Mukunda Maala -2

[Guest guest]

Dear Members of the Prapatti Group: I am delighted to

read the posting by Sri Kesava Prasad . That one liner

summary helps to develop the themes further.I do not

have the two sources of references quoted by him . I will

point out the highlights as they occur to me .

 

Verse 1:

SRIVALLABHETI VARADETHI DAYAPARETHI

BHAKTHAPRIYETHI BAVALUNDANAGOVIDEHTI I

NATHETI NAGASAYANETHI JAGANIVAASETHI

AALAPINAM PRATIPATAM KURU MAAM MUKUNDA II

 

The appeal here is to Mukunda, who blesses one with

the boons of enjoyment in this Earth and in Srivaikuntam.

The appeal is" Srivallabheti----Jaganivaasethi , Iti

Pratipatam Aalipinam Maam Kuru."

 

The appeal to Mukunda starts in the traditional manner

with the salutation first to Sri Devi . In our tradition, Sri Devi

as Pum Pradhaneswari is saluted first before saluting the Lord.

As Pum Pradhaneswari , She is the ruler of the individual

souls, Prakriti and the Ruler Himself. That is why one of the

Sahasra Naamam salutes Him as "Sree-Vibhaavanah: ".

This Naamam implies that He owes His greatness mainly to

Sri Devi . Following this tradition, Kulasekhara salutes the Lord as

SRIVALLABHA: He then follows that salutation and appeal by

describing the Lord as Varada, Dayaapara, Bhaktha Priya,

Bavalundanagovidha , Nagasayana and Jagannivasa .

 

His appeal is to the Krupa of the Lord of Sri Devi to bless him

to recite the Lord"s names always . Kulasekhara recognizes

and describes his Lord first as Srivallabhan and hints at the

His Nitya Sri Nature due to which He is forever united with

Sri Devi. That association makes him "Srimathaam Vara: " or

the foremost among the opulent in all worlds.

 

His opulence resulting from his association with Sri Devi makes

Him the granter of all kinds of Boons. Thus , He becomes Varada

or Sarvaabheeshta Varada. He bestows the required boons on

Gods and Bhakthas and gets thus the name of Varada .

 

The third name by which Kulasekhara recognizes the Lord is

Dayaaparan, the all merciful Lord , who runs to rescue His

devotees in trouble. Therefore, He gets the fourth name ,

which is Bhatha Priyan. The fifth name selected by Kulasekhara

in his appeal is Bavalundanagovidhan. Bhavam is the Samsaaram

and its ills. Lundanam is stealing . Govidhan is one, who is capable of

Lundanam of Bhavam . Hence, the Lord is saluted here as the one,

who has the power to destroy the afflictions of Samsara.

The Sixth Naama is Naathan . He is the Supreme Lord of the

Universe and therefore He is the Naathan. He is also Nagasayanan.

Resting in the Milky ocean on Adhi Seshan, he is engaged in Yoganidra.

When the Devas and Rishis approach him there for help to overcome

their sufferings, He incarnates into the appropriate Avathaaraas and

reestablishes Dharma. The Naga Sayanan is also Jagannivaasan.

He is Jagannivaasan for two reasons: (1) he gives a home for the Universes

in His stomach during the Mahaa Pralayam (2) He is Sarva Vyaapi

and therefore He is saluted as "Antar Bahisccha Tath Sarvam Vyapya

Naraayana: Sthitha: "

 

Kulasekhara salutes the Lord by the above EIGHT names and asks him

not to save him from Uphaayatva Sankhaa through lapse into

Svapravrutti and thereby end up with Svarupa Naasam.

He does not want to fall into the trap of delusion

that it is he and his efforts (SVAPRAVRUTTI) that makes him recite the Lord"s

names. That will lead to doubts about the means (UBHAAYATVA SANKHAA).

Such a doubt can only lead to loss of identity of the Jivan and calamity.

Hence, Kulasekhara humbly requests the Lord to give him the power to

recite His names and seeks His grace to undertake that mission.

 

VERSE 2: HAIL TO THE LORD!

 

JAYATHU JAYATHU DEVOH DEVAKINANDANOYAM

JAYATHU JAYATHU KRISHNOH VRISHNIVAMSAPRADEEPA: I

JAYATHU JAYUTHU MEGASYAAMALA: KOMALAANGA:

JAYATHU JAYATHU PRITHVEE BHARANAASOH MUKUNDA: II

 

This verse is like a Pallaandu. Kulasekhara salutes the Lord as

Deva:, Devaki Nandana:, Krishna:, Vrishni Vamsa Pradeepa :,

Mega Syaamala:, Komalaanga: , Prithvi Bhara Nasa: and Mukunda: .

There are again EIGHT Naamas included in this verse. Lord Krishna

is saluted as the Son of Devaki and as the light of Vrishni clan of Kings.

His dark blue complexion reminding one of the clouds of the rainy season,

Hisbeautiful limbs and His lightening of the burden of the Earth through

destruction of the wicked during the Bharatha War are hailed here.

Kulasekhara like Periyazhwaar says , Victory to Thee and may you

thrive forever !

 

VERSE 3 : Kulasekhara"s request for a small and specific Boon.

 

MUKUNDA! MOORDHNAA PRANIPATYA YAACHEH

BHAVANTHAM EKAANTHAM IYANTHAM ARTHAM I

AVISMRUTHI: TAVA cHARANAARAVINDEH

BHAVEH BHAVEH MEH ASTU BHAVAT PRASAADAAT II

 

O, Mukunda! I prosrate before you and only beg for this

small boon. Please bless me to remember your Lotus

Feet in every one of my births without let. This is the esssence of

the 58th verse of Nammazhwaar"s Periya Thiruvandhaadhi :

 

" PIRAPPINMAI PERRU ADIKKEEZH

KURRAVELANRU , MARAPPINMAI YAAN VENDUM MAADU ".

 

Marappinmai or the ceaseless rememberance of the Lord"s

holy feet of the Lord in all the births is the small request made by

the Kolli Nattu Arasan. Marappinmai or AVISMRUTHI is the same as the

Dhruva Smruthi sought by Azhwaars and Aacharyas .

 

VERSE 4: SUBLIME AND DISPASSIONATE DEVOTION

 

NAAHAM VANDEH TAVA CHARANAYOR DWANDVAM ADVANTVA HAYTOH:

KUMBEEPAAKAM KURUMAPI HARE ! NAARAKAM NAAPANETHUM I

RAMYAA RAAMAA MRUTHU TANULATHAA NANDANEH NAAPI RANTUM

BHAAVE BHAAVE HRUDAYA BHAVANEH BHAVAYEYAM BHAVANTHAM II

 

Here , Kulasekhara spells out to Mukunda as to what he is NOT praying for.

I am worshipping Your holy feet not to gain evanescent joy or to shake off

my samsaric sorrow; I am praying to You not to escape from the terrifying

Narakam known as Kumbhipaakam. I certainly am not offering my salutations

to enjoy the celestial damsels with beautiful limbs in the pleasure gardens

of Indra. O Lord,who chases away the sorrows of the bhakthaas! Please grant

me the boon of realizing You through meditation in every one of my births in

the house of my Heart. That is all I am praying for and not for anything else.

 

VERSE 5 : PRAYER FOR STHIRA BHAKTHI

 

NAASTHAA DHARMEH NA VASUNICHAYEH NEYVA KAAMOPABHOGEH

YADHYADHBHAVYAM BHAVATHU BHAGAVAN POORVAKARMAANURUPAM I

YETAT PRAARTHYAM MAMA BAHUMATHAM JANMAJANMAANTHAREPI

TVAT PAADHAMBORUHAYUGAGATAA NISCCHALAA BHAKTHIRASTU II

 

O Lord filled with the six celebrated qualities! I am not interested in the

acquisition of wealth or in the pleasures of the other worldly life. I am

not attracted by sensory pleasures at all. Whatever that will happen as a

result of Purva Karmaas,let it happen! The only thing that I pray for is

the steady and undiminishing devotion at your Lotus feet in every one of

my births.

 

VERSE 6: PRAYER FOR REMEMBERANCE OF THE LORD"S FEET AT THE LAST

MOMENTS OF LIFE.

 

DIVIVAA BHUVIVAA MAMAASTHU VAASA:

NARAKEHVAAA NARAKAANTHAKA! PRAKAAMAM I

AVADHIRITA SARADAARAVINDHAOW

CHARANAUH TEH MARANEPI CHINTAYAANI II

 

Here the King of Kolli Naadu prays for the lotus feet of the

Lord as Antima Smurithi. Azhwaars and Aacharyals have

begged the Lord to have thoughts about HIM during their

Anthima Prayaanam . One Example of such prayer is

found in the twelfth verse of Sri Gopala Vimsathi:

 

HARINEELA SILAA VIBHANGA NEELAA:

PRATIBHAA: SANTU MAMAANTHIMA PRAYAANEH I

 

( May the images of the beautiful blue complexion of your body

resembling that of a Indra Neela Gem appear before me

at the time of my departure from this earth !)

Kulasekhara states in this verse that he is indifferent to

his residence at Svargam or Earth or Narakam at the time

of his Anthima Prayaanam . The only thing that he cares for is the

memory of the Lord"s Lotus feet that surpass the beauty of

the lotus of the autumn season.

 

VERSE 7: REQUEST FOR RESIDENCE INSIDE THE CAGE OF

THE LORD'S LOTUS FEET IMMEDIATELY

 

KRISHNA! TVADHEEYA PADAPANKAJA PANCHARAANTHA:

ADHYAIVA MEH VISATHU MAANASA RAJAHAMSA: I

PRAANA PRAYAANA SAMAYEH KAPAVADHA PITTAI :

KANTAAVARODHANAVIDHAU SMARANAM KUTASTEH II

 

Kulasekhara prays here for safe residence as of now inside the

cage of the Lord"s holy feet. He compares his mind to a king swan that

wishes to enter the safe cage of the Lord"s Lotus feet. He explains

the reason for this urgent and pressing request.He says that at the time of

his departure form this earth, he may be totally helples and will be overcome by

blockage of throat from the Phlegm, bile and irregular respiration. I may not

be able to think of You under those circumstances. Therefore, let me

enter the safe haven(cage ) of the lotus feet of thine NOW ! The Azhwaar"s

Paasura

Vaakyams such a s" Appothaikkippotheh Solli vaithen ", " Vaayorupakkam

Vaangi Valippa ,Vaarnda NeerkkuzhikkaNkaL Mizharra " are reminiscent of the

terror experienced by the Azhwaars and their seeking Insurance form the Lord

to protect them, when they are helples sduring the last moments of their life.

Varaha Sarama slokam is the answer that the Lord gives to Kulasekhara .

Those Sarama Slokam words are: " MRIYAMAANANTHU KAASHTA PAASHANA

SANNIBHAM, AHAM SMARAAMI MADH BHAKTHAM NAYAMI PARAMANGATHIM ".

Lord Varaha assures the Bhakthas that he will think of them at the time of their

death, when they lie incapacitated on their death bed as stones or a piece of

wood

and lead them to his supreme abode.

 

Rest in the next posting ,

 

Kulasekhara PerumaaL thiruvadigaleh Saranam

Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan