nam-piLLai 6- Conversation with the Lord.

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nam-piLLai 6

 

nam-perumAL, nam-AzhwAr, nam-jEyar, nam-piLLai enbar-avaravar tham

yERRathAl, anbudaiyOr sARRuth thirunAmangaL thAn enRu nan nenjEA

yERRadhanai solli nE inRu" upadhEsa rathina mAlai-50

 

 

A discussion on SwAmi nam-piLLai is never complete without the mention

of conversation between AzhwAr and the Lord. This is highlight of

nam-piLLai's vyAkyAnam. The conversation gives us a peep into the

mind of the AzhwAr and the events that lead into the origin of a

particular pAsuram/padhigam.

 

In the tenth pathu for instance, the following conversation has a

telling one and ultimately has a dumbfouning effect on the LOrd.

 

IN the introduction to the "thiru mAl irunjOlai enREan enna" 10-8

AzhWar is surprised to find the Lord taking immense interest in him

and wanting to grant salvation. AzhwAr has an introspection. he finds

no improvement as compared to an earlier period. This leads to a state

where he questions himself :How come am I being granted this great

position? AzhwAr decides to ask the Lord Himself in this regard. This

goes on

like this:

 

AzhwAr: "inRu ippadi ithai sirashA vahikkiRa dhEvar, munbu

anAdhikAlam ithai kai vittirupAn en?

Today You want to rescue me. Why did you ignore all these years?

emperumAn could not say that since AzhwAr is not indifferent towards

this Him, He is granting this,as even this indifferenc is created by

HIm.

Then what was the response from the Lord?

Lord is the saviour and owner of the souls. He has to take care of them.

The commentary runs as follows:

"ini rakshaganAnavanukku nedunAL rakshya vargathai vittirundha idhaRku

sollalAvadhonRillayE, piRpAdanAnddhukku lajjikkumadhukku mERpada;

AgaiyAle sollalavadhoRu maRu mARRam kANAmaiyAlE kavizhndhu ninRu

kAlAlE thaRaiyik kERinAn.."

 

The saviour has not attended to His owned thing (the soul) all along

and has no response but silence for the delay. The saviour, hence,

became shy and started scratching the ground by his legs.

 

 

First, the LOrd created the worlds. Then He created ways to be

interested towards HIm.Then the interest towards Him sprang up for

AzhwAr. Then He assumed Himself as the means and commencing from

"poi ninRa gnAnam"- thiru virutham till now " He brought AzhwAr to

this state.

Why was this not done earlier itself. For this the Lord stood silently.

 

AzhWar thus realizes that " idhoru nirhEdhuka vishayEkAram

irukkumpadiyEA"enRu adhil AyangAl pattu ..hrushtarAik kaLikkiRAr"

 

AzhwAr ultimately enjoys the mirth on realizing that the Lord

ultimately has granted this by elevating him to such a state for no

reason on his part whatsoever -nir hEdhukamAga.

(to be continued)

vanamamalai padmanabhan