ThiruppANAzhwAr Thirunakshathram today- Kaartthigai RohiNi

[Guest guest]

Sri:

SrImathE Gopaladesika mahadesikaya namah:

 

Dearest all,

 

Let us meditate on the Lotus Feet of Sriya: pathih

Sriman Narayanan and pay obeisance to our Dearest

AzhwAr ThiruppANAzhwAr, whose Thirunakshathram

(Birthday) is today. He needs no introduction to our

group of BhAgawathAs.

 

His ten verses of Amaladhipiraan is a feast for us to

enjoy. Simple tamil and deep esoteric meanings

 

Let us enjoy His anubhavam of the Lord’s Lotus Feet.

In fact, I was just reading an old issue of Sri

Nrusimhapriya a couple of days back, and happened to

find interesting article (from none other than our

present Srimad Azhaigiya singar. His writing made me

enjoy and thus share with all of you. (from June 97

issue) ( I am not capable of writing the translation

of Swami?s writings at all! What I jot down the

extract - a little portion here- is all that I

grasped and could get them drilled into my head only!)

 

Emeperumaan's Lotus Feet have been described and

enjoyed by all our PoorvAchAryAs. In

Amalanaadhipiraan, ThiruppANAzhwAr starts from the

Lotus Feet. He enjoys each and every a~ngam of the

Lord in his ten pAsurams, and has been enjoyed by

Periyavaacchaan PiLLai, Azhaigiya MaNavaaLa perumAL

Naayanaar, Swami Desikan et al in their commentaries

on this lovely Prabhandham.

 

Generally, the Paramaikaanthins start from the Feet to

the Crown; while the Ekaanthins start from the Head to

the Feet, as BrahmA did during his asvamEtha yaagham.

 

1. It is told by Poorvacharyas that ThirppANAzhwAr

started singing the ten pAsurams (while he was being

carried by LokasAranghamuni on his shoulders, on his

way to Sri RanganAthan sannidhi.) and he finished his

tenth inside the sanctum sanctorum, and united with

the Lord.

 

2. The Lotus flower, blooms only during certain

occasions; depending on the climate, the time

(daytime); some days, it remains fresh; then it loses

its freshness. But this Lotus of our Lord - the Feet

never gets such dhOshams. When the Lord knew that

AzhwAr had already started his course and is on his

way, singing, the Lotus automatically became fully

bloomed and became more fresh. It (the Feet) did not

feel like waiting for the AzhwAr to come. It started

going towards him and went straight to him. AzhwAr,

when he saw the Lotus Feet, (mentally ) approaching

him, he, out of his naicchiyam and humility, felt

ashamed and closed his eyes to avoid spoiling such

Lotus Feet and the Beauty. (not to cat his evil eye on

that Lotus Feet).

 

3. But what happened? The Lotus Feet, did not wish to

leave the AzhwAr's eye sight and hence went into his

eyes and showed Their Beauty! (adadaa! Parama kripai

of Emperumaan! How Great the AzhwAr is! ) Thirukkamala

paadham vandhu en kaNNinuLLana okkinRadhE?? vandhu?.

en?. KaNNinuLLana. OkkinRadhE. (I will not translate

further and spoil its beauty!)

 

4. What is so great about Thiruvadi (lotus Feet) They

have both bhAvanam (the ability to alleviate the

dhOshams of those who pay obeisance to Them) and

bhOgyathvam (the ability to offer the delicious

sweetness to those who see and enjoy Them and pay

obeisance to Them). No single thing in the world is

both tasty and has medicinal value. Only the Lotus

Feet of Emperumaan has both aspects.

 

5. Swami Desikan, in his many slOkAs, have enjoyed the

Beauty of the Lotus Feet. PeriyAzhwAr says : At

Aayarpaadi everywhere one can see on the ground, the

marks of Sanghu and ChakrA (the marks on each sole of

Lord's Lotus Feet), since Kutti KaNNan walked His

thaLar nadai.. everywhere having His Lovely footprints

(with sanghu and chakrA). Also he explains, as

YashOdhA, the ten fingers of Kutti KaNNan shine as if

they are impregnated with Pearls, diamonds, Emerald

stones, etc..

 

6. And These Lotus Feet are not just bhOgyam for

THiruppANAzhwAr, Swami Desikan and PeriyAzhwAr alone;

They are for our enjoyment, too! Not just that. Even

Emperumaan is perplexed as to why all these devotees

and BhAgawathAs look mostly at My Feet and enjoy. What

is so special at My Feet? He wonders and what does He

do? Kutti KaNNan takes the Lotus Feet and the pearl

like shining fingers, with both of His cute short

lovely Hands, and TRIES TO PUT IN ALL THE TOE FINGERS

IN HIS RED CORAL LIPPED PavaLa cchevaay and

Kovvaipaazha idazh (bimbhA fruit like lips).

 

PeriyAzhwAr says: pEthaik kuzhavi pidiithuch

chuvaiithu uNNum paadha kamalangaL. VedAs say VishNO:

PadhE paramE madhva uthsE .. thEnE malarum

thiruppaadham.

 

7. Thus His Lotus Feet are the BhOgyam for Him and for

us. WE ARE ALL BORN IN THIS KULAM ONLY TO _ REPEAT

ONLY TO _ ENJOY HIM.

 

Let us pay our obeisance to ThiruppANAzhwAr who has

sung such lovely deep pAsurams enjoying the Beauty of

Emperumaan, and to our Jeer who has highlighted this

first pAsuram so beautifully.

 

Meanings: (as posted by Sri V.Sadagopan in earlier-)

 

(Thaniyan #1- Sanskrit): Let me contemplate on

ThiruppAnAzhwAr (MunivAhana, the saint who was carried

to the precincts of the shrine of Lord Ranganatha, by

Lokasaranga muni on his shoulders), whose inner soul

(antaratma) became enraptured at the sight of the

reclining Lord Hari (Ranganatha) betwixt (the two

streams) of KauvEri, and who, having experienced (the

vision of the Lord) from the feet to His head,

declared that his eyes would not see other objects

(except the Lord).

 

(Thaniyan #2 - Tamizh):Let us sing in praise of the

holy feet of Sri ThiruppANAzhwAr, who entered (the

holy shrine of Lord Ranganatha) riding on the

shoulders of the sage (Lokasarangamuni) saw (the Lord

in full) and sung (in praise of) HIM limb by limb, as

the Lord showed to him, i.e, the Lotus

feet, the silk garment, the navel, the waist band of

rare excellence, the Holy chest, the neck, the red

mouth, (with rosy lips), the eyes of unfading (red

lotus charm) and the (whole divine) Archa form.

 

1.AmalanAdhipirAn.... He, the Lord VishNu is

blemishless, the foremost God,and the resplendent one

that has made me serve His ardent devotees; He, the

Lord of Nityasuris (celestial, eternal Arch angels)

has taken His abode at the Venkatam hill surrounded by

fragrant grooves; He, the immaculate Lord is ever

pure, sacred God; (now I look at) Him, the overlord of

Supreme justful heaven (vaikuntham or Vaan), and the

Divine God (ranganatha) of SriRangam (girt with) long

ramparts. (As I see Him), His sacred lotus FEET enter

into and become merged with my eyes.

 

2. Uvandha ULLatthanAy.... Lord Ranganatha (Arangatthu

AmmAn) who has with His heart full of pleasures,

measured the worlds, (earth and heaven) (in his

descent as TrivikramA) shines with His tall and lofty

crown. He, whose sharp and piercing arrows destroyed

(devoured) the demons (night-wanderers) who came to

fight Him that day (i.e in His descent sa Sri Rama),

is the scion of the race of kAkusthA. He is the Lord

Sri Rangam full (of flowery and) fragrant gardens; now

my mind becomes immersed with the Lord's reddish SILK

GARMENT worn by Him around His waist.

 

3.Mandhi pAya vada vEnkata mAmalai.... The Lord,

Ranganatha, who reclines on the serpent couch (Adhi

sEshA) in Sri Rangam, is the same Lord VishNu,

(Srinivasa) who has stood in the North at the Great

Venkata Hills, where monkeys jump from one tree to the

other. Lord Srinivasa has stood for the sake of Gods,

who come to worship Him; the sweet core (inner soul)

of my heart rests on the twilight coloured garment of

the Lord and on His beautiful NAVEL, above it (the

garment)-the GREAT NAVEL that created the four faced

God Ajah(BrahmA).

 

4.Chadura mAmadhizh soozh... The Lord of Sri Rangam

(full of woods), where sweetly singing bees hum and

great peacocks dance (happily), is the same as the

Lord Sri Rama of (life-bestowing) ocean hue; Lord Rama

vanquished RavaNa, the king of Lanka surrounded by

Massive and square ramparts; after driving him

out(once from the battle filed), Lord Sri Rama later

aimed an invincible sharp arrow at RavaNa and made his

ten heads fall down (simultaneously cut off); The

WAISTBAND (of Sri Ranganatha) found on His beautiful

belly makes pleasant strolls within my heart.

 

5.BhAramAya pazha vinai...The Lord of Sri Rangam has

cut asunder all my burdensome old sins (ripe and

heavy); He has now made me His (exclusive) servant;

Further, He has also entered into my heart; Whata

wonder! I do not know how much severe great penance

have I done to achieve such a great fortune of the

Lord's immense grace over me. the Lord's CHEST,

beautified by the Goddess Lakshmi and the Graet

garland Vaijayanthi, enslaved me.

 

6. Thunda veN piRaiyan... My master, Lord Ranganathar,

has His abode in the holy city of Sri Rangam

surrounded by grooves, wherein live the swarms of bees

with fascinating wings; He is the One, who has removed

the sufferings of Lord Siva with the crescent moon on

His head (when a skull got stuck in His hand). Lord

Ranganatha's throat (in days of Yore) consumed in full

the whole Universe comprising (a) many worlds

inhabited by Andar (a category of people) (b) the

higherand the nether worlds © this massive and vast

earth (d) all the seven kulaachalas (ezhu maal varai,

the seven mountains balancing this earth); such a

THROAT of the Lord indeed has saved me.

 

7. kayinAr suri sanghanalAzhiyar.... The Lord of the

beautiful city of Sri Rangam and the one supreme God,

Mayan (beyond ken of all the ordinary individual

souls), who reclines on the serpent couch AdhisEshA

holds on His hands, the Conch Paanchajanyam with

winding rekha and the chakra (Divine sudharshanam)

that emits firey sparks; His divine body (archa form)

is like a lengthy mountain range; He is our father and

saviour, who has a very long crown smelling

exuberently with the fragrance of thuLasi leaves! His

beautiful RED MOUTH (with rosy lips), aiyO! has

captivated and enraptured my mind and heart.

 

8.PariyanAgi vandha.....The blemishless Lord of Sri

Rangam is the Supreme Being(i.e. the foremost creator

and benefactor), who made the advent as Narasimha and

tore into shreds the massive body of the demon king

(HiraNyakasipu) that came to assault Him; Lord

Narasimha was (and also is) unapproachable and

inaccessible to the Gods (BrahmA, Siva, IndhrA, and

others); in the face of Lord Ranganatha, there are

those wide eyes, which are very much black, broad and

extensive towards the sides, glittering(restless),

with ruddy lines (rekhAs), running across and very

much lengthy; these EYES of the Lord have made me a

fool (and I am stupefied).

 

9.Aalamaa maratthinilai.... Lord Ranganatha reclining

on the serpent couch AdisEshA in Sri Rangam is the one

who (long ago) having devoured the seven worlds, was

seen (by the Sage MarkandEya and found to be )lying on

the leaf of a great banyan tree as (an exquisite)

Child, incomparable; the Lord Ranganatha is adorned

with beautiful garland studded with peerless gems and

pearl necklace; His Holy Body (Archa form) of blue

diamond lustre is of enormous beauty and excellent

complexion; such a divine BODY of God has ,aiyO!

outweighed my mind( i.e, the Lord showing His whole

BODY full of beauty has taken away everything from me-

my mind, heart and soul).

 

10. KoNdal vaNNan.... Lord Ranganatha is the Overlord

(Supreme Sovereign) of the whole world and all the

people (residing there); Him- who is of the black

colour of the clouds as well as the nature of the

clouds; who, as Lord Gopala (KOvala alias KrishNa),

ate butter with His mouth; who has stolen my mind and

heart; and who is my immortal ambrosia-; my eyes

thathave looked at His beauty; (I swear) these eyes of

mine, that have seen Him,will NEVER see anything else.

 

AND WITH THAT LAST PASURAM, OUR GREAT BHAKTA

THIRUPPANAZHWAR MERGED AND UNITED WITH THE LORD

ARANGAN. (Only he and Sri AndaL united and merged with

the Lord directly in Arangan's sannidhi.)

 

(Thanks to Sri V.Sadagopan Swami for his excellent

translations!)

 

ThiruppANAzhwAr ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

 

Namo narayana

dAsan