Thirukkolur Ammal Varththaigal - 69

[Guest guest]

Sri:

Srimathe Ramanujaya Nama:

 

69. kadalo:sai enre:no: periyanambiyaip po:le:

 

One of Alavandar's disciples was Maraneri Nambi who was born in a low caste. He

was the target of Alavandar's grace and another disciple of Alavandar, Periya

Nambi who was the acharya of Swami Ramanuja, had great affection for him as

well. Because he had understood the true nature of his soul, Maraneri Nambi

separated from his relatives who did not understand him, and lived separately.

After Alavandar ascended to His divine abode, Maraneri Nambi became physically

sick and was struggling alone. Periya Nambi took him under his care without

looking at their caste difference, and gave him food from his own home.

 

When Maraneri Nambi was in his final stages of his life, he asked Periya Nambi

that his body not be given back to his relatives for final rites. He told Periya

Nambi " purOdAsaththai nAykkidAdhE nOkki aruLa vENum " - that is, do not give the

offering meant for devas to dogs. After Maraneri Nambi left this world, Periya

Nambi followed his words and performed all the final rites for him standing in

his son's stead. Many brahmins became very upset that an acharya and brahmin

such as Periya Nambi performed final rites for a low caste person and refused to

interact with him.

 

At that time, Ramanuja talked to Periya Nambi and requested to him " When there

are many others who could have done these final rites, did you have to do them

yourself? Now so many are disrespecting you " . Periya Nambi replied " Come O

Ramanuja! Am I greater than He who was born in the Ikshvaku family and lived as

Dharma itself and is Maraneri Nambi any less than Periya Udaiyar? Am I greater

than Dharmaputra and is Maraneri Nambi any less than Vidhura? " Periya Nambi

refered to the fact that Sri Rama had performed the final rites for a vulture

(Jatayu) and that Yudishtra had performed final rites for a low caste person

Vidhura.

 

He added " Do we ask someone else to do our sandhyavandanam? " . This was to answer

Ramanuja's question as to why he could not have had someone else do the final

rites.

 

He also said " Are the words of Nammazhvar in the pasurams Payilum Sudaroli and

Nedumarkkadimai nothing more than noise made by the ocean? Are these something

that I have to explain and you have to understand? " . These two decads of

Thiruvaymozhi speak of the greatness of bhAgavatas. Periya Nambi was asking if

Azhvar's words were not to be actually followed in real life and were empty like

the noise of the ocean. Guru Paramparai records that Ramanuja immediately

acceded to Periya Nambi's words.

 

Thirukkolur Ammal is asking " Did I do great bhAgavata service and not treat

Azhvar's words like mere noise, like Periya Nambi did? "

 

This episode is also interesting, since Thirukkolur Ammal is reminding

Ramanuja of the words spoken by Periya Nambi to Ramanuja himself.

 

Azhvar Emberumanar Jeeyar Thiruvadigale Sharanam

adiyEn madhurakavi dAsan

http://www.acharya.org/vyakyanam/ThirukkolurammalVarththaigal/