supernal rhapsody

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Supernal Rhapsody

Nalayira Divya Prabhandham represents ecstatic outpourings in the form

of hymns sung by Vaishnava Azhwars in different era in praise of Lord

Vishnu manifesting himself in temples under different names belonging

to the days of yore. The reputation of undertaking the onerous task of

compilation and codification of hymns goes to the great Acharya, Sri

Nathamunigal whose native place is “Kattumannargudi” then called

“Veeranarayanapuram” in South Arcot district. He had the divine

guidance and command of Lord Aravamudhan, the presiding deity of

Kumbakonam, to take up this stupendous venture for the benefit of the

then humanity and the posterity. Tehse verses are considered to  be an

understandable Tamil interpretation of the Vedas and a treasure of

immense esoteric value.

            In order of classification Sri Nathamunigal, as ordained,

has given the top priority to the hymns of Sri Vishnu Chitta later

called  “Periazhwar”, a native of SriVilliputhur. While on a

purposeful visit to Madurai Vishnuchitta had the vision of Lord

Narayana in the firmament seated on His vehicle, “Garuda” with

Goddess Lakshmi occupying the right side of His broad chest and the

Conch and Chakra held on either hands. The resplendent radiance of

the Lord with His inseparable consort and His weapons with added

luster, made Sri Vishnuchitta think that it would spell evil eye and

also to avail the unique privilege of blessing the Lord, Goddess

Lakshmi, His discus and conch with an infinite life which has no

specific duration.

            Sri Vishnuchitta has concentrated his Bhakthi towards Lord

Krishna describing His antics, pranks and gambol in different stages

of His growth. His hymn on Lord Krishna starts from “Thirukottiyur”

where the presiding deity is Lord Madhava whom Sri Vishnuchitta

considered as the Lord of Dwaparayuga. We can draw logical conclusion

that Periazhwar chose “Thriukottiyur” to begin with, for singing the

celestial hymns in praise of Lord Krishna may be attributable to the

fact that the Holy place going to be further famous providing nucleus

for the propagation of essential religious concept of Vaishnavism

viz., “Thirumandiram” at a later date by no less a person than Sri

Ramanuja who with a laudable object made it available to one and all

irrespective of Caste or Creed to enter the Kingdom of Sriman

Narayana notwithstanding his preceptor, Sri

Thriukottiyur Nambi’s statutory to keep it a top secret.

            Sri Vishnuchitta describes vividly the gaiety and the

happy state of mind of the Cowheads and their maidens on the day Lord

Krishna was born in their midst and his subsequent sports while

growing as it appeared before his mental screen. The Azhwar takes the

readers to that realm where his divine emotive expression created

ecstasy so as to make them also enjoy and experience the inexplicable

beatitude along with him.

            On hearing the happy news of the birth of “Kesavanambi”

(Lord Krishna), the entire population of Cowherds colony lost their

mental equipoise owing to their reaching the pinnacle of mirth

resulting in running hither and thither in a spirit of rapture. It

could be called a divine frenzy as they wandered without knowing to

express their jubilation.

            Some of them on seeing the divine child commented “Is

there anything in this world that could be an object of comparison

with Him!”. Vishnuchitta in his hymn mentions the birth start of the

newborn in the nature of a riddle. i.e. “ The tenth day from the

start Hastham which reveals the star “Sravanam”. Thus masquerading

the real birth star of the child which is “Rohini” obviously to

confuse the demon King Kamsa who had been forewarned about his end by

one who was born under the star “Rohini”. We see Sri Vishnuchitta’s

extreme “Bhakthi” by recalling what had happened in “Dwaparayuga”,

himself living in Kaliyuga forgetting about his being so.

            In the colony of cowheards there was plenty of milk, curd

and butter that were their mainstay and wealth. The maidens in their

exuberant mirth and revelry threw the milk and its products to one

another completely unaware of their hair plaits getting disheveled

and becoming unkempt. Lord Krishna now as an infant was watching the

whole fun and frolic with His handsome smiling countenance so as to

make the innocent folk to enjoy themselves to their hearts content.

            When the child Krishna was given a bath as per practice

Yasodha used apiece of turmeric to clean his tongue, she was

bewildered to see seven worlds in His mouth. The Gopis talked to one

another that He was not an ordinary child, but concluded that He is a

divine incarnation.

            It was twelfth day when there was a purification ceremony

of the chamber in which the child was born. The entire population of

the Cowherd’s colony engaged themselves in beautifying the whole area

with flags and festoons in order to celebrate the occasion. When the

divine child was laid in to the small golden cradle inset with

diamonds and invaluable gems He kicked the frames with His tiny legs

that made the cradle fell down into pieces when some maidens lifted

to fondle Him, they had their hips other joints feel the twings and

the ache. Each one of them had a story to tell and was describing her

personnel experience to the other.

            After a visit to a temple and offering worshipping at the

shrines each one of us comment about the beautiful features of the

deity in the form of icon. Likewise when Yashodha after giving the

child a bath put it on rest in a bed, the damsels were carried away

by the infant’s beautiful and sharp eyes the smiling face and the

prominent nose. Sri Vishnuchitta expresses how he could narrate the

delectation of the womenfolk. The exhilaration of the ladies was such

that even the entire sea as Cauldron cannot hold it. Every physical

movement of the divine child stole the hearts of the unlettered cow

maids. While the child was moving about on its fours, the style of

His looks, His suckling posture, by raising the legs that measured

the three worlds, to mouth holding them fast with His hands created

and inexplicable delight among the Gopis.

One lady pointed out with astonishment the uniform alignment of the

toes, which is uncommon among mortals. Some among them tried to made

the child going sleep by means of Lullaby.

            The dusk brings happiness to one and all by the appearance

of the moon during its gradual waxing period and with a view to

showing its full appearance to the child, the moon comes in a haste

clearing the impediments that were in the form of passing clouds. On

looking at the moon in its entirety, the divine child calls it to

come near with its supple fingers when Yashodha cautions that moon “

Do not deride the child under the impression that He is just like any

other; He is none but the same baby who had a banyan leaf, as his bed

at the time of deluge; should you dismiss and entertain any doubt

that He is after all a small kid, you can have the veracity of the

truth He grew taller than anything in this World, checked out by King

Mahabali”.

            When the infant became a toddler the Cow maids enjoyed His

waddle and called the others to witness the beauty of His gait;

certain of them commented that this little lion club is the same

“NRISHIMHA” who came out of the pillar and dismembered the demon

king; certain of them watched the footprints of the child and found

the impression of conch and discus in them.

            Lord Krishna when grew up as an adolescent, went to the

forest behind Cows along with the boys of the colony to graze the

cattle. While returning home just before dusk, the fatigue was

noticeable with His black complexioned body crust with full of dust

over the sweat which instead of making him look unclean added further

elegance to the divine youth’s frame. When there was a delay in his

returning home with His retinue the Gopis were fidgety for a while

and heaved a sigh of relief on seeing Him.

            The enchanting dulcet sound produced by the Lord from His

flute made the maidens of the colony to leave their domestic chores

abruptly and to proceed towards the direction from which the musical

note wafted through the air.            The divine escapade of Lord

Krishna has been given by Sri Vishnuchitta comprehensively in

different stages of His growth and what is given in this article is a

capsule. Periazhwar’s Hymns are panacea for all the ills, according to

our great Acharyas

 

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