Riot of Colours: /maNi/vaNNan -- I

[Guest guest]

/Om namO nArAyaNAya ||

 

I am reposting herewith the delightful posting of Shri Sadagopan Iyengar on

colors of the Lord. There are two words in the posting, which seem mysterious.

My purpose is to explore their meanings.

 

In his posting, Sri Sadagopan Iyengar uses the expression /maNi/vaNNan to refer

to the Lord. It is used more than once. One of the references is /tiru/maGkai

aZvAr's pAcuram, where the Lord is referred to as having /maNiyin vaNNam

puraiyum tiru/mEni: Having a venerable body with the colors of /maNi.

 

/maNi is a precious jewel, possibly a diamond stone. The British have wiped our

non-renewable wealth so completely that the experience of seeing an authentic

/maNi is lost to all of us. This is my belief. Often, the expression

/maNi/vaNNan is perceived as the blue colors of /maNi, a kind of diamond whose

imitation form is a hallowed tube like jewel. The authentic /maNi-s are with the

British Crown, the famous /kOhinoor being one of them.

 

There is no doubt that the name /maNI/vaNNan refers only to Lord /vishNu. Even

though /aruNa/kiri/nAtar refers to Lord Sri /murukan as /maNI/vaNNan, he uses it

in a local sense. Globally, the word is used only for Lord /tiru/mAl. Like the

words, /sUrya/nArAyaNan and /candra/mauli the word /maNi/vaNNan is also

exclusive.

 

The color of gold is not so exclusive. We have the famous /ponnAr mEniyanE of

Sri Sundarar. Also /citamparam is called /ponn/ampalam.

 

But the word /maNi/vaNNan enjoys a uniqueness, and is hardly contested!

 

Thus it is natural to ask what does the word /maNi/vaNNan mean? Why is it

exclusive to Lord /tiru/mAl? What is the form of Sriman /nArAyaNan that the name

represents?

 

The answers are difficult, and can be polymic, even though in a pleasant way. I

will attempt to explore its meaning. Memebers will, I am sure, add to the

repertoire of meanings.

 

With these in mind, may I let you first enjoy the colorful Lord as posted by Sri

Sadagopan Iyengar.

 

I will continue my thoughts in my next posting. Thank you for your attention and

patience.

 

/nalan/taruJ collai nAn kaNtu/koNtEn; nArAyaNA ennum nAmam.

 

Visu