Sri Vishnuchitta kulanandana kalpavalli (Part-40)

March 4, 2005

Sri Parthasarathi thunai

Srimathe ramanujaya Namaha

Srimad Vara Vara MunayE namaha

Sri Vanachala mahA munayE namaha

Sri kanchi prathivAdi bayankaram anangarAchariar swamy used to deliver a small interesting imaginary story. Once Sita piratti and Kodha piratti went to write a test. The Question was: “Write the highlighting kalyana guna of emperuman in a single word. The quality that gives him the utmost greatness?”

Sita Piratti wrote: “saranAgathavatsala:” (8 letters)

KodhA piratti wrote: “mAlE” (2 letters)

The examiner awarded Sita piratti 50% of marks and kOdha piratti 100%. Why? Because the dwayam (otherwise the manthra ratnam, here refers to the two lettered “mAlE”) has its greatness more than the ashtAkshari (otherwise the mantha raja, here refers to the 8 lettered “saranAgathavatsala:”) The divine name “mAlE” has been greatly elaborated by all the commentators (vyakhyAnakarthas). Why is krishna called as “mAlE” by andal? Here is a very humorous story.

Krishna leelas are not just leelas but are embodiment of ultimate truth. One-day mother yesodha was churning curd. Butter aroused on top. The dialogue between yesodha and kutti kannan is very interesting:

Krishna: Oh! Mother what is that?

Yesodha: Don’t go near my child it is a devil.

Krishna: What will the devil do?

Yesodha: It will swallow you?

[Krishna jumped forward took the butter in hand and in a matter of second put it inside his mouth and said,]

Krishna: Oh! Mother. Don’t worry now I have swallowed the devil before it could swallow me. But my dear mother you are mistaken it tastes like butter.

That is exactly the same the lord does towards the jeevatmas also. If we take a single step towards the lord he jumps 10 steps towards us. Even if we give an acceptance signal it is enough for him to take us to his divine feet. That is why andal calls him as “mAlE!”

Who is that ‘mAl’? “mAlE manivannA!” The gem coloured lord is ‘mAl’ He has not only the colour of the gem but also the characteristics. The similarity between emperuman and the gem has been extensively written by our poorvacharyas in their vyakhyanams.

(To be continued)

Azhvar emperumAnAr Jeeyer thiruvadigalE sharaNam

Adiyen ramanuja dAsee

Sumithra Varadarajan