BhAgawathas and BhAgawatha apachAram

[Guest guest]

SrI:

SrImathE Gopaladesika Mahadesikaya namah:

Dearest Srivaishnavas,

 

Sri Varadahan and others wrote very beautifully on this subject. Just

adiyEn's two cents worth on BhAgawathas and the need to show respect towards

them irrespective of their births: (Bhagawatha- is one who has complete

unconditional, unflinching faith on Sriya: Pathi Sriman Narayanan and has

surrendered to his Lotus Feet. caste no bar.:-)

 

I take the help from ThoNdaradippodi AzhwAr's two pAsurams to highlight

their greatness: ThoNdaradippodi AzhwAr (Alwar- who considered himself as

the dust at the feet of BhAgawathas)

 

AzhwAr’s respects and regards for BhAgawathAs is GREAT! Let us enjoy the

42nd and 43rd of Thirumaalai:

 

pazhuthilaa vozhuka laaRRup palasathup pEthi maar_kaL!

izhikulath thavar_ka LElum emmadi yaar_ka Laakil*

thozhumineer kodumin koLmin!' enRun^in NnOdu mokka,

vazhipada varuLi NnaaypOl mathiLthiru varankath thaanE! (42)

 

mathiL ThiruvarangatthaanE! - Oh Sri RanganAthanE!

Vazhipada aruLinaay pOl- (I think) You have instructed The Vedic scholars,

ChathurvEdis (one who has learnt all four Vedas)- brahmins, saying ,"Oh

ChathurvEdis! Even if my devotees are born in the lowliest of low castes

(izhikulatthavar)- if they are my bhakthAs; (means- devotees of Sriman

Narayanan- and only HIM), you all prostrate to them… (neer thozhumin); give

them (kodumin) (wealth- food; and even ourself);

get from them knowledge (that I am The Supreme Lord- Parathvam..) (koNmin)."

 

(AzhwAr asks Sri RanganAthan).. "Did You instruct this because You declare

that Your BhakthAs are to be considered equal to You..? (if not even more)

(enRu ninnodu okka)

 

amaravO ranka maaRum vEthamOr naan_ku mOthith/

thamar_kaLil thalaiva raaya saathiyan^ thaNar_ka Lelum/

numar_kaLaip pazhippa raakil nodippathO raLavil, aankE

avar_kaLthaam pulaiyar pOlum arankamaa nakaru LaanE! (43)

 

(In this pAsuram, AzhwAr condemns those who commit BhAwatha apacharam..)

Oh Sri Ranganatha! Even after having learnt all six Vedha~ngams, and the

unparalleled four Vedas, completely, and are born in the great Brahmana

kulam, (as brahmins), if someone scolds "pazhippargaLaagil" (or thinks low

about) Your devotees (numargaLai), immediately, within a fraction of a

second (nodippadhOr aLavil), at the same spot (aanghE), he (is worthy to be

considered) becomes a chaNdaaLar.. (lowliest man) -pulayiarpOlum..

 

What an assertive truth! Last pAsuram, AzhWar says, "Even low caste devotees

need to considered equal to Emperumaan Sriya: Pathi Sriman Narayanan. Next

one- he says, even if you are born a highest caste brahmin, if you do not

respect (or if you think of low of) a BhAgawatha (of Emperumaan), you are

NOT a brahmin at all. You become the lowliest of low castes..

 

In fact, this AzhwAr was born a brahmin;

 

Thanks to SrI TA Varadhan and others for giving me an opportunity to mull

these lovely PAsurams.

Regards

Namo Narayana

adiyaarkku adiyan..

 

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