Bhagavath GuNa anubhavam : Part V

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Oppiliappan List Archive Nov 1996

Dear BhakthAs of Swamy NammAzhwAr :

 

In this posting , adiyEn will cover the second Decad of

Thiruvaimozhi to illustrate examples of AzhwAr " s

anubhavam of the Dayaa of the Lord.

 

AzhwAr focuses here on the concepts that Sriman Narayanan

is ANUBHAVA BHOGYAN , UPEYAN and OUR PURUSHAARTHAM .

The fourth, fifth , sixth and seventh sections of this Patthu are considered

important references to the Dayaa of the Lord.

 

2.4.1: ADIYAADI AHAM KARAINTHU -----Here , the mother of ParAnkusa Nayaki

addresses the Lord . Inspite of the mother's tone of complaint about the

treatment accorded by the Lord to her daughter , the message that comes

out is that Sriman NarayaNan has the kalyaNa guNam of ASRITHA VYSANA

NIGRAHATVAM . He is known for His quality of removing the sorrows

of those , who have sought refuge in Him .

 

Swami Desikan states that the message of pasuram ,

2.4.7( ULLULAAVI ) is TRAANEH DHATTAAVADHAANAM

aspect of the Lord . Thus , He is deeply focussed on protecting His

Asritha Janams out of his Dayaa GuNam and Anukampaa for them.

 

In 2.4.10 ( YEZHAI PETHAI -- ), Swami Desikan points out that

Sriman NarayaNa has SATPREKSHAA RAKSHITHAARAM

quality . His VYAKTHA KEERTHI ( manifest fame ) is that

he is ASRITHA VYASANA NIGRAHAN ( Banisher of the tribulations of

those , who sought refuge at His holy feet ) . He protects ( Rakshithaaram )

the Satprekshaa ( that clear understanding of the Paratvam of

the Lord by the Righteous ones gained form their study of Saasthraas ) ..

 

In 2.5 decad (ANTHAAMATTHU ANBU --) , Sriman Narayana " s ASRITHA

SAMSLESHA PRIYAM out of His KaruNa for the asrithaas is covered

according to Swami Desikan . Azhwaar exults in the experience of

union with the Lord , who out of His magnanimous KaruNaa

united with the longing Azhwaar .

 

In decad 2.6 ( VAIKUNTHAA -- ) , MaNavALa Maamuni points out

that the Lord was filled with Joy , when Azhwaar declared that

he will not leave the Lord's feet even for a moment . The Lord seems to

have become stronger as a result of that declaration of the

Ananya Bhakthi of Azhwaar. Swami Desikan has similar views

in Taatparya RatnaavaLi and states there that the Lord is

ASRITHA VIRAHA SAKITHAN . The Lord can not bear the thought of

separation from His Bhakthas due to his Dayaa and Anukampa for them .

Swami Desikan describes the state of the Lord in Dramidopanishad

Saaram as SVAVAIMUKHYA TRASTHAN (i-e) , The Lord is afraid

as to whether the Bhakthan will not show his face and stay

away from Him. That is the extent of Anukampaa for the Bhakthaas.

 

In decad 2.7 (KESAVAN TAMAR-- ) , the Lord's Compassion and

KaruNaa is refered to . MaNavALa Maamuni intreprets the central

message of this section this way : The Lord confers auspiciousness

on seven generations that went ahead of the Bhaktha and the seven

generations coming after the Bhaktha . In both Taatparya RatnaavaLi

and Dramidopanishad Saaram , Swami Desikan has similar thoughts.

Swami states that the Lord's compassion for the bhaktha extends beyond

the Bhaktha to latter's family and friends ( SUHRUTH OF AASRITHA

JANA SAMBHANDHIS ) .

 

It has been our tradition not to have Archana, Ghanta sevanam ( Using the

bell in service ) and playing of instruments like Nathasawaram., while

Thiruvaimozhi or other portions of Naalaaiyra Divya Prabhandham

are recited infront of the Lord. The reason has been given that the Lord

has so much overflowing Dayaa for his Bhakthas(Azhwaars) and enjoys

the togetherness with them that He does not want to be interrupted by

any distractions, even if they are meant well . He will gladly postpone

such upachaarAs to another time .

 

IN decad 2.8 ( ANAIVATARAVANAI --) , Swami Desikan states that his

compassion leads to the boon of Mukthi for the Bhakthan. Hence

the Lord is revered as MUKTHI SOWKHYAN , MUKTHI SAARASYA

DHAATHAA AND MUKTHIRASATHAN. He gives His Bhaktha the

ultimate joy of climbing the Naagasanam and embracing the Lord

in Parama Padham out of His Daya for them . That is why our Acharyas

from Swami Desikan to the current ones state 'MUKTHI SOWKHYAM

MUKUNDEH " . The 518th sahasra Naamam salutes VishNu as :

OM MUKUNDAAYA NAMA: " . Here the name Mukundha has been

intrepreted by Parasara Bhatta as " Mukthim Dadhaathithi " Mukundha : .

This Mukundha lakshanam , which is closely associated with His

dayaa guNam and Anukampaa for our suffering state is then the

central theme of the second decad of SatakOpa's Thiruvaimozhi .

 

Thirukkuruhur Azhwaar Thiruvadigaleh SaraNam

 

Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan