Upadesa Ratna Malai - Paasuram 1

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UPADESA RATNA MALAI

Translation by

Sri.U.Ve.Vangipuram Pattangi Srinivasa Varadan

 

Pasuram 1: I AM SPEAKING AS I WAS TAUGHT BY MY

ACHARYAN.

 

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endhai thiruvAymozhip piLLai innaruLAl *

vandha upadhEsa mArkgaththaich - sindhai seydhu **

pinnavarum kaRka * upadhEsamAyp pEsuginREn *

manniya sIr veNpAvil vaiththu

 

 

 

 

endhai

 

 

My Acharyan (addressed as

father for his concern like father)

 

 

 

 

thiruvAymozhip piLLai

 

 

Thirumalai Alwar known as

ThiruvAymozhip Pillai

 

 

 

 

innaruLAl vandha

 

 

received due to

Acharyan’s grace

 

 

 

 

upadhEsa mArkgaththaich

 

 

The path taught by the

Acharyan, in the way it was taught

 

 

 

 

sindhai seydhu

 

 

accordingly; (after

careful thought)

 

 

 

 

pinnavarum kaRka

 

 

for the benefit of

posterity

 

 

 

 

manniya sIr veNpAvil vaiththu

 

 

set in the glorious

‘venba’ style of Tamil poetry

 

 

 

 

upadhEsamAyp pEsuginREn

 

 

I am speaking as upadesa

(teaching) for my benefit and also for the benefit of all

 

 

 

 

Swami Manavala Mamunikal’s

Acharyan’s real name is Thirumalai Azhvar. However, due to his deep knowledge

and devotion in propagating of Swamy Nammazhvar’s thiruvAymozhi, he was popularly

known as thiruvAymozhip pillai. He has rightfully earned this name and this name was cherished

by Swamy MM. Further it is also emphasized that the teachings of a person who

had mastered thiruvAymozhi are more authentic and valuable. The essence of Upadesa Ratna Malai is

due to the teachings of thiruvAymozhip Pillai.

 

innaruLAl: 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.

 

vandha upadhEsa mArkgaththaich: Swamy MM is constantly

contemplating on the path taught to him by his Acharyan. Acharyan’s word is

final. The first three phrases mean, the possession of knowledge, being kind

and the relationship as disciple and Acharyan.

 

endhai thiruvAymozhip piLLai innaruLAl vandha: Like father is looking after his son, thiruvAymozhip pillai cared for

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

There was an 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).

 

mArkgaththaich sindhai seydhu: 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

disclosing these messages.

 

upadhEsamAyp pEsuginREn: 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 (prabathi nishtar) is

mentioned in the commencement and then the glory of those who seek refuge in

the holy feet of Acharyan (Acharyabimana Nishtar) is elaborated. Those who seek

Lord may get liberation or may not get it as the Lord is empowered to decide

either way, but those who surrender to 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.

 

pEsuginREn: 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 us to take it or leave it.

 

Alwar was bestowed

knowledge by Lord – ‘mayarvara mathi nalam arulinan’. Alwar considered everybody like him and gave

his teachings to us and 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 and he, in turn is passing on the knowledge to

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

Azhvar Emberumanar Jeeyar Thiruvadikale SaranamJeeyar Thiruvadikale Saranam

 

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