Thread by @SparesofWar

Vaamaankastitha Jaanaki parilasath Kodandadandam Kare
Chakramchorbhakarenabaahu yugale Shankham Sharam Dakshine |
Vibraanam Jalajaathapatra Nayanam Bhadraadri moordristitham
Keyuradi vibhushitham Raghupathim Soumithriyuktham Bhaje ||

I propitiate Sri Rama, Who has Jaanaki seated on His Left Lap, Who has the Bow and Arrow, One Who has switched the positions of the Shankha (Dakshina Hastam) and Chakra (Vaama Hastam), One Who has Lotus-like Eyes, One Who has situated Himself on the Shiras of Mount Bhadraadri,

One Who is adorned with the keyura and other ornaments, One who is the scion of the Raghu clan, and One Who is always associated with Soumitri (Lakshmana).

This shloka composed by Adi Shankaracharya venerates a unique form of Sri Rama known as Vaikunta Rama at the Bhadrachalam

temple situated on the banks of the river Godavari in Telangana. This shloka has a few significances.

Firstly, it describes how Paramatma takes various forms as per the wishes of His devotees. Bhadra is the son of Meru and Menaka Devi. He performs immense penance to beget the

darshan of Paramatma as Raama right from the Treta Yuga itself. However, his wish remains unfulfilled. In the Kali Yuga, Paramatma finally manifests before Bhadra — not as Raama but as Maha Vishnu.

Upaasakaanam kaaryartham Brahmano rupa kalpanaam. The formless Brahman takes

various forms based on the aspirations of those who seek Him. Though Paramatma exhibits nitya kalyana gunas, He can also be above them. Which is why the Ganesha Atharvashirsha declares,

Tvam Gunatrayaateeta: |
You are above the 3 gunas (Satva, Rajas, and Tamas)

Tvam Avasthatraayaateeta: |
You are above the 3 avasthas (Jaagrit, Swapna, Sushupti)

Tvam Dehatrayaateeta: |
You are above the 3 forms of the body (Kaarana, Sukshma, Sthula)

Tvam Kaalatrayaateeta: |
You are above the 3 periods of times (dawn, mid-day, and dusk)

Vishnu Sahasranamam says, Anirdesya vapu: Srimaan. His form cannot be determined. Yet, He is Srimaan (full of opulence and bliss). It also says Aprameya: Hrishikesa: One Who is beyond sensory perception but is also the Lord of all senses.

Therefore, though Bhadra Muni was obviously aware that Vishnu and Raama are indifferent, his manas longed to see That Form, which even great sages perform the severest of austerities to get a fleeting glimpse.

Accordingly, Sriman Narayana assumes a unique form of Vaikunta Rama

in which He dons the Kodanda. In order to differentiate Himself, He switches the default positions of the Shankha and Chakra and carries an arrow in His Right Hand. Mahalakshmi sits on His Left Lap as Sita Devi while Adi Sesha stands beside Him as Lakshmana.

The other significance in the above shloka is the usage of the name Soumitri for Lakshmana. Soumitri is a name that is often preferred by both Raama as well as Shankara in this case. And there are important reasons for that.

Before the trio leave for the forest, Sumitra, Lakshmana's mother, calls him and instructs him on certain duties.

Tam vandamaanam rudatee maataa Soumitrim abraviit |
Hita kaamaa mahaa baahum moordhni upaaghraaya Laksmanam ||

Smelling the head of the mighty armed Lakshmana, who

was saluting her, Sumitra wished him well and spoke weeping. Sumitra blesses Lakshmana by smelling his head.
A point worth noting here is that Dharma Sastras prevent kissing children once they reach a certain age.

Srishta: tvam vana vaasaaya svanurakta: suhrujjane |
Raame pramaadam maa kaarshi: putra bhraatari gacchati ||

I am permitting you to travel along with Rama since you are so fond of your elder half-brother. Do not neglect Him, my son.

Vyasanee vaa samriddho vaa gatir esha tava anagha |
Esha loke sataam dharma: yaj-jyeshta vashago bhavet ||

Whether in adversity or riches, He alone is your refuge, Oh Anagha (sinless one). The way of the world should be such that younger brother always is controlled by the elder

Raamam Dasharatham viddhi maam viddhi Janakaatmajaam |
Ayodhyaam ataveem viddhi gaccha taata yathaa sukham ||

Dear son, think of Rama as Dasaratha and Sita Devi as myself. Think of the forest as Ayodhya and depart happily.

By saying the above, Sumitra means that by serving Sita Rama, Lakshmana would actually be serving Dharma. Following Rama's footsteps is indifferent from following Dharma since Raamo vigrahavaan Dharma: as said by Maareecha.

Here, Periyaazhwar also shows how Sumitra is more special in the Periya Thirumozhi

Maatruthaai sendru vanam poge endrida
Eetruthaai pin thodarndhu embiraan endru azha
Kootrutthaaisollak kodiya vanam pona
Seetramilaadhaanai paadippara Seethai Manaalanai paadippara |

Maatru thaai (Kaikeyi, who changed from a doting step mother to acting against Raama) instructed Raama to go the forest, Eetru thaai (Kausalya, who actually gave birth to Raama) said He must follow Kaikeyi's orders but couldn't console herself from crying out loud.

The Kootru thaai (Sumitra, who partook a portion of the Divine payasam) addressed Lakshmana that he must accompany Raama to the forest. Thus, singing the glories of the consort of Sita, who never became angry in this whole process.

Even Kausalya says to Rama,

Yam paalayasi dharmam tvam dhrithya cha niyamena cha |
Sa vai Raaghavashaardula Dharmastvamabhirakshatu ||

Oh lion among the Raghu race! let that Dharma that you follow with courage and steadfastness, protect You.

These set of shlokas must be taught by every mother to her children to instill Dharmic values in them.

Another instance where Krishna as Raama calls upon Lakshmana as Soumitri is detailed in the Sri Krishna Karnaamrutam -

https://twitter.com/SparesofWar/status/1293182122828603392

Later, a Bhaktaagresara named Kancharla Gopanna, who was later given the name of Sri Ramadasu by Aanjaneya Himself, collected funds and built the Bhadrachalam temple as we know it today. However, Ramadasu was falsely framed on charges of misappropriation of funds to the tune of

6 lakh varahas (1 varaha = 3.6 g of gold in Krishnadevaraya's time) by vested interests (not unlike many of our own people today), which prompted Tani Shah, the ruler of Golconda, to mete out the severest of continuous punishments and torture for 12 long years.

Not once in this time frame did Ramadasu's bhakti falter.

Eventually (read after exhaustion of karmas) Tani Shah gets a divine darshan of Rama and Lakshmana in his dream, Who repay the claimed money in terms of Raama Maadas

(the de facto currency during the 12k years of Rama Rajya in the Treta Yuga). Tani Shah realizes his folly and releases Ramadasu.

Unfortunately, our own people like below deny this very fact and falsely portray Tani Shah as some benevolent king who advocated a syncretic culture.

This is absolute heresy.

Thyagaraja Swamy who considered Sri Ramadasu as his inspiration sang,

Dheerudau Ramadasuni bandhamu dirchinadi vinnanura Raama

O Rama! I have heard that you have obtained the release of the great Ramadasu from prison.

He also said,

Kaliyugamuna Vara Bhadraachalamuna nelakonna Raamachandruni Pada Bhaktulakella Varudanandagi velasina Sri Ramadasu vinuthintu madin

My heart praises Sri Ramadasu who shines as the supreme devotee of Sri Raamachandra of Bhadrachala in this Kali Yuga

Here, one gets a doubt as to how a mleccha king could get darshan of Rama and Lakshmana while a devout Ramadasu couldn't despite unwavering faith. Well, karma works in mysterious ways. Tani Shah was a Shiva bhakta in his previous life and was destined to be born as a mleccha

owing to his nefarious deeds. Gopanna had his own share of karmas to exhaust as well. However, Gopanna could behold the real form of Bhagavan and even denied moksha.

For Bhaktas, the Archa Avatara can be quite endearing. In the Venkatesa Suprabhatam, Manavala Mahamuni says,

Tvat paada dhuli bharita spuritottamaangaa:
Swargaapavarga nirapeksha nijaantaranga: |

Having purified by the Dust of Your Feet and enjoying bliss in Your devotion,

Your devotees have forgotten both Swarga and Moksha.

It is still strongly believed that Sri Ramadasu's sukshma sareera is still serving Bhadradri Rama to this date.

Raamadaasa mrudula hrudaya taamarasa nivaasaaya Swamy Bhadragirivaraaya Sarva Mangalam 🙏🏻🙏🏻

May Sita Lakshmana Bharata Shatrughna Hanumat Sametha Sri Ramachandra Prabhu give us also with steadfast devotion and commitment towards Dharma and Desa.

Happy Sri Raama Navami.