who are these aazhvaars

[Guest guest]

Dear sri vaishNava perunthagaiyeer,

 

Some time back there was a question in the lists who were these aazhvaars [may

be few months back also] and the answer was also given by many learned

bhagavathaas [not me for I do not know, then, the answer]. After learning the

answers thanks to the lists, I had the opportunity to go through some simple

tamil krithis.

 

One struck me, which I want to share with you, all, with few points added by me

as comments. This krithi is in raagaa aarabhi in thaaLam aadhi

 

Pallavi:

oru vazhi mattumaa kaattinaai uppiliappaa

pala vazhi kaatti adhil naalaayiram vazhi thandhaai -- oru

 

meaning: [or a translation into English as the lines are in simple tamil] oh my

lord uppili appa - the lord residing in thiruk kudandhai or thiru viNNagar - how

many ways have you shown, is it limited to only one route to realize you, NO my

dear, you showed several thousands of ways, in that specifically 4000 routes to

us.

 

Point by MGV: to visualize the lord or learn about him and then to realize him

the routes are several - again shown by him only such as

- different yOgaas like karma, gnaana, bhakthi, as stated in srimadh bhagavath

geethaa

- prapaththi [the fundamental or basic tenet of sri vaishNava sampradhaayam] in

same geethaa,

- naama sankeerthanam for which this krithi also helps to sing his - that

oppiliappan's glory.

- Specifically the composer wants to glorify the "4000 routes" - the route of

4000 dhivya prabhandham - for each verse is a veritable source of joy - in

particular, for me, if the verse is about my krishNa.

 

[please do not start an argument whether naama sankeerthanam will grant mOksham

etc for I am not advocating here which is superior, which is inferior or useless

etc but just mention as a way to learn about him. Please do not mistake me where

is the need not such a note - for - my experience is bad - in particular, when I

write some thing on some krithis from the musical world].

 

anupallavi:

vizhi malarndha naaL mudhal un mozhi aRiyEnE

mozhi aRindha pin unadhu thani vazhi maRandhilanE| -- oru

 

meaning: dear lord, soon after I opened my eyes in this world I did not know

your language. When I realized or learnt your language I do not miss or forget

your exclusive route [to realize you - the route of prapaththi]

 

point by MGV: as long as I did not get the guru kataaksham [or to be more

specific aachaarya kataaksham] my eyes were closed - not the physical eyes which

open as the child grows - but the eyes of wisdom - the gnaanak kaNgaL. Once I

got the initiation or the opening of gnaana eyes through the aachaarya, I did

not miss the route - means I am firm on this - here is the route and the guide

is there and the realization of the final destination is very near.

 

Like thirumangai aazhvaar says "soozh punaR kudanthaiyE thozhudhu en naavinaal

uyya naan kaNdu koNdEn naaraayaaNa ennum naamam" [1-1-2 periya thirumozhi],

being directly given by HIM, here also the composer says I got that 4000 ways

through HIM only, from same being oppiliappan of same thiruk kudanthai, given by

these aazhvaars.

 

Who are these aazhvaars who gave these 4000 ways, may be a doubt, which may crop

up. That is cleared in charaNam. See below.

 

charaNam:

aazhndhe poNa munivargaL aazhvaargaL un

amsangalaai boomiyil avathaarangaL avargaL

vamsangaLE aruLich cheyal aachaarya purushargaL em

aRivukkettaamal pOgum abaayam vandhidaamalE - oru

 

meaning: the rishis and munis of yester years were the aazhvaars who came here

to this world, immersed themselves in the enjoyment of you. They came here as

your parts [amsam means parts] or personification of you [amsam also means

personification]. While leaving they left their wisdom with our aachaarya

purushaas - the glorified gurus through their grace. This is done mainly to keep

the continuity of flow of knowledge, which otherwise may not reach us - to avoid

that danger - you have shown 4000 ways through them oh oppiliappaa.

 

Point: Who were the aazhvaars? - Very simply answered. Those immersed themselves

in the knowledge about HIM. Not only that, they were the rishis and munis, who

did lot of penance to realize him, once realized they did not rest with their

laurels, in next birth came to this world, here as aazhvaars to share that joy

of having realized him with common folks like us, also to show that 4000 ways.

 

After a period showing the way, they left their knowledge through these

aachaaryaas who carried that lamp of wisdom, of realization of him, to

subsequent generations. Why all these efforts? Mainly to show the way to us all

- otherwise there will be the danger of people like us not realizing HIM or just

miss HIM, or being misguided in finding him etc.

 

Summing up, this krithi is a very special in giving out who are the aazhvaars.

Also once the gnaana eyes are opened, there will no more forgetting or missing

HIM is made clear.

 

Now the suspense is released. Who is the composer of this wonderful krithi.

 

Dear bhakthaas, it is none other than our dear Dr.V.Sadagopan's sister Mrs.

Padma veeraraaghavan. This is also available in karnatik site being maintained

by Mrs. Rani at http://www.geocities.com/promiserani2/

 

Dhaasan

 

Vasudevan m.g.