ThAmarai 1-A symbol of Notional Comparison

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ThAmarai

 

A symbol of Notional Comparison

 

Sri Mukund of pbase, mentions that like elephant -the word thAmarai also has different words representing the same import and widely used by AzhwArs.

 

Indeed so. He also writes to me that Sri K.Sadagopan Iyengar has already written on this subject titeld 'Finest of Flowers'. Therefore, when I commence a series on this subject,I should try not to repeat what has already been discussed earlier.

 

ThAmarai - has been used by AzhwArs for various purposes. Common usage is of course, comparison with the eyes of the Almighty.

 

ThAmaraik kADu malar kaNNodumAi sevvAi - Says Sri Nam-AzhwAr in ThiruvAsiriyam-5.

 

'adithaLamum thAmaraiyEa -angagaLum pangayamEa ' are the sweet words from Thriumangai mannan from the Periya ThiruMozhi 8-1-5; drawing a simile for the feet, arms of ThirukkaNNapuram Souri-p-perumAL.

 

'..aNaithulagumudaiya aravindha lOchanan ' Sri NAm AzhwAr makes this aravindham as a proper noun of EmperumAn of tholaivillimangalam.

 

'' .thiru-kamala-pAdham vandhu..' Proclaims Sri ThriupAnAzhwAr declaring that the lotus feet of the Lord comes and rests in his mind and eyes.

 

'pAmaRu mUvulagum aLandha paRpa pAdhA O!' ThiruvAi mozhi 7-6-1; The divine feet of the Lord measuring the worlds is now compared to the soft lotus.

 

thAmarai-aravindham-pangayam-kamalam-padhmam--all these are used to compare the eyes, arms, hands of EmperumAn.

 

Does the lotus really make a true comparison ? No. Definitely not. No way.

It is just for the sake of the comparison this takes place.In fact, AzhwAr later realising that having lowered the dignity of EmperumAn by such comparisons -paranjOthi-nin-igazhndhu pin-3-1-3 of ThriuvAi-mozhi; determines not to draw similarities with His characteristics thereafter.-en paranjothi GOvindhA paNburaikka mATTEAnEa 3-1-3 ThiruvAiMozhi.

 

 

'kaTTuraikkil ThAmarai nin-kaN-pAdham kai ovvA..' ThiruvAi mozhi 3-1-2.'declares svAmi nam-AzhwAr confessing that though he has compared these terms to the organs of the Lord, they do not any way come up to the expectations of the similarity.

 

Therefore, all these words, says mARAn, are only a

 

A symbol of Notional Comparison.

 

dAsan

vanamamalai padmanabhan