Upadesa Ratthinamalai Post 7: Pasuram 1

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Srimathe Ramanujaya Nama:

Srimath VaraVara Munaye Nama:

Upadesa Ratthinamalai - Post 7

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* enthai thiruvAymozhip piLLai innaruLAl

*

vantha upathEsa mArkkaththaich - sinthai seythu **

pinnavarum kaRka * upathEsamAyp pEsukinREn *

manniya sIr veNpAvil vaiththu (1)

The word by word meaning

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1. I AM SPEAKING AS I WAS TAUGHT BY MY

ACHARYAN.

Enthai

My Acharyan (addressed as father for his concern like father)

Thiruvaimozi

Pillai

Thirumalai Azhvar also known as Thiruvaimozi Pillai

In arulal

vanda

received from him by his grace

Upadesa

margaththai

in the way it was taught

Sinthai

saidu

accordingly; (after careful thought)

Pinnavarum

karka

for the benefit of posterity

Manniya seer venbavil vaithu set in the glorious ‘venba’

style of Tamil poetry

Upadesamai

pesuginrEn I am

speaking as upadesa (teaching) for my benefit

and also for the Benefit of all

The real name of the Acharyan to MM is

Thirumalai Azhvar.

Because of his deep knowledge and devotion in propogating Thiruvaimozi

of Swami Nammazhvar, he is popularly known as

Thiruvaimozi Pillai.

He has rightfully earned the name and this name is cherished by

MM.

Further it is also suggested that the teachings of a person who had

mastered

the Thiruvaimozi are more authentic and valuable. What all said in this

prabandam

had come out of the teachings of Thiruvaimozi Pillai.

(in arulal) He has

taught me out of love for me. It is the responsibility

of the preceptor to teach his disciple. Here the relationship – Acharyan

and disciple –

is not important, the kindness of the Acharyan to enlighten his disciple

is stressed.

(vanda upadesa

margaththai) As has been taught (by the lineage of teachers)

is the meaning here.

This is is just opposite to teaching as one thinks fit, and says that it

is the teachings of elders or previous Acharyas.

This incorrect concept of some people teaching anything on their own is

quoted in the stanza 71,

‘than nenjil thotrinathe solli, idu suddha

upadesa vara vatra thenbar’

NOTE: the first three phrases mean:

the possession of knowledge,

being kind and the relationship as disciple and Acharyan who is naturally

interested in upliftment of his disciple.

(enthai Thiruvaimozi Pillai innarulal vanda)

like a father looks after his son, Thiruvaimozi Pillai cared for me.

He showered his kindness for me in enlightening me through his teachings.

There was urge in him to teach as he could not contain the knowledge without giving.

The knowledge has come down from all his predecessors.(parampara praptham)

(margaththai saindai saidu) the methodology adopted was thought over.

Following the same path in teaching and the contents of the truth contained in the

teachings this prabandam is set. Only after careful thought the knowledge is passed

on to the benefit of the future seekers.

(pinnavarum karka) there are people who wish to follow a role model.

They are interested in learning the authentic messages. For their benefit I am

passing on the message.

(upadesamai pesuginnen) I considered the greatness and authenticity of the

teachings

received by me due to extreme kindness of my Acharyan. In the same way I pass on

the message for all to take and to learn them.

In the prabandam URM , the glory of those who took refuge in the lotus feet of

Lord (prapathi nishtar) is mentioned in the commencement and then the glory of

those who seek refuge in the holy feet of Acharyan (Acharyabhimana Nishtar)

is elaborated.

Those who seek Lord may or may not get liberation since the Lord is

empowered to decide either way, but those who surrender to the true Acharyan

is sure to cross the samsara or the cycle of birth and death. To them the moksham

is assured by the Lord. All along the teachings are by word of mouth from one Acharyan

to one or few disciples. It was not open to all. But now I have given the message in a work,

URM, which is open to one and all who are interested in learning and benefiting.

The ‘oran vazi’ system has been replaced.

[One can see Swami Ramanuja's actions and methods in Swami MM's actions]

[swami Ramanuja's attributed the same credit in pasuram OranVazhiyai.....pasuram 36 URM]

(pesuginnen) I see the precarious condition of many in the world who lack true knowledge.

I am unable to bear the grief. I want to do something to dispel their ignorance.

So, I resort to give my teachings in this work URM . It is up to you to take it or leave it.

Compare Azhvr who was bestowed knowledge by Lord – ‘mayarvara mathi nalam

arulinan’.

Azhvar considered everybody like him and gave his teachings to us.

Azhvar wished all should become like him in devotion to Lord, ‘oorum nadum ulagamum thammaip pole’.

In the same way Swami MM was enlightened by the teachings of his Acharyan

who showered kindness on him and he, in turn, is passing on the knowledge to

one and all through his work to show his concern and kindness for us.

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Next post: 2nd pasuram

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Azhvar Emberumanar Jeeyar Thiruvadigale Saranam

Ramanuja Dasan,

VP Srinivasa Varadan