GPP-15(Sri IlaiyAzhwar vaibhavam-2)

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Sri Parthasarathi thunai

Srimathe Ramanujaya namaha

Sri Vara Vara munaye Namaha

 

Sri ILaiyAzhwAr Vaibhavam-2

 

IlaiyAzhwar came to know about a Ekadandi sanyasi, named yAdhavaprakasa, in

thiruputkuzhi near perumal koil (kAnchi), teaching poorvapaksha vedantham. He

immediately went and joined the class along with the other students.

 

Meanwhile in mazhalai mangalam a son was born to kamala nayana bhattar and

periya pirattiyAr in the tamil month of thai, on a poornima day, sOmavAr

(Tuesday), in the star of punarvasu. Periya thirumalai nambi, coming to know

about the good news came to greet the parents and bless the child. On looking

at the newborn child he said, “This boy will be a good person in character and

will get well educated and will become a good vaidhikan (person involved in

vedantha)”. Then Nambi suggested the name, “Govindan” to kamalanayana bhattar,

who accordingly did nAmakaranam (naming ceremony) to the child. Govindan also

grew up, with all the religious ceremonies done at appropriate times and after

his elementary education he subsequently entered gruhastAshramam (got married).

After that, coming to know about ilaiyAzhwar in the classes of yadhava prakasa,

govindan also joined the same with great enthusiasm and joy.

 

One-day yadhava prakasa was giving explanation to the vedic verse “Sathyam

jnanam anantham brahma”. The explanation of yadhava was as follows: The

qualities of sathyam, jnanam and anantham will fit Brahman, only when the

qualities of having a long horn, short horn and no horn fit simultaneously to a

single cow.” IlaiyAzhwar was taken aback by such an explanation and hence he

came forward to say his own interpretation of the same as follows and strongly

objected to the explanation given by yadhava prakasa. IlaiyAzhwar explained,

“The word “sathyam” denotes kshanika vyAvriththi (different from the living

things which has short period of existence), the word “Jnanam” denotes Achit

vyAvriththi (different from the non living things, which do not have

intelligence) and the word “anantham” denotes parichinna vyAvriththi (different

from an entity which has limits). Hence the verse actually means that Brahmam

is different from chetanam and achEthanam and it is a permanent limitless

entity.” Yadhava prakasa released a sigh of dismay listening to the above.

 

Another day, IlaiyAzhwar was doing service to his master yadhava prakasa,

applying oil to his hair and body. During the same, yadhava was teaching

ilaiyAzhwar some lessons in vedantha. At that time, yadhava gave a

misinterpretation to the verse, “Thasya yethA kapyAsam pundareeka mEva

makshini”. The twist in the meaning told by yadhava put ilaiyAzhwar to deep

sorrow, which made tears role down his eyes. The hot tears due to sorrow fell

to the lap of yadhava who jumped to his feet on feeling the hot tears on his

lap. He asked ilaiyAzhwar what had made him to cry?

 

IlaiyAzhwar replied, “kam pipathee ethi kapi:” and “Asa upavEsanE” refers to the

lotus which blossoms at sunrise. Thereby the meaning indicated by the verse is

“the eyes of Brahman blossoms like a lotus which blooms on seeing the sun”.

Seeing such an excellent metaphor being misinterpreted I was struck by grief.”

 

Yadhava couldn’t accept his shisya giving better interpretations than him and

hence with anger he said, “if you wish to listen to my lessons stay here and

learn, else leave this place this very moment”. IlaiyAzhwar obliged and stayed

away from the class.

 

Then yadhava called his other loyal shisyas and asked, “You all respect me and

accept my lessons. But IlaiyAzhwar always refutes and argues against my

teachings. I fear that due to him the whole philosophy of advaita will loose

power; so what is the way to finish him off?” Each one of them gave different

ideas. Yadhava felt that all those ways will credit sins and the blame will

fall on him only. So he made a master plan to take ilaiyAzhwar with him on a

divine journey (yathra) and kill him in manikarnika. Everyone accepted the plan

to be a good one and hence yadhava like duriyOdhana who acted to be good to

dharmaputra to finally cheat him, called back IlaiyAzhwar and posed a drama

before him saying that the class didn’t look healthy without ilaiyAzhwar and

requested him to join again.

 

Then yadhava prakasa, started to arrange for the ganga yAthra along with his

shisyas. All along the way the shisyas somehow prevented IlaiyAzhwar and

govinda in talking personally with each other as govinda had come to know their

plan. But finally when they were in the vindhya ranges while talking a dip in a

river, govinda grabbed a right moment and hinted IlaiyAzhwar about the plan of

yadhava and his shisyas and asked ilaiyAzhwar to run away in a different route.

Then govinda came and joined the crew again.

 

(To be continued)

 

AzhwAr emberumAnAr jeeyar thiruvadigaLE saraNam

Adiyen,

Varadarajan Ramanuja Dasan

Sumithra Ramanuja Dasyai

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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