A Peep into Periya-Thriu-Mozhi -18

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avar emmai ALvArEa, vaNangendhan mada/thUi nenjEa, avar engaL kula dheivamEa.

 

 

This thiru-mozhi is often quoted while discussion on 'bhAgavatha

bhakthi" or devotion towards the devotees. This is considered the

ultimate of devotion. Subservience towards the srEvaishNavites is

subservience towards the Lord. This is what thirumangai AzhwAr

clearly indicates in the eighth ten, final padhigam "vuRRadhum vun

adiyArkklu-adimai-maRRellAm pEAsilum -nin thiru ettezhuthum

kaRRu.nAn.."

 

This utmost devotion is demonstrated by kaliyan in this thiru-mozhi.

 

sri periya vAchAn piLLai explains two important points in the introduction to this thiru-mozhi.

 

In the first thiru-mozhi AzhwAr mentions thiru-mandhiram and explains

it. He follows it up by surrendering unto the Lord at naimisAraNyam

and thiru-vEnkatam.

 

However, he suddenly changes track here and talks about the devotees

of the Lord rather than the Lord. The aspect of devotion to the

srEvaishNavites, is the essence of thiru-mandhiram and our philosophy

is emphasised. AzhwAr aptly mentions these qualities in the

pAsuram-s:avar-engaL kuladheivamEa, avar emmai ALvArEa,thozhuvAi en

thUi nenjEa,vaNangu endhan mada nenjEa.

 

The definition of who are the devotees is also given. Those devotees

who are confounded by the auspicious qualities of the Lord in the

divya-dEsam-s. Those who do not realise this value or the opposite of

devotees or abhAgavathargaL"

'ivar-thAm bhAgavatharAga ninaithiruppadhu -vugandharuLina

nilangaLilEa nErmailEa EdupattiRukkum avargaLai. abhAgavatharAga

ninaithiruppadhu - anguthai vAsi aRiyAdhavargalai"

 

Accordingly, the devotees are considered as the Lord's by AzhwAr and those against are spurned.

 

Those who do not think of the Lord are not to be thought by us. Those

who think of the Lord are those who will govern us.

Those who think of the gnAnap-pirAn are our Masters-nAyakar-s.Those

who celebrate Him are deities of our clan.Those who follow non-vEdhic

philosophies are to be spurned and so on and so forth.

 

Why the dont-s: One can understand highly appreciating and celebrating

the bhAgavathars . Why should one talk about abhAgavathar-s? Even if

devotion towards bhAghavathar does not come up, at least one should

first try to avoid the abhAgavathar-s is the underlying message from

thirumangai mannan.

avar emmai ALvArEa, vaNangendhan mada/thUi nenjEa, avar engaL kula dheivamEa.

 

(to be continued)

vanamamalai padmanabhan