thiruvAimozhi – 3.2 – munnIr

When parASara bhattar was in thirukkOshtiyUr, SrI rAmap piLLai (vEdha vyAsa bhattar) asked him “AzhwAr is not grief struck since he desired to enjoy bhagavAn‘s parathvam (supremacy) in paramapadham but could not experience it here; he is not grief struck since he desired to enjoy vibhavAvathArams (SrI rAma, krishNa et al) but could not experience it since they were in the past; he wanted to experience emperumAn in ugandharuLina nilangaL (dhivya dhESams), that too thirumalai; so instead of enjoying archAvathAra emperumAn more and more, why is he missing out on it and suffering for the same?”. bhattar gives the following elaborate reply – Due to dharmi aikyam (the same person in different manifestation), whether it is parathvam (emperumAn‘s supreme form in paramapadham), vyUham (emperumAn’s form in kshIrAbdhi), vibhavAvathArams (SrI rAma, krishNa et al) or archAvathAram, all of these forms are complete in all aspects; a form may look inferior (to another form) based on the defect in the observer. When we go near an ocean, we can only see as much as our eyes can behold. Similarly, when AzhwAr enjoyed azhagar emperumAn‘s beauty etc, he could not fully enjoy him; for a very thirsty person, when very pure water is nearby, yet if his mouth is shut (due to disease), he will suffer greatly; similarly, for AzhwAr who has great desire (for emperumAn), thirumalai (archAvathAra emperumAn – emperumAn in deity form in thirumAlirunchOlai) is very near by, since emperumAn is of unlimited nature and cannot be enjoyed fully, AzhwAr instead of understanding that “it is because of emperumAn’s greatness”, he thought that it is because of the limitation of his senses. He thinks “emperumAn mercifully performed creation, assumed many incarnations in the created world, protected everyone by being the antharyAmi (super soul) to help everyone to eradicate the bondage and reach his lotus feet; but those were not helpful for me. Now, is there no way for me to be freed from bondage and reach him?” and thinks that he will be finished. Seeing this, emperumAn says “Don’t think that this is due to limitation in your senses. Even those who have no limitations in their senses, go through the same emotions”. Desirous of convincing AzhwAr, emperumAn says “I am present in north thirumalai (thiruvEnkatam – thirumalA thiruppathi) to accept your service in whatever way you desire; you come there and enjoy me” and seeing that, AzhwAr becomes pacified and completes the decad. When asked “Why did emperumAn pacify AzhwAr who tried to enjoy emperumAn in theRkuth thirumalai (south thirumalai – thirumAlirunchOlai) but suffered being unable to approach him, by showing vadakkuth thirumalai (north thirumalA – thiruppathi)?”, it is explained that, [first explanation] when a toddler cries for breast milk, the mother will breast feed the child [in periya thirumadal, the two hills are explained as two breasts of the mother earth]; but when the child desires for a particular breast, should the mother not give milk from that breast? Not necessarily; [second explanation] since AzhwAr has lost his way, he does not know exactly what he wants [so either dhivya dhESam is fine]. More over, the same object that is necessary one time may be hazardous at other times. The same food which is hazardous during indigestion, will become necessary when the indigestion is cured; [since AzhwAr is in such state] he would not know which one is necessary and which one is hazardous. Only bhagavAn who sustains AzhwAr by manifesting his various qualities and AzhwAr himself would clearly know this. [third explanation] In south thirumalai (thirumAlirunchOlai), emperumAn’s easy approachability is towards the people of the mlEchcha (outer) lands that were looked-down upon by learned people; but here in north thirumalai (thiruvEnkatam) emperumAn’s easy approachability is even towards animals as said in nAnumgan thiruvanthAdhi 47 “kAnamum vAnaramum vEdumudai vEngadam” (thiruvEnkatam which has forests, monkeys and hunters).