Daily Archives: November 30, 2016

thiruvAimozhi – 4.2.1 – bAlanAy EzhulaguNdu

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SrI:  SrImathE SatakOpAya nama:  SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama:  SrImath varavaramunayE nama:

Full series >> Fourth Centum >> Second decad

krishna-on-leaf

Introduction for this pAsuram

Highlights from thirukkurukaippirAn piLLAn‘s introduction

No specific introduction.

Highlights from nanjIyar‘s introduction

In first pAsuram – parAnkuSa nAyaki‘s mother is agonised that her daughter desires to immediately get the thiruththuzhAy (thuLasi) which is decorating the divine feet of sarvESvaran who is in the form of vata thaLa SAyi (one who is resting on the banyan leaf).

Highlights from vAdhi kEsari azhagiya maNavALa jIyar‘s introduction

See nanjIyar‘s introduction.

Highlights from periyavAchchAn piLLai‘s introduction

See nanjIyar‘s introduction.

Highlights from nampiLLai‘s introduction as documented by vadakkuth thiruvIdhip piLLai

See nanjIyar‘s introduction.

pAsuram

bAlanAy EzhulaguNdu parivinRi
Alilai anna vasam seyyum aNNalAr
thAL iNai mElaNi thaNNanthuzhAy enRE
mAlumAl valvinaiyEn mada valliyE

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Word-by-Word meanings (based on vAdhi kEsari azhagiya maNavALa jIyar‘s 12000 padi)

bAlanAy – having a very infant-like form
Ezh ulagu – all worlds
uNdu – consumed

(aththAl – as a result of that)
parivu inRi – without any discomfort
Al ilai – on a tender banyan leaf
anna vasam seyyum – resting after consumption of [heavy] food
aNNalAr – the lord’s
thAL iNai mEl – on the two divine feet
aNi – decorated (by the nithyasUris who were captivated by this act of emperumAn)
thaN – cool
am – having freshness
thuzhAy – (desiring to get the) thiruththuzhAy (thuLasi)
enRE – only that
mAlum – bewildered without realising (that the incident happened way back in time and she cannot get the thuLasi from that time)
valvinaiyEn – for me who has the sins to witness such agony [of my daughter]
madam – exhaustion due to not giving up on the desire
valli – she [my daughter] who resembles a creeper which needs support

Simple translation (based on vAdhi kEsari azhagiya maNavALa jIyar‘s 12000 padi)

sarvESvaran, having a very infant-like form, is resting on a tender banyan leaf after consuming all the worlds (without any discomfort after consuming such heavy food); his two divine feet are decorated with cool fresh thuLasi; my daughter desires to get that thuLasi only, remains bewildered without realising (that the incident happened way back in time and she cannot get the thuLasi from that time) and is exhausted due to not giving up on the desire, resembles a creeper which needs support; I have the sins to witness such agony [of my daughter].

She (parAnkuSa nAyaki) is confident that nothing is impossible for sarvESvaran who is able to complete impossible tasks [like resting on a banyan leaf after consuming the worlds]. Some people say it as “kAliNai mElaNi thaNNanthuzhAy” (same meaning as thALiNai …) too.

vyAkyAnams (commentaries)

Highlights from thirukkurukaippirAn piLLAn‘s vyAkyAnam

See vAdhi kEsari azhagiya maNavALa jIyar‘s translation.

Highlights from nanjIyar‘s vyAkyAnam

See nampiLLai‘s vyAkyAnam.

Highlights from periyavAchchAn piLLai‘s vyAkyAnam

See nampiLLai‘s vyAkyAnam.

Highlights from nampiLLai‘s vyAkyAnam as documented by vadakkuth thiruvIdhip piLLai

  • bAlanAy – My daughter won’t be as worried, if emperumAn consumed the worlds and rested on the banyan leaf, after becoming a youth [but since he is a toddler, she is worried]; I can console her, if he is at least grown up saying “at this particular age, he has the duty to protect the worlds when they are in danger”.
  • Ay – As said in SrI rAmAyaNam yudhdha kANdam 120.11 “AthmAnam mAnusham manyE” (SrI rAma – I consider myself as a human only), other than his toddler state, his previous [supreme] states are not visible; it is said as in thiruvAimozhi 3.10.10padiyAdhumil kuzhavippadi” (incomparable toddle form); having pure infancy.
  • EzhulaguNdu – His age is such that, without thinking whether something will digest or not, [toddlers] will pick up something they can lay their hands on and put in their mouth. [Does eating of a toddler count as protecting?] Since it is the act of the protector, it ends up being an act of protection. If empersumAn performs an act which is acceptable, she too will desire for reasonable aspects [Since emperumAn performed an impossible task, parAnkuSa nAyaki too desires now for the impossible aspect of getting the thuLasi from that time].
  • EzhulaguNdu – When there is a danger, he does not discriminate and consumes all the worlds and protects them.
  • parivu inRi – without any discomfort; when placing the worlds in his stomach, he does not have any discomfort.
  • Alilai – on a banyan leaf; the pure leaf given by a banyan tree.
  • anna vasam seyyum – Instead of having control over self, he became overwhelmed by food which is explained in thatiththirIya upanishath “aham annam” (I am the enjoyed). He reclined on his right side, to preserve what he consumed instead of digesting them.
  • aNNalAr – Like emperumAn’s nature is to carefully protect everyone even when he is a toddler, she remembers his lordship even when she is bewildered/unconscious.
  • aNNalAr – He is the sarvarakshaka (protector of all) and sarva swAmy (lord of all). She [parAnkuSa nAyaki] is asking “Since you are the protector of all, is there any trouble for you to fulfil the desire of helpless me [to attain you]?”.
  • aNNalAr thALiNai – SEsha bhUtha (servitor) will naturally hold on to the divine feet of SEshi (lord).
  • thALiNai mEl aNi thaN am thuzhAy – She first offered thiruththuzhAy (also explained as – she offered thiruththuzhAy (thuLasi) at his divine feet) which resulted in such desire [of desiring to have that  thuLasi]. As a brAhmaNa would constantly recite vEdham even if he becomes mad, she will repeat the same thing which she previously learned/said as in thiruvAimozhi 2.1.2thAL patta thaN thuzhAy dhAmam kAmuRRAyE” (you have the great desire to have the thuLasi which was crushed by the divine feet of emperumAn).
  • thuzhAy enRE – She will constantly repeat the same thing. Even if I told her “Oh poor thing! It is impossible. The incident happened in the past [and we cannot get the thuLasi from that past incident now]”, she will not hear.
  • mAlum – becomes bewildered. She is not just blabbering these words, even inside her she has become very weak/bewildered. When some one thinks that the rays of a shining gem is fire, should that also burn him [when touched]? [When she realized that it is difficult to get the thuLasi from the past, should she also become bewildered?].
  • valvinaiyEn – For her [parAnkuSa nAyaki], who is bewildered/unconscious, there is no agony, but for me who is well aware of the situation, there is agony due to my own sins.
  • mada valliyE – [two meanings] stubborn, humble. Her age is such that, she should be supported by bhagavAn like a creeper is supported by a stick.
  • valli – She is in the state as said in SrI rAmAyaNam ayOdhyA kANdam 119.36 “pathi samyOga sulabham vaya:” (janaka, the father of sIthA, drowned in an ocean of sorrow thinking about his daughter ready to be married [and yet not finding the right groom for her]).

In the next article we will enjoy the next pAsuram.

adiyen sarathy ramanuja dasan

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Arththi prabandham – 30

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SrI:  SrImathE SatakOpAya nama:  SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama:  SrImath varavaramunayE nama:

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Introduction

maNavALa mAmunigaL sings glories and mangaLams to SrI rAmAnuja in this pAsuram starting from the latter’s lotus feet and proceeding gradually up towards his head. maNavALa mAmunigaL feels that SrI rAmAnuja would have been tired after the long list of debates he had with people from other philosophies. maNavALa mAmunigaL envisions SrI rAmAnuja as one who is seated with SrI bhAshyam and thiruvAimozhi in his hands. This striking pose captures the imagination of maNavALa mAmunigaL and hence he goes ahead and sings glories to each and every part of SrI rAmAnuja and wishes that each one of them should live forever.

pAsuram 30

sIrArum ethirAsar thiruvadigaL vAzhi
thiruvaraiyil sARRiya senthuvarAdai vAzhi
ErArum seyyavadivu eppozhudhum vAzhi
ilangiya munnUl vAzhi iNaiththOLgaL vAzhi
sOrAdha thuyya seyya mugachchOdhi vAzhi
thUmuRuval vAzhi thuNaimalarkkaNgaL vAzhi
IrARu thirunAmam aNindha ezhil vAzhi
inithiruppOdu yezhil gyAna muththirai vAzhiyE!!!

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Word-by-Word Meanings

vAzhi – Live for eternity!!!
ethirAsar – SrI rAmAnuja’s
thiruvadigaL – lotus feet that is an ornament for our heads and which is an object of enjoyment
sIr Arum – and that is replete with auspicious qualities.
vAzhi – Live for eternity!!!
senthuvarAdai – the saffron robe (that sanyAsis wear) that has the color of the bright sun
sARRiya  – that SrI rAmAnuja adorns over
thiruvaraiyil – his frame.
vAzhi – Live for eternity!!!
eppozhudhum – At all times
seyyavadivu – the divine body (dhivya mangaLa vigraham) that is resplendent, shining and
ErArum – that is filled with beauty all over it.
vAzhi – Live for eternity!!!
ilangiya munnUl  – the sacred thread that establishes the fact that reinforces that he is the greatest student of vEdhic scriptures. The thread that is like a sheath of thunder on an evening sky known as his body, long live!!!
vAzhi – Live for eternity!!!
iNaiththOLgaL – the shoulders that (a) look like the branches of the golden kaRpaga tree (b) that which can grant mOksham and (c) that which possess the power to liberate a person from bondage (d) that which can uplift (a downtrodden) as well as grant (mOksham) and as a result of this characters looks hale and healthy and (e) that which adorns the beautiful, fragrant garland called “thuLasi”
vAzhi – Live for eternity!!!
sOrAdha thuyya cheyya mugachchOdhi – the glow of SrI rAmAnujathat does not have any bounds, is pure and effulgent. This is caused by (a) the happiness derived from seeing SrIman nArAyaNan and HIS devotees (b) the process of destroying the arguments of non devotees.
vAzhi – Live for eternity!!!
thUmuRuval – the slight, pure, bright and beautiful smile on the face that is akin to the blossom of a flower. The smile stems from (a) protecting the refugees and (b) the enjoyment associated with emperumAn
vAzhi – Live for eternity!!!
thuNaimalarkkaNgaL – the pair of beautiful eyes that sees (a) SrIrangaSrI (periya perumAL), (b) SrIvaishNavaSrI that was corrected by SrI rAmAnuja (this includes everything in this world that surrendered unto the louts feet of SrI rAmAnuja). Those eyes look with utmost compassion towards those who surrender to him and that diving glances make them pure.
vAzhi – Live for eternity!!!
IrAru thirunAmam aNindha ezhil – the twelve divine resplendent “thirumaN kAppu” or “Urdhva pundRam” on the glittery rose body. This is similar to seeing white lotus (thirumaN kAppu) blossoming on a golden mountain (body of SrI rAmAnuja). This thirumaN kAppu is a manifestation of the aforementioned qualities and trait of SrI rAmAnuja and is something that ensures that the “SrIvaishNavaSrI” spreads across.
vAzhi – Live for eternity!!!
gyAna muthirai – the pose of which SrI rAmAnuja in which he is seen giving advice about “para thathvam”
inithiruppOdu – having sitting in a padhmAsana posture
yezhil – that is beautiful (because the pose represents the essence of meaning of both samskrutha and thamizh vEdhas).

Simple Translation

In this pAsuram, maNavALa mAmunigaL sings maNgaLAsAsanam to SrI rAmAnuja. He starts with the divine lotus feet, the saffron robe, his whole body as such, his brahma sUthram, his powerful shoulders, his beautiful smile, his compassionate eyes, his “thirumaN kAppu” and finally the gyAna mudhrai in which he is seated among his devotees.

Explanation

In this pAsuram, maNavALa mAmunigaL sings glories (mangaLAsAsanam) to SrI rAmAnuja. He starts with singing glories to SrI rAmAnuja’s divine lotus feet and wishes that they should live for eternity. SrI rAmAnuja is the leader of yathis and is replete with auspicious qualities pertaining to svarUpam, rUpam and characteristics, the very same qualities that are yearned by his devotees. As described as “amarar sennipU (thirukurundhAndagam 6)” and “irAmAnusan adip pU (rAmAnusa nURRanthAdhi 1), SrI rAmAnuja’s lotus feet is something that presents itself as something that is to be enjoyed fully and is something that adorns our head. Such a lotus feet should be there for eternity without anything happening to those divine lotus feet. Next, maNavALa mAmunigaL sings glories to the saffron robe that SrI rAmAnuja adorns around his frame. He wishes that it should be there forever as well. [The reason for saffron robe is explained in this section. There are two excerpts that are taken to describe the saffron color. (i) There is a chUrNikai in SrI vachana bhUshaNam that says “ARu prakAraththAlE parisudhdhAthma svarUpaththukku thathsAmyam uNdAyirukkum (SrI vachana bhUshaNam 240)”. The essence of this chUrNikai is that all souls are comparable to periya pirAtti, when the souls realize their true nature. A soul has six defining characteristics that are (a) ananyArha SEshathvam or the quality of not being a servant to anyone other than SrIman nArAyaNan (b) ananya SaraNathvam or the quality of not taking refuge under anyone other than SrIman nArAyaNan, (c) ananya bhOgyathvam or the quality of not being an object of enjoyment to anyone other than SrIman nArAyaNan, (d) samSlEshaththil dharikkai or the quality of being able to sustain/survive [only] during union with SrIman nArAyaNan (e) viSlEshaththil dhariyAmai or the quality of being unable to sustain/survive when separated from SrIman nArAyaNan and (f) thadhEka nirvAhyathvam or the quality of being controlled only by SrIman nArAyaNan. When the soul is able to realize its true traits, i.e. the six aforementioned traits, due to the causeless mercy of SrIman nArAyaNan, it is on par with periya pirAtti who is epitome of nAyaki lakshNam and have realized these six traits always. Now the second except is the phrase “sIthakAshAyavAsini”]. From these excerpts, it goes to be say that the saffron is a color that signifies “pArathanthriyam” (the quality of completely dependent on the master and obeys HIM without any question) and “ananyArhathvam” (the quality by which a soul is not reserved for anyone except for SrIman nArAyaNan). maNavALa mAmunigaL describes this beautiful saffron robe that is similar to sun in color and that which perfectly adorns the frame of SrI rAmAnuja. Next, maNavALa mAmunigaL sings glories to the dhivya mangaLa vigraham (divine body) of SrI rAmAnuja. maNavALa mAmunigaL describes SrI rAmAnuja’s divine body as one that is extremely pleasing to those who surrender unto him. His body is full of individual features that reflects beauty at its best. The features are so soft and tender like those of a freshly blossomed flower. As they say “rUpamEvAsyai thanmahimAna mAsashtE”, SrI rAmAnuja’s divine body is bright and effulgent as paramAthama (SrIman nArAyaNan) radiates from within. maNavALa mAmunigaL sings glories to such a divine form that it should be there forever as per the SAsthra vAkhyam “nithyam nithyA kruthitharam”. Next, maNavALa mAmunigaL sings glories to the sacred thread (a set of three strands) that reinforce the fact that he is a great follower of vEdhic scriptures and abides by it meticulously. The sacred thread on SrI rAmAnuja’s body is akin to a sheath of silver on an evening sky. Long live such a sacred thread.

Next, maNavALa mAmunigaL sings glories to the gorgeous shoulders of SrI rAmAnuja and wishes that they should be there forever. The greatness of SrI rAmAnuja’s shoulders is described in detail by maNavALa mAmunigaL. As per the phrase “bhAhuchchAyamava ashtabdhOsyapalakO mAhAthmana:”, the shoulders of SrI rAmAnuja are something that acts like branches of the golden kaRpaga tree that provides shade, shelter and comfort to all people who are under it. The shoulders are capable of granting anyone the mOksham. They are capable of uplifting and thereby liberating the most downtrodden in this world. The shoulders are broad and big because of this ability to grant and lift people. As described in gyAna sAram pAsuram “thOLAr chudarththigiri sangudaya sundharanukku (gyAna sAram 7)”, the shoulders of SrI rAmAnuja are powerful. They are adorned with garland that are made of thuLasi, vaguLam and naLinAksha flowers. maNavALa mAmunigaL wishes that such matchless shoulder of SrI rAmAnuja should live forever and sings glories to them. Next, maNavALa mAmunigaL looks at the face of SrI rAmAnuja and starts to sing mangaLAsAsanam to it. As per the descriptive phrases like “brahmavidha iva sowmyathE mukham pAdhi”, and “mugachchOdhi malarndhadhuvO (thiruvaimozhi 3.1.1)”, the glow of SrI rAmAnuja that does not have any bounds, is pure and effulgent. This is caused by (a) the happiness derived from seeing SrIman nArAyaNan and HIS devotees (b) the process of destroying the arguments of non devotees.

Next, maNavALa mAmunigaL sings glories to the beautiful and charming smile of SrI rAmAnuja. As per the phrase, “sa vilAsas smithAdhAram bhiprANam mukha pankajam” SrI rAmAnuja’s face is compared to a beautiful lotus. In the lotus called face, there emerges a beautiful smile, as if described by AzhvAr’s “nin pal nilA muththam thavazh kadhir muRuval seydhu (thiruvAimozhi 9.2.5). The cause for this smile is because of (a) happiness derived from protecting the devotees and (b) the enjoyment of being in unison with SrIman nArAyaNan. maNavALa mAmunigaL wishes that this beautiful, moon like cool smile that is similar to a blossoming flower, and that radiates these aforementioned happiness SrI rAmAnuja derives, should be there forever. After this, maNavALa mAmunigaL sings glories to SrI rAmAnuja’s divine eyes that sees two things always, namely SrI ranganAthan and SrIvaishNavaSrI that includes all those who were corrected and taken unto his fold by SrI rAmAnuja. Those eyes always ooze out compassion towards fellow beings. Those eyes bless those who surrender unto him to be completely devoid of ignorance as revealed by “amalangaLAga vizhikkum (thiruvAimozhi 1.9.9)”. maNavALa mAmunigaL wishes that such wonderful pair of eyes should be like this forever. Next, maNavALa mAmunigaL sings glories to the beauty of SrI rAmAnuja when he adorns the twelve “thirumaN kAppu” (dhvAdhaSa Urdhva puNRam). The “thirumaN kAppu” on SrI rAmAnuja, that stands as a manifestation of aforementioned qualities (in the earlier lines of this pAsuram) is something that resembles white lotus flowers that blossoms over a golden mountain. SrI rAmAnuja’s body is glowing (yellowish red) and on this body, the “thirumaN kAppu” is shining brightly. maNavALa mAmunigaL wishes that this beauty of SrI rAmAnuja should be there forever. Finally, maNavALa mAmunigaL glorifies the pose (mudhrai) of SrI rAmAnuja‘s fingers and wishes that his mudhrai should be there forever and not for some short amount of time. SrI rAmAnuja came to this world as per the desire of SrIman nArAyaNan. He came to this materialistic world, conquered everyone one and all, be it his devotees or his opponents, thanks to the causeless cause of SrIman nArAyaNan. Having done that, he majestically sits like a king swan. A guru is often compared to a swan who is able to differentiate things and sits majestically in his throne as per “vaiyam manni vIRRirundhu (thiruvAimozhi 4.3.11). thirumangai AzhvAr also referred as “annamadhAy irundhangu aRa nUl uraiththa (periya thirumozhi 11.4.8)”. As described in the phrase “padhmAsanOpavishtam pAdhadhvOpOdhamudhram” (parAnkuSAshtakam), SrI rAmAnuja, the chief of gurus, is seen sitting majestically amidst lot of his devotees, while seated in a padhmAsanam and sporting the gyAna mudhrai (pose that represents knowledge). As in the usage of “SrI” in “SrImath thadhangriyugaLam”, the phrase “sIrArum” in this pAsuram should be treated as an adjective to the lotus feet (thiruvadigaL).

Translation by santhAna rAmAnuja dhAsan

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