Ranganatha panchakam

Oothukadu venkata kavi was a genius personified whose compositions are used by singers, dancers, harikatha exponents et al. The in-depth scriptural knowledge and philosophical ideas in his compositions enabled him to entwine bhakti and jnAna in them. Bhakt is about devotion to an external divinity. jnAnA is realizing that divinity inside us.

OVK entwines both in this Ranganatha panchakam. Ranga is the 'stage' or 'theater' of Universe. Vishnu in the form of Ranganatha is the lord of this Universal matter forms and beings. Summary of Ranganatha panchakam Ranganatha who rests on bed of serpents, being like a golden mountain, dissolves inside everything, giving rise to the three worlds and their beings.

He whose feet is like pleasant moon on ocean-side with fully decorated body gives rise to beings, manifesting as the knowledge of these forms. He who is stationary in all objects moving/non-moving, whose dark feet is submitted to by sages like nArada, evolves the knowledge to music and dance.

He who is inside siddha, saranas,munis, indra, runs the artha, kama, moksa cycle of beings. The golden crown and jewels bedecked Ranganatha who enamours the mind, makes life auspicious with highest of knowledge forms like art, music, dance also establishes/preserves dharma completely as in Rama carita.

This face of Ranganatha, that I prostrate is beautifully, endlessly, smilingly, resting inside all.