Part 19: "There is Salvation in numbers" - The Theme of "satsangh" in TiruppAvai

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Dear friends,

 

(22) In Stanza 22 of the TiruppAvai there is an

explicit reference to "satsangh" in the expression:

 

"angan mAlatth-arasar …un paLLi-kattil keezhE sangam

irruppAr…"

 

The phrase "sangam irrupAr" refers to the "mightiest

kings of the worlds" ("arasar") who gather in strength

in a royal 'satsangh' as it were (i.e. 'sangam

irrupAr') to line up with folded arms and humbly

supplicate at not the Almighty's feet (!) but at the

feet of His bedstead ("palli-kattil keezhE")!

 

 

Even the mightiest of powers of the worlds like "kings

and 'dEvas' (gods) when they need to petition God have

no choice but to go to Him in humble 'satsangh'. Such

is the meaning of this expression, "sangam iruppAr.."

 

The Ramayana speaks of how otherwise very powerful

'devAs' went as a group to Sriman Narayana in humble

prayer for protection against the tyranny of Ravana.

It was in response indeed to the prayer of the

'satsangh' of 'dEvas' -- "arasar sangam iruppAr"

--that the avatar of Rama was undertaken.

 

******************

 

There is another expression here in this stanza which

though not quite as explicit as "sangam irrupAr" is

however quite rich in its suggestive implication of

the 'satsangh' theme. It is this:

 

"enggaL mEl nOkkudhiyEl, enggal mEr sApamm-eezhndhu…"

 

The expression in this stanza beginning with (the

first-person-plural "enggaL..") literally means:

 

"Cast Thine eyes upon us that we may be rid of the

curse our sins have wrought upon us!"

 

Sometimes there is no need for the whole 'satsangh' to

go in one large body to the Almighty --- like the

delegation of 'angan mAlatthu arasar-s". It is

sometimes enough if just one member from a "satsangh"

goes as representative for the rest. The

representative becomes the recipient of divine grace

("nOkkudhal") and, by virtue of it, those whom he

represents get rid of all sins and trespasses

("sApamm-eezhndhu").

 

The story of Sudama from the Srimadh Bhagavatham comes

to mind immediately and although it is well known to

everyone it is worth recounting it here.

 

Sudama and Krishna were schoolmates who strolled

together everyday all the way from Gokulam to the

village of their master Maharishi Sandipini to learn

lessons. One day after class the two lads were

returning home when it began to rain torrentially. The

two quickly climbed a large tree and took shelter

under its great branches. The rain poured

unrelentingly for hours and darkness descended. The

boys became extremely hungry.

 

Sudama took out his little cloth-bag and untied a

lunch-box full of delicious snacks his mother had

packed for him that morning on his way to school.

"Sudama, I've packed enough lunch for both you and

Krishna", he remembered his mother telling him, "Make

sure you give Krishna his share and both of you can

enjoy the meal together".

 

Sudama being very hungry, however, was overtaken by

childish greed. He silently gobbled the whole meal

himself not sparing a morsel even for his mate.

Krishna however acted as if he was was entirely

unaware of his friend's deed of selfishness.

 

Sudama's committed three acts of sin that day. The

first was breach of his mother's trust. The second,

was deceit and thievery -- he quietly deprived Krishna

of his rightful share of the meal. Thirdly, in

appropriating the meal all to himself knowing fully

well that his friend was as hungry as he, Sudama

committed a grievously selfish deed. Sudama was

accursed to lead a life of acute poverty and adversity

from that very moment onwards.

 

For years thereafter Sudama lived a life of misery in

grinding poverty. He had a very loving and devoted

wife and he had twenty-seven affectionate children!

They lived in fact a simple but virtuous life as good

brahmins. They were God-fearing, living constantly in

contemplation of their old friend, the Almighty

Vasudeva. Sudama's was as good a household 'satsangh'

as could be found anywhere. But the curse of Sudama's

sins was upon the family 'satsangh' and it brought

them untold hardship in the form of deprivation.

 

After years of misery, one day on the urging of his

good wife, Sudama finally swallowed his brahminical

pride ("abimAna bangamaay vandhu") and traveled to

Dwaraka to seek the help of his friend of old times,

Sri Krishna, and beseech him for a way out of the dire

straits.

 

Krishna received Sudama and showered him with all the

affection and hospitality that is due to an old

friend. They talked of old times and of this and

that... but Sudama could not however bring up the

subject of his family's dire condition. So overwhelmed

was Sudama by Krishna's warmth, graciousness and

kindness that he was ashamed to reveal the true

purpose of his visit. But he was content, why more

than content and immensely happy to merely spend

precious moments in the company of Krishna…happy to

have once again set eyes upon that handsome face,

those luminous eyes and those playful lips of his old

friend of yore…

 

When he finally took leave of Krishna that day, Sudama

left with absolutely nothing to show of Krishna's

largesse for which principally the visit to Dwaraka

was undertaken. He left with nothing to take back home

to his destitute wife and children except fond

memories of Krishna's own delightful presence…

memories he hoped would linger in the mind for long…

Sudama left with nothing but God's 'darshan" -- or as

the TiruppAvai phrase has it, the Almighty's

"nOkkudhiyEl"…

 

Before he left, Sudama felt however that for the sake

of old times he must give Krishna at least a token of

affection. Alas, the poor brahmin had nothing of any

value whatsoever to gift to Krishna… except a little

bag of rice-bran -- bran that Sudama remembered used

to be a favorite snack of Krishna back in the good old

school days. "I have nothing to give thee, Krishna,

except this handful of grain I brought with me from

home as my humble gift to you", said Sudama

shamefaced.

 

"Sudama, how kind of you to remember", said the

Almighty graciously, "give it to me for it's still my

favorite snack!"

 

*******************

 

The story of Sudama is one of the finest

'human-interest stories' in the Srimadh Bhavagavatam.

It relates how in the very moment Sudama gifted a

handful of rice-bran to Krishna, the sins accrued by

the poor brahmin in a distant past were immediately

expiated and atoned for! And the terrible curse of

those sins, hanging like millstone around Sudama's

neck all the years, was at once rid completely! The

curse lifted ("sApamm-eezhndhu") not only off Sudama's

soul but off his entire family too --- his entire

household 'satsangh', so to say. As if by some

wonderful magic, the Bhagavatam tells us, their poor

hovel turned into a large luxurious mansion, with

liveried servants and with granary loads of food and

wardrobes full of riches and finery!

 

Sudama and his little family 'satsangh' lived happily

ever after. No other 'satsangh' in the world of

"purAna" or "itihAsa" would probably have better

realized the true significance of the TiruppAvai line

--- "enggaL mEl nOkkudhiyEl, enggal mEr

sApamm-eezhndhu…"

 

****************

 

Whether it be the mighty or the low --- whether kings

and gods ("angan mAllathu arasar") or poor men like

Sudama with his hapless family -- the rule is the

same: everyone must approach the Almighty for succor

and solace through 'satsangh'. Such is the

significance we may derive from AndAl's beautiful

phrase in the TiruppAvai, "sangam iruppAr…".

 

(to be continued)

Regards,

 

dAsan,

Sudarshan

 

 

 

 

 

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