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Sri:
Srimathe ramanujaya namah:
Srimathe nigamantha maha desikaya namah:
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Sri Ranganatha Padhuka Sahasram

PADDHATHI #10: Love-play between Paaduka Devi and Lord Rama

Srungaara Paddhathi





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Sloka #251

251. shoUrE: shrungArachEShtAnAm prasUthim pAdhukAm BhajE yAmESha BhunkthE shuDdhAnthAth pUrvam paschAdhapi praBhu:

Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)

Oh Paaduka Devi! My humble prostrations to You, who create for the great creator, Lord Ranganatha, a variety of amorous activities; indeed the Lord enjoys You passionately, before and after in between his love-plays in the harem!

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

SrungAra Paddhathi : Tenth Paddhathi

SlOkam : 251 - Introduction: In the previous Paddhathi , Swami Desikan described Sri RanganathAn's travel to His inner apartments To join His consorts to have union with them. In this section , Swami refers to the union of the Lord with Devi PaadhukA before and after His visits to the quarters of His consorts. Through Her union with the Lord , Devi PaadhukA confers on the Lord His beautiful gait and beats time with Her musical sounds. This way , Devi Padhuk enhances His SringAram ( passion , emotional attachment ) towards His consorts . There are ten verses in SringAra Paddhathi . It is not easy to translate this section , where Swami Desikan's poetic skills blossom forth brilliantly…(V.S)

(1) Sri UtthamUr Sawmi's anubhavam: We meditate upon the PaadhukA Devi , whom RanganAthA enjoys through union before and after His visits to the inner apartments of His consorts. The same PaadhukA Devi is the root cause of the Lord's love plays with His consorts . Swami Desikan suggests that RanganAthA as the Master takes the roles of DakshiNan , anukUlan et al to enjoy Devi PaadhukA , which in turn assumes the role of VallabhA , VaasakA , SajjikA et al to enhance His SrungAram . In love play , the Master and the Mistress take different roles to enhance the enjoyment of their union. Swami Desikan states here that the inspiration for the Lord's various amorous activities with His consorts originate from His playful involvement with Devi PaadhukA .

(2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: PerumAl enjoys the Nayaka-Nayaki sukham through the service of the Padhukais. He adorns the Paadhukais before the travel to His antha: puram and after His visit with His Naayakis there. The inner meaning is that Swamy NammAzhwAr identifies himself as a lady enjoying the Lord as her purushan .

(3) The SrungAra chEshtAs of the Lord are described here . Swamy points out the origin (prasUthI) of those leelAs are the Paadhukais themselves. Swamy points out further that the Lord enjoys the union with Devi Paadhukai before and after His visits to the inner chambers of His beloved consorts…(V.S)

Srimate Sri Laksminrisimha Divya Paduka Sevaka Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya Nama:

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Sloka #252

252. praNathathridashEndramoulimAlA makarandhArdhraparAgapankilEna anulimpathi pAdhukE! svayam thvAm anurUpENa padhEna ranganATha:

Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)

Oh Paaduka! Lord Ranganatha Himself applies on You, with His Feet, a sandal-paste, suited to YOU; this paste is a slush of moistened pollen spread over His Feet, from the flower-garlands on the heads of the chiefs of the devas, bent down on the Lord's Feet in homage to the Lord.

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

SlOkam 252:

(1) Sri UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam : Oh paadhukE! When the dEvAs and their king IndrA prostrate at RanganAthA's feet , the honey and the pollen dust present in the flowers from the garlands decorating the heads of dEvAs mix together. They form a paste , which attaches itself to the Lord's feet . When the Lord unites His feet with You , it looks as though a srungAra chEshtai has taken place in which the Master smears vermilion and sandal paste on the limbs of his Nayaki .

(2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam : Lord RanganAtha appears to apply the sandal paste on You , when He unites His sacred feet with You for His sanchAram to the antha:puram . Your Lord's feet contain the mixture of honey and pollen dust that have loosened themselves from the flowers in the garlands adorning the heads of the dEvAs prostrating at His sacred feet .

(3) The makarandham (honey ) and the aardhra parAgam ( wet pollen dust) from the garlands wrapped around the heads of dEvAs ( thridasEndhra mouLi maalA makarandha aardhra parAga ) get attached to Lord RanganAthA's feet as the dEvAs prostrate before Him . They form a sort of mud on the Lord's feet. When He unites His feet with the Paadhukais , that muddy mixture resembling sandal paste (pankilEna anurUpENa ) is smeared over the body of the Paadhukais. This event reminds Swami Desikan of a SrungAra play between the man and woman, when the man paints the limbs of his beloved lady with fragrant sandal paste . Swamy Desikan states that RanganAtha Himself applies the sandal paste (mixture of pollen dust and honey from the flowers on the heads of the dEvAs ) through His feet on the Paadhukais as a kind of love play ( RanganAtha: pankilEna anurUpENa padhEna svayam anulimpathi)….V.S

Srimate Sri Laksminrisimha Divya Paduka Sevaka Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya Nama:

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Sloka #253

253. avadhAthhimAmshukAnuShaktham padharakshE! thvayi rangiNa: kadhAchith kimapi sThithamadhvithIyamAlyam viralAvasThithamoUkthikam smarAmi

Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)

Oh Paaduka! My mind now meditates on that scene-The Lord is wearing a delicate, transparent, snow-like, white garment; He wears only a single garland of pearl-like buds (of flowers), sparingly spread through, and settling on You; what a charming unparalleled garland! That was perhaps a service to You, garmetn and flower-garland being presented to YOU, Oh Paaduka Devi!

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

(1) Sri UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam: After smearing the sandal paste , Swami Desikan touches upon RanganAthA's state of preparation for union with His Paadhukais . The imagery of RanganAthA in His wet clothes after His bath and wearing of a necklace with loosely-knit pearls after that bath come before Swami Desikan's mind .He relates this imagery to the mood and appearance of RanganAthA before His union with Devi PaadhukA . He equates the single wet garment to the clothe sprinkled with rose water in anticipation of pleasurable union . he relates the pearls in the necklace adorning the upper portions of the body to beads of sweat arising from the excitement over the approaching union . Swami Desikan says that he meditates upon that indescribable tender scene .

(2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE ! At one time , Sri RanganAthan wore a white vasthram moistened with saffron water as upper garment and over it a pearl necklace and fragrant flower garland and visited You. AdiyEn reflects on that delectably tender scene.

(3) Swami Desikan addresses the Paadhukais here as " Padha RakshE " .They protect the Lord's scard feet as a loyal daasan . Lord RanganAthA recognizes that antharanga kaimkaryam and wants to recognize that special service. He dresses up specially for union with the protector of His feet during sanchArams . He wears a white vasthram sprinkeld with rose water ( avadhAtha himAmsuka anushaktham ). To heighten the pleasure of SatAri Soori , His Paadhukais , He wears one single flower garland ( adhvithIya MaalYaam anushaktham ) and a loosely-knit pearl necklace ( viralAvasthiTa moukthikam anushaktham ) . Swami is thrilled about meditation on that incomparable (kimapi sthitham )of the Lord's special sevai for the Paadhukais and salutes the Paadhukais for blessing him as well with that sevai of RanganAthA …V.S

Srimate Sri Laksminrisimha Divya Paduka Sevaka Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya Nama:

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Sloka #254

254. asahAyagruhItharanganAThAM avarODhAngaNasImni pAdhukE! thvAm sadhrusha: svayam archayanthi dhUrAth avathamsOthpalavAsithaIrapAngai:

Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)

Oh Paaduka-Nayaki! The Lord enters the harem alone; You are His only company; then the consorts receive You and honour You. Their respectful eye-glances, perfumed with the fragrance of the blue-lilies worn (on their heads and ears) welcome You. This is a loving service rendered to You by the other consorts from a distance.

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

SlOkam 254:

(1) Sri UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam : Oh PaadhukE ! In the inner halls of the antha: puram , Lord's dEvis offer their salutatons to You, when they witeness their Lord's preference for union with You over them. They enjoy the Lord's gait , while in union with You . Their affectionate gazes at both of You appear like their worship with flowers in celebration of Your union with their Lord . Gracefully , they concede defeat at this game of attracting the Lord of Srirangam .

(2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam : Oh PaadhukE ! Lord RangaAthA enters His antha: puram without any kaimkaryaparALs except His Paadhukais. At that time , the ladies of the antha:puram offer worship to You with their side glances (i-e)., they look at You longingly from quite a distance and wish they had Your soubhAgyam of union with their Lord .

The scene in the antha: puram as Sri RanganAthan enters is described here. He is wearing His Paadhukais ; the uniquely blessed state of the Paadhukais is described eloquently by Swami Desikan as : " avarOdhaAngaNa seemni asahAya gruhItha RanganAtham ". AvarOdhAngaNa desam is the area of the inner chambers. Lord RanganAthA has arrived there all by Himself on His Paadhukais .There are no other servants like umbrella bearer et al befitting His status as the Emperor of Emperors. He is just with His Paadhukais . The ladies of the antha: puram ( sudhrusa: )see Lord RanganAthA walki ng majestically with the help of the Paadhukais from a distance . Their attention turns to the sacred Paadhukais enabling the Lord to travel with such srungAram and salute with their eyes the bhAgyavAn , the SatAri Soori ..… V.S

Srimate Sri Laksminrisimha Divya Paduka Sevaka Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya Nama:

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Sloka #255

255. nirvishyamAnamapi nUthanasannivEsham kaivalyakalpithaviBhUShaNakAyakAnthim kAlEShu nirvishasi rangayuvAnam ekA shrungAranithyarasikam maNipAdharakshE!

Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)

Oh Manipaaduka Devi! You are alone previleged to enjoy, all alone, that youthful lad Ranganatha,then and there, quite often, his charm would appear to make every moment of enjoyment new and unexperienced ever till then, the process is continuous throughout; and His un-ornamented form itself adds a charm as if it were one mode of ornamentation; and He is a connoisseur of erotics,ever so also. And He is all Yours throughout.

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

1. Sri UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam : Here Swami Desikan describes the times in which the prince of Srirangam is separated from Devi PaadhukA, while He is united with His consorts Like Sri Devi, BhU Devi and NeeLA Devi et al . Swami says the eternally mischievous youth of Srirangam is never far away from Devi PaadhukAs even during the time of his intimate times with His Devis in the inner apartments of His palace . At those times, You enjoy the splendor of His beautiful ThirumEni bereft of His ornaments and Aayudhams . Oh PaadhukE ! Your being close to Him during those occasions must also be a time of great joy for You .

2. Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! Independent of the number of times we have the blessings of Lord RanganAthA's darsanam , each time it is a more delectable experience . Even if he presents Himself without any AbharaNams , it is a most delightful darsana anubhavam . Oh PadhukE ! You are blessed to enjoy this Lord of Yours privately on many an occasion .

3. Swami describes the youth of Srirangam (Sri RanganAthan ) as as "SrungAra nithya rasikam Ranga yuvAnam " (the youthful Lord of Srirangam , who is interested in enjoying srungAra rasam always) . He salutes the Paadhukais for having the blessing of enjoying the Lord at all times ( MaNi Paadha RakshE ! thvam yEkA kaalEshu nirvisasi). At some times , He adorns His AbharaNams and Aayudhams . Other times , His beautiful limbs shine with their own intrinsic beauty ( noothana sannivEsam kaivalya kalpitha vibhUshaNa kaaya kaanthim ) . The dhivya maNi paadhukais enjoy the Lord in different times with various aabharaNams or none at all in ekAntham . It is truly blessed to have the bhAgyam of so many different kinds of sevai …V.S

Srimate Sri Laksminrisimha Divya Paduka Sevaka Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya Nama:

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Sloka #256

256. nidhrAyitasya kamithurmaNipAdhukE! thvam paryankikAparisaram prathipadhyamAnA shvAsAnilaprachalithEna BhajasyaBhIkshNam nABhIsarOjarajasA navamangarAgam

Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)

Oh Manipaaduka Devi! As the Lord is asleep, You are near the couch; even at that time, You enjoy the fragrance that the Lord's breath blows over the pollen on the navel lotus. It acts like a new sandalwood paste on You.

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

1. Sri UtthamUr Swamy' anubhavam : Oh PaadhukE! You enjoy the pleasures of union with Your Lord , when He is awake as well as at sleep . While He is awake , He smears the honey-pollen paste on You with His feet. While , He is asleep , You stay very close to His sacred feet . During His sleep , His energetic breath falls on the divine lotus arising out of the novel and frees the pollen from that lotus . That pollen falls on You as an intermittent shower and coats You again . That coating makes it look as though Your limbs have been coated with yet another kind of sandal paste.

2 . Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE ! perumAl was sleeping. At that time , You were near His AdhisEshA bed. The powerful breath of the Lord fell on the divine lotus of that PadhmanAbhan and got deflected on You and carried with it the pollen dust from that lotus. Those pollen showers settled on You and made it look like you were smeared with another kind of sandal paste.

3.Oh PaadhukE ! " thvam nidhrAyithasya kamithu: paryankikA parisaram prathipAdhyamAnA " ( you were waiting like LakshmaNa Swamy , who stood by the side of the sleeping Raaman in the forest without sleep awaiting His next command on waking up . Your naayakan ( kamithu: ) was sleeping soundly and the powerful breaths associated with that deep state of sleep rose up ( svAsAnila prachalithEna ) and fell on the divine lotus arising out of Your Lord's naabhi . The gentle movement of the lotus released the pollen dust from that lotus , which fell on You and coated You often with a new smearing of "sandal paste" ( svAsAnila prachalithEna naabhi sarOja rajasA navam angarAgam abhIkshaNam bahajasi) …V.S

Srimate Sri Laksminrisimha Divya Paduka Sevaka Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya Nama:

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Sloka #257

257. shayithavathi rajanyAm pAdhukE! rangabanDhoU charaNakamalapArshvE sAdharam varthasE thvam PhaNipathishayanIyAdhutThithasya praBhAthE praThamanayanapAtham pAvanam prApthukAmA

Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)

Oh Paaduka Devi! When the Lord has gone 'asleep', You sit beside His Adisesha-couch, eagerly waiting for His first glance, on his awaking,-a potent and pure glance-a previlege given to You alone.

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

1. Sri UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam : Here Swami Desikan describes how Devi PaadhukA becomes the senior consort of Lord RanganAthA . He says : " Oh PaadhukE ! When the Lord sleeps , You stay very close to His lotus feet with great affection . During dawn , when He wakes up , His first glances fall on You befitting Your rank as the first among His consorts .Your stature as the foremost consort is therefore unquestioned .

2. Srimath Andavan's anubhavam : Oh PaadhukE ! PerumAL is resting in His paryankam (bed) . When he wakes up at dawn , You long for His first glance to fall on You and therfore You stay at the foot of His bed.

3. Here Swami Desikan chooses the word Rangabhandhu to salute the Lord of the Paadhukais to hint at their BhAndhavyam (relationship). Devi Paadhukai is sitting wide awake at the lotus feet of the sleeping Lord ( Rangabhandhou-charaNa kamala paarsvE thvam saadharam varthasE ) . You are quietly waiting there with longing to receive the first sacred glance of the Lord , when He wakes up at dawn for performing His nithya karmAs ( PhaNipathi sayaneeyAth utthithasya paavanam prathama nayana paatham prabhAthE prApthukAmA saadharam varthasE ) …V.S

Srimate Sri Laksminrisimha Divya Paduka Sevaka Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya Nama:

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Sloka #258

258. charaNakamalasangAdhranganAThasya nithyam nigamaparimaLam thvam pAdhukE! nirvamanthI niyathamathishayAnA varthasE sAvarODham hrudhayamaDhivasanthIm mAlikAm vaijayanthIm

Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)

Oh Paaduka Devi! You earn a previlege of exuding Vedic fragrance by Your permanent association with the Lord's lotus Feet; in this respect, You excel the Vaijayanti garland, that truly claims a vantae spot because of contact with the seraglio of Mahalakshmi. (That You are lower down does not mean inferiority; Your fragrance spreads in all directions, whereas Vaijayanti remains at one place only; it has a barrier for movement-Savarodha).

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

1. Sri UtthamUr Swami's anubhaavam : Here, Swami Desikan explores why the Lord's Paadhukai is superior in status to both MahA Lakshmi and the VanamAlA (Vaijayanthi garland made up of forest flowers) , which adorn the Lord's chest . He explains that the PaadhukA's association with RanganAthA's lotus feet results in them acquiring an everlasting fragrance of the VedAs ( nithya nigama parimaLam ). VedAs are forever resident at the Lord's feet and are engaged in eulogizing Him . Swami Desikan says: " Oh PaadhukE ! Your vedic fragrance spreads in all directions . In contrast , MahA Laksmi and VanamAlai have limited movement . MahA Lakshmi can not leave the Lord's chest even for a second . Hence She has perforce limited movement . Your (Paadhukai's ) is made up of the fragrance of the Lord's lotus feet and that of the VedAs. VanamAlai of the Lord can not therefore compete with Your fragrance . You have kamalA sambhandham (connection to the lotus feet of the Lord ); Vyjayanthi Maalai has kamalA asambhandham (devoid of connection to the Lord's sacred feet).That is why , Oh PaadhukE , every one wears You on their heads ! They do not wear Vyjayanthi Maalai on their heads because they recognize that it belongs to the Lord's'chest. Your reputation is uncontested ".

2. Srimath Andavan's anubhavam : Oh PaadhukE ! Both MahA LakshmI and Vyjayanthi Maalai adorn the chest of the Lord. You have Veda parimaLam due to the sambhandham of the Lord's Thiruvadi . VanamAlai has no such sambhandham with the Lord's Thiruvadi and hence it can not compete with the Paadhukais in the matter of veda parimaLam .

3.Swami Desikan points out that the Paadukais have the association with the Lord's lotus feet ( RanganAthasya CharaNa kamala sangham ). That results in the Paadhukais spreading always the Veda ParimaLam in all directions ( Thvam nigama parimalam nirvamanthi). As a result , the Paadhukais exceeds the fragrance of the Vaijayanthi maalai made up of the wild flowers of the forest (thvaam vaijayanthIm maalikAm athisayAnA varthasE )...V.S

Srimate Sri Laksminrisimha Divya Paduka Sevaka Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya Nama:

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Sloka #259

259. upanishadhabalABhirnithyamutthamsanIyam kimapi jalaDhikanyAhasthasamvAhanArham thava thu charaNarakshE! dhevi lIlAravindam charaNasarasijam thacchAru chANUrahantham

Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)

Oh Paaduka Devi! The beautiful lotus feet of the Lord, who slew Chanoora, the wrestler, are the head-ornament, so to say, for the Upanishad damsels. They are fit to be gently tended by Mahalakshmi's hands. Such an esteemed article remains merely a lotus for sport for You; it becomes led by You.

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

1. Sri UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam : Oh PaadhukE ! Upanishads taking the form of ladies wear the Lord's lotus feet on their heads with affection .They impart Vedic fragrance (nigama parimaLam ) through that act to those lotus feet of RanganAthA , which are fit to be pressed by Periya Piraatti 's lotus soft hands. Those lotus feet of the Lord are renowned in all the worlds for this and other reasons . Oh PaadhukE ! For You, those sacred feet have a special relationship . You controlled His movements, when He was engaged in killing the wrestlers in KamsA's court . You seem to make those lotus feet dance to Your tune. Therefore, adiyEn considers You as being superior both Upanishads and MahA Lakshmi. You are the foremost among the Devis of the Lord.

2. Srimath Andavan's anubhavam : Oh PaadhukE ! The Upanishads taking the form of ladies wear Your Lord's lotus feet on their heads. MahA Lakshmi presses those feet with Her lotus soft hands. They become fit to be pressed by her sacred hands .Such a pair of renowned feet has now become the lotus fit for Your play .

3. The Upanishads taking a feminine form wear always Your feet on their heads as decoration ( Upanishad aBhalAbhi: nithyam uttamsaneeyam ). The great MahA lakshmi , whose anantha kalyANa guNams can not be adequately described by anyone provides kaimkaryam of pressing those lotus feet with her lotus soft hands (kimapi JaladhikanyA hastha samvAhanArahm that CharaNa sarasijam ). Those very same beautiful lotus feet ( that chAru charaNa sarasijam ) have now become the lotus fit for Your play … V.S

Srimate Sri Laksminrisimha Divya Paduka Sevaka Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya Nama:

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Sloka #260

260. aKhilAntha: puravArEShvanEkavAram padhAvani! svaIram anuBhavathi ranganAThO vihAravikrAnthisahacharIm BhavathIm

Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)

Oh Paaduka Devi! When Lord Ranganatha has to have leisurely walk, He wears You always. And You are always with Him whenever he moves to the particular consorts by turns. (In His enjoyment with You, no turn or time constraint! it is always available to You)

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

1. Sri UtthamUr Swami's anubhavam : Oh paadhukE ! Your Lord engages in a lot of travel . You transport Him on those occasions . Depending on the nature of the business at hand , You adopt a suitable gait . Some times , You rush fast to get Your Lord to His destinations . Other times , You move slowly as at the tiem of His patthi ulaa . There are many variations in your gait ( Simha gathi, Sarpa gathi et al ). Your Lord enjoys these different gathis in union with You. None of His consorts have the good fortune to enjoy their Lord in so many moods and contexts. Hence , adiyEn is convinced that You are the foremost among His Devis .

2. Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE ! Lord RanganAthan adorns You, wherever he travels. He ahs many Devis . He has created a calendar to visit them separately to avoid any disagreements among His Devis. He enjoys You the most in all these programmed visits to His Devis through travel with You .

3. Swami Desikan states here that RanganAthan has allocated specific times to visit His seven Devis and to keep peace in His antha; purams (RanganAtha: akhila antha:pura vaarEshu vihAra VikrAnthan ). Such a diplomatic Lord takes You as a companion during all those visits and enjoys Your company many times ( BhavathIm sahacharIm svairam anEka Vaaram anubhavathi ). Each cosort has one Vaaram ( turn ) , but the Paadhukais have many turns to enjoy the Lord ( anEka Vaaram anubhavathi )….V.S

Srimate Sri Laksminrisimha Divya Paduka Sevaka Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya Nama:

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