thoNdar kulam

[Guest guest]

Srivaishnava life style -1

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Progressive social thinking has been a part of Sri

Vaishnavasim long before it became fashionable among

the literary elite. Alas, much of it is given just lip service

these days, or worse ignored, but it is there for any one to

see. Just 5 poems into the 4,000 poems or "paasuram" of

Dhivya Prabhandam we see Periaazhvaar gently appeal to

those riding the high horse of superior birth to give up

their snobbery and join the chorus of singing praises to

the Lord. The fifth paasuram of Thirup pallaaNdu is:

 

"aNdakkulaththuk kathipathiyaaki

asurariraakkatharai

iNdaikkulaththai eduththukkaLaindha

irudeekEsan_thanakku

thoNdakkulaththil uLLeer! vandhadithozhuthu

aayiran^aamam solli

paNdaikkulaththaith thavirndhu

pallaaNdu pallaayiraththaaNdu enminE"

 

Azhvaar calls out to the devotees (thoNdar kulam) to

come out and sing the thousand names of the Lord of the

heavenly devaas and the one who came down to this earth

as a cowherd to destroy the asuraas and raakshashaas.

Apparently there were some with giant sized egos who

couldn't bring themselves to experiencing devotion to our

Lord. Azhvaar then tries to coax them to shun their pride

and immerse themselves in devotion.

 

Periaazhvaar systematically shatters the notion of birth

based separation, not to mention superiority, with his deft

handling of the term "kulam.". The Lord of the heavenly

clan "aNdar kulam" chose to be a part of the lowly

cowherd clan "iNdar kulam." There is a lesson in this

choice He made. Don't be so proud of your high birth

"paNdaik kulam;" shed (thavirndhu) your ego and

become a part of the clan of devotees of our Lord,

"thoNdar kulam."

 

 

-- Dileepan