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		The Master's Mantra
		The Pãduka

Sri Sri Swamiji -

• You cannot correct the world. Each one has his own vãsana; hence, will act only as per his vãsana. You cannot correct others. You should correct only yourself. Of what use is it in advising others to correct themselves without correcting ourselves? Your expectation of this one or that one to behave in a particular way as you deem fit is a grave mistake. Let everyone be as he/she is. Why should they change? Let us transform ourselves.

Sriman Nigamãntha 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 "Pãduka Sahasram" - a thousand verses on the 'Pãduka' of Lord Ranganãtha. The Saint has in all composed 1008 verses, the last eight apologizing in all humility for daring to compose these 1000 verses on the Pãduka!

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

Upaneetam upãyanam Surendraih
       pratibimbacchalatah tvayi pravishtam |
svayameva kila prasãdabhoomna
       pratigrihnãsi Mukunda Pãduke! tvam || (715)

Pãduke!
   As the chiefs of Devas
   stand in reverence with their offerings
   to the Lord,
   the image of these offerings reflected on You
   creates an imagination in me
   that You, out of Your compassion,
   have accepted them!

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