Digest bhakti.v002.n423

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Dear Bhagavathas,

 

I am hoping to add some information regarding Pasurams etc..which might have

been already posted or discussed in this forum. In discussing Tattvam, various

Pramanas are used. Depending on the Pramana(s) used, it becomes a certain

school. While Advaita and Vishistadvaita school uses same Pramanas, our

Acharyas included Nalayira Dhivya Prabandam as part of the Pramanas. In other

words, various aspects of worships in Temples or homes of Sri Vaishnava draws

not only from Vedic scriptures but from Prabandams as well. For example,

having Samasaranam, "stamping Changu and Chakra" gets the Pramana from

Periyalvar Pasuram,

7:

theeyiRpolikinRasenchudaraazhi thikazhthiruchchakkaraththin

kOyiRpoRiyaalE_oRRuNdun^inRu kudikudi_aatseykinROm

maayapporupadaivaaNanai aayirandhOLumpozhikuruthi

paaya suzhaRRiya_aazhivallaanukkup pallaaNdukooRuthumE. 7.

 

A rough translation of the first line of Pasuram will be

theeyiRpolikinRa - Left in fire and glowing hot,

senchudaraazh thikazhthiruchchakkaraththin - Changu and Chakra

oRRuNdu - gently touched by

 

In other words, Sri Periyalvar's pasuram is the pramanam for having Samasaranm

for Sri Vaishnavas. There are many other practices which derives from Alwar's

pasurams.

 

In Siva temples or sannidhis the worship is according to saivagama which does

not accept (my belief) Nayanmar's work as Pramana. If the pooja is done (either

in temple or home) according to Panchayadana system(which include all the five

principal deities (Vishnu, Siva, Ganesa, Surya and Sakthi) with one of them

which in this case is Siva) then they may recite some of the Nayanmar's work.

 

In the month of Margazhi, Sri Vaishnava Temples/sannidhis have Thiruppavai for

all the thirty days where as Thiruvembavai is recited only twenty days. An

interesting bit of information on reciting Tiruppavai and Tiruvembavai in

temples. As the story goes, there was a move to recite both Thiruppavai and

Thiruvembavai in both Siva and Vishnu temples. However, when Pradivaathi

Bayangaram Annangarachariar Swamigal when he heard about this said the

following: " It is okay to recite Thiruppavai in any Siva temple or place of

worhsip because there is no reference to Siva as secondary to Vishnu. It only

sings the praise of Sriman Narayana. However, Thiruvembavai talks about "Arium

Ionum kananatha arutperum jothi", meaning Vishnu and Brahma could not fathom

Siva. How one can go to Vishnu sannidhi and recite his praise which also

includes that he was not able to see Sivas feet."

My intent of this information is not to start a debate but to provide

information so that those who would like to recite both Thiruppavai and

Thiruvembavai, can do so wisely. That is, recite Thiruppavai in Perumal

Sannidhi and move to Sivan Sannidhi to recite Thiruvembavai.

As a footnote, few of us in Boston have the opportunity of having Sri Balaji

Bhattar and Sri Krishna Bhattar of Sri Lakshmi Temple, who are willing to

discuss the Pramanas for some of their practices. With this kind of

explanation, we are amazed how deep and rich our heritage is. Our Dhanur Masa

aradhanam which includes Thiruppalliyezhuchi and Thiruppavai at 5.30 AM includes

a small discussion on the inner meaning of the pasuram of the day. If there is

an interest, I can post a condensed version of these discussions.

 

Adiyen,

 

Kannabiran