[sri ramanuja] svAmi periyavAccAn piLLai - article by srI. ESB Sriram Swami

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SRIMATHE RAMANUJAYA NAMAHA

SRIMATHE BALADHANVI MAHAGURUVE NAMAHA

SRIMAD VARAVARAMUNUYE NAMAHA

 

Periyavachanpillai -14/09/2006

 

Srimad Krishna Samahvaya Namo Yamuna Sunave

Yat Katakshaika Lakshyanam Sulabha Sridhara Sada

 

[salutation to Srimad Krishna(Periyavachan Pillai), the son of Sri

Yamuna. Sridhara will be easily accessible to those who become the

target of the glances of Sri Periyavachan Pillai]. This is the

taniyan of Sri Periyavachan Pillai who occupies an unique and

distinct position among Sri Vaishnava Acharyas. His greatness is not

only beyond description but also far beyond conception of any human

being. Let me, however, try to pay a glorious tribute on the

occasion of his birthday(Tirunakshatram) which falls on 14-09-

2006,Thursday following several essays written by our illustrious

ancestors of profound and renowned scholarship and purify both my

heart and pen.

 

Sri Periyavachan Pillai was born in the year Sarvajit(A.D. 1167)

during the month of Aavani, the star being Rohini. His father's name

was Sri Yamuna and his mother was called Srimathi Nachiyar, at

Shanganallur at Thanjavur District.

 

The original name given to him by his parents was Sri Krishna. He

learnt Vedas etc. as per the custom prevailing in those days and

became a master of both Samskrit and Tamil language and literature.

Later on he became the right hand of Sri Nampillai, even as

Lakshmana was the right hand of Sri Rama.

 

About his birth there is a faith among the Srivaishanavas, which is

very interesting to note. Tirumangai Azhwar during his pilgrimage to

different Divya Desams visited Tirukannamangai. There he sang

mellifluous songs, eulogizing Sri Krishna, the preciding deity of

that Divya Desam. Sri Krishna developed a very great fancy for those

songs, lured by their melody and expressed his strong desire to learn

those songs. Tirumangai Azhwar remarked,

 

"Meimmai Sollin Venshangam Onru Endiya Kanna!

Ninthannakum Kurippagil Karkalaam Kaviyin Porulthane"

 

(Periya Tirumozhi 7-10-10)

 

(To be frank with you Oh Krishna! Wielding white conch if you so

desire in your Archavathara State you can only learn the meaning of

my poem). Thereby obviously Kaliyan meant that the Lord should be

born again in this mortal world to learn his poem. The Lord

understanding the implication of this statement of Kaliyan was born

in this world as Sri Periyavachan Pillai on the same day as Krishna

was born (Rohini star-Gokula Astami). Hence his name was also

Krishna. Tirumangai Azhwar was born as Nampillai, his birth month

and day being Karthikai and Krithika Star as that of Tirumangai

Azhwar. Sri Nampillai was also named TirukkaliKanri Dasar, another

name for Tirumangai Azhwar. So Tirukhannamangai deity, Sri Krishna

was born as Sri Periyavachan Pillai and Tirumangai Azhwar's

incarnation was Sri Nampillai. (The date of birth, the name of Sri

Nampillai and Sri Periyavachan Pillai with that of Thirumangai Azhwar

and Sri Krishna are responsible for this very fanciful conjucture).

 

Much about the life history of Sri Achan Pillai is unknown but his

excellences cannot be described even by the thousand hooded Aadisesha

or the thousand headed Lord himself. He has the unique distinction

of writing versatile lucid and very sweet commentary on the four

thousand songs of Azhwars called Nalayira Divya Prabhandam. He has

also written an excellent and scholarly commentary on select verses

of Sri Ramayanam and Bharata. His jovial and novel treatment of the

sweet commentary on Sri Ramayanam called Tani Sloka Vyakyanam is

unparalled in the world literature. His depth of knowledge in all

Shastras under the sun is manifest in these commentaries. He has

also commented on the Gadyatrayam of Sri Ramanuja, Chatusloki and

Stotra Ratnam of Sri Yamunacharya and Jitante Stotra. His main idea

was to carry the force of wisdom enshrined in all these epics Divya

Prabhandham etc to all people who possess meager knowledge and he is

successful in his attempt. For this purpose he did not use Sanskrit

language for his commentary but only a suitable admixture of both

Samskrit and Tamil words which were in common use in those days.

This helped the people belonging to different strata of the society.

Even women in those days were able to understand and assimilate the

inner meanings of the epics stanzas and Nalayira Divya Prabhandam

with the help of these commentaries. His authorship of Paranda

Rahasyam and Manikka Malai is still a open question.

 

However in his super commentaries all the Rahasyarthas do find a

place, embedded very well. Thus he has earned two sobriquets,

Vyakhyana Chakravarthi and Abhaya PradaRaja(for his excellent

commentary on Vibhishana Sharanagathi slokas which he richly

deserves).

 

Sri Nampillai understanding the unique capacity of his disciple Sri

Achan Pillai commanded him to write a commentary on Tiruvoimozhi. He

fulfilled this duty by writing an excellent commentary on 1102

stanzas of Tiruvoimozhi called 24000 padi (One padi consists of 32

syllables). Two other disciples of SriNampillai by name Vadakku

Tiruveedi Pillai and Naduvil Tiruveedi Pillai Bhattar also wrote

commentaries on Tiruvoimozhi without getting the sanction of their

Acharya, Sri Nampillai. This irritated the teacher very much.

Naduvil Tiruveedi Pillai Bhattar's commentary was totally repudiated

by Sri Nampillai and having dipped the palm leaf manuscripts in water

threw it inside an ant hill where as Vadakku Tiruveedi Pillai's

commentary was thrown to the background and not allowed for public

consumption for a certain period. From this we can understand the

unique love of Sri Nampillai towards Sri Aachan Pillai.

 

Let me take one example from Periya Tirumozhi to illustrate the

excellence and fascinating character of Sri Aachan Pillai's

commentary.

 

 

 

 

"Oliya vennai undan enru Vuralodu Aaicchi

On Kayitral Viliya Aarkha Aapundu Vimmi Azhuthan

Men malar mel Kaliya vandu Kallunna Kamar Thenral Alar Tootra

Nalir Vai Mullai Muruvalikkum Naraiyur Ninra Nambiye"

(Periya Tirumozhi 6-7-4)

 

In this stanza Sri Kaliyan describes both the town Tirunaraiyur and

the presiding deity Tirunaraiyur Nambi in a very picturesque manner.

The Lord there in the city is none other than Lord Krishna who in his

former birth as Krishna, stole the butter which was kept very much

guarded by, he was caught red handed and got fastened to a mortar.

He could not extricate himself but only wept bitterly unable to cry

aloud. Here while commenting on this stanza, Sri Aachan Pillai

revels and the aesthetic sense of Swami Aachan Pillai are far beyond

anybody's imagination. He raises some questions and answers them.

 

Question 1:

Why Krishna was not able to cry aloud?

Answer 1:

It was because the mother Yashoda threatened him not to cry after

tying him

to the mortar. Therefore Krishna could not cry aloud.

 

Question 2:

The Supreme Lord is capable of cutting the guardian knot of

Samsaram. He can release the soul from the worldly bondage such an

omnipotent deity could not secure his release from the bondage for

which an ordinary rope was used. This is really amazing. How could

we give an answer to this query?

Answer 2:

The Lord could extricate Himself from Nagapasha discharged by

Indrajit in His Ramavatara. So also He could set Himself free from

the bondage of Duryodhana. These are all in the case of enemies But

if a mother or a wife fastens Him, out of love and affection He

cannot free Himself from those bondages. Moreover Yashoda after

fastening Him explicitly told Him, "If you can set yourself free,

well! Do it. Let me see" Sri Aachan Pillai says, Yashoda not only

fastened Him with a rope but also with her word of Motherly

affection. Hence the all powerful deity had to suffer the bondage.

 

In this connection Sri Aachan Pillai introduces the most interesting

anecdote from the life history of Sri Ramanuja which is highly

relevant to the context. Sri Ramanuja was requested once by Sri

Vangipurathu Nambi, one of his devoted disciples to teach him

Tiruvaaradhana Krama(the method of performing pooja everyday). But

he went on postponing it owing to lack of time. Subsequently when he

was staying at Tirumala hills, he taught Tiruvaaradhana Kramam to Sri

Kurathazhwan and Hanumath Dasa, the two dear disciples. Suddenly

there appeared on the scene, quite unexpectedly, Sri Vangipurathu

Nambi. On seeing him the heart of Sri Ramanuja stopped for a while

stricken with fear. Sri Ramanuja then observed, "For a very long

time, I was entertaining a doubt in my heart of heart. "How can

Krishna the Supreme commander of all beings, fear the sudden arrival

of his mother while he was stealing butter and Instead of extricating

Himself from the bondage using His incalculable prowess, Why should

he weep bitterly?" This doubt is dispelled from my mind today. Iam

the master of Vangipurathu Nambi. At his request, I did not teach

him the Tiruvaaradhana Kramam out of pressure of work. Now at least

while teaching the other two disciples, I could have summoned

Vangipurathu Nambi and taught him the same along with the other two.

His unanticipated arrival on the scene caused fear in my heart. If a

person, however great he may be, commits a mistake, he has to be

stricken with fear when his mistake becomes public. Formerly I did

not teach Sri Vangipurathu Nambi the pooja routine at his humble

request. That is the first mistake. At least now while teaching the

other two, I could have included him which I did not. This is the

second grave mistake. Therefore I feared him. So also Krishna would

have feared His mother".

 

Very many such interesting and highly suited to the context anecdotes

are interspersed in the super commentary of Nalayira Divya Prabhandam

of Sri Periyavachan Pillai.

 

The commentary on the other two lines is most enchanting and teaches

a moral lesson to all of us. Tirunaraiyur city is full of flowery

gardens. Honeybees are very busy in sucking the honey from the

flowers. The southern breeze blows gently and the mullai(flower)

buds are gently opening their petals. Thus Tirumangai Azhwar

describes a natural happening. The inner meaning given by Sri Aachan

Pillai is superb.

 

The honey bee is taken to be a Srivaishnava. Though Mr. Honey bee

(Srivaishnava) is highly disciplined, once as ill-luck would have it,

he drank liquor(madhu=honey or liquor). This was observed by the

southern breeze that is by another person. Mr. Southern breeze went

on spreading this scandal among the public(Alar Toothra- the word,

which you find in the stanza has two meanings 1) Scattering the

blossomed flowers 2)scandalizing. The second meaning is very useful

for the commentator here to give the inner meaning). This was

observed by a third person Mullai flower. Mr. Mullai thought with in

himself. "Oh what nonsense it is! Mr. Honey bee( a Srivaishnava) has

drunk liquor unintentionally. This was of course an act committed

unwittingly. This should not be given undue publicity. Mr. Southern

breeze ought to have kept quite. He is really a scandal monger". So

thinking Mr. Mullai i.e. another Srivaishnava was wreathed in smiles

without laughing aloud at the behaviour(of these two Srivaishnava

gentlemen) (Mullai Muruvalikkum – Muruval has got two meaning – 1)

the mullai bud which was slightly opened 2)wreathed in gentle smile)

 

The moral here is to be clearly understood. Speak about the virtues

of Srivaishnavas. Never give publicity to any mistake or

misbehaviour unwittingly committed by a Srivaishnava. We cannot

find `anywhere in world literature such a beautiful commentary.

Therefore Sri Periyavachan Pillai richly deserves the

title "Vyakhyana Chakravarthi" (uncrowned monarch in the world of

literary criticism and commentary).

 

Sri Manavala Manunigal pays a glowing tribute to Sri Periyavachan

Pillai in his Upadesa Rathinamalai Stanza No.46

 

Periyavachan Pillai pinbulla vaikkum theriya

Vyakiyaigal seival - ariya

aruli cheyal porulai Ariyarkatku ippothu

aruli cheyal aitharindhu

 

Sri Periyavachan Pillai has the unique distinction of writing

commentary on all the 4000 hymns of Azhwars. Some other Acharyas

have written commentaries on some Divya Prabhandams only. For all 24

Prabhandams Sri Periyavachan Pillai alone has written superfine

commentaries. Though the Divya Prabhandams are in simple Tamil

language, the depth of meaning is very difficult to understand

without the help of Sri Periyavachan Pillai's commentary. Thus he has

rendered very great service to Azhwars and to Srivaishnavas. If

Srivaishnava scholars today deliver lectures on Srivaishnava

doctrines it is thanks to Sri Periyavachan Pillai's commentary. They

owe a debt of gratitude to Sri Periyavachan Pillai. So on his

Tirunakshatram day(i.e. today) let us pay homage to his holy feet.

What else can we do for his very valuable help which would secure us

emancipation and the service at the lotus like feet of Sriman

Narayana and His divine concert Sri Mahalakshmi.

 

Sri Periyavachan Pillai Thiruvadigale Saranam.

[Guest guest]

Dear Swamin!

 

Really the article is simply superb. Adiyen expects

more articles on this kind so that people like

adiyEn who have lesser jn~anam could learn the

meaning very easily and enrich the knowledge

in our samprdhAyam.

 

adiyen

senthil.b

 

 

--- tavaradhan <tavaradhan > wrote:

 

> SRIMATHE RAMANUJAYA NAMAHA

> SRIMATHE BALADHANVI MAHAGURUVE NAMAHA

> SRIMAD VARAVARAMUNUYE NAMAHA

>

> Periyavachanpillai -14/09/2006

>

> Srimad Krishna Samahvaya Namo Yamuna Sunave

> Yat Katakshaika Lakshyanam Sulabha Sridhara Sada

>

> [salutation to Srimad Krishna(Periyavachan Pillai),

> the son of Sri

> Yamuna. Sridhara will be easily accessible to those

> who become the

> target of the glances of Sri Periyavachan Pillai].

> This is the

> taniyan of Sri Periyavachan Pillai who occupies an

> unique and

> distinct position among Sri Vaishnava Acharyas. His

> greatness is not

> only beyond description but also far beyond

> conception of any human

> being. Let me, however, try to pay a glorious

> tribute on the

> occasion of his birthday(Tirunakshatram) which falls

> on 14-09-

> 2006,Thursday following several essays written by

> our illustrious

> ancestors of profound and renowned scholarship and

> purify both my

> heart and pen.

>

> Sri Periyavachan Pillai was born in the year

> Sarvajit(A.D. 1167)

> during the month of Aavani, the star being Rohini.

> His father's name

> was Sri Yamuna and his mother was called Srimathi

> Nachiyar, at

> Shanganallur at Thanjavur District.

>

> The original name given to him by his parents was

> Sri Krishna. He

> learnt Vedas etc. as per the custom prevailing in

> those days and

> became a master of both Samskrit and Tamil language

> and literature.

> Later on he became the right hand of Sri Nampillai,

> even as

> Lakshmana was the right hand of Sri Rama.

>

> About his birth there is a faith among the

> Srivaishanavas, which is

> very interesting to note. Tirumangai Azhwar during

> his pilgrimage to

> different Divya Desams visited Tirukannamangai.

> There he sang

> mellifluous songs, eulogizing Sri Krishna, the

> preciding deity of

> that Divya Desam. Sri Krishna developed a very

> great fancy for those

> songs, lured by their melody and expressed his

> strong desire to learn

> those songs. Tirumangai Azhwar remarked,

>

> "Meimmai Sollin Venshangam Onru Endiya Kanna!

> Ninthannakum Kurippagil Karkalaam Kaviyin

> Porulthane"

>

> (Periya Tirumozhi 7-10-10)

>

> (To be frank with you Oh Krishna! Wielding white

> conch if you so

> desire in your Archavathara State you can only learn

> the meaning of

> my poem). Thereby obviously Kaliyan meant that the

> Lord should be

> born again in this mortal world to learn his poem.

> The Lord

> understanding the implication of this statement of

> Kaliyan was born

> in this world as Sri Periyavachan Pillai on the same

> day as Krishna

> was born (Rohini star-Gokula Astami). Hence his

> name was also

> Krishna. Tirumangai Azhwar was born as Nampillai,

> his birth month

> and day being Karthikai and Krithika Star as that of

> Tirumangai

> Azhwar. Sri Nampillai was also named

> TirukkaliKanri Dasar, another

> name for Tirumangai Azhwar. So Tirukhannamangai

> deity, Sri Krishna

> was born as Sri Periyavachan Pillai and Tirumangai

> Azhwar's

> incarnation was Sri Nampillai. (The date of birth,

> the name of Sri

> Nampillai and Sri Periyavachan Pillai with that of

> Thirumangai Azhwar

> and Sri Krishna are responsible for this very

> fanciful conjucture).

>

> Much about the life history of Sri Achan Pillai is

> unknown but his

> excellences cannot be described even by the thousand

> hooded Aadisesha

> or the thousand headed Lord himself. He has the

> unique distinction

> of writing versatile lucid and very sweet commentary

> on the four

> thousand songs of Azhwars called Nalayira Divya

> Prabhandam. He has

> also written an excellent and scholarly commentary

> on select verses

> of Sri Ramayanam and Bharata. His jovial and novel

> treatment of the

> sweet commentary on Sri Ramayanam called Tani Sloka

> Vyakyanam is

> unparalled in the world literature. His depth of

> knowledge in all

> Shastras under the sun is manifest in these

> commentaries. He has

> also commented on the Gadyatrayam of Sri Ramanuja,

> Chatusloki and

> Stotra Ratnam of Sri Yamunacharya and Jitante

> Stotra. His main idea

> was to carry the force of wisdom enshrined in all

> these epics Divya

> Prabhandham etc to all people who possess meager

> knowledge and he is

> successful in his attempt. For this purpose he did

> not use Sanskrit

> language for his commentary but only a suitable

> admixture of both

> Samskrit and Tamil words which were in common use in

> those days.

> This helped the people belonging to different strata

> of the society.

> Even women in those days were able to understand and

> assimilate the

> inner meanings of the epics stanzas and Nalayira

> Divya Prabhandam

> with the help of these commentaries. His authorship

> of Paranda

> Rahasyam and Manikka Malai is still a open question.

>

> However in his super commentaries all the

> Rahasyarthas do find a

> place, embedded very well. Thus he has earned two

> sobriquets,

> Vyakhyana Chakravarthi and Abhaya PradaRaja(for his

> excellent

> commentary on Vibhishana Sharanagathi slokas which

> he richly

> deserves).

>

> Sri Nampillai understanding the unique capacity of

> his disciple Sri

> Achan Pillai commanded him to write a commentary on

> Tiruvoimozhi. He

> fulfilled this duty by writing an excellent

> commentary on 1102

> stanzas of Tiruvoimozhi called 24000 padi (One padi

> consists of 32

> syllables). Two other disciples of SriNampillai by

> name Vadakku

> Tiruveedi Pillai and Naduvil Tiruveedi Pillai

> Bhattar also wrote

> commentaries on Tiruvoimozhi without getting the

> sanction of their

> Acharya, Sri Nampillai. This irritated the teacher

> very much.

> Naduvil Tiruveedi Pillai Bhattar's commentary was

> totally repudiated

> by Sri Nampillai and having dipped the palm leaf

> manuscripts in water

> threw it inside an ant hill where as Vadakku

> Tiruveedi Pillai's

> commentary was thrown to the background and not

> allowed for public

> consumption for a certain period. From this we can

> understand the

> unique love of Sri Nampillai towards Sri Aachan

> Pillai.

>

> Let me take one example from Periya Tirumozhi to

> illustrate the

> excellence and fascinating character of Sri Aachan

> Pillai's

> commentary.

>

>

>

>

> "Oliya vennai undan enru Vuralodu Aaicchi

> On Kayitral Viliya Aarkha Aapundu Vimmi Azhuthan

> Men malar mel Kaliya vandu Kallunna Kamar Thenral

> Alar Tootra

> Nalir Vai Mullai Muruvalikkum Naraiyur Ninra

> Nambiye"

> (Periya Tirumozhi 6-7-4)

>

> In this stanza Sri Kaliyan describes both the town

> Tirunaraiyur

=== message truncated ===

 

 

 

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