अर्चावतारानुभवस्तुतिः - भागः १

This one appeared on an evening when I had darshan of Mylapore Srinivasa on his veedhi purappadu, in Sri Venugopala sathupadi! Sri Vedanta Desika accompanied Him!

The crux of the poem is the word 'pashyato-hara' - one who has the ability to rob or steal even when being noticed visibly!

माधव! वेणुगोपाल! श्रीनिवास! सदेशिक! ।

पश्यतो मम चित्तस्य भव त्वं पश्यतोहरः ।। 1 ।।

Madhava! Srinivasa! Venugopala! One who is accompanied by (Vedanta) Desika! Be a pashyatohara of my mind, while i am looking at you! (having your darshan)!

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This one is on Lord Srinivasan of Mylapore! One evening, by chance, I happened to have the darshan of the divyadampati enjoying their time on the oonjal! When something good is experienced without any expectation it has a multiplying effect! This sloka was born!

दोलायां श्रीनिवासस्य चञ्चलया तु चञ्चलः ।

दूरीकरोतु चाञ्चल्यं दिष्ट्या दृष्टवतो हि मे ।। 2 ।।

दोलायां in the swing श्रीनिवासस्य of Lord Srinivasa चञ्चलया along with चञ्चला Lakshmi, चञ्चलः oscillation दूरीकरोतु do away चाञ्चल्यं vacillation दिष्ट्या by chance दृष्टवतो of the one who saw  हि indeed मे my

Let the oscillation of Lord Srinivasa along with Lakshmi, which was by chance seen by me, do away my fickleness of mind!

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It was the genius of Swami Desika at work when he portrayed the compassion (daya) of Lord Srinivasa as 'Daya Devi' and wrote a shataka (stotra in hundred verses). Swami Desika is himself celebrated as the incarnation of the holy bell (Ghanta) at Tirumalai. This verse highlights the same!

श्रीवेंकटाचलाद्भूता घण्टानादनदी च या ।

तामवतारयामास हितां नो दयया दयाम् ।। 3 ।।

श्रीवेंकटाचलाद्भूता born from the Venkatachalam or Tirumalai  घण्टानादनदी river which is the sound of the bell  च या who ताम् her अवतारयामास brought down दयया with compassion नः our हितां benefactor  दयाम् Daya Devi.

The river that was the sound of the bell of Tirumalai (Swami Desika) brought her down, His compassion, Daya Devi! our means. (who is our only means to attain salvation) He was the first one to write a hundred verses on her, by reciting which we can pray to her and seek her blessings, which is the only way to please Srinivasa! The last pada could also read दयया नो हितां दयाम् ।।

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The beauty of archa rupa (idols in temples) of Gods attracts a lot of devotees. Lord Srinivasa of Mylapore (like any other murthi) has a smiling face (thirumukham). Also, in his right palm, that draws attention to his feet, the words 'mam ekam saranam vraja' (seek refuge in me) can be seen. Well both the smile and the words attract his devotees.

Sometimes a mere smile is enough to attract but sometimes it has to be supplemented by a gesture! In this verse a competition between the two in attracting the devotees is imagined.

आकर्षणाय भक्तानां सस्मितमुखहस्तयोः ।

स्पर्धा हि दर्शनीया सा श्रीनिवास! मया सदा ।। 4 ।।

आकर्षणाय in attracting  भक्तानां devotees  सस्मितमुख between smiling face हस्तयोः and hand स्पर्धा competition  हि indeed दर्शनीया to be seen सा that श्रीनिवास Srinivasa! मया by me सदा always

Srinivasa! Let that competition between your smiling face and hand in attracting your devotees be ever seen by me!

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This one is an attempt in malini metre on Lord Srinivasa of Mylapore who went around maada veethi this evening, seated on the shoulders of Hanuman!

विहरति कमलाक्षी यस्य वक्षस्थलस्था

प्रभवति च सपत्नी सानुकम्पा दयाख्या ।

विलसति सह ताभ्यां विष्णुचित्तात्मजा सा

हनुमति हरतीशं श्रीनिवासं भजेहम् ।। 5 ।।

I salute Lord Srinivasa, who is being carried by Hanuman (Hanumantha vahana) in whom the lotus eyed Sridevi is enjoying by being seated on his vakshasthala (chest), so does Daya devi, her co-wife happily proceeding to grace their devotees and with them shines that Goda, daughter of Vishnu citta (as well)....

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भुजगभुगभिधायामार्यपुर्यां स देवः

द्रमिडनिगमगोष्ठ्या नीयमानश्च पश्चात् ।

तदनुसरति वृन्दे वेदविद्याबुधानां

वहति विहगराजे राजते श्रीनिवासः ।। 6 ।।

This is an attempt in malini metre to describe Lord Srinivasa of Mylapore, who shines while being carried by Garuda, led by a goshti reciting the Dravida Veda (divya Prabandham) and followed by a group of scholars reciting the Vedas. To fit in Mylapore in the vrttam that is malini, I have resorted to the word bhujaga-bhuj-abhidhayaam aaryapuryaam. Bhujaga-bhuj is a Snake eater, peacock or mayura. Abhidhayam means one with the name peacock. Aaryapuryaam - noble place...

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This was composed on Lord Devaraja of Kanchi on Kaanum pongal during his visit to a scenic place called pazhayaseevaram, a place all vaishnavites throng! The golden yellow rays of the Sun (manja veyyil) falling on the deity when he comes down the steps is a wonderful sight!

पुराणश्रीवरे सायं पतितपीतरश्मयः ।

दृष्टाः यैर्देवराजे वे जितपित्ता भवे हि ते ।। 7 ।।

By whoever the golden yellow rays that fall on Lord Devaraja are seen at Pazhayasivaram, they have won over the samsara piththa indeed.

The word पुराणश्रीवर has been used in two senses - one the place pazhayaseevaram. The other is Lord Devaraja himslef who is the Purana purusha and consort ( vara) of Sri. The usage of similar sounding words like patita, peeta, jita and pitta may be enjoyed.

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This was written on Lord Varada on Brahmotsava Garuda Sevai. The alliteration may be enjoyed.

वन्देऽहं गरुडारूढं वरदं विधियज्ञजम् ।

बृहद्देवीसमेतं तं सततं विबुधैर्नतम् ।। 8 ।।

I always salute the one mounted on Garuda, Varada, born out of Brahma's yajna, the consort of perundevi, the one saluted by the gods (Devadhirajan).

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I am sharing a sloka in which I pray to Lord Rama of Madurantakam. In the month of maasi, punarvasu nakshatra, a thirumanjana is performed for Rama and this sloka was born with His grace!

अपाकरोतु तापं मे स सूर्यवंशपुंगवः ।

चन्दनतुलसीयुक्तः मधुरान्तककान्तकः ।। 9 ।।

अपाकरोतु remove तापं afflictions मे my स He सूर्यवंशपुंगवः the best of Surya vamsa चन्दनतुलसीयुक्तः decorated in sandal and tulsi  मधुरान्तक of Madurantakam कान्तकः the beautiful (Lord)

Let that beautiful Lord of Madurantakam, the best of Surya vamsa, remove my afflictions (in samsara) (while he himself is cooling) with sandal paste and tulsi. This is soon after thirumanjana is over and before proper decoration!

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Rich languages like Sanskrit and Tamil have many words that have more than one meanings. In Sanskrit, the concept of samasa (compounding of words) makes it richer and interesting to infer many meanings. The following verse is on Lord Narasimha indicating two kshetras - Sholinghur and Ahobilam! The words Hari and Yoga has been used in more than one sense.

हरिदासेन योगे य: पर्वते विद्यते हरिः ।

अहो बिलेऽपि चित्ते मे वर्ततां च यथा सताम् ।।

अन्वय १ sholinghur

हरिदासेन (हनुमता) (सह) यः हरिः योगे (योगरूपे) पर्वते विद्यते यथा सतां चित्ते (तथा) अहो! मे 

चित्ते बिले अपि वर्तताम् ।

Let that Hari (Lion or Narasimha) who is in a hill with Anjaneya in yoga posture, also in the minds of noble people, reside in my mind, a pit, alas!

अन्वयः २ Ahobilam

हरिदासेन (केनापि) योगे (सह) यः हरिः अहोबिले पर्वते विद्यते यथा सतां चित्ते च (तथा) मे 

चित्तेऽपि वर्तताम् ।

Let that Hari (Narasimha) who is in the hill called Ahobila along with a Haridasa (any Acharya, say Adivann Sathakopa), also in the mind of noble people, reside in my mind also!

हरिदासेन Hanuman or any Haridasa योगे in Yogic posture or with यः who पर्वते in the hill  विद्यते is हरिः  Hari अहोबिले Ahobilam (when not split) or alas in the hole or pit (when split) अपि also चित्ते mind मे my वर्ततां let him be च and यथा as in सताम् of noble minded!