A Peep into Periya-Thriu-Mozhi -18

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avar emmai ALvArEa, vaNangendhan mada/thUi nenjEa, avar engaL kula dheivamEa.

 

 

This thiru-mozhi is often quoted while discussion on 'bhAgavatha bhakthi " or

devotion towards the devotees. This is considered the ultimate of devotion.

Subservience towards the srEvaishNavites is subservience towards the Lord. This

is what thirumangai AzhwAr clearly indicates in the eighth ten, final padhigam

" vuRRadhum vun adiyArkklu-adimai-maRRellAm pEAsilum -nin thiru ettezhuthum

kaRRu.nAn.. "

 

This utmost devotion is demonstrated by kaliyan in this thiru-mozhi.

 

sri periya vAchAn piLLai explains two important points in the introduction to

this thiru-mozhi.

 

In the first thiru-mozhi AzhwAr mentions thiru-mandhiram and explains it. He

follows it up by surrendering unto the Lord at naimisAraNyam and thiru-vEnkatam.

 

However, he suddenly changes track here and talks about the devotees of the Lord

rather than the Lord. The aspect of devotion to the srEvaishNavites, is the

essence of thiru-mandhiram and our philosophy is emphasised. AzhwAr aptly

mentions these qualities in the pAsuram-s:avar-engaL kuladheivamEa, avar emmai

ALvArEa,thozhuvAi en thUi nenjEa,vaNangu endhan mada nenjEa.

 

The definition of who are the devotees is also given. Those devotees who are

confounded by the auspicious qualities of the Lord in the divya-dEsam-s. Those

who do not realise this value or the opposite of devotees or abhAgavathargaL "

'ivar-thAm bhAgavatharAga ninaithiruppadhu -vugandharuLina nilangaLilEa

nErmailEa EdupattiRukkum avargaLai. abhAgavatharAga ninaithiruppadhu - anguthai

vAsi aRiyAdhavargalai "

 

Accordingly, the devotees are considered as the Lord's by AzhwAr and those

against are spurned.

 

Those who do not think of the Lord are not to be thought by us. Those who think

of the Lord are those who will govern us.

Those who think of the gnAnap-pirAn are our Masters-nAyakar-s.Those who

celebrate Him are deities of our clan.Those who follow non-vEdhic philosophies

are to be spurned and so on and so forth.

 

Why the dont-s: One can understand highly appreciating and celebrating the

bhAgavathars . Why should one talk about abhAgavathar-s? Even if devotion

towards bhAghavathar does not come up, at least one should first try to avoid

the abhAgavathar-s is the underlying message from thirumangai mannan.

avar emmai ALvArEa, vaNangendhan mada/thUi nenjEa, avar engaL kula dheivamEa.

 

(to be continued)

vanamamalai padmanabhan