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YOUR NEXT DATE (SWATHI) is on September 10th, 2002!
		Ucchishtam
		Bhãgavatam patata kinchidapi..(Sri Swamiji's Song)
		The Paduka

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

Sri Swamiji -

• God has, in His Mercy, placed a shortcoming in each creature. The peacock is very beautiful but its cry is intolerable. Its voice is very hoarse. The cuckoo sings melodiously but is ugly looking. The Lion that is very powerful is lazy. If it were active then not a single animal would be alive in the forest! Thus, God has, in His Mercy, keeps the ego in check with such shortcomings.

• Bhagavan is ‘nirguna’ (without quality). The ‘nirguna’ Brahman needs a ‘preranai’ (initiative to act). This is the reason we hold a Guru or Radha. They act as the ‘preranai’ to the ‘nirguna’ Brahman to act. There are some who pray to Bhagavan for something. They feel that only by asking/demanding can they get what they seek. Yet, there are others who think, ‘Bhagavan knows everything. There is no need to ask Him. He will give on His own.’ This is also a kind of ‘preranai’. This itself will make the Lord to act.

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 Ranganatha. 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 Vishnupadãsaktam tamrushim tãm cha Pãdukãm |
Yathãrthã shatajitsamjnã macchittavijayãd yayoh || (21)

Click here for the Sloka in Sanskrit

The Pãduka had earned the name ‘Satakopam’ as IT had won over the Asura by name ‘Satan’. Since IT has won over us who had taken to bad ways, instead of the path that would take us to the Lord, and lead us in ‘sanmãrga’ (good way) IT bears the name ‘Satakopam’! It is the tradition to call the Bhaktãs of each Master as His (Master’s) Pãduka. This is the reason that Pãduka is referred t as ‘Satakopam’ or ‘Sri Satãri’.

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