Thursday, July 31, 2008

SVS 118 [ Pundarikaksha-112] (12.8)

112. OM PUNDARIKAKSHAYA NAMA: पुंडरीकाक्षाया नम:

Like eyes for those in Vaikuntam, also known as Pundarikam.

Swami Desika, in Goda Sthuthi, prays Sri Andal, that just like the jingling of the ornaments on Her would gladden the Lord, She should bless Desika's slokas also to gladden the Lord. From today till Thiru Adipooram [4th August 2008] we will visit Kshetrams in which this festival is celebrated. As praised by Swami Manavala Mamunigal, Sri Andal is grouped among the Alwars and She, by Her flower garland and melodious poems, attracted the Lord. She ruled the Lord by Her devotion and ruled us by her invaluable advice. So She is called Andal [ruled] affectionately. She was born in Srivilliputhur, without residing in a mother's womb [ as we are all] and was found by Perialwar in the Tulasi garden, on Adi [ஆடி] month and in the star constellation Pooram. Earlier in the Divine name pushkaraksha [ SVS 46, Divine name 40, 5.4], we understood the beauty of the eyes of the Lord. Pundarikam also means lotus flower. The Eyes of the Lord are beautiful as fresh lotus flower. In fact the identification for Bhagavan or Sarveswara is the Lotus like eyes [செந்தாமரை கண்ணன் ]. Swami Parashara Bhattar interprets pundarikam to mean Paramapadam or Vaikuntam. We are all bound by Karma and live in this Leela vibhuti [play property of the Lord]. After release from this bond we reach Vaikuntam or Pundarikam. For the residents of Pundarikam, the Lord is like eyes or so important. Normally, we describe our dear ones as like eyes. But this comparison is apt only for the Lord. In Vaikuntam He is seen by the devotees without even winking the eyes!

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