Madhura Kavi: Part 2

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The Prabhandham of Madhura Kavi is

the last of the Prabhandhams of the

Mudalaayiram . The verses are related to

one another in the "Anthaadhi" style, where the

last word of one verse becomes the beginning

word of the next verse. The paramount devotion of

Madhura Kavi to his Acharya becomes abundantly

evident in these verses of Kanninun-Siritthaambhu .

The Two taniyans for this prabhandham --one in

Sanskrit and another in Tamil --are ascribed to

none other than Acharya Natha Muni.

 

Natha Muni is said to have recited the eleven verses of

Madhura Kavi many times to receive the blessings of

direct instruction

from Nammaazhwar on the lost works of all of the

Aazhwaars. Naatha Muni thus restored for us these

Tamil marai as a result of Nammaazhwaar"s

blessings. Such is the power of Madhura Kavi's

Prabhandham. No wonder that Natha Muni composed

two taniyans, one for Sanskrit Vedas and another for

Tamil Vedas to pay his homage to Nammazhwaar, who

distilled the essence of Arya Vedas in Dramida Bhaashaa.

 

The most important lesson here is that Acharya Abhimaanam and

Acharya Bhakthi (worship) is a sure and steadfast

route for the realization of Bhagavaan. Infact, Acharya--Realization

according to Sri K.C.Varadachar is God--Realization. According to him,

"Acharya is indeed is the small cord that binds(one to ) the infinite

Divine . Service to the true illumined Acharya is service to God

(that is ) pleasing to Him ."

 

Madhura Kavi was a Poorva Sikhai Brahmin of Sama Vedic

tradtion. He was a great scholar and was older than Nammazhwaar.

Many contemproaries(Brahmins) of Madhura Kavi

looked down on him for his Bhakthi to Nammazhwaar ,

an Acharya born in the lower caste of Maran.

Madhura Kavi refers to this in his fourth verse and

dismisses it. He states that SatakOpa is his be-all

and end-all . He cites his Acharya as his Father,

Mother and Ruler. He points out that SatakOpa is the

savior of his and has removed all of his Samsaric sorrows.

 

In his first verse, he clerly states that he has set aside deliberately

His father, the Bhagavan and has elected to resort to the

great Acharya of Then-kurukur. He states that his tongue

used before in the enjoyment of unworthy things became

sanctified thru the recitation of the name of his Acharya and

delicious nectar flows now as a result of recitation of his

Acharya"s name.

 

In the second verse, he confesses that he knows of no other

God other than his Acahrya. He states that he enjoys infinite

bliss by eulogizing his Acharya and singing his Acharya's

sweet pasurams in perfect ragam and Talam . He says that

his misison in life to wander from place to place singing his

Acharya's divine Pasurams.

 

In the third verse, he reveals that his practise of reciting

the verses of the divine bard has led him to the gaining

of the boon of obtaining "the beatific vision of the Parma

Purusha's Thirumeni , which is distinguished by

the presence of Maha Lakshmi at his chest .This indded

is my good fortune that results from my service

to SatakOpa .

 

In the fourth verse, he reveals that SatakOpa is

his sarvam . He says that the greatness of satakOpa

will banish all his misgivings and will protect him from

any kind of harm.

 

In the fifth verse, he points out the transformation

in him caused by worshipping SatakOpa. He states

that his lowly ways have vanished and the result of

worshipping his Acharya ahs made him a fulfilled one

in every way.

 

In the sixth verse, he states that he has been blessed by

SatakOpa to sing about his great works and salute his

greatness. His grace and compassion will forever be my

companion from this day on.

 

V.Sadagopan