ThiruvAimozhi NooRRanthAdhi : Paasuram 2

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Iypaasi SravaNam , PramAthi Vijaya Dasami day

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Dear BhakthAs :

 

In the first decade , Swamy NammAzhwAr covered

brilliantly in his upadEsam the first two chapters

of Brahma Soothram ( First adhyAyam: paasurams 1-6,

Second AdhyAyam : 7-11). These two chapters deal with

the Brahman being the cause of the universe , Brahman's

creation of the Universe , Brahman's distinct differences

with ChEthanam (sentient) and AchEthanam( insentient ).

In these first six paasurams , Swami NammAzhwAr also

elaborated on the theme of Brahman as the ocean of

infinite auspicious attributes with dhivya Mangala

Vigraham .

 

In his UpadEsa Rathna Maalai's first paasuram ,

Sri MM captured the essence of the above upadEsam of

Swami NammAzhwAr housed in the first decade of

ThiruvAimozhi. Thus , the theme of the first two chapters

of Brahma Soothram are condensed in the first paasuram

of Thiruvaimozhi NooranthAdhi (TVMN)of MM.The key message

that MM left with us is that Sriman NaarayaNan ( Brahman )

is "sarvasmAth Paran " ( the Most Supreme Being ),

a term chosen by Swami Desikan in his DramidOpanishadh

Saaram . MM's choice of words is " uyarvE ParanpaDi".

The reverence that MM had for Swami Desikan is

well documented . MM used to address Swami Desikan

as " abhyukthar " or the revered One . MM was born much

later than Swami Desikan , but had his Brahma Soothra

kaalkshEpam under the second Brahma Tanthra Swamy ,

the second generation disciple of Swamy Desikan .

 

The Second Paasuram of TVMN of MM

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Here , MM has the key message that deals

with the third chapter of Brahma Soothrams

( SaadhanAdhyAyam ).Swami NammAzhwAr stressed

in this second decade about the importance of

UpAsanai for one, who seeks Moksham . The requirements

for that Saadhanai/upAsanai like VairAgyam , freedom

from ahankaaram were elaborated by Swamy NammAzhwAr

for securing the Lord's grace . MM stressed in

this context the importance of seeking refuge

at the sacred feet of the Lord with Bhakthi for

Moksha sidhdi .

 

The second paasuram of TVMN of MM housing these

thoughts is as follows:

 

Veedu seythu maRRa yevayum mikkapukazh NaaraNan thALL

naadu nalatthAl adaya nanku uraikkum -needu pukazh

vaNN KuruhUr Maaran intha maanilatthOr vAzha

paNpuDanE paadi aruL patthu.......(2)

 

(Meaning ): In his " veeDumin muRRavum " patthu ,

Swami NammAzhwAr out of his infinite mercy instructed

us well to renounce egotism and arrogance and save ourselves

by taking refuge in a spirit of complete surrender

at the feet of Sriman NaarAyaNan of unmatched glory .

 

Notes on this paasuram :

 

1) The greatness of Swami NammAzhwAr is saluted with

the words : " Needu Pukazh VaNN KuruhUr Maaran "

( Swami NammAzhwAr of everlasting fame , who was

born at the fertile dhivya desam of ThirukkuruhUr).

 

2) We may ask why Swamy NammAzhwAr is so famous . MM

answers it by pointing out that Swamy NammAzhwAr

did some thing unique by uplifting the suffering souls

from their samsAric afflictions . With great dayA for them

as their AchAryan , Swamy NammAzhwAr blessed them with

upadEsam about ways to escape the misery of SamsAram .

MM salutes that parama Krupai with the words

" Intha MaanilatthOr vaazha paNpuDanE Paadi aruL patthu "

( this decade sung by Swamy NammAzhwAr with great

compassion/ PaNpu for our ujjIvanam ).

 

3) " maRRa yevayum veeDu seythu": MM states here that Swamy

NammazhwAr instructed us to abolish all impediments

to Moksham (viz)., egotism, arrogance,sense attachment ,

soul realization or kaivalyAnubhavam and then to

surrender at Sriman NaarAyaNan's sacred feet with

MahA visvAsam .

 

4) The above instruction to seek refuge at the most

merciful Lord's feet is described by MM as :

" marra yevayum veeDu seythu Mikka Pukazh NaaraNan

thALL naadu nalatthAl adaya nanku uraikkum Maaran ".

The "mikka Pukazh " of Sriman NaarAyaNan or His

extraordinary glory arises from His intense love

for the surrendered Jeevan and this guNam is even greater

than His sarvasmAth Parathvam ( Lordly supermacy ).

MM points out that the glory of Swamy NammAzhwar

is intricately connected with his krupai to instruct

the whole world on this tattvam so that they can

be saved from the terrors of SamsAram and attain

Moksham (naadu nalatthAl adaya Uraikkum needu

pukazh MaaRan ).

 

5) MM's choice of words to describe the Pukazh( fame )

of Swamy NammAzhwAr and Sriman NaarAyaNan is

revealing . He salutes Swamy NammAzhwAr as

" needu pukazh Maaran " and the Lord as

" mikka Pukazh NaaraNan ". MM lets us decide

as to which Pukazh is greater : the one who instructed

us about the way to Moksham as our AchAryan or the One ,

who has the most sacred feet that blesses us with mOksham.

This question about the mahimai of SatAri ( Swami

NammAzhwAr ) and the mahimai of the Lord's sacred feet

that the SatAri serves arises often in Swami Desikan's

PaadhukhA sahasram .

 

AzhwAr, EmperumAnAr , Jeeyar ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam,

Daasan Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri SadagOpan