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