Sri Vishnu chitta kulanandana kalpavalli (Part-16)

[Guest guest]

Sri Parthasarathi thunai

Srimathe ramanujaya Namaha

Srimad Vara Vara MunayE namaha

Sri Vanachala mahA munayE namaha

 

In the third paasuram andal enjoyed the greatness of the

thrivikramAvatara of emperuman when emperuman measured all the three

worlds. She then feels in such a place where bhagavatas sing the

praise of that lord who rules over all the three worlds surely there

should be absolute wealth and prosperity. For the well being of a

place timely rain is very essential. Emperuman has handed over

various responsibilities to various devatas. So parjanya devan, the

lord of rain who was waiting to do some service to bhagavatas came

running to the ghosti of gopis (andal). When emperuman himself

cherishes doing service to his beloved bhakthas will not the small

devatas wait for an opportunity? Now in the fourth paasuram andal

orders parjanya devan what all he has to do.

 

This indirectly clarifies the doubt of anya devata aradhana confusing

many minds and that topic which has been discussed time and again in

these groups. The rain god waits for the orders of Srivaishnavas.

Similarly the god of death (yama) says, “svapurushamapi veekshya

pAsahastham vadhathi yama kila tasya karNamoolE I parihara

madhusoodhana prapannAn prabhuraham anya nruNam na vaishnavAnAm II”

[yama called his dhoothas near him and in their ears said- Don’t go

near those who have surrendered to madhusoodhanan, I am the lord of

others but not for Vaishnavas”] The same has been translated by

thirumazhisaiAzhvar in his own words as “tiranbEnmin kandeer

thiruvadi than nAmam marandhum puram thozhA mAndar- eranjiyum

sAdhuvarAi pOdumingalendrAn namanum than thoodhuvarai koovi sevikku”

Here thirumazhisai azhvar gives a extra quality of a true

Srivaishnava. “marandhum puram thozhA mAndhar” Two types of

explanation given by our acharyas here is:- Srivaishnavas don’t fall

into any other feet even by mistake or even if they forget to

surrender to the divine feet of emperuman they will never go to any

other god.

 

To be more clear “one can be broad in charity but not in chastity” If

there is some misunderstanding between a husband and wife and they

get spilt then there is always a possibility that they will rejoin

sometime later. But if they make a hasty decision of marring someone

else then there is absolutely no possibility of them to lead a life

together. Similarly even if we do not have absolute faith in

emperuman today there is a high possibility of us realizing his

greatness and falling to his feet shortly but if we consider someone

else to be the paramapurushan and go behind him then we are sure to

have lost our way and it will be very difficult for us to return

back.

 

So the question of how to behave in case of anya devata for a

Srivaishnava who has surrendered to parthasarathi with ultimate faith

is invalid. The devatas who are servants of the lord consider

Srivaishavas also to be their leaders. Since all Srivaishnavas

(jeevatmas in general) are considered as females are wedded to the

only male, paramapurushan, Sriman Narayanan, the servants of the

husband serve the wife too. Aalanvandaar in his chatussloki says,

“kAntasthE purushOtama panipathi: sayAsanam vAhanam vEdAthmA

vivakEshvarO…brahmEsAdhi suravraja:..tvat dAsa dAsee gana:..” So now

without any hesitation andal orders parjanya devan to shower rain

without any halt or hesitation. "Azhi mazhai kannA! Go deep into the

sea and collect water and become as dark as the colour of emperuman,

let the lightning flash like the chakrathAzhvan and the thunder be

heard like the sound made by the valampuri sankam in the lords divine

hands. Like the bow, sArgam in the hands of the lord that showers the

arrows continuously you shower rain. You should do this for the

benefit of all the worlds. “ orders Andal.

 

How does that become a service to the bhagavatas/andal? “nAngalum

mArghazhi neerAda” so that will be a service to them and hence

parjanya devan can get satisfied with accomplishing his duty in the

appropriate manner. Another thing that has to be understood from

this paasuram is, that it is a prime duty of all Srivaishnavas to

serve, do kainkaryam to fellow bhagavatas. Bhagavata kainkaryam is

more important than even bhagavat kainkaryam since it pleases

emperuman more when we serve those very close to his heart.

 

(To be continued)

 

Azhvar emperumAnAr Jeeyer thiruvadigalE sharaNam

Adiyen ramanuja dAsee

Sumithra Varadarajan