nam-piLLai 6- Conversation with the Lord.

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nam-piLLai 6

 

nam-perumAL, nam-AzhwAr, nam-jEyar, nam-piLLai enbar-avaravar tham

yERRathAl, anbudaiyOr sARRuth thirunAmangaL thAn enRu nan nenjEA

yERRadhanai solli nE inRu " upadhEsa rathina mAlai-50

 

 

A discussion on SwAmi nam-piLLai is never complete without the mention of

conversation between AzhwAr and the Lord. This is highlight of nam-piLLai's

vyAkyAnam. The conversation gives us a peep into the mind of the AzhwAr and the

events that lead into the origin of a particular pAsuram/padhigam.

 

In the tenth pathu for instance, the following conversation has a telling one

and ultimately has a dumbfouning effect on the LOrd.

 

IN the introduction to the " thiru mAl irunjOlai enREan enna " 10-8 AzhWar is

surprised to find the Lord taking immense interest in him and wanting to grant

salvation. AzhwAr has an introspection. he finds no improvement as compared to

an earlier period. This leads to a state where he questions himself :How come am

I being granted this great position? AzhwAr decides to ask the Lord Himself in

this regard. This goes on

like this:

 

AzhwAr: " inRu ippadi ithai sirashA vahikkiRa dhEvar, munbu anAdhikAlam ithai

kai vittirupAn en?

Today You want to rescue me. Why did you ignore all these years?

emperumAn could not say that since AzhwAr is not indifferent towards this Him,

He is granting this,as even this indifferenc is created by HIm.

Then what was the response from the Lord?

Lord is the saviour and owner of the souls. He has to take care of them.

The commentary runs as follows:

" ini rakshaganAnavanukku nedunAL rakshya vargathai vittirundha idhaRku

sollalAvadhonRillayE, piRpAdanAnddhukku lajjikkumadhukku mERpada; AgaiyAle

sollalavadhoRu maRu mARRam kANAmaiyAlE kavizhndhu ninRu kAlAlE thaRaiyik

kERinAn.. "

 

The saviour has not attended to His owned thing (the soul) all along and has no

response but silence for the delay. The saviour, hence, became shy and started

scratching the ground by his legs.

 

 

First, the LOrd created the worlds. Then He created ways to be interested

towards HIm.Then the interest towards Him sprang up for AzhwAr. Then He assumed

Himself as the means and commencing from " poi ninRa gnAnam " - thiru virutham

till now " He brought AzhwAr to this state.

Why was this not done earlier itself. For this the Lord stood silently.

 

AzhWar thus realizes that " idhoru nirhEdhuka vishayEkAram irukkumpadiyEA " enRu

adhil AyangAl pattu ..hrushtarAik kaLikkiRAr "

 

AzhwAr ultimately enjoys the mirth on realizing that the Lord ultimately has

granted this by elevating him to such a state for no reason on his part

whatsoever -nir hEdhukamAga.

(to be continued)

vanamamalai padmanabhan