Dasavatharam

[Guest guest]

It is my understanding that of the many avathaarams 10

are given special status and called Dasaavathaaram.

Buddha is one of this ten among the north Indians, but

not in the south. But, Buddha is considered, even by Sri

Vaishnavaas, as an avathaaram, albeit, one in which the

Lord preached lies to the asuraas. This is not a

very broad minded acceptance of Buddha, but consistent

with our view of Buddism. I am not sure how the north

Indians accept Buddha as one of the avatharams without

prejudice to the vEdhaas.

 

Among the south Indian 10, I am more puzzled with

Parasu Raamar than some of the others. Is the concept of

implicit obedience to father the main contribution of this

avatharam? Was he an avaathaaram only until his

encounter with Sri Raamar? This must be so as he was

unable to defeat Bheeshmar later. Would that not make

him less than the other avathaarams?

 

To me, Vyaasar, aazhvaars, and great aachaaryaas evoke

a great deal of reverence, equal to or even more than

some of the Dasavatharas. Next to, or even equal to, the

moolavar sannithi, it is Udayavar sannithi in Sri Rangam

that is poignant. Similarly, ThirukkOshtiyoor is more

emotional than say ThirumaalirunchOlai. Swami Sri

DhEsikar's thiru maaLigai and thirukkiNaRu are the most

inspirational things at Thiruvaheendhrapuram. The

imagery of thirukkachchi nambi doing Thiru Alavattam

(fanning) for pEraruLaaLar and conversing with Him,

that makes a visit to Kaanchi aththigiri perumaaL kOvil

most gratifying. In my childhood, my grandfather used to

tell bedtime stories of Ramayanam, Bhagavatham, and

Mahabaharatham, but I never heard him say anything

about aazhvaars or Sri Ramanuja, Sriman naadhamunigaL or Sri

ALavandhaar, let alone MaNakkaal nambi, Periya nambi,

or Thirukkachchi nambigaL, etc., etc. I hope our

grandchildren will learn of these achchaaryaas along with

the dasaavathaarams.

 

 

 

-- Parthasarati Dileepan