nAnmugan thiruvandhAdhi-32

[Guest guest]

Sri Parthasarathi thunai

Srimathe ramanujaya Namaha

Srimad Vara Vara munayE Namaha

Sri vAnAchala mahA munayE Namaha

 

Paasuram-24

 

“nigazhindhAi pAlpon pasuppu kArvaNNam nAngum

egazhindhA yiruvariyum veeya – pugazhindhAi

sinappOr suvEdhanai sEnApadhiyAi

manappOr mudikkum vagai”

 

In this paasuram and the next azhvar tells about the difficulties

undergone by the “paththi uzhavan”. In this paasuram, azhvar feels

for the way emperuman, even sacrifices himself (thannai azhiyamAri)

for the sake of his devotees.

 

(nigaizhindhAi pAlpon pasuppu kArvaNNam nAngum) In each yuga, people

are filled with different qualities and hence their taste also

varies. Emperuman to attract the people of different yugas in each

yuga gives darshan with different colours. Though his natural colour

is “kArmEgam” [“kAdal kadalpuraiya vilaiviththa kAramarmEni”] sastras

declare that he gives darshan with different colours in different

yugas. Bhakthi first grows due to the attraction towards the divine

beauty. So emperuman chooses to change his colour according to the

taste of the people.

 

(nigazhindhAi pAl vaNNam) “kruthE sukla chaturbAhu:” In the first

yuga, the krutha yuga people are filled with satvika guna. They are

truthful and pure at heart and hence have a taste for white colour

(signifying purity and peace). So in that yuga emperuman chooses the

white colour. So in the krutha yuga, the colour of emperuman is like

that of milk declares thirumazhisai piran. Why not something else

other than milk as example? Probably mazhisai piran’s mind meditated

on the other qualities of milk that also matches with that of

emperuman like good taste and good for health. See the sastras

declaring emperuman to be “sarvarasa:” “rasO vaisa:” “tEnE pale

kannalE amudhE” etc.

 

(nigazhindhAi pon vaNNam) “trEthAyAm raktha varnOsow” In the second

yuga, trEthA yuga people have a mixture of rajo guna mixed with satva

guna. So they have a specific taste for golden colour (a mixture of

red and white). So emperuman gives darshan with ‘ponvaNNam’.

Instead of saying “rakthavarNa:” as said by the sastras or “sEyan

endrum trEdhaikaN” as said by thirumangai mannan in his

thirunedunthAndakam mazhisai piran says golden colour probably to

attribute the costly, precious nature of gold to emperuman also.

[“hiranmaya: purusha:, “rukmApam”, “hEmasamAnavarNam” “suttruraiththa nan pon vun thirumEni”]

 

(nigazhindhAi pasuppu vaNNam) “dvAparE bhagavan syAma:” In the third

yuga, dvApara yuga, people are filled with rajas, tamas gunas mixed

with satva guna. So their preference is for a greenish colour, a

mixture of red, black and white (pasumai, colour of a marshy area)

[“pAlineermai semponeermai pAsiyin pasumpuram pOluneermai porpudai

tadaththu vaNdu viNdulA neelaneermai endrivai niraindha kAlam

nAngumAi”, “purusham krushNa pingalam” “pachchai mAmalai pOl mEni”]

 

(nigazhindhAi kArvaNNam) “kalow krushNam dvishA krushNam” In the last

yuga, kali yuga people are least bothered about anything other than

themselves and hence emperuman chooses to remain with his own natural

colour. “muzhudhum nilainindra pinnai vaNNam kondal vaNNam “

(peri-thiru-4-9-8). In kali, emperuman remains with his “neelamEga

syAmala varNam” Being filled with tamo guna the dark colour of

emperuman will also suit the yuga. “kArvaNNam” indicates that the

qualities of the dark clouds are also seen in our dear lord viz.,

showering rain (grace) on one and all for everyone’s benefit with no

expectation to get anything in return and doesn’t even remember the

great help latter.

[“neelathoyatha mathyasthA vidyullEkEva bhAsvarA” “mega syAmam” “kArmENi”]

 

Not stopping with changing his colour for the sake of the people to

bring them close to him he also overcomes all their enemies. Azhvar

continues to explain the same.

 

(To Be Continued)

 

Azhvar emperumAnAr Jeeyer thiruvadigalE sharaNam

 

Adiyen ramanuja dAsee

Sumithra Varadarajan