"maRRai nam kaamangaL maaRRu" - (PART 21)

[Guest guest]

The Story of Tondar-adipOdi: Conquest of “kaama”

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through Reduction (“unification”) of Desire --

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“karma yOga” (continued from Part 20)

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The story of Vipranarayana's transformation from a

complete moral wreck back once again to the state of a

redeemed and rejuvenated saint is a truly miraculous

story indeed. It is a story about how the AzhwAr was

led astray by one "kaama" too many; and how when the

other "kaama" was eventually restored to a righteous

unity, Vipranarayana re-discovered his true passion,

his one true "kaama" in life -- all the love and

devotion he had always nurtured in his heart for the

Deity of SriRangam. It is a poignant story-line quite

redolent of the leitmotif of the TiruppAvai captured

in that single magnificent line: "maRRai nam kaamangaL

maaRRu".

 

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When the king of SriRangam threw Vipranarayana into

jail, little did he realize that the deed would enable

him to witness God's miracle.

 

Vipranarayana did not have very long to languish in

jail.

 

One night, the King had a vivid, surreal dream. The

Deity of Srirangam appeared and began to converse with

the king: "My devotee Vipranarayana has received no

justice from you. But the fault is not yours either

since it is We who have chosen to play a miracle that

would redeem our beloved devotee and bring him back to

Our Fold. Vipranarayana is innocent. The temple-goblet

was not stolen. It is we -- Ranga and our Consort,

Ranganayaki -- who chose to appear in earthly manner,

take out our golden goblet and offer it as wage in

return for Devadevi's services to our Vipranarayana.

We did so for our Pleasure, for our Purpose, and both

of which have now been served. We hence command you to

release our dear devotee, Vipranarayana, forthwith and

seek his pardon".

 

The King awoke from the dream in cold sweat with his

heart in his mouth. Its vividness convinced him that

it was truly Lord Ranganatha, the Almighty Himself,

who had chosen to convey a message through him to

Vipranarayana. Immmediately, the king hastened to the

royal dungeons, ordered the release of Vipranarayana

and after narrating to him the miraculous dream he had

had, the king sought pardon.

 

************

 

Set free and now finding himself suddenly a wholly

liberated man, Vipranarayana was shaken to the very

roots of his being. It was a moment of truth and

revelation. It was a moment of catharsis. It was a

moment of absolution for him....

 

In a great wave of recollection and remorse,

Vipranarayana realized the true significance of what

had happened. The Almighty had played a miracle upon

him to let him know that he, the wretch that he was,

yet was not beyond redemption. His soul could yet be

saved, if only Vipranarayana could truly repent and

atone for his transgressions of recent years. There

was hope certainly if only his "other desire" ("maRRu

oru kaamam") were to be discarded forever to allow his

heart yet again to be unified with his original

passion for the Lord ("nam kaamam")!

 

************

 

Vipranarayanan rushed to the sanctum of the SriRangam

temple and there beheld the beauteous form of the Lord

in all its majesty and glory! He exulted! He sensed an

enormous surge of freedom coursing through his veins!

It was as if a great and malevolent burden upon him

had been lifted, letting his spirit soar towards

empyrean heights! IN the very first stanza of his

great Tamil work of mystic and devotional fervor, the

inward joy of spirit felt by the AzhwAr as he beheld

Truth, deeply resonate in the words:

 

kaavalil pulanai vaiththuk* kalithannaik kadakkap

paaynthu,*

naavalittu uzhi tharukinROm* naman thamar thalaikaL

meethE,*

moovulaku uNdu umizhntha* mudhalva! nin naamam kaRRa,*

aavalip pudaimai kaNdaay* arangamaa nakar uLaanE!

 

(1 - tirumaalai)

 

***************

 

He craved divine forgivance. He swore that to atone

for his sins, he would all his life serve the pilgrims

who came to worship at the SriRangam temple. He would

feed them and administer to their every other need.

And, in return, he would ask for nothing else but to

be able to sip a few drops of the water that washed

the dust off their feet as daily sacrament.

 

True to his word, Vipranarayana lived such a life at

SriRangam until the very end of his days on earth.

Thus, did Vipranarayana become "Tondar-adi-podi"

AzhwAr --- he who "held sacred the dust from the feet

of Ranga's pilgrims".

 

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In the TiruppAvai of ANdal when the "aaypaadi" girls

sing out that great poetic refrain "maRRai nam

kaamangaL maaRRu" and beseech the Almighty to

"transform the desires that might lead them astray",

it is to the tumultous example and life-events in the

story of Sri Tondar-adi-podi AzhwAr that our minds

forthwith leaps, recollects and then rejoices!

 

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(to be continued)

 

Regards,

dAsan,

Sudarshan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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