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srI:
SrI  upakAra  sangraham â?? 37
--- 
adikAram â?? 1
poorva upakAra paramparai
(The Foremost Series of Favours) 
---   
SECTION â?? 5 (6) [Continued] 
(27 Favours of the Lord leading to the means for
MOKSHAM)  
----- 
        We have so far studied SwAmi Desikan's reference to
AzhvArs through whom the Lord did the favour of
illuminating the essential truths of the VEdAs and the
related scriptures. Now, we shall take up to study how
He did this favour through the AchAryas, as referred
to by SwAmi Desikan:

(6) "AzhvArkaLaiyum AchAryarkaLatyum koNdu,
vEda-tattvArtta-prakAshanam paNNinatuvum;"

        Before turning to the AchAryas, it would be
appropriate to know how SwAmi Desikan summarizes the
contributions made by the AzhvArs in a single verse:

        "poigaimuni bhootattAr pEyAzhvAr taN
                porunal varum kurukEsan vittucittan
        tuyya kulasEkaran nam bhANanAtan
                toNdaradippodi mazhisaivanta choti
        vaiyyamelAm maRaiviLanka vALvElEntum
                mangaiyarkOn enRivarkaL makizhntu pAdum
        ceyya tamizhmAlaikaL nAm teLiyAvOtit
                teLiyAta  maRainilangaL teLikinROmE."  (adikAra
Sangraham, 1)

(We have comprehended the real meaning of the regions
of the Upanishads which are otherwise difficult to
understand, having studied clearly the beautiful Tamil
hymns sung delightfully by the AzhvArs, known as
Poygai muni. BhootatAr, pEyAzhvAr, KurukEsan
(nammAzhvAr) who was born on the banks of the cool
TAmiraparaNI, Vishnchittan, the pure-minded
KulasEkharan, our PANanAtan, tondaradippodi, the
luster that appeard in Mazhisai(Tirumazhisai AzhvAr),
and the king of Mangai holding a sword and a spear;
for making the VEdAs glow throughout the world.)

        In this verse, two Azhvars do not figure. They are:
SrI AndAL and SrI MadhurkaviyAr. For the non-inclusion
of SrI AndAL, the reason is that she is always
regarded as part of SrI PeriyAzhvAr and moreover, she
was an incarnation of SrI Bhoodevi and herself became
a Consort of the Lord. 

        SrI MadhurakaviyAr also is considered as a part of
SrI nammAzhvAr, his AchArya. He is ever together with
SrI nammAzhvAr and his work, SrI KaNNinuNchiRutthAmbu
is recited before and after the recitation of SrI
nammAzhvAr's SrIsookthis. 

        Here, SwAmi Desikan has given us a beautiful pAsuram
on SrI MadhurakaviyAr separately. It is the second
pAsuram in adhikAra Sangraham. (also in his Sri
Rahasyatraya sAra):
        inbattil iRainchutalil  isaiyum pERRil
                ikazhAta  palluRavil  irAgam mARRil
        tanpaRRil  vinaivilakkil  takavOkkattil 
                tattuvttai uNarttutalil tanmaiyAkkil
        anpaRkE  avatarikkum  Ayan  niRka
                arumaRaikaL tamizhceitAn  tALE  koNdu
        tunpaRRa  madhurakavi  tOnRak  kAttum 
                tolvazhiyE  nalvzhikaL  tuNivArkatkE.      
(adhikAra Sangraham, 2)

        In this verse, SwAmi Desikan projects the importance
of an AchArya as shown by SrI Madhurakavi himself in
his work, SrI kaNNinuNchiRttAmbu. 
        
        Now, we shall study the verse given above:

        The spotless SrI MadhurakaviyAr indicates the ancient
path for those who, having the firm determination to
abandon the meanest sensual pleasures, to venture on
the virtuous path.  SrI MadhurakaviyAr shows the only
safe path, by his own example.  While there is SrI
Krishna, the great cowherd, who incarnated solely: 
1) For the sake of His devotees to confer bliss on
them;
2) To be their refuge;
3) To be their final goal;
4) To stand in relation to them in many ways (as
mother, father, brother and so on);
5) To change their desire for the sensual pleasure
into a desire for Himself;
6) To remove all their sins; 
7) To show them infinite compassion; 
8) To reveal the truth; and
9) To confer on them His own nature. 

        Thus when there was SrI Krishna ever ready to do all
this, SrI MadurakaviyAr sought only the feet of the
sage Satakopan (nammAzhvAr) who rendered in Tamil the
truths contained in the VEdAs which are otherwise hard
to understand. 

        Sri MadhurakaviyAr thus stands like the Polar Star
guiding the newly turned sAttvik - virtuous - persons
how to go about in starting their journey towards the
Lord, SrIman nArAyaNa. He was alive even when the Lord
was present in the world in the incarnation as SrI
Krishna. But, SrI MadhurakaviyAr, chose to approach
SrI nammAzhvAr whose presence in down south was
indicated by a bright light in the sky and
fortunately, SrI MadhurakaviyAr went in that direction
and finally landed in AzhvAr Tirunagari,  where SrI
nammAzhvAr, as young boy sitting under a tamarind tree
near the Lord's temple there.  SrI MadurakaviyAr took
the bold initiative to wake up the AzhvAr who started
pouring out the Tamil vEdAs as he got an ideal
disciple to receive the instruction. SrI
MadhurakaviyAr took down all that came out of the
mouth of SrI nammAzhvAr and did a unique service to
the posterity. 

        Thus, we got a great AchArya in Sri nammAzhvAr by the
grace the Lord Himself. Hence, SwAmi Desikan says in
this sixth point in this series. It was the Lord Who
ensured the safety of the VEdAs and the related
scriptures through the AzhvArs and the AchAryas. 
        
        And SrI MadhurakaviyAr played a link between the
AchArya and the future line of AchAryas who continued
the sampradAya till now. 
        
        Even scriptures stressed the essential of an AchArya
for one to attain the highest goal in his life, that
is, Moksha, from this mundane life circle. 
        The necessity of an AchArya is shown by the Vedic
scriptures: 
        
        "tadvij~nArtham sa gurumEva abhigacchEt" (Mundaka
Upanishad, 1-2-12)

        (To realize the Brahman one should approach a Guru.)

                "AcAryavAn purushO vEda /" 

(Only he who got a good AchArya can realize the
Brahman.)

        "sa ca AchAryavamsO j~nEyO asAvasA iti AAbhagavatah
/" 

(The line of AchAryas extends up to BhagvAn thus: This
is his AchArya; his AchArya is so and so; and so on up
to the Lord.) (rahasyAmnAya BrAhmanam) 

(To continue )
dAsan
Anbil S.SrInivAsan
---------- 
          
      
        



      
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