Greatness of Thiruvaymozhi- from the Hindu today...

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Greatness of Thiruvaimozhi

 

 

CHENNAI, SEPT. 3. What constitutes immense wealth in

this world? Some may categorise it as money, precious

gems, machinery or mansions. Few others may hold

scientific temperament capable of impacting lifestyle

changes on the society at large to be the ideal

possession on earth. Such divergent views are a result

of our emotional attachment.

 

It is said that at the time of creation the foetus was

asked by God whether it wanted worldly riches or

liberation through a devotional way of life. Although

the budding human being invariably opted for the

latter, after birth the person moved away from the

original goal of attaining God. As Lord Krishna says

in the Bhagavad Gita ``Great souls who have reached

highest perfection, having come to Me, are no more

subjected to rebirth which is the abode of sorrow, and

transitory by nature. How then does one attain such an

exalted state?''

 

The Vedas stipulate the guiding principles essential

for a man's ultimate salvation, but none can

understand the full import of them easily. Literal

translation alone will not serve the purpose, anymore

than taking the proverb ``the stone is the master'' at

its face value. Deep knowledge is required to

understand the finer nuances of the works. The Vedas

are the repositories of true wealth and commentaries

on them by great people such as saint Ramanuja are

hailed as beacons of light to the floundering flock.

Again, the suggestions to aspirants to seek the

hallowed feet of Lord Ranganatha is also a reference

to the Vaishnavite saints — the Azhwars, said Sri.

M.V. Ananthapadmanabhan in his discourse. The Divya

Prabhandam, in particular the Thiruvaimozhi is hailed

as the Dravidian veda since it contains the essence of

the Sama Veda.

 

There was once a man who habitually chewed on what he

thought was an areca nut while discoursing on the

Divya Prabhanda. However, it was discovered that the

nut was in fact the sacred Saligrama. When one of the

attendants devoutly placed the same in the puja room

after due rituals, God appeared in his dream stating

He wanted neither flowers nor rituals when He could be

in the proximity of the Prabhandam exponent.

 

Scholars reiterate that while the Vedas are scared of

half-baked tutors, the works of the Azhwars are

comprehensive and hence widely applicable. The works

of these saints issue forth out of the agony of

distancing from the Lord. There is no such thing as

tedium for the Azhwars when it comes to their beloved

Lord who is present everywhere