You are here: SriPedia - Ramanuja - Archives - Sep 2006

Ramanuja List Archive: Message 00068 Sep 2006

 
Sep 2006 Indexes ( Date | Thread | Author )
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]


SRIMATHE RAMANUJAYA NAMAHA
SRIMATHE BALADHANVI MAHAGURUVE NAMAHA
SRIMAD VARAVARAMUNUYE NAMAHA

Periyavachanpillai -14/09/2006

                Srimad Krishna Samahvaya Namo Yamuna Sunave
                Yat Katakshaika Lakshyanam Sulabha Sridhara Sada

[Salutation to Srimad Krishna(Periyavachan Pillai), the son of Sri 
Yamuna.  Sridhara will be easily accessible to those who become the 
target of the glances of Sri Periyavachan Pillai].  This is the 
taniyan of Sri Periyavachan Pillai who occupies an unique and 
distinct position among Sri Vaishnava Acharyas.  His greatness is not 
only beyond description but also far beyond conception of any human 
being.  Let me, however, try to pay a glorious tribute on the 
occasion of his birthday(Tirunakshatram) which falls on 14-09-
2006,Thursday following several essays written by our illustrious 
ancestors of profound and renowned scholarship and purify both my 
heart and pen.

Sri Periyavachan Pillai was born in the year Sarvajit(A.D. 1167) 
during the month of Aavani, the star being Rohini.  His father's name 
was Sri Yamuna and his mother was called Srimathi Nachiyar, at 
Shanganallur at Thanjavur District.

The original name given to him by his parents was Sri Krishna.  He 
learnt Vedas etc. as per the custom prevailing in those days and 
became a master of both Samskrit and Tamil language and literature.  
Later on he became the right hand of  Sri Nampillai, even as 
Lakshmana was the right hand of Sri Rama.

About his birth there is a faith among the Srivaishanavas, which is 
very interesting to note.  Tirumangai Azhwar during his pilgrimage to 
different Divya Desams visited Tirukannamangai.  There he sang 
mellifluous songs, eulogizing Sri Krishna, the preciding deity of 
that Divya Desam.  Sri Krishna developed a very great fancy for those 
songs, lured by their melody and expressed his strong desire to learn 
those songs.  Tirumangai Azhwar remarked, 

"Meimmai Sollin Venshangam Onru Endiya Kanna! 
  Ninthannakum Kurippagil Karkalaam Kaviyin Porulthane" 

  (Periya Tirumozhi 7-10-10)  

(To be frank with you Oh Krishna! Wielding white conch if you so 
desire in your Archavathara State you can only learn the meaning of 
my poem).  Thereby obviously Kaliyan meant that the Lord should be 
born again in this mortal world to learn his poem.  The Lord 
understanding the implication of this statement of Kaliyan was born 
in this world as Sri Periyavachan Pillai on the same day as Krishna 
was born (Rohini star-Gokula Astami).  Hence his name was also 
Krishna.  Tirumangai Azhwar was born as Nampillai, his birth month 
and day being Karthikai and Krithika Star as that of Tirumangai 
Azhwar.   Sri Nampillai was also named TirukkaliKanri Dasar, another 
name for Tirumangai Azhwar.  So Tirukhannamangai deity, Sri Krishna 
was born as Sri Periyavachan Pillai and Tirumangai Azhwar's 
incarnation was Sri Nampillai. (The date of birth, the name of Sri 
Nampillai and Sri Periyavachan Pillai with that of Thirumangai Azhwar 
and Sri Krishna are responsible for this very fanciful conjucture).

Much about the life history of Sri Achan Pillai is unknown but his 
excellences cannot be described even by the thousand hooded Aadisesha 
or the thousand headed Lord himself.  He has the unique distinction 
of writing versatile lucid and very sweet commentary on the four 
thousand songs of Azhwars called Nalayira Divya Prabhandam.  He has 
also written an excellent and scholarly commentary on select verses 
of Sri Ramayanam and Bharata.  His jovial and novel treatment of the 
sweet commentary on Sri Ramayanam called Tani Sloka Vyakyanam is 
unparalled in the world literature.  His depth of knowledge in all 
Shastras under the sun  is manifest in these commentaries.  He has 
also commented on the Gadyatrayam of Sri Ramanuja, Chatusloki and 
Stotra Ratnam of Sri Yamunacharya and Jitante Stotra.  His main idea 
was to carry the force of wisdom enshrined in all these epics Divya 
Prabhandham etc to all people who possess meager knowledge and he is 
successful in his attempt.  For this purpose he did not use Sanskrit 
language for his commentary but only a suitable admixture of both 
Samskrit and Tamil words which were in common use in those days.  
This helped the people belonging to different strata of the society.  
Even women in those days were able to understand and assimilate the 
inner meanings of the epics stanzas and Nalayira Divya Prabhandam 
with the help of these commentaries.  His authorship of Paranda 
Rahasyam and Manikka Malai is still a open question.

However in his super commentaries all the Rahasyarthas do find a 
place, embedded very well.  Thus he has earned two sobriquets, 
Vyakhyana Chakravarthi and Abhaya PradaRaja(for his excellent 
commentary on Vibhishana Sharanagathi slokas which he richly 
deserves).

Sri Nampillai understanding the unique capacity of his disciple Sri 
Achan Pillai commanded him to write a commentary on Tiruvoimozhi.  He 
fulfilled this duty by writing an excellent commentary on 1102 
stanzas of Tiruvoimozhi called 24000 padi (One padi consists of 32 
syllables).  Two other disciples of SriNampillai by name Vadakku 
Tiruveedi Pillai and Naduvil Tiruveedi Pillai Bhattar also wrote 
commentaries on Tiruvoimozhi without getting the sanction of their 
Acharya, Sri Nampillai.  This irritated the teacher very much.  
Naduvil Tiruveedi Pillai Bhattar's commentary was totally repudiated 
by Sri Nampillai and having dipped the palm leaf manuscripts in water 
threw it inside an ant hill where as Vadakku Tiruveedi Pillai's 
commentary was thrown to the background and not allowed for public 
consumption for a certain period.  From this we can understand the 
unique love of Sri Nampillai towards Sri Aachan Pillai.

Let me take one example from Periya Tirumozhi to illustrate the 
excellence and fascinating character of Sri Aachan Pillai's 
commentary.




"Oliya vennai undan enru Vuralodu Aaicchi
On Kayitral Viliya Aarkha Aapundu Vimmi Azhuthan
Men malar mel Kaliya vandu Kallunna Kamar Thenral Alar Tootra
Nalir Vai Mullai Muruvalikkum Naraiyur Ninra Nambiye"    
(Periya Tirumozhi 6-7-4)

In this stanza Sri Kaliyan describes both the town Tirunaraiyur and 
the presiding deity Tirunaraiyur Nambi in a very picturesque manner.  
The Lord there in the city is none other than Lord Krishna who in his 
former birth as Krishna, stole the butter which was kept very much 
guarded by, he was caught red handed and got fastened to a mortar.  
He could not extricate himself but only wept bitterly unable to cry 
aloud.  Here while commenting on this stanza, Sri Aachan Pillai 
revels and the aesthetic sense of Swami Aachan Pillai are far beyond 
anybody's imagination.  He raises some questions and answers them.

Question 1:  
Why Krishna was not able to cry aloud?
Answer 1: 
It was because the mother Yashoda threatened him not to cry after 
tying him  
to the mortar.  Therefore Krishna could not cry aloud.

Question 2:  
The Supreme Lord is capable of cutting the guardian knot of 
Samsaram.  He  can release the soul from the worldly bondage such an 
omnipotent deity could not secure his release from the bondage for 
which an ordinary rope was used.  This is really amazing.  How could 
we give an answer to this query?
Answer 2:
The Lord could extricate Himself from Nagapasha discharged by 
Indrajit in His Ramavatara.  So also He could set Himself free from 
the bondage of Duryodhana.  These are all in the case of enemies But 
if a mother or a wife fastens Him, out of love and affection  He 
cannot free Himself from those bondages.  Moreover Yashoda after 
fastening Him explicitly told Him, "If you can set yourself free, 
well! Do it.  Let me see" Sri Aachan Pillai says, Yashoda not only 
fastened Him with a rope but also with her word of Motherly 
affection.  Hence the all powerful deity had to suffer the bondage.

In this connection Sri Aachan Pillai introduces the most interesting 
anecdote from the life history of Sri Ramanuja which is highly 
relevant to the context.  Sri Ramanuja was requested once by Sri 
Vangipurathu Nambi, one of his devoted disciples to teach him 
Tiruvaaradhana Krama(the method of performing pooja everyday).  But 
he went on postponing it owing to lack of time.  Subsequently when he 
was staying at Tirumala hills, he taught Tiruvaaradhana Kramam to Sri 
Kurathazhwan and Hanumath Dasa, the two dear disciples.  Suddenly 
there appeared on the scene, quite unexpectedly, Sri Vangipurathu 
Nambi.  On seeing him the heart of Sri Ramanuja stopped for a while 
stricken with fear.  Sri Ramanuja then observed, "For a very long 
time, I was entertaining a doubt in my heart of heart.  "How can 
Krishna the Supreme commander of all beings, fear the sudden arrival 
of his mother while he was stealing butter and Instead of extricating 
Himself from the bondage using His incalculable prowess, Why should 
he weep bitterly?"  This doubt is dispelled from my mind today.  Iam 
the master of Vangipurathu Nambi.  At his request, I did not teach 
him the Tiruvaaradhana Kramam out of pressure of work.  Now at least 
while teaching the other two disciples, I could have summoned 
Vangipurathu Nambi and taught him the same along with the other two.  
His unanticipated arrival on the scene caused fear in my heart.  If a 
person, however great he may be, commits a mistake, he has to be 
stricken with fear when his mistake becomes public.  Formerly I did 
not teach Sri Vangipurathu Nambi the pooja routine at his humble 
request.  That is the first mistake.  At least now while teaching the 
other two, I could have included him which I did not.  This is the 
second grave mistake.  Therefore I feared him. So also Krishna would 
have feared His mother".

Very many such interesting and highly suited to the context anecdotes 
are interspersed in the super commentary of Nalayira Divya Prabhandam 
of Sri Periyavachan Pillai.

The commentary on the other two lines is most enchanting and teaches 
a moral lesson to all of us.  Tirunaraiyur city is full of flowery 
gardens.  Honeybees are very busy in sucking the honey from the 
flowers.  The southern breeze blows gently and the mullai(flower) 
buds are gently opening their petals.  Thus Tirumangai Azhwar 
describes a natural happening.  The inner meaning given by Sri Aachan 
Pillai is superb.

The honey bee is taken to be a Srivaishnava.  Though Mr. Honey bee 
(Srivaishnava) is highly disciplined, once as ill-luck would have it, 
he drank liquor(madhu=honey or liquor).  This was observed by the 
southern breeze that is by another person.  Mr. Southern breeze went 
on spreading this scandal among the public(Alar Toothra- the word, 
which you find in the stanza has two meanings 1) Scattering the 
blossomed flowers 2)scandalizing.  The second meaning is very useful 
for the commentator here to give the inner meaning).  This was 
observed by a third person Mullai flower.  Mr. Mullai thought with in 
himself.  "Oh what nonsense it is! Mr. Honey bee( a Srivaishnava) has 
drunk liquor unintentionally.  This was of course an act committed 
unwittingly.  This should not be given undue publicity.  Mr. Southern 
breeze ought to have kept quite.  He is really a scandal monger".  So 
thinking Mr. Mullai i.e. another Srivaishnava was wreathed in smiles 
without laughing aloud at the behaviour(of these two Srivaishnava 
gentlemen) (Mullai Muruvalikkum ? Muruval has got two meaning ? 1) 
the mullai bud which was slightly opened 2)wreathed in gentle smile)

The moral here is to be clearly understood.  Speak about the virtues 
of Srivaishnavas.  Never give publicity to any mistake or 
misbehaviour unwittingly committed by a Srivaishnava.  We cannot 
find `anywhere in world literature such a beautiful commentary.  
Therefore Sri Periyavachan Pillai richly deserves the 
title "Vyakhyana Chakravarthi" (uncrowned monarch in the world of 
literary criticism and commentary).

Sri Manavala Manunigal pays a glowing tribute to Sri Periyavachan 
Pillai in his Upadesa Rathinamalai Stanza No.46

Periyavachan Pillai pinbulla vaikkum theriya
Vyakiyaigal seival - ariya 
aruli cheyal porulai Ariyarkatku ippothu 
aruli cheyal aitharindhu

Sri Periyavachan Pillai has the unique distinction of writing 
commentary on all the 4000 hymns of Azhwars.  Some other Acharyas 
have written commentaries on some Divya Prabhandams only.  For all 24 
Prabhandams Sri Periyavachan Pillai alone has written superfine 
commentaries.  Though the Divya Prabhandams are in simple Tamil 
language, the depth of meaning is very difficult to understand 
without the help of Sri Periyavachan Pillai's commentary. Thus he has 
rendered very great service to Azhwars and to Srivaishnavas.  If 
Srivaishnava scholars today deliver lectures on Srivaishnava 
doctrines it is thanks to Sri Periyavachan Pillai's commentary.  They 
owe a debt of gratitude to Sri Periyavachan Pillai.  So on his 
Tirunakshatram day(i.e. today) let us pay homage to his holy feet.  
What else can we do for his very valuable help which would secure us 
emancipation and the service at the lotus like feet of Sriman 
Narayana and His divine concert Sri Mahalakshmi.

Sri Periyavachan Pillai Thiruvadigale Saranam.









Azhvar EmberumAnAr JeeyAr ThiruvadigalE Saranam 
http://www.vedics.net

 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ramanuja/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ramanuja/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    mailto:ramanuja-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
    mailto:ramanuja-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    ramanuja-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
 




[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next] [Date Index ] [Thread Index ] [Author Index ]
Home Page
http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia
ramanuja-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe to the list