You are here: SriPedia - SriRangaSri - Archives - Jan 2005

SriRangaSri List Archive: Message 00115 Jan 2005

 
Jan 2005 Indexes ( Date | Thread | Author )
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]



SrI:
SrImathE Gopaladesika mahadesikaya namah:
Dearest Srivaishnavas,

Our VisishtAdvaita Srivaishnava siddhAntham's pivotal
and uniqueness is SarIra sareeri bhAvam. This sarIra
sarIri bhAvam is also echoed by Thirumazhisai AzhwAr
with a brilliant simile:

Like the ocean which has waves spreading out from its
own(though waves look and are different from the
ocean), and takes the whole lot of waves back to its
own waters; (and then the cycle repeats.) You (the
Lord) let the moving (chith) and non moving (achit)
appear and disappear [be born and dying] and then take
them converging back to you (during mahApraLayam)
(please forgive me for my crude free translation).

thannuLE thiraiththezhum tharanka veNthadankadal
thannuLEthiraiththezhun^thadankukinRa thanmaipOl
ninnuLEpi RanthiRanthu niRpavum thiripavum,
ninnuLEya dankukinRa nIrmain^in_kaN ninRathE.

(AzhwAr's Thirucchandha viruttham pAsuram)

What great example! (even dull headed ones like me can
perceive!) Both his prabhandhams , Naanmukan
ThiruvantdAthi and Thirucchandhaviruttham, thus,
AzhwAr emphasizes that Sriman NarAyaNA is the one and
only ultimate cause and He ALONE is the way and the
Goal.

AzhwAr tells the Lord- You are not there without me:-)
Let us enjoy [from AzhwAr's naanmukhan
ThiruvanthAthi]: 

inRAha nALayEyAha inicchiRithu
ninRAha ninnaruL yenpAlathE --nanRaaha
naan unnai anRi ilEn kaNdAi nAaraNanE
nee yennaianRi ilai

Oh NaaRayaNA! I may become the object of Your krupA
today or it may happen tomorrow or it may happen even
after that passage of time. It does not matter. I know
that Your special Krupai belongs to me . I do not
exist without You and neither do You exist without me.
Unnai anRi naan ilEn; yennai anRi nee ilai. We can say
that we are not there without God. How can we say He
is not there without us? We can. Only if there is a
son, there can be Father. Only if there is naaram,
there can be naaram + ayanam- NaaraayaNan. What a
beautiful way of expressing our relationship with Him!
(unnOdu uRavEl namakku ingu ozhikka ozhiyAdhu..)

Another wonderful sweet verse -sample from his
Thirucchandha viruttham:

atthanAhi annayAhi aaLum EmperumAnumAi
otthu ovvAtha pal-piRappu ozhitthu nammai AatkkoLvAn
MutthanAr MukundhanAr puhunthu namm uLL mEvinAr
yetthinAl idarkkadal kidatthi yEzhai nenjamE?

(english Translation of Sri Uttamur Swamy?s commentary
-by Sri Satakopan Swami of New York): 
Oh my poor mind worried about lack of upAyam to attain
Moksha Siddhi! The blemishless Lord (MutthanAr), who
is the granter of the boon of Moksham has made sure
that the incongruous births full of suffering will not
happen any more and has decided to accept us as His
servants. For that purpose, He has entered into us as
the Father (gariyAn Brahmadha: PithA )instructing us
on the upAyam, as the compassionate Mother , who grows
that Jn~Anam and as AchAryan who delivers us at the
feet of the Dhivya Dampathi. From here on, Oh My mind!
Where is the reason for your worries about 
enjoying You at srivaikuntam with Bliss?

Today is Thai makam. Such most divine- Sri
Thirumazhisai AzhwAr [also known as Bhakthi sArar
-person known for representing the essence of
Bhakthi to Sriman NaarAyaNa] was born on this day.

makhAyam Makare MAse Chakramsham Bhargavodbhavam
mahisArapurADhEsham BhaktisAramaham bhajE.

I worship Bhaktisara, who was born as the son of
Bhargava in Mahisapuram (Thirumazhisai) in the month
of Makaram under the asterism of Makham as a
manifestation of the Chakram of Lord Narayana
(Sudarshana Chakram).

Let us look at his wonderful life history and pay our
obeisance to AzhwAr on his Thirunakshathram.
Born at Thirumazhisai, to Bhargava rishi and his
pathni (wife) kanakAngi after an unusual of 12 months
stay in the womb). Seeing the foetus that came out as
just a lifeless lump of flesh with no arms, legs,
etc., they were terribly depressed and with
unwillingness left it at the "moongil" (bamboo) bush
and returned. Our Lord Sriya: pathi appeared with His
consort and blessed the "flesh" with Their katAksham
and it turned into an alive, Divya tEjas, cute little
bundle of joy; a fully developed and lovely baby which
was later picked up with both the arms affectionately
by a tribe(Harijan) amed "ThiruvALan". A really
blessed couple ThiruvALan and pankaya chelvi, was very
much overwhelmed by the grace of God for this Gift of
swarNa vigraham-like baby.

Again an unusual (this unusualness is found on many
occasions in this AzhwAr's life) phenomenon of not
drinking or eating any thing nor any expelling of any
wastes like any other normal child saddened them. They
really longed to see the baby drink or eat something;
It was happening for quite some time and this
unusualness news spread everywhere and attracted lots
of people to see and be blessed with the darshan of
this divine child, who is growing and developing like
any other normal child without absolutely any intake.
When a simple, devoted agriculturist old couple paid
their visit,they brought some cow's milk with them and
the old lady lovingly placed the baby on her lap and
offered the milk saying "Oh our beloved
thirumazhisaiyE, the one who came amidst us by the
grace of Sriman nArAyaNa, please take this milk and
remove our worries, dear" and IT STARTED DRINKING.
(one can imagine the happiness mixed with "Anandha
bhAshpam" tears of joy that must have flowed!) And
they were coming everyday to offer the milk to the
baby; one such day the baby AzhwAr showed and
signalled the left over milk to be drunk by the old
couple; The moment they drank, they regained their
youth; yet another marvel by the Divine AzhwAr, who
was none other than the ChakrA of mahA vishNu. The
"young" old couple, later were blessed with a male
child called "kaNikaNNan" who at a later stage became
a close friend/ardent disciple of
ThorumazhisaiAzhwAr.

The AzhwAr, actually had learnt tried all other
religions/doctrines., namely., Buddhism, jainism,
advaitA and in fact became a staunch devotee of SivA
(with a name siva vAkyA). He can also be called a
Research Scholar. He studied & rejected different
philosophical systems and religions based on them such
as Buddhism, NyAyA, VaisEshikA , SaamkhyA , paatanjala
and KaapAlikA . Finally, he became an accomplished
Siddhar worshipping Lord SivA . Pey AzhwAr intervened
and helped BhakthisArA accept Sri VaishNavism and the
supermacy of Sriman NaarAyaNA.

pEyAzhwAr argued with him, showed him evidences from
vEdAs ans smrithis to claim sriman nArAyaNA as the
supreme deity, and finally initiated him into
vaishNavic philosophy and named him bhaktisArar.
AzhwAr later declares his struggles in his pAsuram:

sAkkiyam kaRROm samaN kaRROm, sankaranAr/ 
Akkiya Agama nool arinthOm bhaktiyAl/ senkatkariyaAnai
sErnthOm yAm theethilamE/ yenkatkariyathOnRil/

After my futile efforts to know the supreme principle
through jainism, buddhism, and saivic philosophy, I am
blessed by sriman nArAyaNa to take refuge at the Lotus
feet of Sri Devi and have escaped all problems and
misfortunes since then."

Once he was won over in the debate that established
the supermacy of ( parathvam of ) Sriman NaarAyaNA, he
rejected all the other mathams as Saara Heenam (devoid
of substance) and became a Parama VaishNavA. He became
the leading exponent of Sri VaishnNavite theosophy .
He is the first AzhwAr to refer to PaancharAthra
Aagamam and VyuhA principles embedded in there.
BhaktisArar visited various sthalams (temples) and
came to Thiruve:ka (bhooshathAzhwAr's birthplace) and
was allured by the beauty of the Lord and the scenic
beauties and decided to stay there for some time. Our
kaNikaNNan, too joined bhaktisArar and served him as
an ardent disciple (sishyA) to AzhwAr. There was also
an old lady (unmarried) who devotedly, whole heartedly
served AzhwAr by cleaning, mopping, drawing "kOlams"
etc.. AzhwAr was greatly impressed by her
indefatigable service and devotion towards azhwAr and
appreciated her openly; The old lady was moved and
regretted that she joined him at this age only and not
when she was able so that she could have continued to
serve for more years. Hearing that, azhwAr's kind
heart melted and showered his graceful look
(katAksham) on the lady, who was immediately
transformed into an extremely beautiful young lady.
(This AzhwAr's miracles are really great, dear
vaishNavAs) Later, during a royal procession,
nagarvalam", the pallava king saw her in azhwAr's
place and married her.

After some years, when the king actually noticed that
his queen is not ageing and has got the same youthful
look while he was getting old, he found out that it
was AzhwAr's divine katAksham that did the magic. He
asked kaNikaNNan who was summoned to the court to make
a request to AzhwAr on behalf of the king, kaNikaNNan
refused saying he and the AzhwAr will not yield and
sing for a mortal. That enraged the king and he
ordered to banish kaNikaNNan from his kingdom.
KaNikkaNNan said "this is not the only sthalam for me;
The entire world is His" and walked off.

He went to azhwAr and narrated the incident which
forced him to leave that place and begged for his
pardon for leaving him; AzhwAr felt very sad that his
dearest friend/devoted disciple is leaving him. He did
not feel like staying there without kaNikaNnan. Hence,
AzhwAr, too decided to push off from Thiruve:ka.
AzhwAr went straight to the temple and prayed
wholeheartedly with tears in his eyes and requested
the Lord also to come along with them, as he can not
think of living without the Lord.

kaNikaNNan pOginRAn kAmaru poon kacchi/ 
maNivaNNA1 nee kidakka vEndA/
sennAppulavanum pOginrEn neeyum unRan/ 
painnAgappAi suruttikkoL/

kaNikkaNNan is going out of kanchi maNivaNNa, I am
also leaving with him. You don't have to lie down here
any more; You also roll your "nAgam" (serpent bed) and
follow me" and FRIENDS, OUR LORD FOLLOWED THE AZHWAR
WITH THE SNAKE ROLLED AND TUCKED UNDER HIS ARMS.

The king next day got the news that the temple is
desolated and the entire city looks dark and lifeless,
he understood his folly and rushed immediately to
chase the trio. He caught them on the way and
prostrated on the ground, repenting for what he had
done; requested them to forgive him for his mistake
and to come back to kAnchi. AzhwAr and kaNikaNNan,
understanding the sincerity of his regret and
repentance requested the Lord again to return and stay
at kAnchi. Needless to say, the Lord obeyed.

kaNikaNNan pOkkozhindAn kAmaru poon kacchi/ maNivaNNA1
nee kidakka vEndum/
sennAppulavanum pOkkozhindEn neeyum unRan/
painnAgappAi viritthukkoL/

Once on his way to Tirukkudantai, he stopped for a
while to take rest and he sat on the "ThiNNai" ( a
sort of bench-pial) in front of a house in
Perumpuliyur. A few brahmins were reciting vedas
inside that house. On seeing the "harijan" (our
AzhwAr), they stopped their recitation since, as per
tradition and shAstrAs, Veda was not to be recited in
the presence of a person belonging to the fourth caste
and our AzhwAr immediately understood and was about to
leave when the Brahmins started their recitation. They
forgot the next line and at what point they had left
the recitation. The AzhwAr broke open a black paddy
seed that was lying there with his fingernail to
indicate the exact context which had a reference to
the paddy seed. The brahmins were simply flabbergasted
and astonished and realized the greatness of the
AzhwAr and asked for his pardon.

When the Archaka (priest) of the local temple wanted
to honour the AzhwAr, knowing fully well his bhakti
and GnAna, some people objected and spoke ill of the
AzhwAr. Tha AzhwAr felt hurt and prayed to the Lord to
show himself to these people in his physical body to
prove that the antaryAmi (the in-dweller- who has
manifested) is the same nArAyanan in all living
beings, irrespective of the jAti, caste, creed,
colour, sex etc.,

akkarangal akkarangal Enrum Aavadhu En Kolo /
ik Kurumbai Neekki Ennai Eesanaakkka Vallaiyel /
sakkaram Koll Kaiyane Sadankar Vai Adangida /
ut Kidantha Vanname Puram Posindhu Kaattide /

Meaning: What is the use of your having those
resplendent hands if you cannot remove the
idiosyncrasy of these ignorant folk and make me
powerful in their midst? Lord, with the divine discus
in your hand! Teach these fools a lesson by showing
yourself appearing in my very physical body" Again,
The Lord obeyed the AzhwAr and showed himself off in
the body of AzhwAr and the protestors were simply
astonished and prostrated and begged for his pardon.
(It only again goes to prove that no one is superior
or inferior by birth; it is just bhakti and love for
Him which will make us dearer to Him- No one chooses
his kulam, parents, life; It is all His mercy)

On reaching Tirukkudantai (Kumbakonam), he let the
birchbark leaf containing his writings in the waters
of river Kaveri. The leaf floated back to him holding
his works viz.,'Tiruchanda Viruttam' (a poem of
beautiful verses) in which he sang the following
beautiful verse:

NinRadhu Enthai Ooragathu Irundathu Enthai Paadagathu
/
AnRu Vekkanaik Kidandhathu EnnilAtha MunnelAm /
AnRu NAn PiRandilEn PiRandhapin MaRandilEn /
NinRadhum Irundhadhum Kidandhathum En NenjuLe /

"Before I was born, He was standing in Ooragam, was
sitting in Paadagam and was lying down in Tiruvekka.At
that time I was not born with wisdom; When once I was
born with this wisdom, I never forgot. Therefore, the
Lord left all those places and has taken permanent
abode in my heart". The idea is that the great Gnanis
never considered themselves as born at all until they
realized this ' artha gnAnam'. And, once they realized
this, they had no other avocation than being immersed
in the thought of the Lord.

The other work of the AzhwAr is ' Naanmugan
Tiruvantadhi'- an Antadhi commencing with the words
'Naanmugan' - a reference to the four faced Brahma.
The first stanza of the Antadhi categorically states:

Naan Mugani Naraayanan Padaithaan- Naan Muganum /
Thaan Mugamaaai Sankaranaithaan Padaithaan /
Yaan Mugamaai Anthaadhi Melittu Arivithen - Aazh
Porulai Sinthaamal Konmin Neer Therndhu

"The four faced Brahma was born to Narayana and to
this Brahma was born Sankara. I am declaring this
truth in this Antadhi. Resort to this without any
doubt, if you desire to wipe out the pangs of birth"

The AzhwAr was so straight forwarded, outspoken,
fearless and established the oneness and supremacy of
Sriman nArAyaNan and sri vaishNavam. He became an
exemplary Sri vaishNava AcharyA and it is told that he
spent about 700 years meditating on TiruvallikkeNi
perumAL Sri vEnkata krishNan.

The first three Azhwars, Poigai, Bhootham and pEy
respectively stood for parajn~Ana (transcendental
knowledge), para bhakthi (transcendental devotion) and
the parama bhakthi (supreme devotion). After all that,
it is this Thirumazhisai vandha jyOthi- Bhakthi Sarar-
Thirumazhisai Piraan is the one who removed the weeds
and declared to the world the Parathvam unambiguously
and crystal clear. After having seen an studied other
religions, he assertively and categorically declared
and he proved with conviction and authority that
Sriman NaarAyaNA is the unalterable truth behind " the
primal and ultimate causality of all the Worlds".
Poorvacharyas have mentioned that here is the AzhwAr
who took out the sword to cut asunder the roots of
devathaanthara sambandham and unambiguosly established
the Parathvam of Sriya: Pathi [which vedas clearly
have declared hreeschathE lakshmeescha pathnyow - in
Purusha sooktham- which every vaideeka is aware of and
if he believes in Vedas, he will naturally believe
this vedic truth as well]

Let us meditate at his lotus feet on his
Thirunakshathram today. 

mazhisai vandha jyOthi [as revered by Swami Desikan]
ThiruvaDigaLE SaraNam
Regards
Namo Narayana
dAsan


                
__________________________________ 
Do you Yahoo!? 
Yahoo! Mail - Easier than ever with enhanced search. Learn more.
http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250





------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> 
What would our lives be like without music, dance, and theater?
Donate or volunteer in the arts today at Network for Good!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/WwRTUD/SOnJAA/i1hLAA/VkWolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~-> 

 
Yahoo! Groups Links

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

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    SriRangaSri-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
srirangasri-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe to the list