geethA sAstramum nedunthAndaka sAstramum-4

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Sri Parthasarathi thunai

Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha

Sri Vara Vara munayE Namaha

Sri vAnAchala mahA munayE Namaha

 

 

 

Bhattar nirvAham

 

 

 

In this posting we will proceed to enjoy the great comments of Sri Parasara

bhattar about the divine prabhandam, thirunedunthAndakam. This prabhandam

comprises of 30 paasurams. Sri Parasara bhattar, groups 10 paasurams in a

single group and thereby divides the prabhandam into 3 parts. We are familiar

with the grouping of chapters in geetha. There again the 18 chapters are

divided into 3 parts (each part comprising of 6 chapters viz., karma yoga,

bhakthi yoga and jnana yoga). Bhattar further proceeds to explain the various

arthas conveyed in each part.

 

 

 

First ten Azhvar sings as azhvar (thAmAna paasuram)

“thalirpuraiyum thiruvadi enthalaimElavE” (1)

 

 

 

Second ten Azhvar assumes himself to be the mother and sings

“en kudangAl erukkagillAL” (11)

“pettrEn vAisol eraiyum pEsakkElAL” (19)

 

 

 

Third ten Azhvar assumes himself to be a lady (nAyaki)

“en munnE nindrAr” (21)

“thOzhi avarai nAm dEvarendru anjinOm” (21)

“evvalavundo emperuman koil endrErkku” (22)

 

 

First ten conveys the meaning of ‘machchittA:’

“emaiyavar than thiruvuruvE ennum pOdhu” (2)

“andhananai andhanarmAttu andhivaiththa mandhiraththai

maravAdhu endrum vAzhudhiyEl vAzhalAm mada nenjamE” (4)

 

 

 

Second ten conveys the meaning of ‘matgatha prAnA:’

“nenjurugikkaNpanippa nirkkum sOrum” (12)

“thunai mualimEl thuli sOra sOrginrAlE” (13)

 

 

 

Third ten conveys the meaning of “bhOdhayantha parasparam”

“avvaNNaththavar nilamai kandum thOzhee” (21)

“varaiyuruvil mAkalittrai thOzhee endran ponnilangu mulaikuvattil

poottikkondu” (28)

 

 

 

Let us see a little about this sloka “machchittA: matgatha prAnA: bhOdhayantha

parasparam”. This is a sloka from the divine bhagavat geetha.

 

 

 

“machchittA: matgatha prAnA: bhOdhayantha parasparam I

kathayandhascha mAm nithyam dhusyanthi cha ramanthi cha II” (10-9)

 

 

 

machchittA: Those who are immersed in thoughts about me

matgatha prAnA: Those who cannot live if separated from me (me being their

life)

bhOdhayantha parasparam Those who talk among themselves about their divine

experiences with me. Those who live listening to and talking about my leelas.

 

 

 

While reading this sloka surely we will all be reminded of the great gopikas.

In gokulam everyone was always thinking about Krishna. Whether the gopikas

where involved in house hold work or in their service to their husbands,

children or family members their inner thoughts circled around kutti kannan.

While uttering the word machchittA: Krishna’s mind should have circled around

the gokula vasees. The gopis had so much love for Krishna that they were unable

to even get separated from him for a short while. The way they all waited for

Krishna to return back from the forest along with the cowherds in the evening is

beautiful shown in Srimad bhagavatham and in Azhvars paasurams. Moreover the

way they all suffered his separation is well seen during the rasa nAtyam. After

a short period of dancing with the gopis, Krishna suddenly went out of their

vision (thattraiva antharadheeyathAm). The state of the gopikas -----no words

can convey the same. That is what is conveyed by

‘matgatha pranA:’. But then how did the gopis sustain themselves? They

started talking, enacting and listening to all the leelas Krishna has done till

date. One gopi acted as Krishna and started to dance on top of another gopi

considering her to be the dushta kaliyan. This is the state of ‘bhOdhayantha

parasparam”. All these states are visualized in the words of azhvar also in the

corresponding three parts. In the first part he sings with his mind involved

with bhagavan with his own self. In the second part he lost himself due to his

separation from emperuman and hence his mother talks about the state of her

daughter. In the third part azhvar regained strength and considering himself

(as nayaki) to be emperuman’s beloved azhvar tells and enjoys with his friends

the greatness, simplicity and various kalyana gunas of emperuman.

 

 

 

In this way, thirumangai azhvar follows the footsteps of geethacharyan and sings

his paasurams in the three different states quite usual for Krishna bhakthas.

Thirumangai azhvar was born in kallar kulam. He was a great warrior. He even

went to the extent of frightening emperuman with his knife to get the great

thirumanthram. But whatever may be his physical strength at the back he is very

soft in his mind. Since such deep bhakthi can flow only from such soft heart.

Azhvar wished for wealth to do dhadheeyArAdhanam (feeding the bhagavatas) but

emperuman blessed him with the food for his soul. What can we say about the

nirheduka krupai of Parthasarathi emperuman?

 

 

 

This is not all. There are more arthas conveyed in this prabhandam as explained

by Sri Parasara bhattar. We will continue in the next posting.

 

 

 

Azhvar EmperumAnAr Jeeyer thiruvadigalE sharanam

 

 

 

Adiyen ramanuja dAsee

Sumithra Varadarajan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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