Arciradhi - part 4 - Appearace of God in front of the Soul, end of Chapter 1

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Dear members

 

W continue with the translation of Archiradhi of Sri Pillai Lokacharya

by Ms M. S. Ramesh

 

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Thus, God has appeared before the soul and now starts the journey to

Paramapada. The path through which the Perumal guides this soul to

Paramapada is the archiraja path. Enroute the soul has for food the

Dwayamantra. The God Who is guiding him in this path is Azhagiya

Manavalan. (The beautiful Lord Ranganatha) The journey is long. The soul

is able to relax and get over its tiredness by stopping on the banks of

the river Viraja, or under the shade ofkalpaka viruksha. The place which

will be ultimately reached by this soul is Tirumamani mandapa. The

people who are accompanying this good soul are the archiraji purushas.

The sound made by the clouds in the sky is the prayana vadya i.e. the

welcome music. While starting on the journey Devadi deva who is

antaryamin in all of us shows the path.

 

The soul has to cross all the andas; 14 lokas constitute one anda. Only

after crossing all these can the soul reach Perumal and see Him Who has

eyes like that of lotus flowers, Whose mouth is red like a ripe fruit

and Who look like a dark cloud (kala megam) and Who has curly hair. That

Azhagia Manavalan is the ultimate goal. It is said that as the soul

starts on its journey it looks at the anda i.e. world which had held him

as a captive for a long time. It looks at the world with relief as it

has been able to shake off the shackless of that world and is on its way

to Paramapada. The long felt desire to reach Paramapada swells with the

passage of time, as well as in anticipation of reaching the end of the

journey viz. attaining Paramapada.

 

The next few paragraphs describes the anticipatory pleasure derived by

the soul on its onward journey. This pleasure is described to be similar

to the one which Sita devi experienced when leaving Lanka to rejoin Rama

after Havana was defeated. It is said that around the heart there are

101 nadis. The antaryamin in this devotee is said to be happy that it

is proceeding to deva loka. Its mind is clear with enlightenment. As the

time for shedding the mortal coils arrives, a light came to accompany

the soul on its onward journey. The sira kapala i.e. top of the head

breaks and there by the Moordhanya nadi which is located in the mid head

escapes, joins with theantaryamin and starts on its onward journey. It

followed the Surya kirana i.e. the Sun's rays. It got on to a chariot

known as Om. The mind was driving the chariot. As it was travelling in

the chariot the antaiyamin saw that the brilliance caused by the chakra

of God held in His hands gave a certain brightness to all the things.

The world itself looked different. When the soul started on its journey

the ocean is said to have danced. The churning of the waves brought mud

from the depths of the ocean to the top. It was as if the ocean was

dancing in excitement (sasambrahma nruttam). The lashing of the waves

provided the background music for the dance. The people living in the

other worlds came to offer welcome (satkaram). The entire, route was

beautified with thorana i.e. welcome arches. The entire akasa was said

to be full of clouds and gave an appearance as if pooroa kumbha was

being offered to the soul. Scented dhoopa filled the air. It rained

flowers. The devas were vying with each other inviting this great soul

to visit their residences. Divine music reverbated in the entire area.

All the people residing enroute brought all their wealth to offer to

this liberated soul. Some sang songs. Some performed yagas, offered the

punya which accrued through those yagas to this soul. Some others

offered prayers. Some others sounded the thiru chinnam i.e. bugle.

Blowing of the shanku resounded all round. Damsels with beautiful eyefi

who were adi vahika patnis i.e. the wives of the devas welcomed this

soul. Mangalasasana i.e. words of-praise were sung welcoming the soul to

their world. The seven maruts and eight Vasus (they are devas) also

showed the way to Paramapada to this soul. The people accompanying this

soul were singing the stotras. Thus, this jeeva started its journey in

the archi marga accompanied by the purushas who had already reached

Paramapada.

 

This concludes the first chapter of archiradi gathi. The second chiapter

details the path to Paramapada.

 

Sri Pillai Lokacharyar thiruvadigalE Saranam

 

jeeyar thiruvadigalE Saranam

 

-Venkatesh Elayavalli