Thiruneermalai Ashramam- samprokshanam on July 9- appeal -14- TODAY is PeriyAzhwAr Thirunakshathram

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Sri:

SrimathE Gopaladesika Mahadesikaya nama:

Dearest all,

 

Today aani swaathi is PeriyAzhwAr Thirunakshathram (birth day). PeriyazhwAr

original name is Sri Vishnu chitthar. Let us meditate on the lotus feet of this

divine azhwAr, who is an amsam of Garuda.

 

First a verse on All azhwArs / acharyas

 

bhootham sarascha maha-dhaahvaya-patta-naadha-

sree-bhakthi-saara-kulasEkhara-yOgi-vaahaan,

bhakthaangirirENu parakaala-yathindra mishRaan,

sreemath paraankusa munim prana-thOsmi nithyam

(composed by Bhattar)

 

We are supposed to recite this every day... ( do we?)

 

I prostrate BoothathAzhwaar, Pey Azhwaar (mahadaahvaya), Poigai Azhwaar

(saras), PeriyAzhwaar (Bhatta nAtha), Thirumazhisai Azhwaar (Bhakthisaara),

KulasEkaraAzhwaar, ThirupaaN Azhwaar (YOgivaahaan), Thondaradippodi AzhwAr

(BhakthAngrirEnu), Thirumangai AzhwAr (parakAla), Emperumaanaar (Yathindra-

Raamaanuja) KooratthAzhwAn (misrA) and NammAzhwAr (parAnkusamuni) every day-

always (nithyam).

 

Let us now enjoy the Thaniyans on PeriyAzhwAr: (which we recite before our

pallandu verses)

 

1st thaniyan- composed by Sriman NAthamuni:

 

guru mukam anadhIthya prAha vEdhAn- asEshaan

nara pathi pari kluptham sulkam AdhAthu kAmaha:

svasuram amara vandhyam ranganAthasya sAkshAth

dhvija kula thilakam tham vishNu chittham namaami

 

The AzhwAr- who is the thilakam of Brahminhood; who is respected and

worshipped by even Devas; who is the father-in-law of Sri Rangnathan; who wished

to succeed getting the prize bag of gold coins, arranged by king Vallabha devan

(narapathi) in order to establish the Supremacy of Sriman Narayanan as the

PARATHVAM in the debate, without any learning formally from Acharyan (teacher)

– to that AzhwAr, I bow down to and prostrate.

 

Here abhinava dESika Sri UttamUr Swamy beautifully lists different

interpretations on this anadhIthyam- (without learning):

 

1. anadhIthyam means: without learning. Then, why the word Guru is required.

Isn’t it superfluous? Swaram, Grammaer, niruktham, the meaning of VaidIka

padhams are all explained by the Guru and that can be learnt only from Acharyan.

Hence, Gurumukham anadhIthya conveys this crystal clear.

 

2. gurmukham also can be linked to prAha – giving a different meaning: prAha

means: explained or taught.. He explained as if he had taught the Veda Vedanta

as guru for some time (so well versed)

 

3. gurumukham can also be linked alternatively to the assembly of Vedic

scholars, Selva Nambhi (the minister of the king, who is also knowledgeable and

who guided the king to get this doubt clarified, thereby Parathvam of Lordship

can be established). Means: Having them (as Gurus- thus- Gurumukham) in the

front, he explained the Vedic Truths.

 

Nice. Aren’t’ they?

 

Two dedicatory verses by PaaNdiya Bhattar:

 

Minnaar thadamathiL soozh villiputthoor enRu orukaal

Sonnaar kazhaRkamalam soodinOm –munnaaL

kizhiyaRuththaan enRuraiththOm keezhmaiyiniR chErum

vazhiyaRuththOm nenjamE! Vandhu.

 

Oh mind! (nenjamE) - you helped me.. Thus, (with your such helpful nature in

co-operating), we are able to adorn the head with the lotus feet of BhagavathAs

who have uttered the name “Srivilliputtur†(which is surrounded by

glittering tall ramparts like Gold) even once. When raised doubts in King

Vallabhadevan’s sabham as to who was the Parathavam, it is PeriyAzhwAr who

cleared their doubts (that made the bag of coins tear and) he won the poRkizhi

(reward or prize). By uttering that GREAT incident (event) alone, and with

AzhwAr sambandham thus, we are able to get rid of the past wrong path and

destination which we would be heading to (adhOgati) otherwise(which is further

births and deaths!)

 

When AzhwAr is there at that Divya Desam, how can there be dharidhram (and

hence, gem stone laden Golden ramparts).. When there is kizhi aRutthAn (the bag

tearing..), there will surely by keezhmaiyin sERum vazhi aRutthOm- the path that

could have led us to wrong destinations (of dEvathAndhara sambandham, kShUdhra

purushaartham- asking something like a kilo of vegetable from a King etc....).

With AzhwAr’s Paradevatha nirNayam, we are able to get rid of that horrible

path of samsaaric afflictions any further, be blessed with AzhwAr sambandham and

know now what we want (eternal service) and who only can Grant and also how;

what we are and originally belong to.

 

paaNdiyan koNdaada Bhattar piraan vandhaan enRu

eeNdiya sangam eduthu oodha –vENdiya

vEdhangaLOdhi viraindhu kizhiyaRuththaan

paadhangaL yaamudaiya paRRu.

 

King Vallabhadeva announced the victory of PeriyAzhwAr (Bhattar Piraan) and

conferred the title Bhatta nAthan. He also decalred for a Huge procession of

AzhwAr on the Royal elephant. He took the curved Conch Shell and blew in honor

of the victory and to celebrate the success of PeriyAzhwAr who had established

in such unambiguous terms, the Parathvam of Sriman Narayanan quoting the

relevant sections from Vedas at the Sabha. Such Great PeriyAzhwAr’s Lotus Feet

are our refuge.

 

1. Here, sangamadutthu – means: The conch is placed inside the mouth (for

blowing) – madutthu.

2. It could also be sangam adutthu- uninterruptedly

3. eeNdiya sangam- (gathered sanga poets- scholars)- In the assembly, when the

scholars mentioned the Poorva palsham (the arguments against Sriman

Narayanan’s Parathvam)..

 

(SrI UttamUr Swamy gives such nuances in his great commentary.)

Also Sri UttamU Swamy writes: First, King announced Bhattar Piran vandhAn (Here

comes Bhattar Piraan), when he just entered the Sabha before even stating the

Parathva nirNayam. Then, when he won, he celebrated by blowing uninterruptedly

the conch due to the king’s happiness.

 

We have so far enjoyed the background of how and why PallAndu was sung: In

short, it is kind of similar to also to the servants of the King saying ‘Jaya

vijayee bhava’ (Victory to thee, King..). He needs to live long and be

victorious. that is the desire of his servants; and that is the way for them to

keep surviving too.

 

Even the nithyasUris and mukthAs sing pallANdu for PerumAL at Paramapadham. Why

is it required? It is the way of mangaLAsAsanam.

ThiruppallANdu is the essence of praNavam enshrined in it so esoterically and

beautifully. It requires to be studied at the feet of one’s AchArya or from a

scholar (vidwAn) formally.

 

paLLANdu paLLANdu pallAyiratthANdu

palakOdi nooRAyiram

mallANda thiNthOL maNivaNNA!- un

sEvadi sevvi thiruk kAppu.

 

A very famous pAsuram! Known to almost all Srivaishnavas!

Oh! ManivaNNa! One who has strong shoulders that killed the wrestlers

(chaaNooran, mushtikan, keechakaa, Kamsaa, et al in Krishna Avtaar)! May Your

Lotus Feet be protected for very many years! Many thousands of years! Many

crores of (millions of), hundreds of thousand years!

Here One can make permutations and combinations of pallANDu, with hundreds,

thousands and crores of years and it multiplies.. meaning: it shall always be

protected for all time to come and even beyond! Also, pallANdu can mean may

years in chathurmukha brahma lOkam, dEva lOkam, mAnushya lOkam, etc..says

Thirukkudanthai Desikan (as mentioned in Sri UttamUr Swamy’s commentary).

pallANdu also mean " long live " as greeting. So, it can also be enjoyed as

‘greetings to you- which will be on You for very many years to come.

 

AzhwAr being a Garuda incarnate holding the Lotus Feet in his palms (during

Garuda vAhanam), is more concerned on the Lotus Feet. Hence, he says... Feet

shall be protected. The Lord must have replied: Oh AzhwAr! I am now also on

Garudan in front of you. Even during Gajendra mOksham, I rode on Garudan.

 

What is your concern and worry?

 

AzhwAr says: No.. When you went to kill Kamsa, you went walking. That's why I

address You as mallANDa thiNthOL maNivaNNA! (you have strong shoulders that can

kill wrestlers! One can imagine Wrestling on TV and little Krishna conquering

those wrestlers… wow! What a strength of Hois shoulder!

 

May Your feet be protected!). Also sevvi can mean as ¡Chitthirai naaL (Chithai

month- Uthsavam (festival) day for PerumAL on the day of ThiruvONam (which we

will see in 3rd pAsuram) for Garuda vAhana PerumAL. So for that day when there

is BrahmOthsavam, let that festive day be there for us for many years to come-

can also be an enjoyable interpretation. (as is also connected with 3rd

pAsuram)- Says Sri

UttamUr Swamy.

 

When read in conjunction with second PAsuram, adiyOmOdum

ninnOdum, this Uthsavam festival and the enjoyment shall be there for very many

years with us- (who are your eternal servants) enjoying Your Darshan performing

kaimkaryam, and You- who show Yourself in archA avatar so graciously. May that

Bhagyam (blessings) be on us for pallANdu.. (what a beautiful interpretation and

anubhavam!)

 

Also, the palakOdi nooRayiram (the hundred thousands of crores) can also be

enjoyed linking with mallANda.. meaning: One who conquers with his strong

shoulders, the hundred thousands of enemies!

[First AzhwAr sings mangaLAsAsanam for PerumAL mentioning swarUpa, Roopa, GuNAs

of PerumAL and now he sings about Him along with His vibhUthi.. ]

 

adiyOmOdum ninnOdum pirivinRi aayiram pallaaNdu

vadivaay ninvalamaarbinil vaazhginRa mangaiyum pallaaNdu

vadivaar sOthi valatthuRaiyum sudarAzhiyum pallaaNdu

padaipOrpukku muzhangum appaancha sanniyamum pallaaNdE.

For time immemorial (Ayiram palLANdu), AlarmEl mangai (Lakshmi) having an

enjoyable residence in Your right Chest most beautifully; AND we- who are

servants (of Yours eternally); AND You- Sarva Swamy ¡V shall live for ever and

ever. (here one can see, the second line and first line are read as one sentence

) . May the most graceful and resplendent, shining Divine ChakrA residing on

Your Right (in Your Right Hand) be there for ever; AND the Divine Conch Shell

which send fearsome shivers through the armies of enemies live for ever and

ever!

 

Here one should enjoy the scene. AzhwAr first sees PerumAL. He is so amazed at

the Divinity and the Beauty; He sings pallAndu first for His Lotus Feet. Then,

he fully realizing the (eternal servitude) sEshathvam and dAsathvam of the

jIvan, grabs the immediate opportunity to keep it stuck. So, I and You should

remain like this forever. (That’s why he is PeriyAzhwAr. PeyAzhwAr missed it;

NammAzhwAr missed it.) So, when he says adiyOmOdum ninnOdum piRivinRi Ayiram

pallANdu. he means the eternal servitude and performance of eternal kaimkarya

prApthi (ozhivil kaalamellAm udanaay manni..).

 

Thereafter, AzhwAr enjoys the darshan of the Divine PiraaTTi in His Chest. He is

stupefied by the Charm of Thiru + maarbhu. Being unable to control, he takes a

left side (Right for PerumAL) and there He enjoys the shining, sahasra kOti

soorya prakAsa (equal to 1000 suns) Divine ChakrA, the jwAlAmAli.. and he goes

back. There seeing the most beautiful pin azhaghu (back of the Lord), he is

unable to stay there and withstand its beauty and hence, rushes to come to the

Lord¡¦s left. There the blue hued Divine Hand the end of which is red lotus

colored, soft fragrant palm in which the crystal clear, milky white Divine Conch

Shell. That light blue hue, red lotus and milky white combination has attacked

him then and there. He is not able to see the personification of Beauty in its

entirety at all and fears that his own eyes will now cast evil glances.

 

Oh no! he turns his eyes away and says ‘andha paancha janyamum pallANdE!

(That.. (not this) Conch shell also shall live for ever!

 

Because AzhwAr sees somewhere else and shows that in order to avoid the

dhrushti. Similar to ThirupPANAzhwAr’s ‘apperiya vaaya kaNgaL ennai pEdhamai

seydhanavE.. (Those large long, well laid

out eyes have stupefied me)

 

Desikan starts off his prabandha saram

 

aazvaar_ka Lavatharittha naaLoor thinga

Ladaivuthiru naamanga LavarthaaNY seytha

vaazvaana thirumozika LavaRRut paattin

vagaiyaana thogaiyilakka maRRu mellaam

veezvaaga mEthinimEl viLanga naaLum

viritthuraikkuNG karutthudanE mikkOr thanga

NeeLpaatha nirantharamunN thozuthu vaaztthu

nEsamuda NnadiyEnRan NneNYsu thaanE.

 

And on PeriyAzhwAr

 

pEraNintha villiputthoo raani thanniR

peruNYsOthi thaniRROnRum perumaa NnEmun

seeraNintha paaNdiyanRan NneNYsu thanniR

RiyakkaRamaal paratthuvatthai thiRamaac seppi

vaaraNamEn mathuraivalam varavE vaanin

maalkaruda vagananaayth thOnRa vaaztthu

mEraNipal laaNdumuthaR paattu naanooR

Rezupatthon RiraNdumenak kuthavu neeyE.

 

On this wonderful and most auspicious day of PeroyazhwAr thirunkashthram, let us

continue to work together and perform bhagatha, bhAgawatha, Acharya kainkaryams.

We earnestly appeal to selected friends, sishyas, abhimanis to separately

undertake this part of the Asramam branch establishment. If the burden is

shared by contributing separate parcels of Rs. 10,000/- each or even less by

about 150 persons for this, we could manage the task and complete the

Samprokshanam.

 

All donations in cash or by DD or by cheque payable at Chennai or at Srirangam

should be made payable to SPAV ABHIVARDHINI TRUST which enjoys 80G exemption of

IT Act valid upto 31/03/2010.

 

Payments, if payable at Srirangam, may be sent to:

 

Srikaryam

Srimad Andavan Poundarikapuram Swamai Asramam

SPAV Abhivardhini Trust

43A/13, Asramam Road, Srirangam

TRICHY – 620 006

Ph: 0431-2436100

 

Payments, if payable at Chennai, may be sent to:

 

SPAV Abhivardhini Trust

34 Nachiappan Street

Mahalingapuram

CHENNAI – 600 034

Mobile: 0-98400 13012

 

Please send me an email pledging your support towards this divine kainkaryam.

 

AzhwAr ThiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

Regards

Namo Narayana

dAsan