SrI UpakAra Sangraham Part - 36

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srI:

SrI upakAra sangraham – 36

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adikAram – 1

poorva upakAra paramparai

(The Foremost Series of Favours)

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SECTION – 5 (6) [Continued]

(27 Favours of the Lord leading to the means for

MOKSHAM)

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We have been seeing the favours done by the Lord

through AzhvArs and covered six of the twelve AzhvArs.

We are studying this sub-para of SwAmi Desikan's

work:

 

(6) " AzhvArkaLaiyum AchAryarkaLatyum koNdu,

vEda-tattvArtta-prakAshanam paNNinatuvum; "

 

There is an important aspect of SrI nammAzhvar's

TiruvAimozhi. This work is considered as sAma vEdam.

Besides, it establishes our siddhAnta of arthapancakam

-- five essentials -- The Lord, jIvan, the means to be

adopted by the jIva to attain the Lord, the stumbling

blocks of poorvika karmas and the way to overcome them

to attain everlasting Bliss. All the four works of

the AzhvAr are considered as the commentaries on the

three rahasyas, i.e., Ishvaran, cit and acit and their

relations, as contained in the PAncarAtra scriptures.

 

Next comes in the line of AzhvAras is SrI Kulasekara

AzhvAr, who appeared in the Royal family ruling from

vanjikkaLam in kollinagar of the present Kerala state.

He was born to the Ruler, Drudavratan in the Royal

lineage of cantrakala. His birth star is punarvasu in

the Tamil month of mAsi. He was an incarnation of the

koustubha gem worn by the Lord. This koustubha

represents the jIva samudAyam. Kulasekara had a deep

admiration of SrI rAmA's auspicious qualities.

Besides, he had intense devotion for the arcAmoorti-s

of the Lord. He lived for 120 years. He has left us a

work named, PerumAL Tirumozhi containing 105 verses.

In this, the AzhvAr eulogized the Lord in eight divine

kshEtra-s.

 

The popular " MukundamAlA " , is a work of over 40

Sanskrit verses attributed to SrI Kulasekara AzhvAr,

in praise of SrI Krishna.

 

The taniyan for the MukundamAlA speaks volumes about

not only the AzhvAr's love for SrI ranganAtha, but

also that of the citizens in his Capital:

 

" ghushyatE yasya ngarE rangayAtrA dine dine /

tamaham shirsA vandE rAjAnam kulashEkaram // "

 

(I salute, bowing down my head, King KulashEkara in

whose Capital city the journey to SrIrangam is

announced every day.)

 

There is a saying, " So the King is, so are the

citizens, " which is cent-per-cent true in the case of

this Royal AzhvAr.

 

In his PerumAL Tirumozhi, SrI KulasEkara has

recorded his deep devotion for the Lord. He expresses

his intense desire to be present at the places of

worship as any inanimate object to enjoy the Lord's

presence. This Azhvar' devotion for the Bhagavatas is

also highlighted in a number of verses. He says the

service to the BhAghavatas is the ultimate goal for

him, apart from having the everlasting darshan of the

Lord. He begins this work by expressing his longing

for a visit to SrIrangam to be in the company of His

devotees. His desire for the dust of their feet is

unmatchable.

 

Our sampradAya stresses that our ultimate goal

extends beyond our loving service to the Lord, SrIman

nArayaNa. It is the Bhagvata seva -- service to the

last of the devotee in the lineage of the Lord's

devotees -- that should be the life of a

SrIvaishnavite. This reflects the essence of the

PAncarAtra scriptures and also the essence of the

VedAnta, i.e., Upanishads.

 

One of the Taniyans for SrI PerumAL Tirumozhi

narrates an incident from this AzhvAr's life. It

records his ardent devotion to the Lord's devotees:

 

" Aramkedap parananbar koLLArenRu, avarkLukkE

vArangkodu kudappAmbil kaiyittavan mARRalarai

vIrangkedutta cengOl kollikAvalan villavarkOn

cEran kulashEkaran mudivEntar sikAmaNiyE. "

 

Once, King KulashEkara, in order to disprove an

allegation against a BhAgavta-gust in his palace, put

his hand in a pot containing a live poisonous snake in

his fully packed Royal Assembly and the snake did not

harm him, proving his highest regard for the Lord's

devotees.

 

In his MukundamAlA, SrI KulasEkara AzhvAr says all

our limbs should be directed towards the Lord only.

Our legs are meant for going to His temple. The hands

are for doing archana and worshipping Him. Our tongue

is for uttering His names. This work is a part our

daily recitation. Perhaps this is to help us to

develop similar devotion for the Lord as the AzhvAr.

 

 

After SrI KulasEkara comes SrI periyAzhvAr, whose

original name is SrI Vishnucitta.

 

SrI PeriyAzhvAr appeared as the incarnation of

Garuda, in a SrIvaishnava brahmin family in

SrIvilliputtoor under the constellation of shwAti in

the Tamil month of Ani, as a son to Padumai and

MukundAcAryar. He established the VisistAdvaita

siddhAnta in the presence of a big gathering of

pandits in the Royal Assembly of the PAndia King,

SrIvallabhadEvan at Madurai. PeriyAzhvAr was taken in

a Royal procession on the Royal elephant when the Lord

and His Consort appeared mounted on Garuda.

PeriyAzhvAr witnessed the un-describable beauty of the

Divine appearance and wished the Lord, His consort,

the Sudarsana cakra, PAncajanya conch and the

relationship between jIva and the Lord, a long life

for thousands of years to come. This opening verse of

his Prapanda has become the starting point of the

recitation of the Divya Prabanda in Temples as well as

homes. This is being followed even now.

 

The work starts with the verses on the birth of Sri

Krishna and His childish pranks in Gokulam while being

under the care of YashOdA and NandagOpa. The later

part of his work deals with the conduct of a devotee

of the Lord, that is, leading a life in the constant

thought of the Lord.

This work contains 473 verses. He has also paid

respects to 20 divya kshEtra-s where the Lord has

taken abode.

 

SrI AndAL, the only Lady AzhvAr, appeared in

PeriyAzhvAr's Tulasi garden on the day of the star,

Poorvaphalgini, in the Tamil month of Adi. She is an

incarnation of SrI Bhoodevi, another Consort of the

Lord. She had most intensive devotion for the Lord and

as a child she used to wear the Tulasi garlands

prepared by her foster father, PeriyAzhvAr for the

Lord SrI rangamannAr of SrIvilliputtoor. The Lord also

insisted on SrI PeriyAzhvAr to adorn Him with the

garland after it is worn by SrI AndAL first. This is

being followed even now in all SrIvishnavite temples

as a regular practice.

 

SrI AndAL has left us two works of Tamil pAsurams.

The TiruppAvai is an eminent work with 30 verses,

being recited and sung every day in temples and homes.

It is a depiction of the penance as observed by the

cowherd-women of Gokulam during the incarnation of the

Lord as Krishna. It also contains the essence of Vedic

truths. Every time when it is studied, we come to know

of a new message, indicating the depth of the

literature.

 

SrI AndAL is also credited with another work, named,

nAciyAr Tirumozhi, of Tamil verses totaling 143. In

this, she has poured her deep love for the Lord and

anguish in separation from Him. She wedded the Lord,

SrI ranganAta at SrIrangam, as she was adamant that

she will not marry any male born as a human being, as

she is meant for being the bride of the Lord alone.

 

The ten verses beginning with " vAraNamAyiram " are

recited in wedding ceremonies in the SrIvaishnavite

community.

Tondaradipodi AzhvAr, appeared in a Brahmin family in

the village of TirumaNdangudi, under the star of

JyEshta in the Tamil month of mArgazhi. He is the

incarnation of the Lord's SrI vaijayanti garland. He

has left us two works, TirumAlai (40 verses) and

Tirupalli ezhucci (10 verses). He worshipped only SrI

rangantha of SrIrangam. The first work is the essence

of Vishnudharma, a scripture of SrI shounaka. It

highlights the effectiveness of the Lord's names. The

second work is in the form of waking up the Lord,

SrIrangantha. This is also being recited everyday in

all the SrIvaishnavite temples and homes at the

beginning of the morning worship.

 

TiruppANAzhvAr is an incarnation of SrIvatsa which is

a natural mark on the chest of the Lord. He appeared

in a rice field in the outs-curt of uRaiyoor. He was

brought up by a rural singer. TirupANAzhvAr used to

sing in praise of SrIrangantha of SrIrangam from

across the river KAvEri, as he was considered an

untouchable. But the Lord ordered His chief priest to

carry the AzhvAr on his shoulders and bring him to His

sanctum to give darshan to him. On seeing the Lord on

the snake-bed of AdishEsha, the AzhvAr burst out 10

Tamil verses describing the Lord from His foot to head

and merged with Him. These ten verses are regarded as

a rahashya scripture and SwAmi Desikan has written a

commentary on them in his work, named, MunivAhana

Bhogam.

 

The last AzhvAr to appear in this series of saints is

SrI Tirumangai Mannan. He was born as a son of neelan,

a chieftain of a Chola king, in the tamil month of

KArtikai under the Kruttika star. He was the

incarnation of ShArnga, the bow of the Lord. He

desired to marry a girl named, Kumutavalli, but she

expressed her willingness on a pre-condition that he

should feed one thousand eight SrIvaishnava devotees

daily. He did so and in the process he spent all his

wealth. In order to fulfill the promise given to

Kumutavalli, he had to indulge in robbing travelers in

the night. One day, the Lord was traveling as a newly

married bridegroom, along the route accompanied by His

newly wedded Bride, adorning Himself with a lot of

valuable ornaments and intently got Himself captured

by the AzhvAr. While robbing Him, the AzhvAr had to

pick up the ring from the finger of the Lord using his

mouth and that was the moment the Lord showed His real

form and gave him the unique mantra, known as

Tirumantram. That became the turning point in the

chieftain's life. He came to be known as Tirumangai

AzhvAr. He has left us six works: Periya Tirumozhi

(1084 verses), TirukkuRuntANdakam (20 verses),

TiruneduntANdakam (30 verses), TiruvezhukooRRirukkai

(1), ciRiya tirumadal (40 pAsurams) and Periya

Tirumadal (78 pAsurams). These works are considered as

the auxiliary scriptures for nammAzhvAr's four works

which are considered as the four VEdAs.

SrI Tirumangai AzhvAr covered as many as 86 divya

kshetras. He lived for 105 years and did yeomen

services to the Lord, which are green in the memory of

SrIvaishnavites even now.

 

SrI Tirumangai AzhvAr begins his work highlighting

the uniqueness of the Lord' name, nArAyaNa. As this

and the other works proceed, the AzhvAr grows from the

level of an ordinary devotee to that of a Lady-love,

named ParakAla nAyaki, with an intensive devotion for

the Lord. The subtle principles of Vedic scriptures,

the way a devotee has to lead his life and the

development of bhakti from the low to the highest

level of Parama bhakti can be realized through a

thorough study of his literature.

 

(To continue)

dAsan

Anbil S.SrInivAsan

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