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		The Master's Mantra
		The Pãduka

Sri Sri Swamiji -

• What is the solution for the complaint that one is unable to do Nãma japa? Doing Nãma japa!

• Bhakti is earned only in the company of Bhaktas. It is not found even in temples where we go with worldly prayers and not to have darshan of the presiding Deity.

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.

Anichchhatah pãndaram ãtapatram
pitrã viteernnam Mannipãdarakshe |
ãsiit tvadartham vidhrutena tena
chchãyã samagrã bharatasya moulle ||      (172)

Pãduke!
  as,
  the white umbrella (the Royal insignia)
  offered by the father (Dasarata)
  was rejected by Bharata
  and held by him
  over You
  its full luster and shade
  are on
  Bharata's head!

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