Meaning for the paasuram

[Guest guest]

Hello All,

I am new to this group. I am ignorant about a lot of things. So,

please bear with me if my question is silly.

 

I would like to know the word by word meaning of the paasuram

 

senRAl kudayAm irunthAl singAsanamAm

ninRAl maravadiyAm nILkadalul enrum

puNaiyam maNivilkkam pUmpattAm pulgum

aNiyAm thirumArkaravu

 

I understand that this is a beautiful paasuram on Adiseshan

which Poigayar gave us in Mudhal Thiruvantadi describing him

as umbrella, throne etc.. I would like to have the meaning

of everyword in this paasuram. My father chants this as a part

of daily thiruvaradhanam. I never asked him to explain this.

I would be greatful if someone explained this.

 

adiyEn,

Narayanan

[Guest guest]

SrI:

 

Dear SrI Narayanan :

 

Any time , you are welcome to ask the questions

pn Dhivya Prabahndham Paasurams .There are

a lot of knowledgable members in this list ,

who can respond .

 

I will answer your question this time .

The answer folows your original mail .

 

V.Sadagopan

 

-

"Narayanan" <naray

<Oppiliappan>

Saturday, August 07, 2004 10:25 AM

Meaning for the paasuram

 

 

> Hello All,

> I am new to this group. I am ignorant about a lot of things. So,

> please bear with me if my question is silly.

>

> I would like to know the word by word meaning of the paasuram

>

> senRAl kudayAm irunthAl singAsanamAm

> ninRAl maravadiyAm nILkadalul enrum

> puNaiyam maNivilkkam pUmpattAm pulgum

> aNiyAm thirumArkaravu

>

> I understand that this is a beautiful paasuram on Adiseshan

> which Poigayar gave us in Mudhal Thiruvantadi describing him

> as umbrella, throne etc.. I would like to have the meaning

> of everyword in this paasuram. My father chants this as a part

> of daily thiruvaradhanam. I never asked him to explain this.

> I would be greatful if someone explained this.

>

> adiyEn,

> Narayanan

 

Dear SrI NarayaNan :

 

Yes , this is a beautiful Paasuram dealing with

AzhwAr's admiration for Adhi Seshan and his desire to

emulate him in Bhagavath Kaimkaryam as

a servant of the Lord .

 

This Paasuram is used to remind ourselves of

our relationship as Seshan ( JeevAthmA )

to the Sarva Seshi (the Universal Lord ) ,

whose property and wealth we are. This is

called Sambhandha Jn~Anam in a nut shell .

 

The primordial )Aaadhi) Seshan , who performs

many Kaimkaryams for the Lord in this Context is

Exemplary AadhisEshan . No time is more appropriate than

Bhagavath AarAdhanam to remind ourselves of

thsi Sambhanda Jn~Anam celebrated in Thirumanthiram

or AshtAksharam . Adhi Seshan is the prime example of

one who demonstrates Seshathvam ( being a bonded

servant ) to the Lord as part of the Svaroopam ( inherent

Nature) of the Seshan or JeevAthma .

 

Prior to the word by word meaning , Dr.V.N. Vedantha

Desikan's sumamry of the meaning of this Paasuram

will be useful:

 

" What a veriety of proximate services (antharanga

Kaimakryam ) does Adhi SeshA perform to the Lord ,

Sriya: Pathi ! When the Lord moves about , Adhi Seshan

serves as an umbrella ; When the Lord is seated ,

he constitutes the throne ; When the Lord stands

he (Adhi Seshan ) is the foot sandals( PaadhukAs);\

he becomes the soft couch for the Lord to recline on

in theMilky Ocean ; Adhi Seshan provides the eternal

auspicous lamp by the light radfiated by his hood

gems. For the Lord , he acts as the divine garment ;

he will become the pillow either to cause a distancing

in divine love-play or to substitute himself as a pillow

in the place of the consorts , when they are estranged !

Sesha is engaged in all aspects of Sevai to his Lord ! " .

 

Swamy AlavanthAr , one of the PoorvAchAryAs of

AchArya Raamanuja used this paasuram to pay his

tribute to the Sarva Seshthvam of Adhi Seshan

in the 40th SlOkam of his SthOthra Rathnam and

the first slOkam of his ChathusslOki ( PhaNi Pathi:

SayyAsanam Vaahanam- - - ) .

 

Word by Word Meaning

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

ThirumARkku = for the Lord , who is SrIman NaarAyaNan

 

aravu = Adhi SEshan , the great serpent

 

senRAl kudai aamm = He is the umbrella , when

the Lord moves around ( sanchAram) to protect

his Lord from the elements as it were . He stretched

his hoods over the baby KrishNan during the crossing of

the river by Vasudevan to move the Lord from the prison

of Kamsan to Gokulam on the dark and rainy night .

 

irunthAl SingAsanam aamm = He is the throne for the lord

to sit in SrI Vaikuntam ( Parama Padha Naathan).

 

ninRAl mara adi aamm = When the Lord stands , Adhi Seshan

becomes HIs Paadhukai and serves Him .

 

NeeL kadaluL = In the wide MIlky ocean

 

yenRum puNayAm = Adhi Seshan becomes the requisite

bed for his Lord always .

 

aNI viLakku aamm = Adhi Seshan also serves as

the MangaLa dheepam thru the radiant gems

decorating his thousand hoods .

 

poompattu aamm = Adhi Seshan also serves as

the vasthram and parivattam ( Silken garmnets/

PeethAmbharam) .

 

pulhum aNai aamm = Adhi Seshan serves at appropriate

times as the pillow for embracing .

 

Thus Adhi Seshan does Kiamkaryam to his Lord

in all places , times and state ("Sarva dEsa , Sarva kaala ,

Saarvaavasthai Kaimkaryams " ) . Azhwar is thrilled to recall

this kaimkaryam of the Parama BhAgavathan , Adhi Seshan

and wishes to be blessed with such boons of service

to the Lord .

 

V.Sadagopan