Vol. V :- Iraamaanusa Nootrandhaadhi - by Velukkudi Swamy (English Translation)

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Volume V :- Iramaanusa Nootrandhaadhi Upanyaasam of

U.Ve. Velukkudi Krishnan Swamy

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Volume Title :- Ananya Prayojana Bhakthi

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Iraamaanusa Nootrandhaadhi - Thaniyan 3

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"Sollin thogai kondu unadhadippodhukku thondu seiyum

NallanbarEtrum un naamamelaam endhan naavinulle

Allum pagalum amaraum padi nalgu aru samaya vellum parama

Iraamaanuaa idhen vinnappame."

 

This third thaniyan was given to us by Swamy Thiruvarangathamudanaar

itself. This thaniyan prays emperumaanaar to give the gift reciting

and chanting his thirunaanam all the time. This prayer was done by

Thiruvarangathamudhu to emperumaanaar.

 

Normally when other devathaas like Indra, Agni etc. has a difficulty

or if they require refuge, they go first to Shiva. If Shiva himself

requires protection or security he goes to Brahma. When Brahmaa

requires protection he prays Emperumaan Sriman Narayanan at

Thiruppaarkadal. If all of them have problem and require refuge

they all pray emperumaan sriman Narayanan at Thiruppaaarkadal. Just

for the sake of asking, what will happen if emperumaan has a problem

and he requires security. In that case since emperumaan is the

supreme being and even though he doesn't expereince any problems as

he saves everyone from problems, but still if he himself has a

problem, then since he looks at his own thiruvadi everytime hence his

thiruvadi itself becomes a refuge for hiself. Similarly before

reciting Thiruvaaimozhi of swamy Nammaazhwaar, we recite a thaniyan

 

 

Soodi Kodutha Sudar Kodi in Thiruppaavai says :-

 

"Kalla chagadam kalakkazhiya kaalochi.."

 

Means :-

 

When Sakataasuran came to kill our beloved lord, Maakahan Chor,

Vennai Thirudan, Kannan due to Kamsan's order, our theeraadha

vilaiyaatu pillai hit him wiht his legs. So our emperumaan's

thiruvadi became the protector for himself. Hence if in any case

emperumaan has a problem or securing himself he himself sees his

Thiruvadi and hence his problems also are destroyed. This is how

our porrvaachaaryas had experienced emperumaan's thiruvadi.

 

 

"Eeindha perunkeerthi Iraamaanusa muni than

Vaaindha malar paadham vangugindren

Aayndha perum seeraar Sadagopan senthamizh vedam tharikkum

Peraadha ullam pera"

 

The above thaniyan prays emperumaanaar to give us a gift of a pure

heart that will recite the Thiruvaaimozhi, which was propogated to be

recited by everyone by Emperumaanaar.

 

Like this if we have to recite Iraamaanusa Nootrandhaadhi always in

our mind, then this gift also has to be given by emperumaanaar itself

and no one else can bless us with this gift. Hence

Thiruvarangathamudhu prays emperumaanaar itself to give swamy

(Thiruvarangathamudhu), the gift of reciting Iraamaanusa

Nootrandhaadhi always. This is the summary of the meaning of the

entire thaniyan that is given above.

 

Hence even here too if "Iraamaanusa Nootrandhaadhi" has to last

ever in our hearts we need to pray emperumaanaar itself to give

his kataaksham of recite and remmeber Iraamaanusa Nootrandhaadhi

always. This is the purpose of this Thaniyan where

Thiruvarangathamudhu prays emperumaanaar to give his grace to

recite and remmeber Iraamaanusa Nootrandhaadhi always.

 

Now let us proceed further to enjoy the feelings of

thriuvarangathamudhanaar in composing this thaniyan.

 

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Vyaakyaanam for this thaniyan has been written to by Swamy Pillai

Lokam Jeeyar :-

 

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First let us see the meaning of this thaniyan word by word :-

 

 

Iraamaanusaa :- My beloved Raamaanusaa !!

 

Vellum Parama :- Who won

 

Aru Samayam :- All the other Six types of

philosopers

namely Sankara, Bhaskara,

Yadhawa, Bhatta, Prabhakara,

Paasupatha

 

Idhu en vinnappame :- Adiyen is making the

following Vinnappam (Request)

to devareer that

 

Sollin Thogai Kondu :- Having made up adiyen's mind

that folllwing the principles

of Tamil Grammar for composing

paasurams with appropriate word

count for each style of

paasuram, having made a decision

that the Thirunaamam "Iraamaanusaa"

should appear 108 times, and

compose 108 paasurams on Andhaadhi

style

 

Nalgu :- Please bless adiyen that

 

Un Naamamellaam :- All the thirunaamams of Devareer

 

Unahadippodhukku Thondu Seiyum

Nallanbar Ethum :- which are chanted and praised by

all devareer's devotees and those

mahaanubhaavaas like Swamy

Koorathaazwhaan who does eternal

service to devaree's thiruvadi

(Note :- Even though it is

mentioned as Swamy

Koorathaazhwaan here it

is not actualy mentioned in

the paasuram. It has been given

as an exapmle)

 

Amarum padi :- Should always stay

 

Allum pagalum :- Day and Night and ever

 

Endhan naavinulle :- In my tongue

 

 

The overall summary of the above verse is as follows :-

 

Meaning :-

 

Oh..!! Ramanuja, the defeater of six mathams like Sankara, Bhaskara,

Yadhawa, Bhatta, Prabhakara, Paasupatha please accept adiyen request

that, those thirunaamams or names of devareer which are recited and

chanted by all thos emahaanubhaavaas like Swamy Koorathaazhwaan and

other who does eternal service to devareer's lotus feet, should stay

in adiyen's tongue always irrespective of day and night and ever.

 

 

Now let us look at the inner meaning or vyaakyaanam of our

poorvaachaaryas. Swamy Pillai lokam jeeyar renders his vyaakyaanam

as follows :-

 

 

"Sollin thogai kondu" here means :-

 

- Having decided that the thirunaam "Iraamaanusa" will appear in all

the paasurams

 

- Having decided that 108 verses should be there in the paasurams

 

- Having decided that the thirunaamam "Iraamaanusaa" should appear

for 108 times

 

- Having decided that the for letters "Raa", "MaaNu", "Saa"

(please read these letters appropriately in Tamil) should appear

in the paasurams. These four letters have significance in the

effect of reciting the thirunaamam as it contains the "Ra" shabdham

which is also there in the "Raama" naamam which Ravanaa use to be

afraid of. Hence the "Ra" shabdham here gives the same effect and

protects from the enimies of the Kaliyuga

 

- Having decied that these words in the paasurams are grouped together

in appropraite style that adheres to the paasuram composing style

 

Any of these meanings will be applicable to the above group of words.

 

 

"Unadhadippodhukku thondu seiyum: here means :-

 

 

Doing eternal service to devareers lotus feet as kainkaryam.

 

Kankaryam can be of three different types :-

 

1. Kaaykia Kainkaryam -

 

Kainkaryam that is done phisically with our legs and hands

 

2. Vaachika Kainkaryam -

 

Kainkaryam that are done through words like what our

aazhwaars have done using the 4000 sacred text

 

3. Maanasika Kainkaryam -

 

Kainkaryan done through the mind and within the mind

thinking of the lotus feet of emperumaanaar or emperumaan

 

 

Nallanbar ethum :-

 

Hence, those who deos kainkaryam using the group of words as to

devareer mentioned above.

 

The word "Nallanbar" here makes us to think that whom do we call as

"Nallanbar" ??

 

Nallanbar generally means mahaanubhaavaas or bhaagavthaas who does

eternal service to lord or his bhakthaas.

 

Here Swamy Pillai lokam Jeeyer in his vyaakyaanam says

that "Nallanbar" here means :-

 

"Ananya Prayojana Bhakthi yukthar Ethum.."

 

The words "Ananya Prayojana" here means :-

 

To get the essence let us assume that we are going to Parthasarathy

Swamy Temple to do archanai expectin some fruits for this archanai as

many of us do. When we as the Archakar to do Archanai, archakar swamy

takes the details of Gothram, Naamam, Nakshathram etc. from us and

does

a sankalpam before performing archana. The sankalpa goes as follows :-

 

"Aayur Arogya Ishwaryam..".

 

These are the words we here often when archakar swamy does the

sankalpam. We assume that the word "Aayur" here means that the

archani is done forus to get more years to live and experience the

worldly pleasure. Perhaps we might even think that we get more than

100 yrs.

 

"Arogya" here means strength and "Ishwaryam" here means wealth.

 

We all think that these words request emperumaan for us to give more

life, strength and wealth that gives all of us temporary pleasures in

this bhoolokam. But we fail to listen how actually the archakar swamy

starts the Sankalpam. If we listen to it carefully we can also hear

the following :-

 

"Bhagavath Preethyartham or Bhagavan Mukollaasam" etc. Please fogive

adiyen if adiyen has misused the words here.

 

These words here means that all the "Aayur, Arogya, Ishwaryam" are all

for the mukollaasam of emperumaan. How does it apply ? Its like this.

If we have more years or Aayu: then we can do kainkaryam in this

world for emperumaan for more no. of years. If we have "Aarogyam" we

can do Kaayika Kainkaryam to emperumaan in his temples by cleaning,

making garlands or buliding tanks or even visiting 108 divya desam

and does kainkaryam that can bring mulollaasam to emperumaan.

 

"Ishwaryam" here means not the wealth that we think in dollars or

rupees or any other materialistic wealth. Here the "Ishwaryam" means

the wealth of "Bhagavath Bhaagavatha Kainkaryam" is what it actually

means. But we all think that these lines are for materialistic needs.

Most of us go to the temple for our materialistic needs to get

fulfilled.

 

 

Even aazhwaar says :-

 

"Naaganai Misai Nambiraan Sharane Sharan.."

 

Here aazhwaar surrenders to emperumaan. But for what reason ??

 

"Naaldhorum Eka Sindhaiyanaai.."

 

Means, that by travelling all the way to your thirukkoil adiyen become

tired and when I come to your sannidhi and when I see you I start

melting by your sevai. Hence oh..!! Bhagavan please give strength so

that adiyen can stand at your sannidhi have your nithya sevai always

without any of these hindrances.

 

Hence we need not pray emperumaan to give "Aarogyam" for our

materialistic pleasures but for having nithya sevai of emperumaan

alswyas in his divya desams.

 

Why all the above examples. It is to illustrate who are all called

"Ananya Prayojana Bhakthaas". Those who pray emperumaan to give

anything whether it could be more Aayu: or age, Aarogyam or strength,

or Wealth, all for his Bhagavth , Bhaagvatha Kainkaryam and all for

eternal service to his lotus feet only and for nothing else. Hence

these people are called "Ananya Prayojana Bhakthaas" which simply

means those who dont expect any fruit out of their service to

Bhagavan or Bhaagavtha expect requesting his grace and eternal

kainkaryam itself as a fruit.

 

With regards to this our poorvaachaaryaas have categorised the

bhakthaas at four different level or steps :-

 

1. Those who prays to emperumaan or goes to the temple desiring for

materialistic needs

 

2. Those who prays to emperumaan or goes to the temple without any

desire as said above

 

3. Those who prays to emperumaanaar or goes to his sannidhi in the

temple desiring for materialistic needs

 

4. Those who prays to emperumaanaar or goes to his sannidhi in the

temple without any desire

 

 

Most of us in this world belong to the First Category. But as aazhwaar

says :-

 

"Pachai Maa malai pol meni, pavazha vaai kamalachankann

Achyutha amararere aayartham kozhunde ennun

Ichuvai thavira yaan poi indira logam aalum

achuvai perinum venden, aranga maa nagarulaane"

 

Here aazhwar shows an example of "Ananya Prayojana Bhakthi" where he

says, Oh..!! bhagavan.. !!, even if adiyen is given the wealth of

Indra Lokam adiyen doesn't need it, if adiyen always get to see your

Thirumeni which is like a green mountain and your Thirukkann which is

like a Red Lotus flower and your coral lips.

>From this we can realise how aazhwaar prays for Emperumaan's

"Sundara Anantha Sayana" sevai at SriRangam without any other

materialistic fruits or desires.

 

Hence bhakthaas who doesn't expect any fruits from bhagavaan belong

to the second category called "Ananya Prayojana Bhakthaas".

 

This type of Bhakthi can be done only great Mahaanubhaavaas like

aazhwaars or other bhaagavathaas. Even then these type bhakthaas

desn't come to an aachaaryaa or emperumaanaar. They only directly go

to emperumaan rather than going to emperumaanaar.

 

The third category are those who come to Swamy Emperumaanaar for

materialistic needs. People of this type might be there but most of

us have not seen this probably. Such type of bhakthaas are in the

next step because they atleat come near to an aachaaryaa whether it

may be for materialistic desires or for any other purpose. Such

bhakthas are slightly better because they feel that the four

lettered "Ramaanusaa" is more better than the four lettered

thirunaamam "Narayanaa" which has more power than the Bhagavan Naamam.

 

The fourth Category is "Ananya Prayojana Aachaarya Bhakthi" which are

bhakthaas who come to emperumaanaar sannidhi by saying "Ramaanusaa",

without any materialistic needs, except praying to show the way to

reach emperumaan's thiruvadi at Sri Vaikuntam or requesting for

Bhagavath Bhaagavtha Kainkarya Praapthi (attainment) in this world.

 

We should praise the last two category of bhakthaas. Becasue even

though the third category of bhakthaas come to emperumaanaar for

materialistic needs, but they atleast say the thirunaamam

"Raamaanusaa" rather then saying "Partha Sarathy" or "Naaraayanaa".

Hence those bhakthaas shoule be respected.

 

Even Swamy Madura Kavi Aazhwaar says in his "Kanninun Sriudhaambu"

that :-

 

"Paavin Innisai Paadi Thirivane.."

 

Meaning I don't have any other means or ways of life except singing

the glorious "Thiruvaaimozhi" of Satagopan or Swamy Nammaazhwaar.

 

Also aazhwaar says :-

 

"Nanni Then kurgoor nambi ennakkaal, annikkum amudhoorum en

naavukke.."

 

Meaning that "When adiyen takes the thirunaamam "Thirukkurugoor

Nambi", adiyen taste the divya amrutham in my adiyen's mouth..!!"

 

Hence "Ananya Prayojans Bhakthi Yukthar ethum.." means those Bhakthaas

who surrender to emperumaanaar without expecting any materialistic

fruits. Those who does eternal service to emperumaanaar's thiruvadi

by taking his thirunaamam "Iraamaanusaa..!!".

 

 

Thodarum, Will continue in the next issue..

 

 

RAAMMANUJASYA CHARANAU SHARANAM PRAPADYE, SRIMATHE RAAMAANUJAAYA NAMA:

 

 

Emperumaanaar, Bhaagavatha, Bhagvath Thiruvadigale sharanam,

 

The VEDICS Iraamaanusa Nootrandhaadhi Team