Sri Ranga Sri Vol 2.08 Special Issue d/ 06/30/01- Periyazhwar Tirunakshaatram

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SrIman! SrI Ranga Sriyam anubadravam anudhinam samvardhaya/

SrIman! SrI Ranga Sriyam anubadravam anudhinam samvardhaya//

KAvEri VardhathAm kAlE, kAlE varshathu vAsava:/

SrI RanganAthO jayathu SrI Ranga SrIs cha VardhathAm//

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SRI RANGA SRI VOL. 2 / 08 DATED 30June 2001

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TIRUNSAKSHATRAM OF PERIYA ALWAR (AANI - SWATHI)

Anbil Ramaswamy

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“Vishnuchitta” was called " Periya Azhwar"

Why?

 He was not one of the first Azhwars to appear on this earth.

That credit goes to the Mudal Azhwars.

 He was not the first one to establish the Paratvam

of the Lord.

That credit goes to Thirumazhisai Azhwar.

 He was not known by the appellation of “Azhwar”.

That credit goes to Nammazhwar because the very word “Azhwar” conjures up

the image of the one and only Nammazhwar, who is considered to be the Chief

among Azhwars and Chief among Acharyas.

 He did not write extensively. Even the ones he authored is small

compared to those of other Azhwars.

That credit of composing prodigiously goes to Tirumangai Azhwar.

 He was, indeed, “Vishnuchitta”; Not only was Lord Vishnu ‘always on

his mind’ but he was also always on the mind of Lord “Vishnu’; Not that

others were not having “Vishnu” on their minds nor that they were not on the

mind of the Lord.

 

But, it is this “Vishnuchitta” who is hailed as “Periya Azhwar”

How then did he come to be known as “Periya Azhwar”?

 

For this, we need to have a flashback of the incident in the life story of

“Vishnuchitta”, which shot him to instant fame.

 

Villi and Kandan were hunter brothers who lived in the forest adjoining

Puttur in the Pandya kingdom. While on a hunting spree, Villi saw his

brother Kandan being killed by a tiger. He also saw how he came back alive

by the grace of God. Villi became very rich shortly after and built a temple

for Lord Vishnu and formed a village around the temple and named it

Villiputtur. Mukunda Bhattar and his wife Padmavalli were one of the early

settlers there.

 

Periya Azhwar, an incarnation of Garuda (the divine falcon vehicle of Lord

Vishnu) was born to them as Vishnu chitta (One whose mind is rivetted to

Lord Vishnu). He was born in the year Krodhana, Aani month, Suklapaksha

Ekadasi day (a Sunday) in the constellation of Swati. He bought a small

piece of land, converted it into a flower garden and spent his time in

making flower garlands for the Lord of Vada Perumal koil in his place.

 

At that time, there was a king called "Vallabhadeva" who was just and

impartial. Once, he asked his Purohit 'Selvanambhi' as to who was the

Supreme deity. Selvanambhi suggested that he call all the learned pundits

of the times in an assembly to debate the issue and arrive at a conclusion.

The king announced a wager in which a wallet containing golden coins

(Porkizhi) was to be tied to the top of a pole. This would bend towards the

person who is able to establish with absolute certainty the correct answer

to this poser. Great pundits from all over the country belonging to several

sects gathered in the hall to thrash out the issue. But, the wallet would

not come down.

 

The Lord appeared in the dream of Vishnu chitta and asked him to participate

in the debate. Accordingly, he proceeded to the court. The poets assembled

jeered at him saying that he had come there like a blind person who was 'NOT

AFRAID OF THE DARK'. Unmindful of all the ridicule, Vishnu chitta commenced

expounding how Lord Narayana was the Supreme deity. The pole bent to his

side on its own and Vishnu chitta was declared the winner and offered the

prize. He was honored by being taken in a procession mounted on a tall

caparisoned elephant. He was hailed eulogizing his feat in winning the

wallet. He was also called Bhattarpiraan, Srivilliputtur Kone, Puduvai Kone,

and Kizhi Arutthan.

 

As the procession emerged out, there appeared on the sapphire skies Lord

Vishnu clad in his proverbial pinkish yellow attire(Pitambara) accompanied

by his consort Mahalakshmi and the entire retinue of divine beings to bless

Vishnuchitta. In extreme ecstasy, Vishnu chitta sang his famous "Pallandu"

in 12 stanzas praying for the long life of Bhagavan.

 

He knew full well that no harm could ever befall the Lord. But, he became

anxious that having exposed himself to the gaze of all in this mundane

world, (some of them may be having an evil eye), Bhagavan should not be

affected thereby. Hence, he hastened to sing the "Tirup pallaandu" hymns.

These are being recited throughout the World in all Vishnu temples even

though the priests have had no exposure to the Tamil language. This forms

the first decad of the first Part of his monumental work, "Periyazhwar

Tirumozhi

 

1. It is the greatness of his love for the Lord that made him pour out the

Pallandu hymns. Ordinarily, only elders would bless the young ones for a

long life. "Periya' means elder and therefore he was called Periyazhwar. To

the objection that such an attitude was 'unnatural' (Swarupa Viruddham),

Pillai Lokacharya has argued that as it was a 'Mangala Aasaasanam', it was

quite in order and because - IT WAS A STRANGE CASE OF KNOWLEDGE RIPENING INTO AN

IGNORANCE OF SORTS DUE TO LOVE AND AFFECTION.

 

2. King Janaka laid a challenge through the Siva Dhanus in Sri Sita's

marriage; Kumbar, the Aayar Chief laid a challenge in the form of the 7

bulls in the marriage of Nappinnai; But, Vishnuchitta laid no challenges in

the marriage of his daughter, Andal because of his obvious conviction that

in due time,'THE OWNER WOULD CLAIM WHAT HE OWNED'

 

3. It is natural to honor anyone who brings relief from suffering. That is

how Rishyasringa was honored when rains came to the parched land of

Angadesa as he set foot there. Vishnuchitta also performed a similar

miracle. When a famine raged in the northern city of Kandam Kadinagar on the

banks of Ganges, he was invited to the city to solve the crisis. As he set

foot there, welcome rains showered and the place was relieved of the famine.

His greatness was honored. Periyazhwar himself is said to refer to this

incident thus "Venkali Naliyaa Vittuchittar"

 

4. Parasara who wrote Vishnu Purana known as Purana Ratna deals with the

story of Sri Krishna only in the 5th Amsa of his work; Sukhabrahmam who

wrote Srimad Bhaagavatam has dealt with the story of Krishna only in the

10th Skaandam; But, Vishnuchitta fills his entire Tirumozhi with the story of

Lord Krishna vividly portraying every detail of the Lord's childhood

'leelas ' in his own inimitable style.

 

5.Another esoteric aspect of Periyazhwar that really makes him

'Periya' is the fact that he is the incarnation of Garuda. We know that

Garuda is known as “Periya Thiruvadi”. Garuda reincarnated himself as

Ajuna's chariot and as such he witnessed the Lord delivering the Baghavad

Gita - especially the Charama Sloka to Arjuna. Thus, apart from Arjuna, he

was the one who was the direct recipient of the Lord's message. Andal

refers to this when she says "Meymei Peru Vaarthai Vittu Chittar

Kettiruppaar".'Vaarthai' is Moolamantram; 'Peru Vaarthai' is the Mantra

Ratna of Dwayam and 'Meymei Peru Vaarthai' is the Charama sloka.

 

6. Swami Desika in his “Godha Sthuthi” reveals the secret!

Thaathasthu thE madhubithah sthuthilesa vasyaath

KarNaamruthaih: sthuthi Sathaih: anavaaptha poorvam /

Tvan mouli gandha subaghaam upahrithya maalaam

lebhe ‘Mahthara’padaanuguNam prasaadam //

Meaning

“ Oh! Godha Devi! Your father composed hundreds of sweet pasurams and

dedicated them to Emperumaan. The Lord who is “Stotra priya”- one who is

easily moved by praise, did not confer this honorific on your father then.

But, only after you adorned the fragrant flower garland and had them offered

to Him, that He conferred the title of “Periya Azhwar”!

 

He sowed the seed of devotion in the heart of his daughter, Andal which

eventually developed into a divine love and culminated in her wedding the

Lord. Thus, he became the father- in- law of Lord Vishnu

- an honor none other Azhwars could claim.

 

Sri Nathamuni also refers to this when he said:

“Svasuram amaravandhyam Ranganaathasya saakshaath/

Dvija kula thilakam thu, VishNu chittham namaami//

 

Let us now have a bird's eye view of the contents of the various decads

contained in the 473 verses of his Tirumozhi distributed in 4 parts of 10

decads each plus the 5th part containing 3 decads.

 

1.1 :This contains the famous Tiruppallaandu in which he issues a clarion

call to everyone to join him in wishing 'all the best' to the Lord - everyone

including those who desired Moksham, those who desired Kaivalya, those who

desired mundane benefits and even those who desired nothing.

1.2 : Celebrations on the birth of Lord Krishna

1.3 : The physical beauty of every limb of the baby

1.4 : The lullaby of Yasoda.

1.5 : Kinds of plays of a child like looking at the moon

1.6 : The posture of rocking back and forth (Senkeerai Aadal)

1.7 : Patting the palms (Sappani Kottal)

1.8 : The faltering first steps of the child (Talar Nadai)

1.9 and 1.10 : Pleasures of hugging the child

 

2.1 : Playing ' Pick-a-boo' hide and seek

2.2 : Inviting the child for breast feeding

2.3 : Ear piercing

2.4 : Giving shower to the child

2.5 : Combing the hairs of the child

2.6 : Diverting the attention of the child

2.7 : Decorating the child's hairs with fresh flowers

2.8 : Taking steps to ward off 'evil eye' that might affect the child

2.9 and 2.10 : Complaints galore of the childhood pranks

 

3.1 : Yasoda getting unnerved on seeing her boy's superhuman feats

3.2 : Her anxiety after sending him for tending the cows

3.3 : A mother's pride on the activities of her kid.

3.4 : The lad who bewitched the Gopis

3.5 : The Episode of lifting the Govardhana Giri

3.6 : The enticing flute of Krishna

3.7 and 3.8 Azhwar assumes himself as the mother of a Gopi and expresses her

concern for her daughter

3.9 : Azhwar enjoys the exploits of the Lord as Rama and Krishna

3.10 : Tiruvadi handing over Rama's Signet ring to Sri Sita

 

4.1 : The glory of Bhagavatas

4.2 and 4.3 : On Tirumalirumcholai

4.4 : On Tirukkoshtiyur

4.6 : The need to name children after Narayana

4.7 : On Kandam Kadi Nagar

4.8 and 4.9 : On Tiruvarangam

4.5 and 4.10 Portray vividly the throes of death and how and why one should

remember the Lord while there is still time to do so in order to escape

Samsara

 

5.1 : He expresses his humility (Naichya Anusantaanam)

5.2 : How the bodily ailments are driven out by the Lord

5.3 : He effectively prevents the Lord from leaving him and concludes by

narrating all the benefits he had secured when the Lord showered His grace .

 

Now, let us proceed to enjoy the sentiments expressed by the Alwar in a few

hymns :

 

1. Yasoda calls baby Krishna for an oil bath. He refuses and runs away. She

entreats him saying- "Having besmeared your body with butter and mud, I

will not let you soil your bed tonight. See! For how long I have been

waiting with oil, scented soap-nut powder etc.

O! Lord! Narana! who is beyond anybody's reach. Please do come and have

your bath".

This is the hymn that is recited in all Vishnu temples

throughout the World especially at the time of Tirumanjanam (ceremonial

bath) to the Lord's idol. (2 / 4 / 1 )

 

veNNeyaLaindhakuNungum viLaiyaadupuzhudhiyumkoNdu

thiNNene_ivviraa_unnaith thEyththukkidakkan^aan_ottEn

eNNeyppuLippazhamkoNdu ingu_eththanaipOdhum_irundhEn

naNNalariyapiraanE! naaraNaa! neeraadavaaraay. (2)

 

2. Having failed, she tries to trick him into a sense of shame by saying

"I might even like to leave you go with all the dirt on your beautiful body

smeared by you, while playing in the cattle-shed but others 'will not like

it a bit'; Further, and more importantly, if your darling Nappinnai sees you

in this state, she will laugh at you!. Are you so shameless to let this

happen to you? Come,Quickly finish your bath and get ready" - What an

experience! (2/4/9)

 

"Naan Ethenum Ilaadhaa! NAPPINNAI KANDAAL SIRIKKUM"

 

3. Referring to the power of Bhagavatas who are always immersed in the

thoughts of the Lord's auspicious qualities and exploits, the Azhwar says

that we are verily their slaves and they have the right and power even to

sell us away. "Kesava! Purushottama! Kilar Jyotiye! Enru Pesuvaar

Adiyaargal ENTHAMMAI VIRKAVUM PERUVAARKALE(4/4/10)

 

4. The Azhwar advises that if we were to utter the words 'Namo Narayana'

with folded hands raised above our heads, we would reach Paramapadam

through the 'Path of Light' (Archiraadhi Marga). And once we reach there,

we will never come back to this stupid world, even if we want to. Even if

the Nityasuris recommend, guarantee and pledge themselves on our behalf,

the Lord would not let us go. ( 4 / 5 / 4 )

 

seeyinaalseRindhERiyapuNmEl

seRRalERikkuzhambirundhu engum

eeyinaal_arippuNdumayangi

ellaivaaychchenRusErvadhanmunnam

vaayinaaln^amOn^aaraNaavenRu

maththakaththidaikkaikaLaikkooppi

pOyinaalpinnai_iththisaikku_enRum

piNaikkodukkilumpOkavottaarE.

 

5. The Azhwar likens the journey of the Prapanna to Paramapadam to his

climbing a ladder through the path of light. He says that once the Prapanna

reaches there, the Lord would remove the ladder leaving him no chance to

return again to this world.(4 /9/2)

 

karuLudaiyapozhilmarudhum

kadhakkaLiRumpilambanaiyumkadiyamaavum

uruLudaiyasakadaraiyummallaraiyum

udaiyavittu_OsaikEttaan

iruLakaRRum_eRikathirOnmaNdalaththoodu

ERRivaiththu_ENivaangi

aruLkoduththittu_adiyavarai

aatkoLvaanamarumoor_aNiyarangamE.

 

6. Referring to the practice of naming children indiscriminately, he advises

"If you give names such as Nambi,Pimbi etc which are meaningless, these

names will go into oblivion soon. Name the child after the lotus eyed

Lord's names. They will shine forever. The mother of a child bearing one of

the names of the Lord will never go to hell" (4 / 6 / 3 )

 

nambin^ambiyenRu naattumaanidappErittaal

nambumpimbumellaam naalun^aaLil_azhungippOm

semperundhaamaraikkaNNan pErittazhaiththakkaal

nambikaaL! naaraNan tham_annain^arakampukaaL.

 

7. Referring to the Lord's infinite compassion and partiality towards his

Bhaktas, the Azhwar says that even if Mother Goddess, Sri Mahalakshmi were

to complain against a Bhakta, he would ignore it saying 'My Bhakta would do

no wrong; ; Even if he does something with confidence in my compassion,

I would deem it as the right thing only".

 

thammadiyaar_thiRaththakaththuth

thaamaraiyaaLaakilumsidhakuraikkumEl

ennadiyaar_adhuseyyaar

seydhaarEln^anRuseydhaarenbar_pOlum

mannudaiyavibeedaNaRkaa

madhiLilangaiththisain^Okkimalar_kaNvaiththa

ennudaiyathiruvarangaRkanRiyum

maRRoruvarkku_aaLaavarE? (2)

 

Note that when with the Purushakara of Piratti, the jiva surrenders to the Lord,

is called " thammadiyaar" (OUR devotee); If at all she should complain AFTER

this, the Lord claims "ennadiyaar" (MY devotee!)

 

The reference is to the episode when after the defeat of Ravana, Sri Rama

ordered Lakshmana to fetch Sri Sita from Ashokavana. She preferred to come

with her disheveled hairs and haggard looks having spent 10 months in the

most horrible surroundings. But, Lakshmana asked to her to come fully

groomed, neat and clean (as advised by Rama himself). When she appeared

thus, Rama spoke harshly to her. She frowned at Lakshmana since he was

responsible for the harsh treatment she received. Sri Rama intervened to

impress that Lakshmana was not at fault (ennadiyaar)

 

8. The Azhwar tells the Lord that during the last moments, he would not be

able to utter the Lord's names and that the Lord should make a note of his

calling him RIGHT NOW (when his faculties are quite active) and save him at

the last moment, even if he does not remember the Lord at THAT time.(Anthima

Smriti) (4 /10 /1&2)

 

thuppudaiyaarai_adaivadhellaam

sOrvidaththuththuNaiyaavarenRE

oppilEnaakilumn^innadaindhEn

aanaikkun^ee_aruLseydhamaiyaal

eyppu_ennaivandhun^aliyumpOdhu

angu_Edhumn^aanunnain^inaikkamaattEn

appOdhaikku_ippOdhEsollivaiththEn

arangaththaravaNaippaLLiyaanE! (2)

 

 

ellaiyilvaasalkuRukachchenRaal

eRRin^aman_thamar_paRRumpOdhu

nilluminennum_upaayamillai

nEmiyumsangamum_EndhinaanE!

sollalaampOdhE_unn^aamamellaam

sollinEn ennaikkuRikkoNdu_enRum

allalpadaavaNNamkaakkavENdum

arangaththaravaNaippaLLiyaanE!

 

9. The Azhwar does not consider it as fasting when he foregoes eating on

anyday and does not feel hungry. What is real fasting days for him are those

days when he does not utter the names of the Lord - implying that this

recitation is his only food and life sustaining force - not the food in the

ordinary sense. (5 / 1 / 6)

 

kaNNaa! naanmukanaippadaiththaanE!

kaaraNaa! kariyaay! adiyEnn^aan

uNNaan^aaLpasiyaavadhonRillai

OvaadhEn^amOn^aaraNaavenRu

eNNaan^aaLum_irukkesuchchaama

vEdhan^aaNmalar_koNdu_unpaadham

naNNaan^aaL avaithaththuRumaakil

anRu_enakku_avaipattinin^aaLE.

 

10. The Azhwar says that his soul is now the City of God and is well

protected by Him. The Lord had entered his heart and made it his abode. Clad

in his pink robes, the Lord Himself acted as the Acharya and cleared Alwar's

ignorance and blemishes. (5 / 2 / 8)

 

EdhangaLaayinavellaam iRangaliduviththu ennuLLE

peedhakavaadaippiraanaar piramakuruvaakivandhu

pOdhilkamalavannencham pukundhum_en_senniththidaril

paadhavilachchinaivaiththaar paNdanRupattinamkaappE.

 

11. The Azhwar addresses the Lord "I was caught in the swirl of Samsara for

a long long time extending to over several Kalpas and I have been postponing

my day of deliverance. Having got released from that and having secured you,

I will never ever allow you to go away leaving me behind" (5 / 3 / 8)

 

eththanaikaalamum_eththanaiyoozhiyum inRodun^aaLaiyenRE

iththanaikaalamumpOykkiRippattEn ini_unnaippOkalottEn

maiththunanmaar_kaLaivaazhviththu maaRRalarn^ooRRuvaraikkeduththaay!

siththamn^inpaalathaRidhiyanRE thirumaalirunchOlaiyendhaay!

 

THANIANS ON PERIYALWAR TIRUMOZHI

 

1. Composed by Sri Nathamunigal

 

gurumuka manadheethya praaha vEdhaanasEshaan

narapathiparikluptham soolkamaadhaathukaamaha|

svasuramamaravandhyam ranganaathasya saakshaath

dhvijakulathilakam tham vishNuchiththam namaami||

 

" Vishnu Chitta had no schooling but he was granted knowledge of all the

Vedas by the Lord Himself. With that knowledge, he won the prize instituted

by the King by expounding the truth as to who is THE Paramatma. He was

actually the father in law of Lord Ranganatha and the gem among the

Brahmins. I bow to him"

 

2. Composed by Pandiya Bhattar

 

minnaar_thadamathiLsoozh villipuththoorenRu orukaal

sonnaar_kazhaRkamalamsoodinOm - munnaaL

kizhiyaRuththaanenRuraiththOm, keezhmaiyiniRchErum

vazhiyaRuththOm nenchamE! vandhu

 

" O! My Mind! Because you helped me, I am able to adorn my head with the

lotus feet of Bhagavatas who mentioned about Srivilliputtur even once. In

the days when people raised doubts as to who was THE Paramatma, he cleared

their doubts and won the prize of the wallet. By mentioning this event, we

got rid of the sins that steep us down in hell"

 

3. Composed by Pandiya Bhattar

 

paaNdiyan_koNdaadap pattar_piraanvandhaanenRu

eeNdiyasangametuththoodha - vENdiya

vEdhangaLOdhi viraindhukizhiyaRuththaan

paathangaLyaamudaiyapaRRu.

 

"Our refuge is the feet of Periyazhwar who won the prize of the wallet by

expounding the portions of Veda to prove that Lord Narayana IS THE

Paramatma, as a result of which the Vallabha Pandiya Deva praised him as

Bhattar Piraan and groups and groups of people blew their conches aloud in

his honor"

 

DIVYA DESAMS CONSECRATED BY PERIYALWAR

1. Tiruvarangam 2. Tiruvellarai 3. Tiruppernagar 4. Tirukkudantai

5. Tirukkannapuram 6,. Tiruchitrakoodam 7. Trumaalirumcholai

8. Tirukkoshtiyur 9. Srivilliputtur 10. Tirukkurunkudi

11. Tiruvenkatam 12. Tiruvayodhya 13. Salagraamam 14. Badarika Ashramam

15.Tiru gangaik Karai Kandam 16. Dwaraka 17. Vadamathurai 18. Tiruvaippaadi 19.

Tirup Paarkadal and 20. Paramapadam.

 

Note : It is said that the commentaries of Periyavachan Pillai on

Periyazhwar Tirumozhi (except for the last 40 odd hymns) were eaten away by

white ants and it was Manavaala Maamunigal who restored them embellishing

them with his own commentaries.

 

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