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	Ucchishtam
	Un Karunaienbadu Ennavo Kanna?(Sri Swamigal's Song)
	The Paduka

The 'Ucchishtam' of the Guru is His Words/Upadesas!

Sri Swamigal -

Salutations Unto to those Saints like Samartha Rãmadãs, Nãmadev, Tukkãrãm, Thyãgarãja, Meerã, Purandara Dasã, Chokamela, Gnãneswar, who lived in utter poverty but were highly dispassionate by nature without any desire for mutt, wealth, royal honour or fame; through constant meditation on God and intense pining for Him they attained the Lord.

Silver or gold kavacha (armour) may be offered to the Lord, or even a Rãjagopuram (temple tower) built by a wealthy man individually or through concerted effort. But rare indeed it is, to offer a single Tulasi or Bilwã leaf or a flower at the Lotus Feet of the Lord with tear filled eyes and a devotion filled heart!

Wherever Nãma Sankirtanam is done that place is purified. The home where Nãma Sankirtanam is done will never be in want. 'Bhagavan Nãma' (Chanting the Lord's Name) is the only 'gati' (way to liberation) in this Kaliyugam.

Sriman Nigamantha Desikan, a great Vaishnava Saint lived from mid-thirteenth to mid-fourteenth century- 1268-1369. Of the innumerable 'Granthas' (texts) written by Him the highly revered and considered as the most extraordinary piece is His "Paduka Sahasram" - a thousand verses on the 'Paduka' of Lord Ranganathar. The Saint has in all composed 1008 verses, the last eight apologizing in all humility for daring to compose these 1000 verses on the Paduka!

Sri Desikan's contemporary Sri Appayya Dikshitar had written a commentary on the "Paduka Sahasram" but unfortunately it has been lost.

Vande tanmadhukaitabharipadayor mitram padatradvayam
    Yatad bhaktibharãnatena shirasã yatra kvachid bibhrati |
Dvitrabrahmavinãdikãvadipadavyatyãsashankãbhara-
    Trãsotkampadashãvisamstulladrutis trivishtapãnãm ganah ||   (40)

My obeisance Unto that Paduka who
    is friendly to the Feet of the Lord (the enemy of ‘Madhukaitabhar’)
    and blesses him with all titles
    who bears IT (the Paduka) on his head
    in all devotion
    and
    due to which the devas tremble as if their seats of power
    would be lost in two or three seconds of time
    (the Paduka exert high potency)

Click here for the Sanskrit Sloka

Padakamalarajobhirvãsite Rangabhartuh
    parichitanigamãnte Pãduke dhãrayantah |
aviditaparipãkam chandramutamsayante
    parinatabhuvanam tat padmamadhyãsate vã ||   (44)

One who bears on his head
    The Paduka
    that is perfumed with the dust of the Lord’s Feet
    (the Lotus Feet which are spoken of in the Vedanta)
    Is blessed
    to wear on his head the unchanging moon*
    and
    the lotus seat** that is the origin of the Universe

*meaning the seat of Lord Siva (one who wears the moon on His head)
**meaning the seat of Lord Brahma, the creator (the Lotus born)

Click here for the Sanskrit Sloka

Sakrudapi kila moordhnã shãrnginah Paduke! Tvãm
    manujamanuvahantam dehabandhavyapãye|
Upcharati yathãrham devavargastvadiyah
    Sa tu niyamitabhrutyo joshamãste krutãntah||    (45)

Oh! Paduka!
    Whoever bears You on his head
    but once
    is received
    at the time of his death
    by Your servants
    and
    the attendants of Yama (the god of Death)
    do not come anywhere near him!

Click here for the Sanskrit Sloka

Padasarasijametat Paduke Rangabhartuh
    pratinidhipadaveem te gãhate svena bhoomnã|
tadidamaparatha chet tishtatastasya nityam
    kathamiva viditãrthah tvãm bhajante mahãntah||   (46)

Oh! Paduka!
    the Lord’s Lotus Feet
    have, by their own greatness
    acquired the nobility of
    being Your ‘pratinidhi’! (representative)
    if not
     why do Knowledgeable persons bear (worship) You
    on their heads instead of
    the Lord’s Lotus Feet?!

Click here for the Sanskrit Sloka

Shrutishirasi nigoodam karmanãm choditãnãm
    tvadavadhivinivesham nãdhigantum shamãnãm |
parihasati Murarehi Paduke! bãlishãnãm
    pashuvadhaparisheshãn pandito nãmayajnãn ||    (47)

Hey! Paduka!
    the results of all scripture-ordained rituals
    are to be offered to You
    is
    the secret contained in the Vedas
    the erudite deride
    those not offered thus!

Click here for the Sanskrit Sloka

Padasarasijayostvam Paduke! Rangabhartuh
    manasi munijanãnãm moulideshe shruteenãm |
vachasi cha sukaveenãm vartase nityamekã
    tadidamavagatam te shãshvatam vaishvaroopyam ||    (49)

Hey! Paduka!
Like the Lord You are also omnipresent!
    - at the Lotus Feet of the Lord!
    - in the minds of the Rishis!
    - in the words of good poets!
    - in the head of the Vedas (i.e.Upanishads)
    This shows You are ubiquitous!

Click here for the Sanskrit Sloka

Parisaravinataanãm moordhni durvarnapanktim
    parinamayasi shoureh Paduke! Tvam suvarnam |
kuhakajanavidoore satpathe labdhavrutteh
    kva nu khalu viditaste kopyasow dhãtuvãdah ||    (50)

Hey! Paduka!
    You transform
    the ill fate-lines written on the head of
    those who bend unto You
    into golden lines!
    How then did You,
    being on the virtuous path,
    attain this art
    of the fraudulent people
    converting silver into gold?!
    How?!

Click here for the Sanskrit Sloka

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