GS 55: Dhrutha gathi taru mruga varoothinee niruddha lankhAvarodha veapthu lAsya leelOpadesa desika dhanurjyAgOsha! Jaya! Jaya!
(Meaning): O Acharyaa (Desikaa), who appeared as though you were the dance instructor for the ladies of the harem of RavaNA, when their bodies were shaking from intense fear over the seige laid on their beloved city by the swift-moving army of monkeys.Your instruction came in the form of the mighty roar emanating from the pulling of the chord of your bow on top of the SuvelA mountain..
(Background): Rama and his simian army with VibhishaNA and LakshmaNA travelled across the marvellous bridge built by NalA and reached Lankha. The powerful monkeys briskly moved around to commence their seige of the capitol of RavaNA. The impending calamity was clearly understood by the residents of RavaNA’s harem. Their bodies began to shake out of fear over what was yet to come. During that occasion, the uncontrollable tremor of their bodies appeared to have its own rhythm as though they were dancing to the tune ofa master dance instructor, who had his own unique tune and thALam. The mighty sound arising from the twanging of the Chord of Kodhandam of Rama served as the tune and kept the TaaLam for their “dance”. Rama in Swami Desikan’s kalpanai appeared like the erudite NatyAchaarya behind the “dance performance” of the ladies of the harem of RavaNA.
One can sense the rapid movements (Dhrutha Gathi) of the excited monkeys (Taru Mruga/ animals of the tree) during their efforts to lay siege on LankhA. The shakes that took over the ladiesof the harem is equated to a playful dance performance (Laasya Leela) by Swami Desikan. He chose the word Laasya for the dance of the Ladies to contrast it with TaandavA, the dance associated with males. One can hear the Upadesa Gosham of the Desikaa (Sri Rama), who taught them as it were the steps for that dance rooted in terror.
Sannaddha: kavachee kadhghee chapabhANa dharO YuvA |
gacchan mamaagrathO nityam Rama: paathu slakshmaNa: ||
Sri VaishNava Daasan,
Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan
To be continued…
