Whats in the name...

[Guest guest]

On January 16, 1996 (Thai 1st) I am planning to file the

charter for Sri Vaishnava Thondar Kuzhaam. Once filed,

we cannot make changes to the name or the charter. The

by-laws may be amended by the members as laid down in

the charter.

 

In this note I wish to submit to the group some of the

thinking that went into the selection of the name. I also

would like to request some discussion.

 

A pure Tamil name is to emphasis the non-sectarian

nature of our mission, which is to serve the cause of Sri

Vaishnavam, as directed by our Lord Sriman Narayana

and seen by the members of the kuzhaam. Further,

service aspect of Sri Vaishnavam is celebrated most

vigorously in the Tamil paasurams of the aazhvaars. It is

for this reason the name was constructed with words

aazhvaars used.

 

Thondar is a term that all Sri Vaishnavas are familiar

with. It exemplifies the very essence of Sri Vaishnava

life. We have seen several posts emphasizing this in the

past. No further elaboration is necessary.

 

The term Kuzhaam simply stands for gathering of like

minded individuals. Azhvaars have used this term in

many paasurams. Periyaazhvaar calls out to everyone

with "Edu nilaththiliduvathan munnam vandhu engaL

KUZHAAM pugundhu" in the 4th paasuram of Thirup

pallaaNdu. Other examples by several other aazhvaars

include, "dhEvar kuzhaam," imaiyOr kuzhaam," and

even "asurar kuzhaam." The clincher, however, is

KulasEkaraazhvaar's perumaaL thirumozhi paasuram 1.9,

where he uses the very phrase "thoNdar kuzhaam!"

 

thooraatha manakkaathal THONDAR thangaL

KUZHAAM kuzhumith thiruppukazhgaL palavum paadi

aaraatha manakkaLippO dazhutha kaNNeer

mazhaisOra ninainthuruki yEththi naaLum

seeraarntha muzhavOsai paravai kaattum

thiruvaranga tharavaNaiyil paLLi koLLum

pOraazhi yammaanaik kaNdu thuLLip

poothalaththi lenRukolO puraLum naaLE.

 

"thoNdars congregate in a kuzhaam with deep love;

they worship and sing our Lord's praise again and again

with their hearts ebbing with heavenly bliss and joyous

tears raining downn from their eyes;

I long for the day that I will be part of such a kuzhaam

and lay my eyes upon the Lord with great discus,

slumbering upon a serpent bed in Srirangam; this sight

shall make me leap and role down the earth with joy

eternally."

 

Thus, both "thondar" and "kuzhaam" reflect not just the

mission of the proposed organization, but our deep love

for aazhvaar Tamil as well.

 

I once again request the group for comments and

suggestions for the name and the charter. Changes, if

needed, cannot be made after January 16th. Let me

assure the group that I will not be offended with any

comment. If you are new please go through the bhakthi

archives for the charter and by-laws. These are also

available by FTP from THONDAR.BUSI.UTC.EDU in

the directory ADMIN.

 

 

-- Parthasarti Dileepan