Your green rays from the emeralds on You fall (svEna asmagarbha mahasA samvarthayasi). That mingling of the green rays on the red fields of rubies reminds one of the flocks of green parrots landing on the reddish rows of rice ready for harvest (asmagarbha mahasA sukha pankthi sObhAm samvarthayasi)

SlOkam 671 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Paaduka! When You were worn on the head by Siva, the small emerald pieces on You give out an effulgence of green hue almost as it were a little ripened Doorva grass (Aruhampul), which tempts the deer on Siva's hand to jump!

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh Madhusoodhana PaadhukE! When Rudran wears You on His head, Your emerald rays enter His matted locks. The little deer on one of His hands mistakes the green bundle as a heap of panic grass (aruham pul) and tries to eat it.

2)Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: The little deer on one of the hands of Lord Sivan mistakes the green rays falling on the matted locks of its Lord to be a bunch of edible tender grass and is diappointed that it can not be eaten. You end up cheating that poor deer!

3) Oh Madhuripu PaadharakshE! Lord Sivan wears You on His head (Pasupathi vidhruthA Thvam). The assembly of rays arising from You appear like freshly sprouted, thick bunch of panic grass (dharapariNatha dhUrvAvallarI nirvisEshai: maamsaLai: marataka-sakalAnAm jaalai iva). The little deer on the hand of Lord Sivan (Tasya paaNou nishaNNam yENasABham) lunges at that "panic grass heap" and is disappointed to find that it is not eatable. It gets cheated by You (Thvam yENasABham vanchayasi).

SlOkam 672 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Sri: haricharaNasarOjanyAsayOgyam BhavathyAa: praguNaBhilaShanthyO varNalABham thuLasya: prathidhinamupahAraI: pAdhukE! ThAvakAnAm marakatha shakalAnAma AshrayanthE mayUKhAn

Oh Paaduka! The Tulasi leaves cast on the Lord's Feet earn the green radiance of the emeralds, nevertheless, what they yearn for is the kind of perfection in colour and right choice of caste-denomination, so that they can also deserve the Lord's Feet inserted in them (as in Paaduka).

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! TuLasi plants desirous of getting the blessings of having Lord's holy feet on them like You, obtain the green color of Your emeralds. Swami Desikan states that the TuLasi plants are anxious to get the dark green color for their leaves so that they can match those of the emeralds on Lord's PaadhukAs in the hope that it would help to qualify them for closer association with Lord RanganAthan, just like the emeralds on the Paadhukais.

2) Tulasi looks at the emerald gems and their green hue which have the fitness to be associated with the Lord's lotus soft Thiruvadi (Hari charaNa sarOja nyAsa yOgyam pragunam). Tulasi also wants to have that bhAgyam of nyAsa yOgyam. Every day, the TuLasi desires to attain the same hue as the emrald gems and places on Lord's Thiruvadi its own leaves (BhavanthyA: varNa lAbham abilashanthya: prathidinam upaharai: aasrayanthE). Oh PaadhukE! The Tulasi leaves thus take refuge in the pieces of emelralds adorning You to fulfil their desire (TaavakAnAm marataka mayUkhAn aasrayanthE).

SlOkam 673 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Paaduka! You in Your great enthusiasm, direct the effulgent radiations of the emeralds, themselves being fragrant with Vedic aroma, on the Veda-dolls, so that it looks like Damanaka (Marikkozhundu) loops.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh Devi PaadhukE! You impart the fragrance of VedAntha to Your emerald gems and make them become the mantrAs and attach them as maidens in front of You. As a result of Your service, the propensity for evil decreases and the righteousness grows in the world and the whole universe benefits. The daughters (maiden) of the wife of the Lord responsible for His playful activities (leelAs), (i-e), Veda KumAris help the Lord thus to hold the title of the slayer of asurAs (evil).

2)Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! On You are enmeshed the emerald gems. Their lustre falls always on the heads of Veda sundaris playing with the Lord. That scene reminds one of the adornment with the tender green marukkozhundhu known for its fragrance. In their lustres, the Upanishads gain their fragrance (i.e) the Upanishads celebrate that unique lustre.

3) Oh the Paadukais of the lord, who slays the asurAs (Danuja MaTana CharaNa rakshE)! Your emeralds and the splendid green rays emanating from the emeralds (harimaNi MayUkhA:)have the fragrance of Upanishads (harimaNi mayUkhai: anjitha adhyAthma gandham). You become joyous (Thvam jaatha kouthUhalA) as a result. Those emerald rays fall on the roots of the tresses on the head of the Veda Sundaris and gives the appearance of rows of green fields (sruthInAm mouLou damanakadhala pankthim disasi).

SlOkam 674 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Paaduka! The green multifaceted effulgence from Your emerald gems can create a fortress of bamboo forest, which can provide a safe asylum to the Vedas (named usually Aranyakas) and helpless forest- dwellers.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Swami Desikan compares the green lustre of the emeralds of the Paadhukais to a green fortification that protects VedAs and Upanishads. He says: "Oh Madhusoodhana PaadhukE! You protect the helpless forest dwellers (VedAs and Upanishads) just as the dense thickets of bamboos interlock with each other and protect those who reside inside the bamboo forest. You are even better than the bamboos in strength. They are only strong at skin levels (superficially) and are weak in their interiors. You are in contrast strong both inside and outside and with Your interlocking green rays like the many interlocking branches of bamboos serve like an impenetrable green forest for the VedAs and Upanishads.

2)Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: VedAs have a lot of dangers from those, who misintrepret them. Our Lord has to protect the VedAs from these dangers. With AzhwAr's paasurams, our Lord makes it easy for every one to comprehend the true meanings of the VedAs and saves them from any misfortunes that may come their way.

3) Swami Desikan refers here to an impenetrable forest of Bamboos (kimapi keechakAraNya dhurgam janayasi) that is created by the many branched rays emanating from the emeralds on the Paadhukais of the Lord (Thvam adhigatha bahu Saakhai: mEchakai: asmagarbha prasUthai: amsu jAlai: kimapi dhurgam janayasi). What is this green, impenetrable fort and what is it for? It is the interlocking rays of emralds forming an impenetrable bamboo forest (fort) that protects the dwellers of this forest (VedAs), which have no others to protect them (anitharasaraNAnAm aaraNyakAnAm keechakAraNya dhurgam janayasi).

SlOkam 675 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Paaduka! You are a veritable garden on the banks of the river Kaveri. Vedasakhas are the tree branches; the lustre emitted by the nails constitutes the flowers; the emerald gems would look like green herbs.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! You are like a beautiful moving garden seen on the banks of river Cauveri. The different branches of VedAs are Your branches. Your emerald rays are the green leaves of the trees in that garden. The rays emanating from Your Lord's feet are the blossoms of those trees. You are indeed a treasured garden that is mobile compared to other gardens that stay put in place.

2)Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! When we look at You, we recall a resident goddess (adhishtAna dEvathai) of an UdhyAna vanam on the banks of CauvEri river that is fit for the sport of Lord RanganAthA. The VedAs that eulogize You are like the branches of trees in that sporting garden. The radiant white toenails of the Lord are like the flowers of the trees in that garden. The emeralds with their green hues are like the leaves of the trees there.

3) Oh PaadhukE! The beautiful green leaves (emeralds) on You reminds me of an UdhyAna Lakshmi on the wet shore of the river Cauveri (Marataka dhala ramyAm ThvAm Kanakasarith anUpE sancharanthIm kaanchith UdhyAna LakshmIm manmahE). The nails on the Thiruvadis of the Lord are like the assembly of white flowers (RangiNa: CharaNa nakha mayUkai: chAru pushpAnubhandhAm Marataka dhala RamyAm ThvAM). Oh PaadhukE! with the dense branches having abundant leaves and flowers, You remind us of a mobile adhishtAna dEvathai for the udhyAna vanam on the banks of the river CauvEri at Srirangam.

SlOkam 676 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Paaduka! The Lord's foot-nails give an effulgence as a streak, which is the stalk; the 2 feet of the Lord with their lovable nectar-flow are the lotuses and the green halo transmitted are the green lotus leaves-thus creating an imagery of a lotus pond.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! with the combination of Your emerald rays, the proximity of Your Lord's blessed feet and its radiant toenails, Your emeralds appear like rows of lotus leaves in a lotus pond. The white cluster of rays originating from Your Lord's toe nails look like the white stems of lotus; the sweet and celebrated honey flowing from the holy feet of Your Lord appears like the waters of the lotus pond. In this analogy, Lord's holy feet are the twin lotuses.

2)Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! PerumAL's Thiruvadi reminds one of the beautiful, soft petaled lotus. The lustre arising from the toenails of the lord reminds one of the white lotus stems culminating in the leaves. The green hue of the emeralds makes us recall the green lotus leaves of the pond. The preethi for the Thiruvadis of the Lord is like the water in which the lotus sprouts and shines.

3) Oh PaadhukE! You generate the rows of green lotus leaves through Your green radiance emanating from Your emeralds (PaadhukE! tE mEchakai: amsubhi: ramyAm padhminipathra pankthim parikalayasi). You are near the Tiruvadis of the Lord of Srirangam (Rangabharthu: padha kamala sameepE tE Padhmini pathra pankthim parikalayasi). For those rows of lotus leaves arising from the radiance of Your emeralds, the white stem is the radiance generated by Your Lord's toe nails (Rangabharthu: nakha kiraNa nikAyai: nithyam aavi: mruNALE). The water in which those lotus stem and leaves thrive is the Thiruvadi of the Lord (mahitha rasavisEshE Rangabharthu: padha Kamala:).

SlOkam 677 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Paaduka! On pathetic appeals from womenfolk of the Deva race, the Lord stepped into You for action. That very moment the mansions of the asuras became desolate and green grass grew, as it were, on the once-occupied palaces-this is because of the resplendent impact from the emeralds on You.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! When RanganAtha responds to the cries of the wives of suffering dEvAs and starts on His journey on You to destroy the asurAs, the green rays from Your emeralds make panic grass grow on the former palaces of the asurAs. Swami Desikan hints that the spread of the green rays from the emeralds on the houses of the asurAs made them look like they were in ruins and the green grass had already grown over those abandoned and destroyed areas.

2)Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: The inner meaning is that the clear comprehension of the meanings of Swamy NammAzwAr's paasurams destroys desire, anger, egotism and lust in people. These asuras are killed and the auspicious guNAs like Saanthi, detatchment from worldly desires, compassion for others in trouble, forbearance grow in people.

3) The wives of devAs wail aloud about the sufferings of their husbands from the asurAs. The Lord of Srirangam hears these sounds and travels on You sportingly to destroy the asurAs to provide relief for the wives of the devAs (RanganATE animisha-yuvatheenAm aarthanAdhOpasAnthyai Thvayi leelayaa vinihitha paadha:). As the green rays of Your emeralds fall on the palatial houses, immediately the panic grass begin to grow on them (mangshu dhaithya soudhAni tE marataka ruchibhi: dhurvAnkurANi dhadhathi). This is for sure (noonam).

SlOkam 678 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Paaduka! (Vishnupada means both the Lord's Feet and the sky). The Lord's Feet by the dazzling radiance can cut off the sin-contact of their devotess. The blue hue of the Lord's body pervades the upper horizons. (The sky is vast-looking in daytime; the night-contact appears to contract it and make it look dark). The presence of emeralds with their green effulgence propagating in all directions too, establishes a contact with all space and all directions. (For the sky, too, dazzle of the green gem directs as it were, the green horses in all directions unlike the horses of the sun taking the prescribed path.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! RanganAthA's sacred feet known as VishNu paadhams have a supremely matchless lustre with a blue hue on its upper side. The association of VishNu paadhams with the green rays of Your emerald gems makes it possible for the lustre of the paadhams to spread in all directions and establish their connections with all green (living) objects. VishNu paadham also means aakAsam or the blue sky.

2)Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: When the Lord wears the Paadhukais, the green hue of their emeralds spreads in all directions. Even the sky takes on the green hue during the day. The inner meaning is that after Swamy NammAzhwAr's compositions, all poeple became devoted to the Lord.

3) Oh PaadhukE! The Lord's body has a dark bluish hue that is supremely blemishless (vipulathama mahObhi: veetha dhOsha anushangam nailyam). Those glorious feet of the Lord with its natural bluish hue gets united now with the green rays from Your emeralds as the Lord wears You (Tath Nailyam VishNO: padham pruTu marataka dhrusyAm ThvAM prApya). What is the effect of this union (SamprayOgam)? All around, the green rays spread and make every thing look green. Even the bluish sky transforms in to a dark greenish color during the daytime, which makes one wonder whether the night has set (ahObhi: vipulatamam dhOshA Haridhbi:).

SlOkam 679 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Paaduka! The Lord enjoys love-sport with His consorts in an unparalleled manner, without any limitation of time or space applying restriction. Those who adhere to Him become blameless therefrom, though they were licentious and sinners previously; they become liberated and free and unfettered Kamacharas in His world. He is ever-youthful and engaged in sport with consorts. Rather He resides firmly in the Pranava mantra. The Lord of the ever-youthful vigour, Vedic sayings - old and hoary by antiquity-praise. But these Vedic expressions would surely acquire and ever-young, ever-fresh, green complexion when once the luminescence from Your green gems fall on them.

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! The pleasure that RanganAtha gets from listening to the songs of the VedAs about the glory of Your emeralds exceeds even the pleasure He receives through His companionship with SrI Devi, BhUmi Devi and Nappinnai and all the maidens of BrindAvanam. Ancient (old) VedAs through their praise of Your emeralds regain their youth and serve Your ever-youthful Lord, who transforms the lust-driven, willful people in to sinless devotees. Swami Desikan refers here to the blessings conferred by the rays of emeralds as "nithya shyAma anubhavam" or eternal youthfulness or a state of forever being green. Swamy points out that those who worship the PaadhukAs attain the nithya shyAma anubhavam.

2)Srimath Andavan'sanubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! MahA Lakshmi, BhUdEvi and the 5 lakhs of gOpa strees display great affection (preethi) for the Lord, who is eternally young (nithya yuvA /iLankumaran). That eternally young Lord has great affection for the old lady of Vedam. When the green rays of emeralds fall on the old ladies of Vedam, they get transformed in to young girls. ShyAmA means dark green as well as a young girl.

3) The eternally young PerumAL is associated with PraNavam (ThAra aasaktham tamm taruNam). The ways of love of both SrI Devi and Bhumi Devi to that nithya yuvA is competitively uneven (Yathra PadhmA-bhUmyO: praNaya sariNa: paryAyaheenA). The intensely passionate Gopis driven by their love for Him broke even saasthraic injunctions in their display of affection for that nithya yuvA and became blemish-less as a result of their union with Him (KaamachArA: yathsargAth anaga charithA:). The Vedas are old (ancient) ladies (Jarathya: aamnAyavAcha:). Oh PaadhukE! When the green rays from your emeralds fall on them (old VedAs), they get transformed in to youthful girls and please the Lord (Tava maratakai: nithyashyAmA: preenayanthE).

SlOkam 680 of SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA Sahasram

Oh Paaduka! Mahalakshmi loves to reside in a lotus. You have now provided a forest of lotus leaves in the emerald gems; amidst them there is a green creeper going upwards-which is the Lord. (Lakshmi chooses a lotus flower as it blossoms out).

1) UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! You appear like the matchless land lotus of Sri Devi, who resides on a water lotus. Your Lord is seen amidst the leaves of emeralds adorning You on all sides as another ordinary object belonging to Sri Devi. Swami Desikan mentions here that the Lord with the emrald hue blends perfectly with the green leaves of lotus (emeralds on the Paadhukais) and looks like another lotus leaf.

2)Srimath Andavan'sanubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! When one looks at You, it is like a site, where the land lotuses have blossomed. The emeralds on You give the impression of green lotus leaves. The PerumAL in association with You looks like another green leaf among the forest of leaves.

3) Oh PaadhukE! You appear like an indescribable land lotus for the lady, who lives on the red lotus (Thvam KamalavAsinyA: kaachith sTala-kamalaaneeva bhAsi). The Lord appears like another leaf among the emeralds, which look like green lotus leaves themselves (Yath Marataka dhaLa madhyE kascchith asou Souri: sameekshyathE).