ManatthukkiniyAn

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Srimate SrivanSatakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yatindra

Mahadesikaya Nama:

 

ManatthukkiniyAn

___________________

 

Sri Kodai Nachiar pays a rare tribute to Sri Rama in

Sri Tiruppavai- She calls Him “Manatthukku iniyAn”, a

sobriquet She doesn’t use with regard to any other

avatArA, though several have been alluded to in

Tiruppavai. Trivikrama is mentioned with reverence as

“Ongi uLagaLanda Utthaman”, Sri Krishna is referred to

any number of times, Sri Balarama comes in for due

mention too, but none of them are described as “dear

to the heart” as is Sri Raghava. Adopting the “nahi

nindA” nyAyA, shall we attempt to fathom Sri Andal’s

tiruvuLLam in the matter? In a prabandam devoted to

Sri Krishnavatara, why does She hold Sri Rama, rather

than the Yadukula Tilakam, as dear to Her heart?

 

First and foremost, it must have been a question of

Honesty. An honest person endears himself to us much

more than one who is not. When we think of Sri Rama,

what comes to our mind immediately is the upright

figure, who would rather give His life, than speak

untruth.

“RamO dvir nAbhi bhAshatE” says Sri Valmiki,

confirming the Prince’s penchant for adhering to His

word, irrespective of the travails they may land Him

in.

Further, as He himself confirms,

“anritam na ukta poorvam mE na cha vakshyE kadAchana”

(I have never told an untruth in the past, nor shall I

ever do so).

In comparison, Sri Krishna emerges a professional

fibber, right from childhood. Having consumed all the

dairy products He could lay His hands on, He stoutly

denies having done so, even when caught red-handed. As

a much sought-after youth, He gives His word to one

gOpi to spend time with her, stands her up, and goes

with another, only to abandon her too midway for

favouring a third. No wonder Sri Andal characterises

Him as “ElA poygaL uraippAn”(Master fabricator of

untenable lies). Thus, vis a vis the dishonest Sri

Krishna, Sri Rama’s honest ideals shine, making Him a

“manatthukku iniyAn”.

 

Secondly, Sri Rama was a paragon of virtues, and the

personification of “Dharma” or righteousness. Even His

sworn enemies admit this, as is proved by MarIchA’s

words, “RamO vigrahavAn dharma:” Nobody in their right

mind would ever accuse the Prince of Ayodhya of any

moral turpitude, however slight. It is impossible not

to love such a person. In contrast, Sri Krishna is

admittedly described even by His staunch admirer Sri

Periazhwar as a

“dharmam ariyA kurumban” (a mischief-monger sans any

appreciation of rights and wrongs), and Sri Andal

herself adds, “puram pOl uLLum kariyAn”(black of heart

as of the body).

 

Thirdly, when it comes to a question of marital

fidelity, Sri Rama outshines Dwarakanatha. Prior to

marriage, we do not have any record of Sri Rama’s

emotional entanglements, and after wedlock, His

devotion to Sri Janaki is legendary, His grief at Her

separation intense enough to prompt Him to speak of

taking His own life.

In this regard, the less we speak of Kannapiran the

better, for He goes on adding to His bevy of wives,

much to the chagrin of Sri Rugmini, Sri Sathyabhama,

Sri Radha, Sri Jambavati and countless others. In

astonishment, Sri Periazhwar exclaims, “padinArAm

Ayiravar dEvimAr paNi seyya veetrirunda maNavALar”.

Who would you consider endearing- one who lavishes all

of one’s love on a single woman, or a person with an

overflowing and ever- expanding harem?

 

A fourth reason for the sobriquet “manatthukkiniyAn”

must be Sri Rama’s unquestioned valour, which is ever

on display. His arrow is as straight as He is, and as

effective on His enemies. And the wars He fought were

all above-board, role models of “dharma yuddha”.

Sending back an un-armed, battle-weary Ravana to come

better prepared the next day, was indeed an act of

incomparable courage. He is thus the “tOlAda tani

veeran” sung by Swami Desikan. In contrast, Sri

Krishna earned the infamous name “RaN cchOd”

(deserter) when He strategically withdrew in the

battle against Jarasandha. And the wars that He fought

or presided over were full of subterfuges and

machinations and were anything but straightforward.

 

Fifthly, as far as appearances go, Sri Dasarathi was

infinitely handsome, and capable of stealing the

hearts and sights of not only women, but of men too-

(PumsAm drishti chittha apahAriNam). Even Sri

Periazhwar, that avowed votary of Sri Krishna,

reluctantly admits the superiority of Sri Rama’s looks

and His splendour resembling a thousand Suns shining

at their peak simultaneously-“Kadir Ayiram iravi

kalandu eritthAl ottha neeN mudian-ediril irAman”.

The words, “ediril iRaman”(the incomparable Rama) are

significant, for Sri Raghunatha was the perfectly

proportioned, virile male, as attested by Sri

Valmiki-“ Sama: sama vibhaktAnga: snigdha varNa:

pratApavAn”. Though Sri Krishna is none the less

as far as looks are concerned, (sAkshAt manmata

manmata, much of His good looks are

spoilt by continued exposure to the Sun and the

elements in the company of cows, leading Sri

Periazhwar to lament, “kAnagam ellAm tirindu un kariya

tirumEni vAda”. Further, Sri Krishna smells. The

constant association with cows, calves, cowherds and

bovine products makes Sri Krishna exude a strong

smell, known as “mudai nAtram”. Such body-odour is

hardly endearing, especially to women, as we all know

from watching commercials on deodorants.

And lastly and perhaps most importantly, Sri Krishna

only preached while Sri Rama also practiced. For

prapannas like us, Sri Rama is infinitely dearer to

the heart, for His whole life was devoted to

Saranagata Rakshanam, as borne out by Sri Vibhishana

Saranagati and others portrayed by Srimad Ramayana.

The reasons adduced by Sri Rama to the vAnara veerAs

for granting refuge to Sri Vibhishana are a classic

enunciation of the Doctrine of Saranagati. So much so

that Sri Sita refers to Him as “SaranAgata Vatsala:”

And Sri Rama belongs to a line of Emperors, for whom

SaragAgata Rakshanam was a kula dharma, as the episode

of Sipi Chakravarty and the stray pigeon would

indicate=Sri Goda devi that there is none other than

Sri Rama who qualifies for the endearment “manatthukku

iniyAn”?

 

Srimate Sri LakshimiNrsimha divya paduka sevaka

SrivanSatakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra mahadesikaya

Nama:

-----------------------dasan,sadagopan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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