Sri Mukapanchashati – Parts 1 and 2 – Word by Word Meaning & Detailed Explanation by Shri P. R. Kannan; published by Shree Vignesh & Co, 191, Lake View Road, West Mambalam, Chennai 600033; Pages 962; Price: Rs.1200.
Muka Panchasati, the famous composition of Sri. Muka Kavi, who was also Shankaracharya of Sri. Kanchi Kamakti Peetam – Sri Sri Sri Muka Shankarendra Saraswati Swamigal, on Goddess Kamakshi of the Holy Kanchi is one of the three immortal works on ‘Ambal ‘,the other two being Saundarya Lahari of Adi Shankarcharya and Arya Dvisati of Sage Durvasa as eulogised by Maha Periava in Deivathin Kural Vol1.
The tradition of Sri. Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam describes Sri. Muka as a congenital deaf-mute who subsequently regained his speech by the divine Grace of Sri. Kanchi Kamakshi. Arya Satakam 48.57 Padaravinda Satakam 24.61 Mandasmitha Satakam 94.98 and Stuti Satakam 21.28 point to Sri. Muka’s earlier dumbness, later inspiration, Sanyasa and Advaithic leanings.
He was an inspired Sanskrit poet endowed with poetic Pratibha through the Divine Grace of Kamakshi Mata; Pratibha of rapturous poetic imagination of Sri. Muka clothed itself in the resplendently gorgeous attire of a highly ornate style sustained uniformly in all the 500 slokas. Gunas, Alankaras etc. vie with one another spontaneously. Sri. Kannan conducted sessions on all the 500 verses for over a year. Even a cursory reader will realise that it is difficult to deal with these slokas, some of which are very difficult. Sri. Kannan handled all slokas elaborately with word by word meaning and detailed explanation in his simple lucid and inimitable style. The unique feature of these two volumes is the Summary of each sloka with cross references to Saundarya Lahari and other Devi works.
I was one of the lucky students to have attended these sessions. Slokas were melodiously rendered mostly by Ms. Padma Rajagopalan in her soulful voice; yes divine rendering matched by matchless explanation of Sri. Kannan. The experience is akin to ‘HONEY SHOWER FALLING ON SUGAR PANDAL” to quote a famous Tamil simile.
These two volumes are a treasure, nay, a veritable storehouse of Bhakthi inspiring slokas, which will confer the benefit of nectar like speech to the devotee as conveyed in the Phala Sruthi of Arya Satakam.
