Saint Sketch -2- Thondaradipodi Azhwar By Sri.Sri.Muralidhara Swamiji- Part-2

[Guest guest]

Radhe Krishna To All,

 

Food clothing and shelter are the basic necessities for man. For us, there are

three more basic necessities in life -- Sadhus, Bhagavatam and Bhagavan

 

– SRI SRI MURALIDHARA SWAMIJI

 

----

 

The hymns of Azhwars are not the result of the intellect of a good orator/poet

or the power of a Mantra japa or some other kind of spiritual austerities. If

such was their dependence on sadhana the ability to sing hymns would not be the

same – if their sadhana took a downward swing the hymns would no longer

reflect deep devotion. Here, we find that the Azhwars sang hymns in praise of

the Lord due to the ‘Grace of the Lord’. Their hymns are not based on the

strength of their sadhana but the outcome of the Grace of the Lord. Therefore,

all the 4000 ‘Pasurams’ [hymns] are the Lord’s own words; they speak of

the Lord’s view and that is the special glory of the Azhwars.

 

To us the life history [‘charitra’] of these great devotees [‘Azhwars’]

of the Lord seems no different from the normal life of any other person on

earth. However, the fact is, the Lord, through such seemingly ordinary life,

tries to convey a message to us. The life of Vipranarayana [‘Thondaradipodi

Azhwar’] is one such. His life history illustrates that if a devotee of the

Lord happens to fall from dharma and his life becomes worldly the Lord would

certainly intervene and take him back into His fold.

 

Vipranarayana who later became Thondradipodi Azhwar is one of the twelve

Azhwars. Vipranarayana was born in Thirumandangudi near Kumbakonam, South India.

‘Vipran’ means Brahmin. He had studied the Vedas. He was a ‘Brahmachari’

(celibate, unmarried). After ablutions early in the morning, he would perform a

thousand japa of the Gayatri and worship the Lord. He purchased a big plot of

land in Sri Rangam and laid a beautiful flower garden in it. He would collect

the flowers and make a huge garland for Lord Ranganatha. He served Lord

Ranganatha through offer of flowers [‘pushpa kainkarya’]. Everyday, he would

string the flowers into a beautiful garland and take it to the Temple.

 

One day two dancing damsels [‘deva dasis’] passed by the garden of

Vipranarayana. It was a hot summer afternoon. They moved into the shade of a

tree close to Vipranaryana’s garden. One of them was Deva devi. The other was

her sister. Noting Vipranarayana, Deva devi said to her sister, “I am a

beautiful maiden! There is none who is as beautiful as I am! And, here is a

young man. But, while working in the garden he has not turned even to glance at

me!â€

 

Her sister explained, “He will not turn even to take a glance at us because he

is a Vaishnav. Vaishnavas are minions of the Lord.â€

 

Struck to the core, Deva devi challenged, “No! I do not accept this. I will

transform him.â€

 

Deva devi and her sister got into an argument over this and it led to a solemn

challenge – that Deva devi would attract and hold him down.

 

Deva devi began to dress like a devotee of Lord Vishnu – an yellow attire, a

Tulasi mala around her neck and ‘gopi chandan’ on her forehead. With this

attire she began to frequent the garden of Vipranarayana. Slowly, she drew the

attention of Vipranarayana. Days passed. Vipranarayana whose mind and heart was

bewitched by Deva Devi stopped visiting the Temple. He did not string his garden

flowers into garland for the Lord. The service of flowers to the Lord had come

to a complete stop. He remembered of only Deva devi and her home. Forgotten were

his Lord [Ranganatha] and his service to Him.

 

What was Deva devi’s aim? It was to win the test. That was all. She had won;

therefore, she threw Vipranarayana out of her home with the words, “Do not

ever enter my home!â€

But, Vipranarayana lay on the ‘pyol’ of her house and shed tears.

 

!!! Will Continue !!!

 

Regards

 

Please Chant

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

 

and be happy

 

------------ --------- --------- --------- ---------

If you have any questions or doubts concerning Spirituality, Mental peace or

problems in life or about dharma, please write to us by clicking here:

 

http://www.namadwaar.org/answers/askquestion.php

 

His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji personally answers these questions for you and

suggests prayers.

----------- --------- --------- --------- ---------