Sri Vishnu chitta kulanandana kalpavalli (Part-16)

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Sri Parthasarathi thunai

Srimathe ramanujaya Namaha

Srimad Vara Vara MunayE namaha

Sri Vanachala mahA munayE namaha

 

In the third paasuram andal enjoyed the greatness of the thrivikramAvatara of emperuman when emperuman measured all the three worlds. She then feels in such a place where bhagavatas sing the praise of that lord who rules over all the three worlds surely there should be absolute wealth and prosperity. For the well being of a place timely rain is very essential. Emperuman has handed over various responsibilities to various devatas. So parjanya devan, the lord of rain who was waiting to do some service to bhagavatas came running to the ghosti of gopis (andal). When emperuman himself cherishes doing service to his beloved bhakthas will not the small devatas wait for an opportunity? Now in the fourth paasuram andal orders parjanya devan what all he has to do.

 

This indirectly clarifies the doubt of anya devata aradhana confusing many minds and that topic which has been discussed time and again in these groups. The rain god waits for the orders of Srivaishnavas. Similarly the god of death (yama) says, “svapurushamapi veekshya pAsahastham vadhathi yama kila tasya karNamoolE I parihara madhusoodhana prapannAn prabhuraham anya nruNam na vaishnavAnAm II” [yama called his dhoothas near him and in their ears said- Don’t go near those who have surrendered to madhusoodhanan, I am the lord of others but not for Vaishnavas”] The same has been translated by thirumazhisaiAzhvar in his own words as “tiranbEnmin kandeer thiruvadi than nAmam marandhum puram thozhA mAndar- eranjiyum sAdhuvarAi pOdumingalendrAn namanum than thoodhuvarai koovi sevikku” Here thirumazhisai azhvar gives a extra quality of a true Srivaishnava. “marandhum puram thozhA mAndhar” Two types of explanation given by our acharyas here is:- Srivaishnavas don’t fall into any other feet even by mistake or even if they forget to surrender to the divine feet of emperuman they will never go to any other god.

 

To be more clear “one can be broad in charity but not in chastity” If there is some misunderstanding between a husband and wife and they get spilt then there is always a possibility that they will rejoin sometime later. But if they make a hasty decision of marring someone else then there is absolutely no possibility of them to lead a life together. Similarly even if we do not have absolute faith in emperuman today there is a high possibility of us realizing his greatness and falling to his feet shortly but if we consider someone else to be the paramapurushan and go behind him then we are sure to have lost our way and it will be very difficult for us to return back.

 

So the question of how to behave in case of anya devata for a Srivaishnava who has surrendered to parthasarathi with ultimate faith is invalid. The devatas who are servants of the lord consider Srivaishavas also to be their leaders. Since all Srivaishnavas (jeevatmas in general) are considered as females are wedded to the only male, paramapurushan, Sriman Narayanan, the servants of the husband serve the wife too. Aalanvandaar in his chatussloki says, “kAntasthE purushOtama panipathi: sayAsanam vAhanam vEdAthmA vivakEshvarO…brahmEsAdhi suravraja:..tvat dAsa dAsee gana:..” So now without any hesitation andal orders parjanya devan to shower rain without any halt or hesitation. "Azhi mazhai kannA! Go deep into the sea and collect water and become as dark as the colour of emperuman, let the lightning flash like the chakrathAzhvan and the thunder be heard like the sound made by the valampuri sankam in the lords divine hands. Like the bow, sArgam in the hands of the lord that showers the arrows continuously you shower rain. You should do this for the benefit of all the worlds. “ orders Andal.

 

How does that become a service to the bhagavatas/andal? “nAngalum mArghazhi neerAda” so that will be a service to them and hence parjanya devan can get satisfied with accomplishing his duty in the appropriate manner. Another thing that has to be understood from this paasuram is, that it is a prime duty of all Srivaishnavas to serve, do kainkaryam to fellow bhagavatas. Bhagavata kainkaryam is more important than even bhagavat kainkaryam since it pleases emperuman more when we serve those very close to his heart.

 

(To be continued)

 

Azhvar emperumAnAr Jeeyer thiruvadigalE sharaNam

Adiyen ramanuja dAsee

Sumithra Varadarajan