Chapter summary
श्रीरङ्गनायिकाया आविर्भाव: Śrī Raṅganāyikāyā Āvirbhāva:
The Holy Preceptor said:
Then, before long, just as She had once emerged from the Ocean of Milk, and later from the sacred sacrificial ground of King Videha, so did the nectar-formed Śrī Herself appear from the base of a Bilva tree. (v.1)
Seated in the center of a thousand-petalled lotus, like a pure pericarp surrounded by its filaments, She shone forth—Padmā, the Lotus-dweller, holding a lotus in Her hand, seated on a lotus, with a face as exquisite as a lotus. Her countenance was like the moon, and She was indeed the sister of the moon, having been born near the Chandra Sarovara [Moon Lake]. She was of noble birth, with beautiful teeth and a slender waist, radiant like a golden creeper, and of the most virtuous character. She was utterly enchanting, with curling dark tresses, the beloved of Vishnu, delighting the Vaishnavas, and amusing thousands of celestial women as Her jeweled anklets resounded. Her forehead was adorned with resplendent saffron paste, and She was decorated with a jeweled head-ornament, a *Lalantikā*. Her playful, moving side-glances were like a swarm of bees, full of divine sport, and She cherished Her host of devotees. A beautiful pearl adorned Her delicate nose, and Her gentle smile graced Her sweet speech. Her lips were like the Bimba fruit, Her cheeks reflected Her earrings, and She delighted in the art of music. With pitcher-like breasts, clad in white silk, fond of flowers, Her neck was adorned with a golden necklace, a *Niṣka*. She wore a fine girdle, and Her hands were beautified by bracelets; the maiden possessed the radiant glow of a Ketaki flower. (v.2-7)
All the Devas in the sky, along with Siddhas, Gandharvas, Vidyadharas, and Kinnaras, sang joyfully to the sound of Mridangam drums and other instruments, showering Mandara flowers upon the Goddess. Airāvata, with his trunk, joyfully and lovingly bathed Her with the sacred, cool, and holy water of the celestial Ganga, brought in golden pitchers. Great sages, with reverence, clearly praised Goddess Lakṣmī with the verses of the Śrī Sūktam. Devotees like Nārada, Devala, and others then sang various kinds of hymns. The husband of Śacī, Indra, gave to Her, the Mother of the worlds, a marvelous golden throne, complete with a royal parasol and well-attended by celestial maidens with fly-whisks. The Ocean, Ratnākara, devotedly offered the Goddess ornaments made of gems, while the Earth gave fragrant and beautiful flowers to the lotus-eyed one. Gaurī [Pārvatī] and Vāṇī [Sarasvatī] reverently fanned the Goddess with their own hands. With a pure white fly-whisk that shone like the moon, Śacī, Indra's wife, now performed service to Her feet. All the goddesses, approaching with devotion, joyfully performed service all around Her. Lakṣmī Herself, clearly displaying Her supreme sovereignty over all, shone forth magnificently. (v.8-14)
Indeed, Airāvata, the Kalpaka tree, Uccaiḥśravas, the Kaustubha gem, Kāmadhenu, and the Moon (Sudhākara) all became Her siblings, while the Ocean (Ratnākara) is Her sole birthplace. What can be said in this world to describe Her good fortune? She is Śrī Herself, who, with but a fragment of Her side-glance, bestows upon even the great lord Maheśvara his very lordship. (v.15-16)
Seeing the Mother of the Universe Herself descended and present in the world, shining in Her *archā* [deity] form, King Dharmavarmā bowed down with folded hands and praised Her with profound reverence. (v.17)
**The King Dharmavarmā said:**
Salutations, again and again, to You, the mother of infinite crores of universes! Salutations, again and again, to You, who are embodied in the letters from 'A' to 'Kṣa'! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose nature is pure consciousness, devoid of name and form! Salutations, again and again, to You, who possess a form of extreme beauty! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose form is bliss and supreme knowledge! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose power is without beginning, middle, or end! (v.18-20)
Salutations, again and again, to You, whose face has the lovely hue of the lunar orb! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose gait is famed to be like that of the king of elephants! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose feet are served by Īśa, Brahmā, and others! Salutations, again and again, to You, the sovereign of the worlds created by Your glance! Salutations, again and again, to You, who have saffron paste applied on Your chest! Salutations, again and again, to You, who bestow ever-increasing good fortune! (v.21-23)
Salutations, again and again, to the one who is the embodiment of grace and tenderness, appearing as if under sixteen years of age! Salutations, again and again, to You, who grant devotion born of Your own accepted love! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose side-glance serves to release from the bondage of debt! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose pair of lotus feet are worshipped by sages! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose gaze is as tender as that of a young fawn! Salutations, again and again, to You, who are easily accessible to devotees of single-pointed mind! (v.24-26)
Salutations, again and again, to You, who were bathed from pitchers brought by the trunk of Airāvata! Salutations, again and again, to You, who delight in the garden of Kubera, Airammada! Salutations, again and again, to You, the witness to the entire universe which is interwoven in You! Salutations, again and again, to You, for whom the Oṃkāra Vimāna is a beautiful form! Salutations, again and again, to You, who are known as the supreme medicine! Salutations, again and again, to You, who are worshipped by great Yogis like Aupagāyana! (v.27-29)
Salutations, again and again, to You, whose compassionate side-glance bestows all that is auspicious! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose glance captivates the mind of the lotus-eyed one [Vishnu]! Salutations, again and again, to You, who felt delight at the slaying of the demon Khara! Salutations, again and again, to You, who, out of compassion, bring good even to the wicked! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose bosom has the beautiful contour of an elephant's forehead! Salutations, again and again, to You, who delight in the music of the host of Gandharvas! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose form is fragrant with camphor! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose glory is proclaimed by the pot-born sage Agastya and others! (v.30-33)
Salutations, again and again, to You, whose gait is accompanied by the tinkling of small bells! Salutations, again and again, to You, who awaken Krishna with the sound of Your bangles! Salutations, again and again, to You, who have made Govinda's moon-like face into Your Cakora bird! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose garments shine like a crore of lightning flashes! Salutations, again and again, to You, who are worthy of royal services with parasol and fly-whisk! Salutations, again and again, to You, by whose mere shadow glory is revealed! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose heart is the abode made by Janārdana! Salutations, again and again, to You, who inspire the divine sport of the universe's creation and so on! (v.34-37)
Salutations, again and again, to You, for whom humming bees provide music! Salutations, again and again, to You, who shower down a flowing stream of the nectar of love! Salutations, again and again, to You, who bestow knowledge, dispassion, devotion, and prosperity! Salutations, again and again, to You, who enchant the minds of even the wise! Salutations, again and again, to You, who are thrilled by the twang of the Śārṅga bow! Salutations, again and again, to You, who are celebrated with the sounds of Ḍhakkā, Ḍamaru, Bherī and other instruments! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose divine play is full of the nectar of youthfulness! Salutations, again and again, to You, who are adorned with earrings, necklaces, and armlets! (v.38-41)
Salutations, again and again, to You, who dance to the rhythm of "thai-thai-tat-tom-tathā-theti"! Salutations, again and again, to You, the deity whose heart is full of compassion! Salutations, again and again, to You, who bestow courage, valor, fame, and strength! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose mind pleases the bearer of the mountain [Vishnu]! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose abode is the chest of Nārāyaṇa! Salutations, again and again, to You, who are pleased by the mere chanting of Your name! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose lotus feet are adorned with tinkling anklets! Salutations, again and again, to You, who grant boons with Your hands that are graced with lotuses! (v.42-45)
Salutations, again and again, to You, the beloved of Govinda who reclines on the king of serpents! Salutations, again and again, to You, who showed forgiveness to the crow, Jayanta! Salutations, again and again, to You, who are more than a wish-fulfilling tree in granting the desires of devotees! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose divine character bestows the bliss of devotional service! Salutations, again and again, to You, who are adorned with great necklaces of gems and pearls! Salutations, again and again, to You, who are fond of Mandāra, Pārijāta, and other celestial flowers! Salutations, again and again, to You, who took birth on the site of a sacrificial ground! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose feet are marked with auspicious signs like the barley-corn, thunderbolt, and others! (v.46-49)
Salutations, again and again, to You, who are the blossoming of a beautiful lotus-face! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose beauty is boundless, like that of a crore of Ratis! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose body is the very essence of all loveliness! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose sacred feet are anointed with the juice of lac! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose sides are served by attendant women! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose glance captivates the mind of Vāsudeva! Salutations, again and again, to You, the mother of Śaṅkara, Brahmā, Śakra, and others! Salutations, again and again, to You, who are an ocean of affection for those who take refuge! (v.50-53)
Salutations, again and again, to You, whose heart is endowed with virtues like tranquility! Salutations, again and again, to You, who bring about the welfare of all people! Salutations, again and again, to You, who give delight to the chest of Hari! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose divine form is devoid of loss, growth, and other modifications! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose mind is endowed with virtues like forgiveness! Salutations, again and again, to You, who bestow an imperishable empire! (v.54-56)
Salutations, again and again, to Dhana Lakṣmī, the bestower of inexhaustible wealth! Salutations, again and again, to Dhānya Lakṣmī, who makes the crops flourish! Salutations, again and again, to Santāna Lakṣmī, who bestows the fortune of progeny! Salutations, again and again, to Jaya Lakṣmī, who grants victory everywhere! Salutations, again and again, to Vīrya Lakṣmī, who increases the valor of the brave! Salutations, again and again, to Dhairya Lakṣmī, who increases the fortitude of the steadfast! Salutations, again and again, to Vidyā Lakṣmī, who increases the knowledge of the learned! Salutations, again and again, to Mokṣa Lakṣmī, who grants liberation to seekers! Salutations, again and again, to Mahālakṣmī, who embodies the eight forms of Lakṣmī! Salutations, again and again, to You, Śrī Devī, who grant the fruit of all desired objects! (v.57-61)
Salutations, again and again, to You, whose sacred feet are the refuge for all the worlds! Salutations, again and again, to the Deity who bestows all auspiciousness! Salutations, again and again, to You, who are vowed to protect those who have taken refuge! Salutations, again and again, to You, the great-grandmother of Śaṅkara and the other gods! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose form is anointed with turmeric and saffron! Salutations, again and again, to You, who are the very embodiment of all that is auspicious among auspicious things! Salutations, again and again, to You, who are accompanied by Sarasvatī and the daughter of the Mountain [Pārvatī]! Salutations, again and again, to You, who show the righteous path to all! Salutations, again and again, to You, who shower compassion on all devotees! Salutations, again and again, to You, whose feet destroy the afflictions of worldly existence! Salutations, again and again, to the great queen of the eternal empire of Śrīraṅgam! Salutations, again and again, to You, the chief consort of the king of kings, Śrī Raṅgarāja! (v.62-67)
**The Holy Preceptor said:**
Thus worshipped by the great king, that supreme sovereign, the Mother of the worlds, the bestower of desired fruits to all devotees, shone magnificently in the assembly upon the thousand-petalled lotus. Then the king, with all due ceremony and to the sound of auspicious musical instruments, led Her, who had been thus worshipped, to the temple of Raṅgeśvara and installed Her near Him. A shower of flowers then fell from the sky, and the wives of the Vidyādharas and Kinnaras danced. The Mridaṅga, Ḍhakkā, and Muraja drums resounded, and the Brāhmaṇas made auspicious Vedic chants. That divine couple, adorned in auspicious attire, shone brightly in the Raṅga Vimāna, sitting together as if in the abode of Vaikuṇṭha, ever festive and ever joyful. (v.68-71)
Having reverently performed the wedding festival of Lakṣmī, the king returned to his palace. Day after day, accompanied by devotees, he performed service to the Supreme Person. By the king's devotion to Mukunda, everything in his palace was always prosperous. The entire country, too, was ever-abundant and shone brightly by the compassionate glance of Lord Raṅgeśa. (v.72-73)
Here ends the twenty-eighth chapter, entitled "The Appearance of Śrī Raṅganāyikā," in the Fourth Part of the "Divya Deśa Vaibhavam," composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
Thus ends Chapter 28, named "Śrī Raṅganāyikāyā Āvirbhāva:", in Caturtha Bhāge, in the Divya Deśa Vaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
