AdiyEn's KsshEthrAdanam : Oct 24 at ThirumAlirumchOlai / Part III

[Guest guest]

SrI:

 

Dear BhakthAs of KaLLazhagar :

 

In the previous posting , adiyEn briefly touched on the ancestral

links of Swamy KurEsar to ThirumAlirumchOlai and how he spent his

time at his ancestral seat , while AchArya Ramanuja was exiled at Melkote.

 

Today , adiyEn will reflect on the highlights of Sri SundarabAhu Sthavam

as recaptued during that morning time waiting for for the main doors of

the Azhagar temple to open .

 

There are 132 SlOkams in this fourth Sthavam of Swamy KurEsar ,

which eulogizes the Vaibhavam of Lord SundarabAhu of Azahgar Koil.

 

We will study a select few slOkams of this precious Sthavam on

Azhagar of ThirumAlirum ChOlai .

 

Swamy KurEsar's VedAnthic scholarship blends seamlessly with

his poetic skills to result in a unique tribute to Lord SundarabAhu in

this Sthavam .Let us sample some of these slOkams now .

 

First SlOkam of Introduction & Statement of Purpose of the Sthavam

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Srimanthou HaricharaNou samASrithOaham

SrirAmaavaraja muneendhra laBdha BhOdha:

nirbheeka: tatha iha SundarOru bAhUm

sthOshyE taccharaNa vilOkanAbhilAshee

 

KurEsar introduces himself as the one , who acquired clear Jn~Anam

from Sri Bhagavath RaamAnuja Yatheendhrar and afterwards obtained as

UpAyam the sacred feet of Hari , which have uninterrupted sambhandham with

MahA Lakshmi . As a result , adiyEn is freed of fears from SamsAric terrors .

In this state of mind , adiyEn is starting the eulogy of the Lord with the powerful

and beautiful shoulders residing at ThirumAlirumchOlai . adiyEn has a reason

for engaging in this sthuthi of the Lord . adiyEn wishes to see once again

the sacred feet of Bhagavath RaamAnujA and seek this as the Phalan for

this Sthuthi about Azhagar .

 

ThirumAlirum ChOlai KshEthra VisEshams

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PerumAL is known as Azhagar or MaalalankArar . ThAyAr is Sundaravalli .

VimAnam is Somasundara VimAnam . The river flowing thru the Sthalam

is Noopura Gangai or SilampARu . This river is recognized as having risen from

the Silampu of the Lord durig ThrivikramAvathAram . Uthsavar is made up

of Aparanji Tangam , the highest Quality Gold . Noopura Gangai has

the softest of waters and enhnaces the glow of the Lord after Thirumanjanam.

The mountain surrounding this dhivya dEsam is Vrushabha Giri. Sthala

Vruksham is Sandal tree . BhagavAn is prathyaksham to Malayadhwaja

Paandyan and Dharma Devathai . The mountain is full of leafy groves

(Solais ) and is known in Sanskrit as " Vrusha ShaNDamaya adhri or

Solai Malai .

 

The Lord of this dhivya dEsam is known as " CharaNArTi Jana pravaNa

dhiyan " or one who is deeply involved in the protection of those , who

have sought His protection as SaraNAgathAs . AzhwAr has saluted Him

as "athir kural Sankhatthu Azhakar " or one who chases away the enemies

of His devotees through the resounding dhavani of His Conch . KurEsar

salutes the Lord known for His frightening conch dhvani as : bhidhritha-

saptha lOka suvisrungala sankharavam " . KurEsar recognizes that sound

from the Lord's conch as the one that shatters the seven worlds without

hindrance . KurEar performs his prapatthi to that Saadhu Rakshaka Lord :

" Tamm Harim SaraNam upayAmi ".

 

Through the first few slOkams , KurEsar describes the extraordinary

natural beauty of this dhivya dEsam and then shifts to the celebration of

the avayava soundharyam of the Lord .

 

The Fourteenth slOkam of Sthavam : Lord's Beauty & SubhAsrayam

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PeethAmbharam varada Seetala dhrushtipAtham

aajAnulamBi-bhujam aayathakarNam Samm

Sriman mahA Vanagireendhra nivAsa-dheeksham

Lakshmeedharam kimapi vasthu mamm Aavirasthu

 

(Meaning) : adiyEn prays to the indescribable Supreme Being

residing eternally at ThirumAliruchOlai ( Vanagireendhra

nivAsa dheeksham ) and having MahA Lakshmi on His chest

(Lakshmeedharam) . May that mysterious vasthu appear before

adiyEn ( kimapi vasthu mama Aavirasthu). He is the One adorning

the yellow silk garment ( Peetha amBharam) and is the grantor of

boons ( Varadhan) . He has cool and compassionate glances

(SeethaLa dhrushtipAtham). His hands extend down to His knees

( AajAnuBaahum). His ears are beautiful (Aayatha karNa paasam).

and extended . He is celebrated as "Srimann " because of His

perrenial association with MahA Lakshmi .

 

This is Sripathy Roopa DhyAanam according to commentators .

Creation , protection dissolution and Moksham of the beings of

the world originates from this Lord ( Jani jeevana apyaya vimukthaya:

yatha: ithi Sruthi sirasu gheeyathE ) according to the Upanishads.

 

KurEsar performs his SaraNAgathy to Him , who has the lotus soft eyes

and is matchless with MahA Lakshmi on His chest and is nectar like

to experience ( nisthulyAdhikam adhvitheeyam amrutham PuNDareeka

YeekshaNam PrArooDa Sriyam , VanagirE: kunjOdhitham Sundaram

AasrayE ) in the 16th slOkam . He incarnated as archA moorthy

amidst the Vana Giri and is matchless ( adhvitheeyam ); He has no

equal or superior ( nisthulya adhikam ) . The Lord is saluted as

KunjOdhitha Sundaran ( The Azhagan , who incarnated amidst

the dense green groves of Vrushabha Giri) .

 

Vedic salutation with Sruthi Vaakyams ( 17th SlOkam )

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pathim visvsayAthmEswaram ithi Param Braham Purusha:

Param jyOthis-tatthvam Paramapi cha NaarAyaNa ithi

Sruthi: BrahmEsAdheen tadhudhitha vibhUtheen gruNathee

yamm-Aaha-AarUda Sree: Sa Vanagiri dhAmaa vijayathE

 

The jyOthi seen at Vana Giri is the Lord of the world (Viswasya Pathi) ;

He is the Lord for Himself ( AathmEswaran) . He is Parama Purushan and

Param JyOthi and is revered as NaarAyaNa Para Brahmam . Brahma ,

Sivan and the other dEvAs attain their riches from Him according to

Vedam . The Lord of Vanagiri shines in this resplendent manner

( " NaarAyaNa Param Brahma Tatthvam NaarAyaNa : para: , Purusha

yEvEdham sarvam " are the respective Sruthi passages ). He is the indweller

of all Tatthvams from Pruthvee to AathmA ( Ya: PruthivyAdhi AathmAntham

tathva nikaram tath antharyAmi ). Those Tatthvams are under His control

and they do not know Him (tEna avidhitha: BhagavAn niyamayathy).

 

In the next few slOkams , many SaasthrArTams are linked to the Lord of

Vana Giri . He is recognized as BhUma GuNa Visishtan as per BhUma

VidhyA of ChAndhOgyam .

 

The 21st SlOkam is an essence of the nectar of the cardinal doctrines of

Sri VisishtAdhvaitham.Many siddhAnthams of Sri BhAshya adhikaraNams

are linked together here to celebrate the Vaibhavam of Lord SundarabAhu

of Vana Giri .

 

The 25th SlOkam is a celebration of the auspicious kalyANa guNams

of the Lord along the lines of AchArya RaamAnujA in his SaraNAgathy

Gadhyam :

 

souseelya-Aasritha vathsalathva mrudhuthA souhArdha sAmyArjavai:

dhairya sTairya suveerya Sourya kruthithA gAambheerya chAthuryakai:

soundaryAnvitha soukumArya samathA lAvaNya mukhyai: guNai:

DEva: SrI: tarushaNDa saila nilayE nithyam sTitha: Sundara:

 

The auspicious kalyANa guNams of Azhagar saluted in this slOkam are

( the detailed ommentaries on the guNams are to be found in Swamy Desikan's

commentary on SthOthra Rathnam of Swamy AaLavanthAr ) :

 

Souseelyam = mingling with all including those of lower status.

 

Aasritha Vathsalyam = great affection for all those , who sought His refuge .

 

mrudhathA = (being of )soft heart .

 

souhArdham= (having) good disposition towards all

 

Saamyam = attainability by all

 

Aarjavam = of righteous conduct

 

dhairyam = demonstrating courage , fearlessness

 

sTairyam = having unshakable resolution to fulfil His sankalpam

 

suveeryam = didplaying bravery to fight many enemies at the same time

 

Souryam = showing Courage to attack the enemy by bringing war to his home

 

kruthithA = having Joy in placing those who sought refuge at high positions

 

Gaambheeryam = demonstrating Majesty inn execution of His deeds

 

ChAthuryam = displaying cleverness in handling matters

 

guNaa: = having many dhivyAthma savroopa guNams

 

soundharya anvitha soukumAryam = possessing Combined Beauty of

individual limbs , which are tender

 

samathA = displaying proportionate dimension among limbs

 

LAvanyaM= possessing integrated beauty of all the limbs

 

Mukhya guNA: = having all other dhivyAthma svaroopa guNams

 

Deva: Sundara: SrI Tarusaila shaNDa nilayE nithyam sTitha: =

Thus stays the Beautiful one of Vana Giri adorned by all these

innumerable auspicious attributes who showers His anugraham

on His devotees and stays permanently at Vana Giri .

 

In the 29th slOkam , KurEsar reminds us that Azhagar forgives

all the sins of those , who seek His protection thru SaraNAgathy

in one second ( Sundara: sannathyA KshaNAth kshamathE ).

Such is His magnAnimity . He is the shady tree for those who have

suffered from the scorching heat of SamsAram ( nivAsa VrukshO:

SaadhUnAm) .

 

The 36th slOkam is a salutation to the weapons found on the Lord's

ThirumEni (Sarva PraharANAyudha: TasmAth Sundara: ) .

 

The 37th SlOkam is a grand celebration of the Lord's AabharaNams

that derive beauty from Him . Of the siras ( UtthamAngam) adorning

the beautiful crown symbolizing soverignity , KurEsar exclaims :

" Pariparha Kireeta Raajam Sundarasya utthamAngam Sundaram ! "

 

From the 38th to the 68th SlOkam , KurEsar describes in a brilliant manner

the soundharyam and uniqueness of each of the limbs of the Lord from

His Kesam to Paadham with specail emphasis on the mighty Shoulders

and the sacred PaadhAravindham.

 

Attention now shifts to the soundharyam and kalyANa guNams of

the Lord's Ubhaya NaacchimArs and nithya sooris like Aadhi Seshan ,

Garudan , VishvaksEnar , dhvAra PaalakAs and the BhOgOpakaraNams

described in Sri Vaikunta Gadhyam of AchArya RaamAnujA (69 to 80th SlOkams).

 

DasAvathArams taken by Azhagar are eulogized next ( 81 to 116th slOkams).

 

The next three slOkams point out that those at Thirumala , Hasthigiri and

Srirangam are the same as Azhagar of ThirumAlirumchOlai .

 

In the final four slOkams , KurEsar seeks the boon of reunion

with his AchAryan at Srirangam and to grow the Sri Ranga Sri

at that dhivya dEsam .

 

Let us enjoy now the last two slOkams (131 and 132nd sOkams

of this sthavam :

 

Prayer for the growth of Sri Ranga SrI at ThirumAlirum ChOlai (131st SlOkam)

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KaaruNyAmrutha VaaridhE ! VrushapathE hE ! sathyasankalpana !

SrImann! Sundara ! yOgyathAvirahithAn uthsArya sadhvathsala!

KshAmyan saadhujanai: kruthAmstu nikhilAn yEvApachArAn kshaNAth

tadhbhOgyAm anisam kurushva Bhagavan ! SrIranga-dhAma-Sriyam

 

(Meaning) There are six visEshaNams for Azhagar in this slOkam ).

Oh Ocean of nectarine Mercy ! Oh King of Vrusha Giri , the embodiment of

dharmam ! Oh Omnipotent One , who completes whatever You will to do !

Oh Lord with the six guNams befitting Your title as BhagavAn !

Oh Lord showing Dayaa to the Saadhu Janams ! Oh Beautiful One !

Oh Lord with MahA Lakshmi on Your chest ! Please chase away

the unfit from Srirangam and bear with the unconscious apachArams

of Your servants there and be pleased to grow further and further

the wealth (Vaidhika SrI ) of Srirangam always !

 

NaicchyAnusandhAnam of KurEsar ( 132nd slOkam)

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idham bhUyO bhUya : punarapi cha bhUya: punarapi

sphuDam vij~neepsyAmeethyagathi: aBhudhO ananya SaraNa:

kruthAgA dhushtAthmA kalushamathi: asmi ithyanavadhE: dayAyAsthE pAthram VanagiripathE ! Sundarabhuja !

 

VanagiripathE : = Oh Lord of Solaimalai !

 

Sundarabhuja: = Oh Lord with beautiful shoulders !

 

agathi : = adiyEn with no other refuge

 

aBhudha: = adiyEn with little Jn~Anam

 

ananyasaraNa: = adiyEn with no recourse except You as my protector

 

idham = adiyEn with above deficencies

 

sphuDam = clearly

 

vij~neepyasmi = appeal to You .

 

bhUya: bhuya: bhUya: = again , again and again

 

punarapi punarapicha = (after You correct me) , adiyEn accumulates

 

kruthAgA = terrible sins

 

dhushtAthmA = (and) is of despicable disposition .

 

kalushamathy: = (adiyEn) is of agitated mind .

 

asmi ithi = because adiyEn has this pitiable qualifications ,

 

tE = You , the Lord of Vana Giri ( should make me the object of)

 

anavadhE: = Your limitless

 

dayAyA: = compassion.

 

pAthram asmi = adiyEn is a deserving object for Your immeasuarable Dayaa .

 

KurEsar follows the path shown by Swamy NammAzhwAr in expressing

his NaicchyAnusanthAnam . AzhwAr said : " NeesanEn niRaivonRilEn ,

nORRa nOnbilEn , nuNNaRivilEn , puhalonRilla adiyEn " . KurEsar also

remembers the famous naicchyAnusandhAna slOkam of Swamy AlavanthAr

in SthOthra Rathnam " amaryAdha: kshudhra : " while pointing out his own

inadequacies . KurEsar invites Azhagar's attention with the prayerful request:

" Sundarabhuja! tE dayayaa: pAthram asmi " . Through the SaraNAgathy

address to Azhagar , KurEsar instructs us about the way to approach

SarvEswaran at ThirumAlirumchOlai .

 

For all of us , the four slOkams ( 1 ,25 , 131 and 132 ) are important ones

to include in our daily prayers for seeking the blessings of Sriman NarayaNan .

 

adiyEn will conclude the section on the visit to Vana Giri for AkkAravadisil

SamarpaNam later in the day and get ready to cover the visits to ThirumOhUr ,

SingapirAn temple at Aanai Malai and ThirukkUdal Azhagar Sannidhi ,

where PeriyAzhwAr's PallANDu was born .

 

Sri SundarabAhu ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam ,

Daasan , Oppiliappan KOil VaradAchAri Sadagopan