AdiyEn's Sep 10-17 visit to India : Part VIII / ThirukkOshtiyUr Visit ; PeriyAzhwAr Paasurams(Continued)

[Guest guest]

Sri :

 

Dear BhakthAs :

 

As adiyEn stood before the most beautiful ,

Saantha Svaroopi , Soumya NaarAyaNan ,

these thoughts of PeriyAzhwAr enshrined in

his paasurams went through my mind . For

PeriyAzhwAr , ThirukkOshtiyUr is the avathAra

sthalam and place of residence of his AchAryan ,

Selva Nambi .

 

PeriyAzhwAr was a great KrishNa Bhakthar .

He enjoyed Bala KrishNan as YasodhA PirAtti

in his PiLlai Tamizh Paasurams . He started his

Periya Thirumozhi with the visualization of

the birth of Kutti KaNNan at ThirukkOshtiyUr ,

which transformed into AaypAdi right before

his mind's eyes .

 

Veda Naadham at ThirukkOttiyUr

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As the Kutti KaNNan was decorared with many

aabharaNams from head to foot , MukkUr Swamy

points out that Rg Vedam was heard from the jewelery

adorning the head . Form the aabharaNams around

the neck , one heard the dhvani of Yajur Vedam .

Around the waist , the OttiyANam and mEkalai

raised the Atharva vEsha ghOsham . From the aabharaNams

adorning the ankle ( silampu , TaNDai, ankle bells) arose

the Udhgeetha Saama vEda naadham .

 

PeriyAzhwAr heard this concert of the Vedams

as he composed his first decad paasurams about

the Soumya KrishNan of ThirukkOttiyUr and celebrated

the Lord's avathAram there .

 

The other 11 Paasurams of PeriyAzhwAr on ThirukkOttiyUr

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The dhivya prabhAvam of ThirukkOttiyUr is celebrated by

PriyAzhwAr in his 4.4 Thirumozhi . In his previous paasurams ,

PeriyAzhwAr had completed the MangaLAsAsanam for

ThirumAlirumcholai Azhagar . Here at ThirukkOttiyUr ,

EmperumAn revealed Himself as PrahlAdha Varadhan .

That delectable anubhavam made the AzhwAr condemn

the people , who roam around vainly in this world without

performing Kaimkaryam to the Lord ; AzhwAr also takes

the opportunity to salute also those who perform

Bhagavath-BhAgavatha Kaimkaryam in these

ten paasurams . Let us reflect on these paasurams

one by one .

 

4.4.1 : Naava Kaariyam sollilAthavar - - -

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AzhwAr recognizes ThirukkOttiyUr as the seat of

the Lord who rescued Brahma and Rudran from

their troubles . There , AzhwAr sees many Sri VaishNavAs ,

who perform AarAdhanam for the Lord , engage in Bhagavath-

BhAgavatha Kaimkaryams and recite the different Veda

BhAgams daily . In between , AzhwAr comes across

a few unfortunate ones , who hurl offending words at

others , who do not recite Thirumanthiram and have no

AchArya abhimAnam and persist in doing things not

agreeable to their AchAryAs . AzhwAr is distressed

over these avaidhika Sri VaishNavAs and wonders why

and for what purpose did the Lord create such wicked ones .

 

4.4.2 : KuRRaminRig-guNam perukki - - - -

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AzhwAr comes across many Sri VaishNavAs with

superior aathma guNams at ThirukkOttiyUr . He finds

them pursuing only those karmAs allowed by the Lord's

SaasthrAs ; He finds them filled with the power to control

their mind and indhriyams ( Samam , Dhamam) . He lauds

them for worshipping their AchAryans at a par with BhagavAn

Soumya NaarAyaNan Himself , who is resplendent with

aprAkrutha jyOthi as a result of protecting the entire

chEhtanAchEthana roopa prapancham in His stomach

during the time of deluge. Amidst this auspicious scene ,

AzhwAr bumps into a few , who do not pay attention to

the Lord and states that those unfortunate human beings

were born only to cause great pain to their mother's wombs

through their births.

 

4.4.3 : VaNNa Nann maNiyum Maragathamum - - - -

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Here PeriyAzhwAr continues to wonder at the despicable

state of those , who live in the luxuriant & auspicious

raajadhAni of Soumya NaarAyaNan at ThirukkOttiyUr

and yet do not engage in activities that explore

the meanings of the sahasra naamams of the Lord

and the anantha kalyANa guNams behind those names

to develop svaroopa Jn~Anam . Instead , these lost

souls gulp mouthfuls of food just to fatten themselves .

AzhwAr's disgust over them is revealed through

his choice of apt words : " tamm Ootthai vaaykku, kavaLam

unthuhinRArhaLe ". Their mouths are unclean from

their pursuits away from Bhagavan-nAma sankeertthanam.

Into their mealy mouths , these despicable ones shove

huge mounds of food just to fatten their bodies . Alas !

what a wasted life sighs the AzhwAr.

 

4.4.4 : Uraha MellaNayAn kaiyil - - - - -

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Uraga MellaNayAn is the AzhwAr's MangaLAsAsanam for

the Lord of ThirukkOttiyUr , who reclines on AdhisEshan

at this dhivya dEsam . At this sayana sthalam , AzwAr sees

the young Swans in the rice paddy fields , which are as white as

the Paanchajanyam in the hands of the Lord of ThirukkOttiyUr .

These paddy fields are abundant with beautiful red lotuses .

In this dhivya dEsam resplendent with fertile fields rests

comfortably the Lord , who chases away the sufferings

in Narakam for those , who recite His ThirunAmAms .

AzhwAr feels bad for those , who do not use their tongues

to recite the Lord's names and concludes that the water

drunk by them and the clothes worn by them are filled with

sins due to their association with such paapa janmAs .

 

4.4.5 : Aamayin mudhuhatthidaik-kuthi koNDu- - - -

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The abundance of life giving waters at ThirukkOttiyUr

is celebrated by the AzhwAr here . He sees the playful young fish

jumping in and out of water and landing occasionally on

the back of the resting tortoises and playing hop skip and jump

between the lotus flowers . These sportive fish collide with

one another during such hectic activities . Such is the abundance of

life sustaining waters at ThirukkOttiyUr. Here , AzhwAr comes across

some unfortunate souls , who do not meditate on the Lord of this

dhivya dEsam adorning the radaint sudarsanam in His powerful

hand . AzhwAr's disgust for them has no bounds and he declares that

such beings are a burden to this earth . He asks us to take away

the food that they are consuming avidly and requests us to stuff their

mouths instead with handfuls of green grass , the cattle food . AzhwAr's

conclusion is that such despicable human beings lead an animal

edition of human existence .

 

4.4.6 : BhUtham Einthodu vELvi Einthu- - - - --

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AzhwAr salutes ThirukkOttiyUr as the preferred residence of

great BHAgavathAs , who are known for their control of

the PanchEndhriyams and for their expertise in performing

the Pancha MahA Yaj~nms. They dedicate their lives and

limbs to serve the Lord's BhAgavathAs and perform the Yaj~nams

for Bhagavath preethi . They are generous and free feom

blemishes of any sort . This world is blessed to have

the association with the dust from the sacred feet of these

BhAgavathAs , who travel around ThirukkOttiyUr's streets

singing about the glories of BhagavAn Narasimhan .

 

4.4.7 : KurumthamonRositthanOdum - - - -

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The great bhAgavathAs , who recite the Veda BhAgams

that reveal clearly the Bhagavath svaroopam sing and

dance about KrishNa ParamAthmA and spend their days

and nights celebrating Him at ThirukkOttiyUr . Here , they

conduct grand uthsavams for Him and lead devout lives .

AzhwAr is overcome with emotion about their greatness

and observes that the citizens of ThirukkOttiyUr are truly

blessed to live amidst such BhAgavathAs because of

the holiness they confer on this dhivya dEsam .

 

4.4.8 : naLirntha seelan NayAchalan - - - --

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Here , PeriyAzhwAr pays a tribute to his AchAryan ,

Selva Nampi , who has earned the undecaying wealth

( Kaimkarya Sri ) through dedicated service to

Soumya NaarAyaNan . The Saathvika abhimAnam of

the Lord towards Selva Nampi grows day by day .

AzhwAr observes that the people , who live in

ThirukkOttiyUr amidst such great bhAgavathAs

like Selva Nampi are truly fortunate . In that dhivya

dEsam of such prabhAvam , the grains grow by

themselves (without cultivation ) and could not be

plundered by the raakshasAs .

 

4.4.9 : kombinAr pozhil vaai kuyilinam- - - - -

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AzhwAr states here that his longing for seeing and

offering his prostrations to VaishNavAs would be

fulfilled , when he chances to see at ThirukkOttiyUr

those , who sing aloud the glories of Lord Narasimhan ,

who is the exemplary Bhaktha rakshakan . AzhwAr

recognizes such blessed souls as the lakshaNam of

the Lord Himself .Here , AzhwAr identifies Soumya

NaarAyaNan with Lord Narasimhan Himself . In fertile

ThirukkOttiyUr with its huge ramparts , AzhwAr comes

across parrots that are self taught to sing about

the kalyANa guNams of Soumya NaarAyaNan .

 

4.4.10 : Kaasin Vaaykkaram viRkilum - - - -

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Here , AzhwAr salutes the most generous and compassionate

adiyArs of ThirukkOttiyUr , who will forsake their own needs and

help with the feeding of the hungry even in times of drought

without expecting anything in return. AzhwAr states such

generous and devout citizens of ThirukkOttiyUr celebrating

the sahasra Naamams of the Lord have the right to buy and

sell him . AzhwAr points out that he is the adimai (bonded

servant ) of such mahAthmAs of ThirukkOttiyUr.

 

4.4.11: Seetha neer pudai soozh- - - - -

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Azhwar hailing from SrivilliputthUr prostrates before

the BhAgavathAs of ThirukkOttiyUr , who have recognized

their svaroopam as the seshans of the Sarva Seshi and Jagath

KaaraNa BhUthan , Soumya NaarAyaNan of ThirukkOttiyUr.

Azhwar also takes the opportunity to show his displeasure at

those , who have forgotten the great upakArams of the Lord

and wander around the world aimlessly . AzhwAr concludes

this set of ten paasurams by pointing out that those who

comprehend the meanings of this set of Paasurams and

instruct others on its true meaning would be blessed with

Kaimkarya saamrAjyam of HrusheekEsan .

 

In the next posting , adiyEn will cover the experience of

Thirumangai Mannan as he stood before Soumya NaarAyaNan

some thousand plus years ago .

 

Sri Soumya NaarAyaNa SwaminE Nama:

Dasan , Oppiliappan KOil VaradAchAri Sadagopan

 

Srimate Sri Laksminrisimha Divya Paduka Sevaka

Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya Nama: