WITNESS-2

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WITNESS-2 -MARKANDEYA MAHARISHI AS A

WITNESS

 

 

Is the term "kari" used by nam AzhwAr. Thamizh is a very rich

language.Each word has several meanings. "kari" is one such word.

It means coal. It refers an elephant. Here it alludes to sAkshi-witness.

 

swAmi nam-AzhwAr has used this word in poliga-poliga padhigam. He has

referred to mArkaNdEya maharishi as a witness.

 

"niRuthi num vuLLthuk koLLum dheivangaL ummai vuyyakkOL,

maRuthum avanOdE kaNdEr mArkaNdEyanum kariyEa,

kaRutha manam vonRum vENdA kaNNan allAl dheivam illai,

iruppadhellAm avan mUrthiyAya avaRkEA iruminEA" thiru voi mozhi 5-2-7

 

It may be thus observed that mArkaNdEyan has been cited as a witness

here in this pAsuram. What for? This is being discussed in the

context of, whether other demi-gods can rescue us? For this AzhwAr

summons this muni and recalls that event. This pAsuram read with

another will throw light on that event. In thiru voi mozhi 7-5-7

 

"...vaNduN malarth thongal mArkaNdEyanukku vAzhu nAL, iNdai sadai mudi Esan udan koNdu vusAch chella

koNdanguth thannodum koNdu, vudan chenRadhuNarndhumEA" AzhwAr has referred to the same event.

 

 

It is well known that mArkaNdEayn's parents were granted a boon that

they will be granted a wise son but his longevity will be limited.

The son was a devotee of shivA. When parents grieved that the death

for their son was nearing, mArkaNdEayn told them not to worry and

appraoched shivA, whom he had been worshipping all along and

requested for further lifetime. shivA displayed his long hair in

private, thus enunciating to mArkaNdEayn that he is also a soul like

mArkANdEyan and the only person who can rescue him, grant him

salvation, full of auspicious qualities is sriman nArAyaNA. The Lord

granted him his wish, as if he had been recommended by pirAtti. Edu

vyAkyANam is wonderful:

"oru nALilE vandhavARE, thalaik kadaiyum puzhaikkadaiyum adaithu,

jadaiyai virithuk kAtti,......vunakkOr Asrayanam kAttap pArAi! enRu,

avan saulabhyAdhi gunangaLaiyum, mOksha parathvathvAdhi gunangaLaiyum

vusAvik koNdu, sarva lOkan pakkalilE chendRAn,.... oru pirAtti

purushakAramaga varuvAraik kaik koLLimAp pOlE, kaik kONdu..."

 

The idea here is that the demi-deities cannot help the souls. They

cannot grant mOksham or greater long term benefits. They are

subservient to the Lord like other souls. For this, the

aforementioned mArkaNdEyan's experience is called as a witness.

 

Here the supremacy of the Lord is established and counselling is done

by AzhwAr which is aptly mentioned by mAmunikal as

"vulagil thirundhAdhar thammai thiruthiya mARan sol"

(to be continued)

vanamamalai padmanabhan