The Art of Giving/ Use of MahAbala as adjective

[Guest guest]

ShrImathE RAmAnujasya Caranam Sharanou PraPadhyE

 

NamasthE Shri Sadagopan DAsyan AvarkaLE.

 

I appreciate your discourse on Giving. The model of MahABali as an

outstanding example for giving helped me to get clarified on a line in

NAdhaJOThi Shri MuthuSwami DIkschithar's KIrthanais.

 

The KIrthanai on BruhasPathi ( as Lord of GuruVAram) begins with "BruhasPathE

BrahmAJAthE NamosthUthE": I pay obeisssance to BruhasPathi, who is born of

BrahmA.

 

The first line and the last line of the CaraNam part of the KIrthanai read in

part as follows;

 

MahABalaVibhO GISPathE . . .

 

The last phrase of the last concluding line reads in part: NiramshAya

MahaPradhAthrE.

 

The traditional meaning of MahABala as the Super Strong Man does not fit in

with the character and image of BruhasPathi. If you say that about the Sun,

yes.

 

The last part above says, "You, who gives greatly and effectively without

holding any part" . That is, he gives the whole and not just a part and that

he does it in such a manner to be useful.

 

Also from a look at all the NavaGraha KIrthanAs, Lord BruhasPathi emerges as

the best of all givers. AashrithaJaNo KalpaThaRO: Like the KaRpaka Vruccam,

he gives to those who seek his refuge.

 

I have not been comfortable with the first line until now. And from your

commentary, I conclude that he is a giver like MahABali. Being the opening

line of CAraNam, its significance comes out when you interpret MahABala as an

adjective for MahABali. MahABali + VibhO will become MahABalaVibhO: One whose

appearance is like that of the giver MahABali. As you say, people have to be

comfortable to approach one who is an alms giver. The appearance is the key.

 

Now I feel comfortable with, "One, who has the demeanor of MahABali [in

giving], and one who is the Lord of Speech".

 

I know that the KErala festival "OoNam" celebrates the giving of MahABali. I

wonder if they use the word "MahABala" in MalayAlam as an adjective meaning

"highly charitable".

 

Thank you for the connection.

 

Naha SvIkurvaka AsmAth KrupAm: May He endow us with Grace here and now.

 

Visu