Inputs for CD ROMs : Part VIII-- Thirumazhisai AzhwAr : Part I

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Life and Prabhandhams of Thirumazhisai AzhwAr

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Once upon a time, the saptha Rishis including BhArgava

Rishi asked BrahmA about the most sacred place on Earth

that was fit for the permanaent residence to do penance.

Brahma told them that Thirumazhisai KshEthram was the best

and named it MahIsAra KshEthram . The Rishis stayed there.

While being there, the wife of BhArgava Rishi gave birth to

their child on a Thai Maham ;on birth the new born chil did

did not have any features such as hand , face or leg.

It was of the form of a PiNdam (mass of flesh). The parents

were sad and left this child without form by the side of a bush

and moved on .This Pindam was Thirumazhisai AzhwAr ,who is

the amsam of the Lord's Sudarsana chakram. Few days after

the parents left , the pindam developed a roopam and began

to cry out of hunger and thirst. PerumAL appeared and blessed

the child to be free of hunger and thirst . The satisfied child

began again to cry. A local farmer by name ThiruvALan heard

the sound coming from the side of the bush and rushed to see

the cause of that sound. There, they saw a child with

a radiant face . ThiruvALan and his wife took the child home

and raised it.The child did not take milk and was free of

bodily functions and yet grew day by day.

 

This wonder of a baby growing without partaking any

food attracted the attention of an older couple , who

had no children of their own.They brought warm milk every day

for the child and presented it. After few days , the child

asked the elderly couple to drink the left-over milk .

After drinking the milk , which was consumed partially by

the child , the elderly couple regained their youth and in

due time a child was born to them .They named it KaNikaNNan.

 

Meanwhile , The BhArgava Rishi puthran( Thirumazhisai

AzhwAr ) controlled his Indhriyams and practised AshtAnga Yogam.

He studied all kinds of religions (Saaktham , Saivam et al) and

rejected them all in favor of VaishNavam and recognized that

Sriman NaarAyaNn is the Aadhara Moorthy and Jagath KaaraNa

Vasthu (ParamAthmA). Azhwar stayed at Thiru AllikkENi worshipping

GeethAchAryan and met there with the Mudhal AzhwArs.Few years later,

Thirumazhisai AzhwAr settled at ThiruvehhA , where Poygai AzhwAr

was born. KaNikaNNan served Thirumazhisai as his disciple.

 

At ThiruvehhA , an old lady also performed kaimkaryam for

the AzhwAr . She sought the blessings of AzhwAr for regaining

her youth . AzhwAr blessed her and she transformed into

a beautiful woman. When the local king heard of that miracle ,

he approached KaNikaNNan and asked him to intercede on his

behalf for a similar anugraham. KaNikaNNan refused the king's

request and the king got angry and ordered KaNikaNNan to leave

his kingdom.KaNikaNNan informed the AzhwAr of his need to leave

and the AzhwAr addressed the PerumAL of ThiruvehhA and told

Him to roll up His bed of AdhisEshan and leave the offending

king's kingdom with him and his sishyan .PerumAL , who always

takes the side of His dear devotees did as told and acquired

the name of YathOkthakAri or Sonna VaNNam seytha PerumAL.

 

AzhwAr, KaNikaNNan and PerumAL with His bed travelled out of

the city of ThiruvehhA and stayed overnight in a nearby village.

After the departure of PerumAL and AzhwAr,ThiruvehhA became

lusterless and inauspicousness set in. The king recognized

quickly his mistake and fell at the feet of Thirumazhisai

AzhwAr and begged him to return .AzhwAr agreed and suggested to

the Lord to return with him and KaNikaNNan , spread His bed back

and resume His YoganidhrA at His temple .PerumAL once again

followed the order of AzhwAr and auspiciousness returned

to the land.AzhwAr came to be revered as BahkthisArar

from then on.

 

Few years later, AzhwAr wanted to have the darsanam of

AarAvamudhan at Thirukkudanthai and left ThiruvehhA.

On the way, AzhwAr was received with hostility by

haughty Brahmins performing Yaj~nam and AzhwAr put

them in their place by revealing the reclining PerumAL

on his chest region.The Brahmins recognized the greatness

of the AzhwAr , fell at his feet and sought AzhwAr's forgivance.

 

AzhwAr arrived at Thirukkudanthai and was ecstatic about

the sevai of AarAvamudhan in the reclining position .

AzhwAr composed two Prabhandhams at Thirukkudanthai

known as Thirucchandha Viruttham and Naanmukhan ThiruvandhAthi.

One day , he placed his prabhandhams in the Cauvery water

and they did not sink ; instead , they floated agaist the stream

and arrived at his feet . AzhwAr took them in his hands and

brought them back to the temple and placed them at

the Thiruvadi of AarAvamudhan and asked the Lord to get up

and talk to him about that mystery.The Lord obliged and began

to lift Himself . AzhwAr was so moved by the Soulabhyam

of the Lord that he performed mangaLAsAsanam with

the benediction " Vaazhi KesanE " and the Lord stayed

in the half risen position to please His Bhaktha SikhAmaNi.

Even today , AarAvaudhan is giving His Seavi to us as UtthAna-

Saayee enjoying His UdhyOga Sayanam. AzhwAr stayed many years

thereafter worshipping AarAvamudhan and blessing the world prior

to returning to Sri Vaikuntam .

 

(To be continued).