Input for AzhwAr CD ROM : Part III--- Bhoothatthaazhwaar

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Bhoothatthaazhwaar: General comments

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The second of the three Mudhal Azhwaars was born at

Maamalla Puram ( Thirukkadanmallai Dhivya dEsam ).

He is recognized as the amsam of Gadhai (mace) of

the Lord known as KoumEdhaki.He incarnated inside

a Maadhavi (Kurukkatthi) flower during an Iyppasi

avitta nakshathram day .Poygai was born the previous day ,

when the SravaNa nakshathram was in ascendance. Pey AzhwAr

was born on the day after Bhootham , when Sathaya nakshathram

was in ascendance .If Poygai had intuited the Lord's

presence amidst them at the dEhaLi through transcendent

knowledge(para Jn~Anam) , Bhootham succeded in achieving

the same result through maturing gnosis passing into devotion

( para-Bhakthi).Bhootham saluted the Lord with another

hundered verses set in anthAthi style , where the end

(antha ) of one passuram provides the beginning for

the subsequent paasuram .This anthaathi style assures

that there is no break in the chain of thought as

one moves from one passuram to the next.

 

Dr.K.C.Varadachari has quoted the Gita SlOkam (XI.54)

to compare the states of approach to the Lord by

the three Mudhal Azhwaars this way: " Knowing ,

seeing and entering into Him with One's own entire

being are the three processes that bear comparison

with the three Azhwaars: Poygai, Bhootham and pEy " .

Poygai saluted the Lord as Ubhaya Vibhoothi Naathan

and Sarva Seshi through his power of para-jn~Anam ;

Bhootham described his anubhavam of the Lord as

the para-bhakthi ( para-Jn~Anam transforming into

supreme devotion) anubhavam.

 

Bhoothattaazhwaar performed mangaLaasaasanam for

thirteen dhivya dEsams:(1)Ayoddhi (2) Srirangam

(3)Thiruk-Kadanmallai Tala Sayanam (4)Thiruk-kudanthai

(5) Thiruk-kOttiUr (6)Thiruk-kOvaloor (7)Thiru-Tanjai

MaamaNikkOil (8) Thirut-TaNNkaal (9)Thiruneermalai

(10)Thiruppaatakam (11)ThiruppaaRkkadal(12)ThirumaalirumchOlai

and (13)ThiruvEnkatam .

 

Tell me More section for Second ThiruvanthAthi

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The very first paasuram of Bhootham takes the same

form of Poygai's first paasuram :

" Devotion as the lamp-bowl, aspiration as ghee ,

the mind that has melted out of delight as the wick ,

with melting soul I have lit the bright flame of

devotion to NaarAyaNA in the revealed Tamizh language

in verse " .Azhwaar describes himself as " Jn~Ana Tamizh purintha

naan " ( I who have chosen to construct a string of verses in

Tamizh revealing supreme knowledge).

 

Illustrative paasurams of Bhootham revealing his para-Bhakthi

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In his third paasuram ,Azhwaar describes the aprAkrutha

dhivya lOkam of Sri Vaikuntam reached through supreme devotion

(Para-Bhakthi ): " Oh! What a great wonder ! Those who worship

the One and Only Lord resting on AdhisEshan at the milky

ocean with fresh fragrant flowers are enabled to reach

the self-effulgent Sri Vaikuntam , where nithyasooris

reside. Even pristine dEvaas including Brahma have only

heard about it as being such and such , but have never

seen it (Sri Vaikuntam) even once " (Dr.V.N.VedAntha Desikan).

 

In his 20th paasuram , Bhootham refers to the two types

of bhakthAs of the Lord ,who are destined to enjoy the bliss

of life (Bhagavath anubhavam).The first type gets freed from

stigmas amd dhOshams and then engages in eulogy of the Lord

according to the way shown by the saasthraas. The second type

has jn~Anam about the sarva rakshaka Lord ( NaarAyana sabdha-

vaachyan)and comprehend the glories of His ThirunAmams and

recite them .This type is propelled by Bhakthi Ruchi arising

from poorva janma sukruthams ( fruit of good deeds from

previous lives).

 

Bhootham praises the fruits of prapatthi in the twenty

third paasuram as the attainment of any boon one seeks (viz).,

Isvaryam, Kaivalyam or Mosham itself.

 

In the thirty third paasuram , Azhwaar describes his

blissful state through the engagement of his indhriyams

in service to Him : " Oh Lord of Lakshmi! My heart

rejoices because of being absorbed in You. My tongue

(and speech) would revel in singing about Your holy feet.

My whole body too revels in a dance of joy ,circling

round You and Your devotees , singing then the praise of

Your lovable weapons , chakram , sankham etal --with

abandon not minding what others would say " .

 

In the thirty seventh paasuram , AzhwAr performs

upadesam for us: Out Lord's holy feet are very fit

objects for our aarAdhanam. Those , who do not

seek these holy feet for protection would be born

again and again in this samsAram and lead lives

filled with grief. He asks us to banish the vulgar

pleasures of the world and choose instead a life

devoted to BhagavannAma SankIrthanam at all times .

 

In the 44th paasuram, AzhwAr reveals that the Lord

takes on His mighty shoulders the burden ( Bharam)

of protection of those , who seek His lotus feet

as refuge remembering His role as SaraNAgatha Rakshakan.

 

In the 46th paasuram , AzhwAr points out the action taken

by the Lord for the benefit of those , who seek His holy

feet as refuge. AzhwAr describes that the Lord has already

taken His abode for our sake at ThirukkOttiyoor ,

Thiruvenkatam , ThirumAl-IrumchOlai and Thiruneermalai

and is waiting for us at these dhivya desams .

 

In the ninety first paasuram , Azhwar gives us excellent

advise for our upliftment: " Oh Men of the World! You go

on committing various sinful acts that land you in cruel

narakam. If You want to escape this fate, perform prapatthi

at the feet of the Lord with an anjali. Do perform Prapatthi

to our Lord , the most generous one , who will take

care of you and grant you mOksham .The performance of

The pracise of His sworn dharmam as Sarva Loka SaraNyan

and Jagath Rakshakan pleases him immensely.

 

In the concluding 100th paasuram , AzhwAr makes

the most moving appeal to the Lord and shows us the way

as well to appeal to Him for gaining His grace:

" Oh Supreme Lord with great attachment to

Your devottes! Oh Lord of boundless greatness!

Oh Lord of Nithyasooris! Oh 'wearer of lovable TuLasi

garlands ! Oh destroyer of the enemies of Your devotees !

My love for You is not to stay within a limit.

It does not remain contained.It flows over and throws me

down senseless.Please note that this love will not subside

except until I have Your darsana soubhAgyam. Hence , Please

grant me that boon and bliss " ( Dr.V.N.VedAntha Desikan) .

 

BhUthatthAzhwAr ThiruvadigaLE saraNam

Daasan, Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri SatakOpan