ThAmarai 1-A symbol of Notional Comparison

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ThAmarai

 

A symbol of Notional Comparison

 

Sri Mukund of pbase, mentions that like elephant -the word thAmarai

also has different words representing the same import and widely

used by AzhwArs.

 

Indeed so. He also writes to me that Sri K.Sadagopan Iyengar has

already written on this subject titeld 'Finest of Flowers'.

Therefore, when I commence a series on this subject,I should try not

to repeat what has already been discussed earlier.

 

ThAmarai - has been used by AzhwArs for various purposes. Common usage

is of course, comparison with the eyes of the Almighty.

 

ThAmaraik kADu malar kaNNodumAi sevvAi - Says Sri Nam-AzhwAr in ThiruvAsiriyam-5.

 

'adithaLamum thAmaraiyEa -angagaLum pangayamEa ' are the sweet words

from Thriumangai mannan from the Periya ThiruMozhi 8-1-5; drawing a

simile for the feet, arms of ThirukkaNNapuram Souri-p-perumAL.

 

'..aNaithulagumudaiya aravindha lOchanan ' Sri NAm AzhwAr makes this

aravindham as a proper noun of EmperumAn of tholaivillimangalam.

 

'' .thiru-kamala-pAdham vandhu..' Proclaims Sri ThriupAnAzhwAr

declaring that the lotus feet of the Lord comes and rests in his mind

and eyes.

 

'pAmaRu mUvulagum aLandha paRpa pAdhA O!' ThiruvAi mozhi 7-6-1; The

divine feet of the Lord measuring the worlds is now compared to the

soft lotus.

 

thAmarai-aravindham-pangayam-kamalam-padhmam--all these are used to

compare the eyes, arms, hands of EmperumAn.

 

Does the lotus really make a true comparison ? No. Definitely not. No way.

It is just for the sake of the comparison this takes place.In fact,

AzhwAr later realising that having lowered the dignity of EmperumAn

by such comparisons -paranjOthi-nin-igazhndhu pin-3-1-3 of

ThriuvAi-mozhi; determines not to draw similarities with His

characteristics thereafter.-en paranjothi GOvindhA paNburaikka

mATTEAnEa 3-1-3 ThiruvAiMozhi.

 

 

'kaTTuraikkil ThAmarai nin-kaN-pAdham kai ovvA..' ThiruvAi mozhi

3-1-2.'declares svAmi nam-AzhwAr confessing that though he has

compared these terms to the organs of the Lord, they do not any way

come up to the expectations of the similarity.

 

Therefore, all these words, says mARAn, are only a

 

A symbol of Notional Comparison.

 

dAsan

vanamamalai padmanabhan