re; Qst. Azhwars and BhagavadGita

[Guest guest]

Alwar Emberumanar Jeer tiruvadigale saranam

 

Wholesome discussion resembles a court-case. During this process,

occasionally even kids may step on to the dock to offer snippets of

evidence. Greater minds may then assess the relevance and

significance of such observations, as part of the evaluative process.

 

The following are one such kid's observations in support of the case

valorously presented by U.Ve. Velukkudi Krishnan swamin, TCA

Venkatesan swamin, KS Venkat and Smt. Nappinnai- that the

BhagavadGita and Gitacharyan were indeed beloved to our Azhwars:

 

A) Swamy Nammalvar sang but twelve pasurams to Swamy Ranganath [1],

yet the depth and intensity of these is incomprehensibly great.

Indeed, Sri Parasara Bhattar clarifies that (despite what a

statistical analysis might suggest) the entire Tiruvaimozhi is

dedicated to our Lord of Arangam.

Similarly, one should not read too much into the relatively few

references to BhagavadGita and Gitacharyan in the Azhwars' hymns.

Numbers arent everything.

 

B) In seeking to impress upon us the exquisite Sausilya of the Lord,

Sri Manavalamamunighal turned not only to the Vrndavan Krishna so

often associated with the Azhwars, but also to Gitacharyan-

Parthasarathi. Commenting on Sri Pillai Lokacharya's explanation

of "maam" in the Charamsloka, Sri Manavalamamunighal says:

 

"When He says "me (maam)", this points to His form as a charioteer,

standing with whip held in his holy hands in order to prod and drive

the horses, the reins held tight in order to turn them right and

left and stop them, His holy hair made dusty from the dirt raised by

the army, standing without any covering on His Holy head, and with

His feet adorned by small bells hanging beneath the chariot, as

described by Nammazhwar, "The tinkling feet of the Lord who drove the

chariot" (TVM 3.6.10)" [2].

 

 

Adiyen

S. Ramanujadasan

 

notes:

[1] Eleven pasurams are in ThiruvAimozhi 7 cenctum, 2 decad; one

pasuram is Thiruviruttham, 28th Paasuram.

[2] Sri Manavalamamunighal's commentary on Mumuksuppadi of Sri Pillai

Lokacharya, choornai 218, tran. P. Mumme