KIzhvAnam (concluded)

[Guest guest]

Continuing the thread of the Divine Couple's VAtsalyam

towards us,SwAmi concluded the subject in this manner:

 

VAtsalyam is defined as the surge of emotion which floods

the cow's heart as it gazes on its newborn calf.It is so

powerful and protectiveness-oriented that the cow doesn't

hesitate to push aside with its horns its own other calves

which surge around the newborn.

 

It is this emotion which makes PiraTTi try to protect us

from everything including the wrath of the Lord Himself

at our sins.The Lord's <abhaya hasta> says don't fear

anything,I'm here to protect you; while PiraTTi's

<abhaya hasta> says I'm here to protect you even if

He were to change His mind.Hence Swami DESikan says,

<anugraha-mayIm vande nityam ajgyAta nigrahAm> she

has to be taught the meaning of the word "punishment".

We try our best to teach her with our repeated defaults

but she is a totally backward student!

 

SwAmi now proceeded to quote two stanza's from Sri

VEnkatESa SuprabhAtam and Prapatti wherein SwAmi Annan

who gave us those incomparable stOtrams has succinctly

indicated the VAtsalyam of PirATTi and the Lord.

 

First PirATTI -

 

<vAtsalyAdi-guNOjjvalAm bhagavatIm vandE jaganmAtaram>

 

<vAtsalyAdi-guNOjjvalAm> PirATTIs whole body is aglow

due to her compassion and loving feelings towards us

 

<bhagavaTIm> how can you say that the glow is due only

to her VAtsalya? Isn't she the mistress of the universe

and the queen of the supreme Lord ? wouldn't that

realization make any woman glow?

 

<jaganmAtaram> Don't you see that it is as she is gazing

at us that her eyes fill with tears of compassion and

her features acquire a glow ? What more proof do you

require ?

 

<vandE> when I realize this fact I can't speak,I can't

do anything.I just fall at her feet in gratitude.

 

And the Lord -

 

The dawn breaks and the sage ViSwAmitra finds his new

pupils still asleep.Feeling miffed he approaches them

with the intention of ticking them off.The moment he

gazes at the Lord's face he exclaims involuntarily,

<KausalyA-suprajA RAma!> what a matchless treasure

has that lady donated to the world!

Instantly the disciplinarian is transformed into an

indulgent elder and he lovingly tells them it is time

for their morning duties.

 

The Lord did here to the sage exactly what the girl in

the "kIzhvAnam" paSuram did to the other gOpikAs; He

created an artificial opportunity for the SEshabhUta

to do service to the SEshi.

 

Whether the Sage realized this inner secret or not

Sri ANNAn did and with great subtlety repeated the

RAmAyaNa Sloka at the beginning of the SuprabhAtam.

He wanted us to tell the Lord as we chanted the

SuprabhAtam every morning," O Lord, we know your

secret.It is not we who are waking you up.It is you

who are waking us up to the realization of your

VAtsalyam towards us! What can we offer you in return

but this prostration!"

 

EmberumAnAr TiruvaDigaLE SaraNam!

 

adiyEn

Bharat