Alwars 2.4

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Dear Bhagavatas,

Please find Section 2.4 on Alwars - Tirumazhisai Alwar

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

Alwars and Acharyas - Part I : Alwars -

Section 2. 4. Tirumazhisai Alwar

This Alwar was an incarnation of Sudarsana Chakra ( the divine discus of

Lord Vishnu). He was born to Bargava Muni and Kanakangi at Tirumazhisai near

Kanchipuram. Even though the foetus was in the mother's womb for an unusual

12 months, when delivered was without arms, legs etc. The parents left it at

the foot of a bush of cane shrubs in the forest. Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi

appeared and blessed the child which then became fully developed into a

lovely baby.

 

A childless tribal couple called Tiruvaalan and Pankaya Chelvi engaged in

cutting canes found the child and took it home. The child would not eat or

drink anything nor did it show any signs of expelling waste material from

its body. When an old agriculturist couple offered milk in a bowl, the child

drank it with relish. One day, the couple drank of the milk left over by

the child. They regained youth and in due course had a son born to them whom

they named as 'Kanikannan'.

 

Thirumazhisai decided to learn about all other religions. So, he studied

Buddhist, Jain and other literature. He became a staunch devotee of Siva

assuming the name of Siva Vakya. One day, he saw an old man planting a

plant upside down and then trying to water it with a broken pot using a

tattered rope to lift water from a waterless well. Sivavakyar asked him why

he was attempting such a foolish act. The old man was none other than Pey

Alwar who replied that what he was doing was only less foolish than

Sivavakya's allegiance to Saivism , knowing full well that the Vedas and

Smritis proclaim Sri Narayana as the Supreme deity.

 

As a result of an argument with Pey Alwar, finally he got initiated into

Vaishnavism by Pey Alwar assuming the name of Bhaktisarar. After visiting

several temples, he reached Tiruvekka, the birthplace of Budat Alwar.

 

Impressed by the service rendered by an old spinster, he restored her youth

with unsurpassed beauty as desired by her. She married the Pallava king who

learned of the secret of her youth. He wanted to regain youth himself. She

told him that he approach Kanikannan for the purpose. When Kanikannan was

summoned to court, he refused to come; when asked to compose a verse on the

king, he refused to compose one on a mere mortal; when told that the king was

an aspect of the Lord, he composed a verse on the Lord and not on the king.

This enraged the king who banished him from his kingdom.

 

On hearing this, Bhaktisarar requested the Lord in his puja to leave the

place. He sang:

 

Kanikannan Poginraan Kaamaru poong Kachi /

Manivannaa! Nee Kidakka Vendaaa/

Sennaap Pulavanum Poginren Neeyum Unran /

Pai Naagappaai Suruttik Koll /

" Kanikannan is going out of Kanchi O! Manivanna, You don't have to lie here

anymore. Since, as the fluent poet that I am also leaving with him, you also

roll your serpent bed and follow me"

And, accordingly all of them left Kanchipuram.

 

When they left, Kanchi became desolate. The king realized his folly and

requested Bhaktisarar and Kanikannan to forgive and return. Bhaktisarar

prayed to the Lord that in view of the King's repentence, they might return.

He sang again :

Kanikannan Pokkozhindaan Kamarupoong Kachi /

Manivanna ! Nee Kidakka Vendum - Thunivudaiya /

Sennap Pulavanum Pokkozhinden- Neeyum Unran / Kanchi regained Pain Nagap Paai

Paduthuk Koll /

" Kanikannan has changed his mind and rescinde his decision to leave Kanchi.

Since, as the fluent poet that I am also returning with him, You may also

return and lie down on your serpent bed as before"

All of them returned accordingly and Kanchipuram regained its lost glory.

 

Since the Lord did as he was told by the Alwar, he came to be called

'Yatotkari' and 'Sonna vannam Seitha Perumal'-meaning 'the Lord who acted as

told'

 

One day, when on his way to Tirukkudantai, he stopped for a while for rest

and he sat on a pial of a house in Perumpuliyur. A few brahmins were reciting

Vedas. On seeing him, they stopped their recitation since Veda was not to be

recited in the presence of a person belonging to the fourth caste. The Alwar

understood and was about to leave when the Brahmins started their recitation.

They did not remember at what point they had left the recitation. The Alwar

broke open a paddy seed with his fingernail to indicate the exact context

which had a reference to the paddy seed. The brahmins realized the greatness

of the Alwar and begged to be excused.

 

When the Archaka ( priest) of the local temple wanted to honour him, some

objected and spoke ill of the Alwar. Tha Alwar prayed to the Lord to show

himself to these people. He sang :

Akkarangal Akkarangal Enrum Aavadhu En Kolo /

Ik Kurumbai Neekki Ennai Eesanaakkka Vallaiyel /

Sakkaram Koll Kaiyane Sadankar Vai Adangida /

Ut Kidantha Vanname Puram Posindhu Kaattide /

" What is the use of your having those resplendent hands if you cannot remove

the idiosynchrosy of these ignorant folk and make me powerful

in their midst? O1 Lord with the divine discus in your hand ! Teach these

fools a lesson by showing yourself appearing in my very body"

The Lord showed himself off in the body of Alwar and the onlookers were

astonished and begged forgiveness .

 

On reaching Tirukkudantai ( Kumbakonam), he let the birchbark leaf containing

his writings in the waters of river Kaveri. The leaf floated back to him

holding his works viz.,'Tiruchanda Viruttam' ( a poem of beautiful verses)

in which he sang the following beautiful verse:

Ninrathu Enthai Ooragathu Irundathu Enthai Paadagathu /

Anru Vekkanaik Kidandhathu Ennilaatha Munnelaam /

Anru Naan Pirandilen Pirandapin Marandilen /

Ninrathum Irundhathum Kidandhathum En Nenjule /

" Before I was born, He wasstanding in Ooragam, was sitting in Paadagam and

was lying down in Tiruvekka.At that time I was not born with wisdom; When

once I was born with this wisdom, I never forgot. Therefore, the Lord left

all those places and has taken permanent abode in my heart". The idea is that

the great Gnanis never considered themselves as born at all until they

realized this ' Artha gnaanam'. And, once they realized this, they had no

other avocation than being immersed in the thought of the Lord.This is how

Mumukshup padi explains this sentiment.

 

The other work of the Alwar is ' Naanmugan Tiruvantadhi'- an Antadhi

commencing with the words 'Naanmugan' - a reference to the four faced Brahma.

He published them for the benefit of posterity.

The first stanza of the Antadhi categorically states

Naan Mugani Naraayanan Padaithaan- Naan Muganum /

Thaan Mugamaaai Sankaranaithaan Padaithaan /

Yaan Mugamaai Anthaadhi Melittu Arivithen - Aazh Porulai

Sinthaamal Konmin Neer Therndhu

"The four faced Brahma was born to Narayana and to this Brahma was born

Sankara. I am declaring this truth in this Antadhi. Resort to this without

any doubt, if you desire to wipe out the pangs of birth" 1

 

He was so fearless , outspoken and frank to a fault in establishing his

staunch devotion to Narayana that he was known as ' the sword that was never

sheathed in the cause of Vaishnavism'.

 

Thanian on Tirumazhisai Alwar

On Tiruchhanda Viruttam by Tiruk Kachi Nambigal

Taruchhandap Pozhil Thazhuvu Dhaaraniyin Thuyar Theera/

Tiruchhanda Viruttam Sei Tirumazhisai Paran Varum Oor /

Karuchhandung Kaar Akhilum Kamazh Kongu Mana Naarum /

Tiruchhandathudan Maruvu Tirumazhisai Valam Pathiye

The places of birth of Alwars are considered to be as sacred as the Alwars

themselves. Hence, the Thanians praise the their birthplaces.

" This place is filled with the divine Kalpa tree, Sandalwood tree and other

groves of fragrant flowers. Tirumazhisai is the holy place where was born the

great Tirumazhisai Alwar who came to this world to relieve the populace of

their misery. Mahalakshmi resides happily in this beautiful place."

 

Thanian on Naanmukhan Tiruvantaadhi

Naaraayanan Padaithaan Naanmuganai- Naan muganukku /

Eraar Sivan Pirandhaan Ennum Sol - /

Seeraar Seppi Vaazhalaam Nenjame ! Moi Poo /

Mazhisai Piraan Adiye Vaazhthu ?

" Naaraayana created Brahma and to this Brahma was born Siva who is known as

the ' Mei Tavathone'- real penitant. If we read and understand this great

psalm, we can redeem ourselves. The one who gave us this rare psalm is the

great Tirumazhisai Alwar who was born in the flower - garden city of

Mazhisai"