MM's YathirAja Vimsathi-part 3/Slokam 3

[Guest guest]

Dear Members of the Bhakthi Group :

 

In this slokam , MM pays tribute to the acharya paramparA

originating from RamAnujA . In the previous slokam , he had

described RamAnujA as the Raja Hamsam residing at the

lotus feet of Sri RanganAthan , the bee that drinks deep from

the Sri Sookthis of NammmAzhwAr and as the Sun that lightens up

the faces of PeiyAzhwAr and Thirumangai . He concluded

that slokam with a special tribute to KuresA . It probably

occured then to MM that he may be singling out one of the dear

disciples of AchArya RamAnujA and leaving out other great ones .

It appears to me that MM hastened to provide balance by

choosing the topic of the next slokam as a homage to other

simhAsanApathis appointed by RamAnujA .

 

In this third slokam , MM prays for his mind to be blessed

always with the thoughts about the sacred feet of all

the AchAryas appointed to the Acharya Peetams by

RaamAnujA . This slokam is as follows :

 

vaachA yathindra ! manasaa vapushA cha

yushmath paadhAravindha yugaLam bhajathAm guruNAm I

kurooadhinaatha kurukesa mukhA aadhya pumsAm

paadhAnuchintana para: sathatham bavEyam II

 

( Meaning) : O Emperor of SanyAsis ! May my mind be filled

always with the thoughts of the holy feet of those decorating

the AchArya Peetams like KurEsa , Thirukkurhai PirAn PiLLai

and others , who are forever offering homage to your lotus feet

through their speech, mind and body .

 

Bhagavatha seshathvam

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This slokam is a celebration of Taddhdaasa daasathvam

prescribed by NammAzhwAr through his famous paasuram

passage , " enthai pirAn tanakku adiyAradiyAr tam

adiyAradiyAr tam adiyAr adiyOngaLE " .

 

PBA Swamy has suggested that this slokam is based

on the RaamAnusa NooRanthadhi (RN) paasuram,

" TannaiuRRtcheynthanmainOr " (97th paasuram of RN ) .

 

AmudanAr's 97th paasuram

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Let me digress to comment on this paasuram . AmudanAr

says : " Thann tahavAl tannai uRRAr anRi tanmai uRRAr illai

enRu aRindhu tannai uRRArai guNam sARRidumE "

AmudanAr salutes the generous and compassionate quality

of RamAnujA here . The AcharyA was concerned that the bhakthAs

in their enthusiasm for offering prapatthi to him directly did

not fully comprehend the greatness of his disciples , who had

performed prapatthi to him . These are AchAryAs like KurEsa,

Kurhai PirAn, Madai paLLI aacchAn, EmbAr , et al . RamAnujA

suggested that Bhattar offer prapatthi to EmbAr instead of to him

or to his father KurEsa to deflect the light and to let that shine on

the glory of EmbAr . Similarly the proud PiLLai PiLLai AzhwAn

was instructed to offer praptthi to Kuresar .

 

SaasthrAs state that we should broadcast the

glory of our AcharyAs( Gurum Prakaasayeth ) . A compassionate

AcharyA however celebrates his dear disciples and speaks of

their glories too ! RamAnuja instructed AmudanAr to offer Prapatthi

to KurEsa instead of to him directly for the purpose of

reminding others of KurEsA's glorious accomplishments and

AchArya Bhakthi .

 

First in the series of 17 slokams on Prayer to RamAnujA

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The third slokam is the first in the series of 17 slokams

by MM offering prayers to RamAnujA for obtaining his

blessings for Kaayika , Maanasa , Vaachika kaimkaryam

to him . These slokams are full of the sentiments of

svanikarshAnusandhAnam (i-e) , expression of his

inadequacies and his deficiencies to approach the great

AchaaryA . He describes himself to be an unfeeling

person , who has committed Bhagavadh , Bhagavatha

and AsahyApachArams . He cries out loud in a spirit

of Naicchiyam (repentance and despair ) and begs for

RaamAnujA's grace , DayA and KshamA .

 

AazhwAr , Aacharyan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan