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		The Master's Mantra
		The Pãduka

Sri Sri Swamiji -

• All the Sãdhus, all those who are Hari Bhaktãs, all those who are adept in speaking the glory of the Lord are like the cows in Nandababa's palace, which pour forth milk with just a touch of their udders.

• Just as a drop of water provides great relief to man who is very thirsty, even a single word uttered by a Mãhan relieves a man of his sorrow. A single consoling word from a Mahan is a great solace to the wounded heart of a man. The bhãva of a Mahãtma is such.

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.

Rajãsane chedbhavatii nishanna
Rangesapãdãvani! Tanna chitram |
yatrãdhirooddãh kramashah purã tvãm
uttamsayante Raghusãrvabhoumãh ||          (168)

Oh! Pãduke of Sri Ranganãtha!
  the question
  how can You be placed
  on the throne
  where sat great kings
  is unjustified!
  for,
  these kings of Raghuvamsa
  cherished You on their heads with Bhakti!

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