BHAGAVAD DHYANA SOPANAM

 

Bhagavad DhyAna sOpAnam

     Inspired by tiruppANAzhvAr's prabandam amalanAdipirAn, swAmi DEsikan composed the Bhaghavad dhyAna sOpAnam, a short stOtram with 12 shlOkas describing each of periya perumAL's avayavam from His divine feet to His crown. Both texts can be described as handbooks to recreate Srirangam emperumAn's reclining roopam in our mind's screen. The shlOkas are further embellished by Swami Desikan's own poetic and linguistic ingenuity. Swami Desikan's play of words and phrases are a delight to read and enjoy.

    The radiant emperumAn who is seen reclining in the island of tiruvarangam is the enlightening torch (jyOti) sparkling in the hearts of the gyAnis. He is the bejeweled gem granting mOksham to the devotees. He dispels the grief and sorrow of the people. He who is indeed the eyes of the vedas is the one who is superior to all other devatAs.

    TIRUVADI  - FEET

  The divine lotus feet of periya perumAl spreads fragrance,augmented by the vedas. BrahmA pays obeisance to this Lord by placing his head on His lotus feet. The swans ( an analogy to AchAryas in srivaishnava terminology), have chosen to live in the sands along the river Cauvery. Perya pirAtti and Bhoomi pirAtti perform the kainkaryam of gently massaging emperumAn's lotus feet with their lotus hands. These divine lotus feet reflects in the crystalline waters of my mind's lake! 

   KANUKKAAL  - ANKLE

  The anklets that add beauty to His ankle throw its glitter, reflecting various colors. Aren't these the strong ankles that helped the pANDavAs when Krishna had to act as an ambassador for them? Besides, these ankles steps in as a container to collect the beauty that drips from perumAL's other avayavam. My atmA soaks in the beauty of His ankles and relieves me from the turbulent samsara travails. 

   TIRUTODAI - THIGH

  PerumAl's thighs appear like the smooth and sturdy shoots of the plantains, grown exclusively in manmadan's garden. They are draped in a grand silken vastram.  To His beloved consorts, Sri Devi and Bhu Devi, they serve as pillows to lay their heads on, when they need respite. The gems in His waistband glitters, making His thigh glow. I indulge in ruminating over the image of this handsome youth reclining in Srirangam. 

   TIRU UNDHI  - NAVEL

   My heart submerged in the joy of contemplating on the swirls that make up His divine navel, which is deep and beautiful, so much so, emperumAn could conceal the entire earth within, during deluge. The lotus that emerges from His navel is covered with the fine pollen dust and has borne several BrahmA,over the yugas.

  TIRU MAARBU  - CHEST

  The divine chest of emperumAn decorated by the mole, the srivatsam is further sanctified by periya pirATTi when she placed her feet on His chest to make it her abode. His broad chest shines red, reflecting the kaustubha ornament adorning it. The green colour of the tulasi garland, the multicolours from the vaijayanti vanamalai ( garland made out of assorted wild flowers), the cool rays from the pearl strands, all decorate the beautiful chest of my emperumAn, the sight of which quells my distress (tApam).

   BHUJAM  - ARM

   Arangan's divine arms are like the karpaga vruksham which grants all our desires. His casually placed right hand like a pillow beneath His head, and His left hand stretched beyond His knee,makes my mind race unbridled like a rogue elephant. The colourful glitter from His ornaments binds me and makes me intoxicated by this divine experience. 

   MUKHAM  - FACE

  The radiant face of Lord Ranganathan with His divine smile, lips red like the kOvai fruit and His benign, caressing gaze dispels the distress of His devotees.  The golden tilak on His forehead and eyes overflowing with compassion remains etched in my mind.

   KIREEDAM  - CROWN

  The garlands worn by periya perumAL adds fragrance to His locks, enhanced by periya pirATTi's gentle caress. The tufts of curls are akin to the sharp dialect of the angry women of chOla kingdom! The hair is further pressed down by the beautiful crown placed over it. At the sight of the colourful glitter emitting from the crown, my wandering mind relaxes and settles down like the subjects of a kingdom ruled by an efficient king.

   ALL AVAYAVAM

  Portraying his own heart  to be a girl who is besotted by the beauty of emperumAn,Desikan says, his heart first gently touched His lotus feet and then dripping with bhakthi bhAvam, prayed His ankle. Slowly she lets herself be engrossed with the beauty of His divine thighs. She reaches and pauses at His divine navel, before taking respite in His broad chest. She then twirls around His broad shoulders. On reaching His divine and glowing tirumukham, she quenches her desire by consuming His beauty in its entirety. She finally stands transfixed gazing at His resplendent crown. Thus my mind is indeed caught in the experience of devouring emperumAn's beautiful tirumEni.

Adiyen.

Smt. Sukanya Ravichandran