Sri Vishnuchitta kulanandana kalpavalli (Part-25)

[Guest guest]

Sri Parthasarathi thunai

Srimathe ramanujaya Namaha

Srimad Vara Vara MunayE namaha

Sri Vanachala mahA munayE namaha

 

In the previous paasuram andal talked about the gopas who were very

efficient in doing their duty but in this twelfth paasuram,

“kanaiththilam kaRRerumai” andal talks about a gopan who has left his

svadharmam. Andal now stands in front of that gopans house wanting to

awaken his sister. “nindru pAl sOra nanaiththillam sErAkkum

narselvan thangAi” The cow due to its vatsalyam towards its kid

showers milk even without someone milking. The milk is flowing

continuously and hence the whole house is flooded with milk. Why

haven’t the gopan milked the cows? Isn’t it wrong for him to leave

his svadharmam? Inspite of this mistake why does andal call him as

“narselvan”?

 

The answers to these questions are as follows: The gopan is a very

close associate of Sri krishna. He is always in the service of

krishna. Like lakshmana who left all his other duties and

concentrated only on the service to Sri rama, this gopan was always

involved in the service to Krishna. Our acharyas don’t term this as

a mistake since when there is a clash between sAmAnya dharmam (here,

milking of cows) and viseesha dharmam (kainkaryam to the

lord/Krishna) viseesha dharmam takes more priority and leaving the

sAmAnya dharmam at that point is not a mistake. As only the lord

decides every thing, anything done for his pleasure never becomes a

sin. This is substantiated with the incidents in the life of

thirukannamangai Andan and Sri Parasara bhattar by our acharyas.

 

So doing our duty or leaving it, which is the upaya to attain his

divine feet? Swamy azhagiya manavala perumal nayanar in his

Arayirapadi says, “avargaludaiya anushtAnamum, evanudaiya

ananushtAnamum upAyamandru; yAdhonru upEyaththaitaruvadhO adhirE

upAyam; vidasonnavaiyum paRRasonnavaiyum mandrirE upAyam; viduviththu

paRRuviththavanirE upayam”

[it is not their doing or his not doing, the upaya. It is that which

helps us to achieve the upEyam, which is the upaya. It is not that

which has been asked to be left or that which has been asked to be

caught hold off, the upaya but that very lord who made us leave and

catch hold off, is the upaya.]

 

The greatest wealth for Srivaishnavas is only the bhagavat/bhAgavata

kainkaryam. So the wealthiest Srivaishnava is the one who is filled

with kainkaryaSri like lakshmana (Azhvar says “ozhivilA kAlam udanAgi

manni vazhuvilA adimai seiya vEndum nAm” this should be the prayer of

each and every Srivaishnava)

 

(To be continued)

 

Azhvar emperumAnAr Jeeyer thiruvadigalE sharaNam

Adiyen ramanuja dAsee

Sumithra Varadarajan