You are here: SriPedia - Ramanuja - Archives - Dec 2003

Ramanuja List Archive: Message 00065 Dec 2003

 
Dec 2003 Indexes ( Date | Thread | Author )
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]


 
Supernal Rhapsody

Nalayira Divya Prabhandham represents ecstatic outpourings in the form of hymns 
sung by Vaishnava Azhwars in different era in praise of Lord Vishnu manifesting 
himself in temples under different names belonging to the days ofyore. The 
reputation of undertaking the onerous task of compilation and codification of 
hymns goes to the great Acharya, Sri Nathamunigal whose native place is 
?Kattumannargudi? then called ?Veeranarayanapuram? in South Arcot district. He 
had the divine guidance and command of Lord Aravamudhan, the presiding deity of 
Kumbakonam, to take up this stupendous venture for the benefit of the then 
humanity and the posterity. Tehse verses are considered to be an understandable 
Tamil interpretation of the Vedas and a treasure of immense esoteric value.

In order of classification Sri Nathamunigal, as ordained, has given the top 
priority to the hymns of Sri Vishnu Chitta later called ?Periazhwar?, a native 
of SriVilliputhur. While on a purposeful visit to Madurai Vishnuchitta had the 
vision of Lord Narayana in the firmament seated on His vehicle, ?Garuda? with 
Goddess Lakshmi occupying the right side of His broad chest and the Conch and 
Chakra held on either hands. The resplendent radiance of the Lord with His 
inseparable consort and His weapons with added luster, made Sri Vishnuchitta 
think that it would spell evil eye and also to avail the unique privilege of 
blessing the Lord, Goddess Lakshmi,His discus and conch with an infinite life 
which has no specific duration.

Sri Vishnuchitta has concentrated his Bhakthi towards Lord Krishna describing 
His antics, pranks and gambol in different stages of His growth. His hymn on 
Lord Krishna starts from ?Thirukottiyur? where the presiding deity is Lord 
Madhava whom Sri Vishnuchitta considered as the Lord of Dwaparayuga. We can 
draw logical conclusion that Periazhwar chose ?Thriukottiyur? to begin with, 
for singing the celestial hymns in praise of Lord Krishna may be attributable 
to the fact that the Holy place going to be further famous providing nucleus 
for the propagation of essential religiousconcept of Vaishnavism viz., 
?Thirumandiram? at a later date by no less a person than Sri Ramanuja who with 
a laudable object made it available to one and all irrespective of Caste or 
Creed to enter the Kingdom of SrimanNarayana notwithstanding his preceptor, Sri 
Thriukottiyur Nambi?s statutory to keep it a top secret.

Sri Vishnuchitta describes vividly the gaiety and the happy state of mind of 
the Cowheads and their maidens on the day Lord Krishna was born in their midst 
and his subsequent sports while growing as it appeared before his mental 
screen. The Azhwar takes the readers to that realm where his divine emotive 
expression created ecstasy so as to make them also enjoy and experience the 
inexplicable beatitude along with him.

On hearing the happy news of the birth of ?Kesavanambi? (Lord Krishna), the 
entire population of Cowherds colony lost their mental equipoise owing to their 
reaching the pinnacle of mirth resulting in running hither and thither in a 
spirit of rapture. It could be called a divine frenzy as they wandered without 
knowing to express their jubilation.

Some of them on seeing the divine child commented ?Is there anything in this 
world that could be an object of comparison with Him!?. Vishnuchitta in his 
hymn mentions the birth start of the newborn in the nature of a riddle. i.e. ? 
The tenth day from the start Hastham which revealsthe star ?Sravanam?. Thus 
masquerading the real birth star of the child which is ?Rohini? obviously to 
confuse the demon King Kamsa who had been forewarned about his end by one who 
was born under the star ?Rohini?. We see Sri Vishnuchitta?s extreme ?Bhakthi? 
by recalling what had happened in ?Dwaparayuga?, himself living in Kaliyuga 
forgetting about his being so.

In the colony of cowheards there was plenty of milk, curd and butter that were 
their mainstay and wealth. The maidens in their exuberant mirth and revelry 
threw the milk and its products to one another completely unaware of their hair 
plaits getting disheveled and becoming unkempt. Lord Krishna now as an infant 
was watching the whole fun and frolic with His handsome smiling countenance so 
as to make the innocent folk to enjoy themselves to their hearts content.

When the child Krishna was given a bath as per practice Yasodhaused apiece of 
turmeric to clean his tongue, she was bewildered to see seven worlds in His 
mouth. The Gopis talked to one another that He was not an ordinary child, but 
concluded that He is a divine incarnation.

It was twelfth day when there was a purification ceremony of the chamber in 
which the child was born. The entire population of the Cowherd?s colony engaged 
themselves in beautifying the whole area with flags andfestoons in order to 
celebrate the occasion. When the divine child was laid in to the small golden 
cradle inset with diamonds and invaluable gems He kicked the frames with His 
tiny legs that made the cradle fell down into pieces when some maidens lifted 
to fondle Him, they had their hips other joints feel the twings and the ache. 
Each one of them had a story to tell and was describing her personnel 
experience to the other.

After a visit to a temple and offering worshipping at the shrines each one of 
us comment about the beautiful features of the deity in the form of icon. 
Likewise when Yashodha after giving the child a bath put it on rest in a bed, 
the damsels were carried away by the infant?s beautiful and sharp eyes the 
smiling face and the prominent nose. Sri Vishnuchitta expresses how he could 
narrate the delectation of the womenfolk. The exhilaration of the ladies was 
such that even the entire sea as Cauldron cannot hold it. Every physical 
movement of the divine child stole the hearts of the unlettered cow maids. 
While the child was moving about on its fours, the style of His looks, His 
suckling posture, by raising the legs that measured the three worlds, to mouth 
holding them fast with His hands created and inexplicable delight among the 
Gopis. One lady pointed out with astonishment theuniform alignment of the toes, 
which is uncommon among mortals. Some amongthem tried to made the
child going sleep by means of Lullaby.

The dusk brings happiness to one and all by the appearance of the moon during 
its gradual waxing period and with a view to showing its full appearance to the 
child, the moon comes in a haste clearing the impediments that were in the form 
of passing clouds. On looking at the moon in its entirety, the divine child 
calls it to come near with its supple fingers when Yashodha cautions that moon 
? Do not deride the child under the impression that He is just like any other; 
He is none but the same baby who had a banyan leaf, as his bed at the time of 
deluge; should you dismiss and entertain any doubt that He is after all a small 
kid, you can have the veracity of the truth He grew taller than anything in 
this World, checked out by King Mahabali?. 

When the infant became a toddler the Cow maids enjoyed His waddle and called 
the others to witness the beauty of His gait; certain of themcommented that 
this little lion club is the same ?NRISHIMHA? who came out of the pillar and 
dismembered the demon king; certain of them watched the footprints of the child 
and found the impression of conch and discus in them.

Lord Krishna when grew up as an adolescent, went to the forest behind Cows 
along with the boys of the colony to graze the cattle. While returning home 
just before dusk, the fatigue was noticeable with His black complexioned body 
crust with full of dust over the sweat which instead of making him look unclean 
added further elegance to the divine youth?s frame. When there was a delay in 
his returning home with His retinue the Gopis were fidgety for a while and 
heaved a sigh of relief on seeing Him.

The enchanting dulcet sound produced by the Lord from His flutemade the maidens 
of the colony to leave their domestic chores abruptly andto proceed towards the 
direction from which the musical note wafted through the air.
The divine escapade of Lord Krishna has been given by Sri Vishnuchitta 
comprehensively in different stages of His growth and what is givenin this 
article is a capsule. Periazhwar?s Hymns are panacea for all theills, according 
to our great Acharyas


---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





[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