The Simmering Sores

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Srimate SrivanSatakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

 

 

 

The Simmering Sores

 

 

 

All are agreed that it is the KrishnAvatAra in which the Lord displayed

the maximum degree of accessibility or Soulabhyam. There is absolutely no

competition to the Boy Wonder from any other Emperuman, in this regard. The

closest rival, Sri Rama, having been born a Prince and the scion of the IkshvAku

dynasty, had little occasion to display Soulabhyam, though He did try valiantly

many a time. Not that He was averse to exhibiting this virtue, but as Sri

Bhattar was wont to remark, His calling did not permit a full-blown display of

this endearing trait. Sri Krishna is thus the sole avatara, where Soulabhyam was

the name of the game. Though every single action of the bewitching boy had

accessibility writ large over it, yet there are some of His deeds, which have

come in for special mention from Azhwars and Acharyas.

 

 

 

Take for example His growing up in the midst of lowly cowherds- would any

Parabrahmam worth its name be willing to be seen in the company of cattle, leave

alone tend to them lovingly? Whither His exalted stature as the Master of all

Worlds, and whither a lowly cowherd! We are simply unable even to imagine the

Paramapurusha, surrounded by the Celestials and basking in their adoration,

rejoicing in the boisterous company of unlettered urchins. What a come down for

Him, from being the object of adulation of distinguished sages and saints, to

being called all sorts of names (" VeNnai undAn ivan endru Esa nindra

Emperuman") by ignorant Gopis!

 

 

 

It doesn't stop with His just growing up among dealers in dairy products. He has

to get tied up to the pestle by an irate mother, angered beyond measure by

constant complaints of thievery. Again, would the Parabrahmam consent to being

tied up to a grindstone like any mortal mischief-monger? It must indeed have

been an ironical sight, the Liberator of all from eternal bondage, Himself being

immobilised and imprisoned, that too by an ordinary cowherdess! "Etthiram

uralinOdu iNaindu irundu Engiya eLivE" marvels Sri Nammazhwar, and wonders again

at the incredible Soulabhyam of the Lord getting beaten up by Gopis for stealing

butter-"Ayar kouzhundAi avarAl pudayuNNum en mAya pirAn".

 

 

 

Another endearing display of accessibility is the Lord taking on the role of a

messenger, bearing a note from the PAndavas to the Kauravas. As a last ditch

effort to avert war, the Pandavas' war council decides to despatch a courier to

the Kauravas, with a final request for the restoration of their share of the

kingdom. And whom do they chose for the "prestigious" job? None other than the

Supreme Lord, who also willingly consents to act as a mere messenger. No job is

too menial for the Lord, if it is on behalf of His ardent devotees. "Pancha

PandavarkkAgi vAyurai toodu chendru iyangum en thuNai", "innAr toodan ena

nindrAn" says Thirumangai Mannan- Instead of His original identity of being the

Paramapursha, it appears that the Lord preferred to be known as "PAndava

Dootan".

 

 

 

As if to display His readiness to perform the bidding of His devotees willingly

and without protest, the Lord again does something which crowns all other

displays of Soulabhyam-

 

Throughout the Kurukshetra war, he acts as the charioteer of Arjuna. What a

lowly occupation to adopt-that of an ordinary driver, piloting the vehicle as

per the master's wishes! Constantly at the beck and call of the master, taking

the chariot from spot to spot as per his instructions, battling with the

spirited horses, taking care of them at the end of the day by bathing them,

feeding them and ensuring that they had adequate rest (while having little rest

Himself), his delicate tirumEni bathed in sweat and encrusted with the dirt of

the battle field-all these formed the daily routine of the Lord during the days

of the Kurukshetra war. The beautiful hands, which held the divine discus and

the milk-white conch, now had only the horsewhip to hold. The curly, jet-black

hair, the envy of even women, was covered with a thick coat of grime. The

normally broad, brilliant and beautiful eyes were now half-closed with fatigue

and battle-weariness. The Paramatma, to whom the entire world offered its food

before partaking of it, now had to feed the horses first, before He Himself had

a few morsels. While Arjuna was ensconced regally in the chariot, the Lord stood

on the ground holding the reins, like a lowly servant-"PArtthan tan tEr mun

nindrAnai ...TiruvallikkENi kandEnE" says Sri Thirumangai Mannan.

 

 

 

It is this endearing form that the Lord sports at ThiruvallikkENi. Adding injury

to insult, He willingly bore the brunt of almost all the stinging arrows aimed

at Arjuna by his rivals, but for which the PAndava would hardly have survived

the battle. He blocked many a murderous weapon aimed at the master with His own

tirumEni, shielding Arjuna from certain death many a time, and acquiring

innumerable indelible scars on various parts of His torso, as a result .

 

 

 

In the process, the Lord's beautiful countenance, often compared to a lotus in

full bloom, was riddled with arrow wounds. Even to this day, the Lord is to be

seen with this pock-marked thirumukha mandalam at ThiruvallikkENi, bearing

testimony to His boundless love for his bhaktas and His readiness to do

anything, but anything, to please His devotee. The battle-scars must have been

so severe, that they still appear to be festering, despite the passage of

thousands of years. The beholders' eyes brim with tears whenever they look at

the Lord's visage, with all those simmering sores attesting to His eagerness to

protect and preserve those He loves and those who love Him, even at a great

personal cost.

 

 

 

Srimate Sri LakshmINrisimha divya paduka sevaka SrivanSatakopa Sri Narayana

Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

 

Dasan, sadagopan