Monthly Archives: March 2018

mUnRAm thiruvandhAdhi – 25 – thozhudhAl pazhudhuNdE

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avathArikai

Despite AzhwAr instructing his divine mind, it appeared to AzhwAr that it kept thinking of the past, with haughtiness. AzhwAr tells his mind “if you approach emperumAn and attain him, no shortcoming will come your way”.

Let us go through the pAsuram and its meanings:

thozhudhAl pazhudhuNdE thUnIr ulagam
muzhudhuNda moykuzhalAL Aychchi vizhudhuNda
vAyAnai mAlvidaiyEzh seRRAnai vAnavarkkum
sEyAnai nenjE siRandhu

Word by Word Meanings

thU niR ulagam – world surrounded by oceans with pure water
muzhudhu – totally
uNdu – one who kept in his divine stomach
moy kuzhalAL Aychchi – yaSOdhA, who has dense locks
vizhudhu – butter
uNda vAyAnai – one who has the mouth which ate
mAl vidai Ezh seRRAnai – one who killed the seven plump bulls
vAnavarkkum sEyAnai – one who is out of reach of celestial entities such as brahmA et al, such emperumAn
nenjE – Oh heart!
siRandhu – in a great way
thozhudhAl – if you worship
pazhudhu uNdE – will there be any fault?

vyAkyanam

thozhudhAl pazhudhu uNdE – if you attain emperumAn will any fault come your way? If you do not attain him, what calamity will befall you? After telling his heart about the greatness of worshipping emperumAn, AzhwAr is asking his heart whether there is any harm in it. He tells his heart to tell him if there is anything wrong in what he is saying. AzhwAr is asking his heart “Just as emperumAn’s stomach became the sustenance for the world and butter became the sustenance for emperumAn, isn’t servitorship the sustenance for you?”.

thU nIr ulagam muzhudhu uNdu – Am I asking you to drink the bitter juice of neem fruit? Am I not asking you to attain the sweet emperumAn?

thU nIr ulagam muzhudhu uNdu – there is none who is considered as unwanted by emperumAn. Even after keeping the worlds in his stomach during deluge, he was not satisfied.

thU nIr ulagam – world having clear water. In other words, when emperumAn kept the world in his stomach, he ensured that the waters surrounding the earth did not get muddied. Since he was not satisfied even after swallowing the world, he ate the butter which had the fingerprints of his followers. He filled up the void created after swallowing the world.

moy kuzhalAL Aychchi vizhudhuNda vAyAnai – only after eating the butter kept by yaSOdhAp pirAtti was his stomach filled up. emperumAn, who controls the entire worlds, was subservient to yaSOdhA. It appeared to emperumAn that when he did not eat butter, deluge had set in. He cannot sustain himself if he does not eat his followers’ possessions (emperumAn has the divine mouth which ate butter kept by yaSOdhA who has beautiful locks).

mAl vidai Ezh seRRAnaiemperumAn who killed the seven fearsome bulls. One who killed the seven bulls which were in exult, and which were a hurdle for him to be with nappinnaip pirAtti [incarnation of nILA dhEvi]. This implies that he removes the hurdles of followers who are special to him.

vAnavarkkum sEyAnai – one who is far away from entities such as brahmA et al. This implies that he is far removed from those who try to attain him through their own efforts.

siRandhu thozhudhAl pazhudhuNdE – is there any fault in worshipping one who is simple to this followers?

siRandhu – if you [AzhwAr’s heart] make yourself qualified and worship him, is there any harm? After knowing the characteristics of emperumAn, you are wondering whether you are qualified to worship him; you are not above entities such as brahmA et al! AzhwAr says that since emperumAn is far removed from entities such as brahmA et al, there is no alternative to falling at his feet.

We will take up the 26th pAsuram next.

adiyEn krishNa rAmAnuja dhAsan

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mUnRAm thiruvandhAdhi – 24 – varungAl irunilanum

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avathArikai

AzhwAr tells his heart to fall head over heels on emperumAn and attain him, instead of remaining passively, thinking that we have carried out all that was required to be done with total involvement. He tells his heart to enjoy emperumAn without any break, now that the desire has been created.

Let us go through the pAsuram and its meanings:

varungAl iru nilanum mAl visumbum kARRum
nerungu thI nIr uruvum AnAn porundhum
sudarAzhi onRudaiyAn sUzh kazhalE nALum
thodar Azhi nenjE thozhudhu

Word by Word Meanings

Azhi nenjE – Oh my heart which is like the deep sea!
iru nilanum – expansive earth
mAl visumbum – boundless sky
kARRum – wind
nerungu thI – fire which cannot be split
nIr uruvum AnAn – the fifth element water. emperumAn became the antharyAmi (in-dwelling soul) for the five elements.
porundhum sudar Azhi onRu udaiyAn – emperumAn who is holding the well suited (to him) radiant divine disc
sUzh kazhalE – the divine feet which subordinate the followers
varungAl nALum – in the days to come
thozhudhu – worshipping
thodar – keep following

vyAkyanam

varungAl – let the days bygone remain as having been spent without purpose. In the days to come, try to do like this [AzhwAr tells his heart to do the things which he will spell out shortly]

irunilanum mAlvisumbum kARRum nerunguthI nIr uruvum AnAn – he is the sustaining force for the world made of five elements (since he is the indwelling soul for the expansive earth, the boundless skies, wind, fire which cannot be separated and water, it is implied that he is the lord of all leelA vibhUthi). Reference to the five elements implies mentioning the entire leelA vibhUthi.

porundhum sudarAzhi onRudaiyAn – since it says that he has the unique, radiant divine disc, it implies that he is with nithya vibhUthi. Reference to divine disc implies everyone in nithya vibhUthi. emperumAn has the divine disc which makes everyone to worship him.

Thus, the one who has both vibhUthis, such emperumAn’s ….

sUzh kazhalE – the divine feet which subordinate the followers. The divine feet which will not allow anyone to go out but keep them with themselves. AzhwAr asks his heart “After knowing that emperumAn is coming towards us with the intention of capturing us, should you not follow him?”.

Azhi nenjE – Oh heart who is limited [to the depth of the ocean]! Is there a need for me to instruct you? Henceforth, keep following him, worshipping him. It is enough that you have lost out on him earlier. In the times to come, keep following him without any break and attain him.

Let us move on to the 25th pAsuram next.

adiyEn krishNa rAmAnuja dhAsan

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mUnRAm thiruvandhAdhi – 23 – virumbi viN

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avathArikai

AzhwAr told his heart to desire to see emperumAn fully. His instruction immediately fructified. His heart immediately started desiring as he had asked. Shouldn’t AzhwAr’s heart be like this!

Let us go through the pAsuram and its meanings:

virumbi viN maNNaLandha anjiRaiya vaNdAr
surumbu thuLaiyil senRu Udha arumbum
punam thuzhAyAn ponnam kazhaRkE
manam thuzhAy mAlAy varum

Word by Word Meanings

am siRaiya vaNdu – female beetles with beautiful wings
Ar surumbu – the male beetles which will never separate from them
thuLaiyil senRu Udha – blowing in the nerves (of flowers)

(due to that)
arumbum – blossoming
punam thuzhAy mAlaiyAn – emperumAn who is donning thuLasi garland, where the thuLasi is always fresh as if it were on its own field
virumbi viN maN aLandha pon am kazhaRkE – in the matter of the beautiful divine feet which measured the outer worlds as well as earth, desirously
manam – my heart
thuzhAy – fully immersed
mAl Ay varum – is lying bewildered.

vyAkyanam

virumbi viN maN aLandhaAzhwAr says that emperumAn measured the skies and earth as if he had obtained something which was not his to start with. Since it is stated that he measured it wilfully, he did not measure the worlds which had forests and streams [uneven surfaces with ups and downs] because he had to, but because he wanted to.

anjiRaiya vaNdu – beetle with beautiful wings

Ar surumbu – beetle which is together with divine thuLasi. periyavAchchAn piLLai, one of he commentators for this prabandham, makes a distinction here – while vaNdu would refer to beetle, since AzhwAr has used the term surumbu which means male beetle, the first term vaNdu would refer to female beetle and the two are together always.

thuLaiyil senRu Udha – the beetles know where honey gets generated and hence they go to such nerve roots and blow with their mouths.

arumbum punam thuzhAy mAlaiyAn – due to such act [of the beetles] the thuLasi just blossoms. Since thuLasi is constantly touching the divine chest of emperumAn, the garland believes that it is very much on its own habitat and hence is always fresh.

Such emperumAn’s …..

ponnam kazhaRkE – at the beautiful divine feet

manam thuzhAy mAlAy varum – the mind will come wilfully, with total infatuation, to delve [into such divine feet]. The mind will get bewildered at the thuLasi garland of emperumAn and stay that way. Due to infatuation, mind will get bewildered and come searching. AzhwAr’s mind will suffer just as the beetles suffered at the hands of divine thuLasi.

We will move on to the 24th pAsuram.

adiyEn krishNa rAmAnuja dhAsan

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thiruvAimozhi – 6.7.8 – osindha nuNNidai

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Full series >> Sixth Centum >> Seventh decad

Previous pAsuram

Introduction for this pAsuram

Highlights from thirukkurukaippirAn piLLAn‘s introduction

No specific introduction.

Highlights from nanjIyar‘s introduction

In the eighth pAsuram, parAnguSa nAyaki‘s mother says “Will my daughter who discarded me and left from here due to her attachment towards thirukkOLUr, not reach there having such attachment as her companion?”.

Highlights from vAdhi kEsari azhagiya maNavALa jIyar‘s introduction

Subsequently, parAnguSa nAyaki‘s mother says “Will my daughter who discarded me and left from here due to her attachment towards thirukkOLUr which is the abode of the one who is dear to the greatly enjoyable lakshmi, not reach there having such attachment as her companion?”.

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

osindha nuNNidai mEl kaiyai vaiththu nondhu nondhu
kasindha nenjinaLAyk kaNNa nIr thuzhumbach chollungol!
osindha oN malarAL kozhunan thirukkOLUrkkE
kasindha nenjinaLAy emmai nIththa em kArigaiyE

Listen

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

osindha – being weakened (like a flower which withered due to being sucked out of its honey)
oN – being distinguished
malarAL – of the one who resides in lotus flower
kozhunan – lord (who is greatly desirable)
thirukkOLUrkkE – to thirukkOLUr
kasindha nenjinaLAy – having dampened heart
emmai – me
nIththa – who left
em kArigai – my beautiful daughter
osindha – previously weakened
nuN – slender
idai mEl – on the waist

(due to fatigue)
kaiyai – hand
vaiththu – placed

(due to that)
nondhu nondhu – feeling grief more and more
kasindha nenjinaLAy – having such dampness [indicating melted heart] as companion
kaNNa nIr – tears
thuLumba – to overflow
sellum kol – will she go there?

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

Will my beautiful daughter who has a dampened heart and who left me for thirukkOLUr which is the abode of the lord of the distinguished and weakened one [SrI mahAlakshmi] who resides in lotus flower, placing her hand [to support] the previously weakened slender waist, feeling grief more and more, having such dampness [indicating melted heart] as companion and with overflowing tears, go there?

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

  • osindha … – Her waist is so slender that even if she does not walk, one should worry for it!
  • nuN idai mEl kaiyai vaiththu – She does not realise that there is nothing [waist, hurdle] in the middle. Her waist cannot even bear the weight of her own hand; her waist is so slender and one should worry for it even if she goes along with him as said in periya thirumozhi 3.7.7 “minnaiyum vanjiyaiyum venRilangum idaiyAL” (the waist which is thinner than a creeper and lightning). osindhu – withered, slender, straight waist. To put it simply – it is so thin that we can say there is no waist. That is, to fear for it thinking “oh, its breaking, fully broken now” [Generally, waist indicates attachment to worldly matters, slender waist means totally detached].
  • osindha nuNNidai mEl kaiyai vaiththu – Is there anyone who does not know what is coming! The waist can only bear the hand of her lord and not her own. It is said in thiruviruththam 37 “thodungAl osiyum idai” (the waist which will wither as soon as touched). From the beginning [thiruviruththam 1st pAsuram], her waist [body] is bothering her.
  • kaiyai vaiththu – as if placing a mountain on her waist.
  • nondhu nondhu – She would neither take her hands off nor will stop feeling the grief. One can survive enemies who are born with self, but cannot survive the trouble from outsiders [explained next]!
  • nondhu nondhu – Feeling very grieved; from the beginning, she is bearing the weight of her bosom [bosom indicates bhakthi generally] which are suffering in separation, but now does she have to even bear the weight of hands?
  • kasindha nenjinaLAy – While the hands are weakened, is the heart well nourished? No, her heart is also very grieved.
  • kaNNa nIr thuLumba – That (heart) is the source for the [tears in the] eyes.
  • sellum kol – Now, there is no scope of returning for her. Can she overcome the troubles on her way?
  • osindha … – If the one [SrI mahAlakshmi] who is united with emperumAn herself is withered, what can we say about the one who is in separation! The one who is residing in the distinguished lotus flower, is withered [due to the union with emperumAn] as a flower which was sucked out of its honey by a beetle. To the abode of the beloved consort of such SrI mahAlakshmi.
  • kasindha nenjinaLAy – Having a heart which is friendly towards her. She will only pursue that town and will even give up her own mother.
  • oNmalarAL kozhunan thirukkOLUrkkE kasindha nenjinaLAy – Is she the one who is caught in her romance, going to return? Being the beloved lord of SrI mahAlakshmi who resides in the flower, is his greatness. The benefactor who has the fame of being the independent lord of SrI mahAlakshmi as said in thiruvAimozhi 1.6.9thirumagaLAr thanik kELvan“.
  • emmai nIththa em kArigaiyE – As she kept losing her mamAkaram here [possessiveness towards her mother], that itself became the reason for her mother’s growing attachment towards her. This explains the ultimate stage of being immersed in bhagavath vishayam, giving up other attachments and how such persons are most desirable. All she needs is the knowledge about the one who made her leave everything else! All her mother needs is her relationship!
  • kasindha nenjinaLAy emmai nIththa em kArigai – osindha oNmalarAL kozhunan thirukkOLUrkkE – kasindha nenjinaLAyk kaNNa nIr thuLumbach chellum kol – Would the great desire which made her leave her me, not let her enter into the town too? The mother knows firmly that “she has left”; but she is doubting about her reaching there; would the desire/love not accomplish both? It may induce pAravaSyam (totally helpless state) and leave her in between; or it may bring her to thirukkOLUr.

In the next article we will enjoy the next pAsuram.

adiyen sarathy ramanuja dasan

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mUnRAm thiruvandhAdhi – 22 – vadivAr mudikOtti

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avathArikai

In the previous pAsuram, AzhwAr said that it is impossible to speak about emperumAn making an estimate of him. He then looks at his heart and asks it to involve itself in efforts to see him directly.

Let us go through the pAsuram and its meanings:

vadivAr mudikOtti vAnavargaL nALum
kadiyAr malar thUvik kANum padiyAnai
semmaiyAl uLLurugich chevvanE nenjamE
meymmiayE kANa virumbu

Word by Word Meanings

nenjamE – Oh heart!
vAnavargaL – nithyasUris (permanent dwellers of SrIvaikuNtam)
vadivu Ar – being beautiful
mudi – crowns
kOtti – making them worship
kadi Ar malar – having fragrant flowers
nALum – every day
thUvi – offering
kANum padiyAnai – emperumAn who is seen (always) with divine form
semmaiyAl – in a proper way
uL urugi – with mind melting
sevvanE – in a direct way
meymmaiyE  – as it is
kANa – to worship
virumbu – have desire

vyAkyanam

vadivAr mudi kOtti – nithyasUris lower their beautiful crowns, bow down and worship emperumAn. AzhwAr says that it should be like this only [everyone should worship emperumAn].

mudi kOtti – nithyasUris bow down their crowns. Just as nammAzhwAr mercifully mentioned in his thiruvAimozhi 8-4-5 “paNiyA amarar” nithyasUris, like rAvaNa who did not bow down to emperumAn, will not bow down to anyone other than emperumAn.

vAnavargaL – this term could refer to either nithyasUris or to celestial entities such as brahmA et al.

nALum – everyday. Just as we eat every day, nithyasUris will worship emperumAn every day. Has it not been mentioned in rig ashtakam 1-2-7 “sadhA paSyanthi sUraya: ” (nithyasUris constantly see emperumAn)!

kadiyAr malar thUvi – offering fragrant flowers at the divine feet of emperumAn, without expecting any benefit

kANum – as the benefit of offering such flowers, they will be able to see emperumAn. They will engage all their sensory perceptions with emperumAn.

padiyAnai – having divine form. The word padi would refer to either his divine form or his divine characteristics.

semmiayAl uL urugi – melting with the heart, realising in a proper way that emperumAn is the lord and we are servitors.

sevvanE nenjamE – Oh heart! In the way to attain him. This implies having emperumAn as the means for attaining him. Even if you engage in bhakthi (devotion) instead of trying to see him through your efforts, seeing him when he manifests himself on his own.

meymmaiyE kANa virumbu – instead of trying to see only one quality of his and withdrawing, make an effort to see him fully! Have desire in this instead of looking for other benefits. In other words, implying that he is the end goal (benefit). AzhwAr is already enjoying the dharSan of emperumAn. What is meant by asking his heart to desire to see him? Since it has seen emperumAn once, it should not think that it is enough; also, since he is seeing emperumAn in this world only and since he cannot wait patiently to attain paramapadham (SrIvaikuNtam) he is saying this way.

We will take up the 23rd pAsuram next.

adiyEn krishNa rAmAnuja dhAsan

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mUnRAm thiruvandhAdhi – 21 – pEsuvAr evvaLavu

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avathArikai

AzhwAr says “is it not impossible to speak about emperumAn estimating his capabilities?”. In the previous pAsuram, AzhwAr mentioned about vAmanAvathAram and in this pAsuram, he is speaking about krishNavathAram in which emperumAn, like vAmana, moved with everyone without any distinction.

Let us go through the pAsuram and its meanings:

pEsuvAr evvaLavu pEsuvar avvaLavE
vAsa malarththuzhAy mAlaiyAn thEsudaiya
chakkaraththAn sanginAn sArngaththAn pongarava
vakkaranaik konRAn vadivu

Word by Word Meanings

vAsam malar thuzhAy mAlaiyAn – one who is adorning the thuLasi garland which is with fragrant flowers
thEsu udaiya chakkaraththAn – one who is having the radiant divine disc
sanginAn – one who is having SrI pAnchajanniyam (divine conch)
sArngaththAn – having the divine bow sArngam
pongu aravam vakkaranaik konRAn – emperumAn who killed dhanthavakkiran who came with lot of tumult
vadivu – characteristics [of emperumAn]

(when asked how they are)
pEsuvAr evvaLavu pEsuvar avvaLavE – to the extent to which those who speak about them, speak.

vyAkyanam

pEsuvAr evvaLavu pEsuvar avvaLavE – those who have the ability speak, spoke to the extent that they could. He is this much. It is not possible to know about all the characteristics of emperumAn and speak about them. Has it not been mentioned “mathikshayAth nivarthathE na gOvindha guNakshayAth” (people stop talking about gOvindha because of shortage of their knowledge and not because of shortage of his auspicious qualities)! Alternative explanation – he limits himself to the extent that his followers think about him and does not have anything for himself.

vAsam malarth thuzhAy mAlaiyAn – Reasons are given for why he cannot be spoken of, estimating him completely.

vAsam malarth thuzhAy mAlaiyAn – the word vAsam refers to coolness and fragrance. emperumAn is decorated with divine thuLasi garland which has coolness and fragrance, and is symbolic of the fact that he is the lord of all wealth.

thEsudaiya chakkaraththAn sanginAn sArngaththAn – he has divine disc, divine conch and divine bow which have unlimited radiance. It is implied here that his divine weapons add further radiance to his already radiant divine form.

pongu arava vakkaranaik konRAn vadivu – one who killed the demon dhanthavakkiran who came making lot of noise. Alternatively, the divine form of one who killed dhanthavakkiran who came tumultuously and uproariously [this refers to his killing dhanthavakkiran who came to help SiSupAlan when krishNa abducted rukmiNi].

We will take up the 22nd pAsuram next.

adiyEn krishNa rAmAnuja dhAsan

archived in http://divyaprabandham.koyil.org

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thiruvAimozhi – 6.7.7 – malgu nIr

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Full series >> Sixth Centum >> Seventh decad

Previous pAsuram

Introduction for this pAsuram

Highlights from thirukkurukaippirAn piLLAn‘s introduction

No specific introduction.

Highlights from nanjIyar‘s introduction

In the seventh pAsuram, parAnguSa nAyaki‘s mother thinking about her daughter’s tender nature and her weakened state due to the separation from emperumAn, says “we need to think about what she will go through on entering there, only if she can reach there”.

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

malgu nIrk kaNNOdu maiyaluRRa manaththanaLAy
allum nan pagalum nedumAl enRazhaiththu inippOy
selvam malgi avan kidandha thirukkOLUrkkE
olgi olgi nadandhu enganE pugungol osindhE?

Listen

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

malgu – overflowing (due to separation)
nIr – having tears
kaNNodu – with the eyes
maiyal – confusion
uRRa – attained
manaththanaL Ay – one who is having the heart

(having such uncontrollable internal and external senses, due to great attachment)
nan – having goodness (to speak about him)
allum – night
pagalum – day
nedumAl – Oh one who has great love!
enRu – saying that
azhaiththu – calling out
ini – further to such longing
olgi – contracting
olgi – swaying
nadandhu – walking
osindhu – weakening
pOy – left
selvam malgi – having abundance of wealth
avan – he
kidandha – resting
thirukkOLUrkkE – to thirukkOLUr only
enganE – how
pugum kol – will she reach there?

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

My daughter who is having eyes with overflowing tears, confused heart, is calling out “Oh one who has great love!” during night and day which are having goodness; further to such longing, she is contracting, swaying, walking and weakening, and left for thirukkOLUr where he is resting and is having abundance of wealth; how will she reach there?

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

  • malgu nIrk kaNNodu maiyal uRRa manaththanaLAy – While both the senses which, as said in periya thiruvandhAdhi 23 “enREnum katkaNNARkANAdha avvuruvai nejennum ut kaNNERkANum” (The form which cannot be seen by the external eyes, can be seen by the heart which is the internal eye), are unstable, how will she reach there? Eyes became abundantly teary; heart became confused. If both the internal vision and external vision become covered in darkness, how will she go there? Due to the tears in the eyes, she cannot see with her eyes; due to being blinded by love, she cannot see with her heart.
  • malgu nIrk kaNNodu maiyal uRRa manaththanaLAy – The tears identify the eyes and the confusion identifies the heart.
  • maiyal uRRa manaththanaLAy nedumAl enRu azhaiththu – She called out even without the help of the heart.
  • allum nan pagalum – Since this is the time when she calls out for bhagavAn, being engaged in his matters, she calls it good night and good day. While the worldly people are engaged in lowly sensual pleasures and call out for such pleasures, this is the time when she calls out saying “ellAm kaNNan” (everything is krishNa).
  • nedumAl enRu azhaiththu – Calling him out highlighting his great love towards her.
  • inip pOy – After calling him out highlighting his great love towards her, now she is going there to highlight her great love towards him. At this stage of being with eyes which don’t see and heart which is captivated [by him], is she going to enjoy anything else going there?
  • selvam malgi avan kidandha thirukkOLUrkkE – It is due to his arrogance of being very wealthy, he did not come half way across, glance at her and embrace her! If he did not have such arrogance, would he not have come all the way towards her? She is saying that he could have enjoyed her even during the journey but lost the opportunity due to his arrogance.
  • selvam malgi avan kidandha – As said in SrI rAmAyaNam sundhara kANdam 3.24 “samayA bOdhitha: SrImAn …” (SrI rAma, who was blissfully sleeping, was awakened by me), where he is very beautifully resting.
  • avan kidandha – She went to see his beautiful resting posture which is said in the same SlOkam “sukasuptha:” (blissfully sleeping); it is said in thirumAlai 23kidandhadhOr kidakkai” (beautiful resting posture).
  • avan kidandha – How amazing! Instead of her waiting for his arrival, he is awaiting her arrival!
  • olgi olgi nadandhu – It appears that she has to walk ten steps to cross distance of one sep.
  • osindhu – becoming weakened.
  • olgi olgi nadandhu – osindhu – enganE pugum kol – Walking with great difficulty, becoming weakened even being unable to walk in that manner, how will she reach there?
  • nadandhu enganE pugum kol – The mother is thinking that even if her daughter walks, she will not reach. [Why?] She is thinking that since her daughter walks like a swan as said in periya thirumozhi 11.2.5 “annamennadaip pUnguzhali” (one who gracefully walks like a swan and has beautiful hair), she will not reach there.

In the next article we will enjoy the next pAsuram.

adiyen sarathy ramanuja dasan

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mUnRAm thiruvandhAdhi – 20 – mun ulagam

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avathArikai

For those who prayed to him, is he carrying out tasks without transforming himself? AzhwAr says that he carries out their tasks, transforming himself. For those who have got rid of their fear of worldly life, isn’t talking about such activities of emperumAn their pastime? He is asking emperumAn to state such activities himself.

Let us go through the pAsuram and its meanings:

munnulagam uNdumizhndhAykku avvulagam IradiyAl
pinnaLandhu kOdal peridhonRE ennE
thirumAlE sengaNediyAnE engaL
perumAnE nI idhanaip pEsu

Word by Word Meanings

mun – at an earlier point of time
ulagam – all the worlds
uNdu – swallowing them
umizhndhAykku – later spitting them out
avvulagam – those worlds
pin – at a later point of time
Ir adiyAl – with two divine feet
aLandhu kOdal – measuring [them]
peridhu onRE – is it a huge task? [No]
thirumAlE – Oh consort of mahAlakshmi!
sem kaN nediyAnE – Oh supreme being, having reddish divine eyes!
engaL perumAnE – our swAmy (lord)
nI idhanai pEsu – you have to tell (for me to know)
ennE – how amazing is this!

vyAkyanam

mun ulagam uNdu umizhndhAykkuAzhwAr says “for you who had carried out activities such as swallowing the worlds and spitting them out”, it is not a great act (measuring the worlds).

avvulagam IradiyAl pin aLandhu kOdal peridhonRE – this world was ready to be moulded as per your wish. This world had suffered just like cotton does when it undergoes twelve transformations from beginning to end such as (1) removing the seed (2) beating (3) curling (4) forming thread (5) making warp and weft (6) weaving (7) folding (8) selling (9) washing (10) drying (11) wearing (12) tearing.  Did you think that it was a great act when you measured this world with your two divine feet after receiving it as alms when you asked for three steps of land? Did you not carry out that activity out of love for the world!

ennE – How amazing is this! AzhwAr says this with the same involvement as was exhibited by nammAzhwAr when he said as in thiruvAimozhi 1-3-1eththiRam” (how amazing!). emperumAn’s simplicity is causing distress to AzhwAr. Is there any congruence between your greatness and this lowly activity of asking for alms?

thirumAlE sengaN nediyAnE – did you carry out this activity realising who you are? Didn’t you, the consort of mahAlakshmi who is the presiding deity for all wealth in this world, ask for alms! Didn’t you, having reddish eyes due to the happiness of being her consort, ask for alms!

sengaN – Just as chAdhOgya upanishath says “kapyAsam puNdarIkamEvamakshiNI” (having eyes like lotus just blossomed by sun), you, who are having lotus like eyes, asked for alms.

nediyAnE – one who has immeasurable greatness! AzhwAr is asking him whether he asked for alms because of any fault in his greatness. He is asking whether he carried out such great activities because of his greatness.

engaL perumAnE nI idhanaip pEsu – don’t you, who carried out such tasks for indhra et al who desire other benefits, have to carry out such tasks for people like us too who do not desire any benefit other than you? Hence you have to say this.

nI idahnaip pEsu – are you only carrying out these activities? Could you also not speak about these? Even as AzhwAr is asking him these questions, emperumAn is quite happy listening to him. AzhwAr wants to spend his time, listening to emperumAn.

We will take up the 21st pAsuram next.

adiyEn krishNa rAmAnuja dhAsan

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thiruvAimozhi – 6.7.6 – inRu enakku

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Full series >> Sixth Centum >> Seventh decad

Previous pAsuram

Introduction for this pAsuram

Highlights from thirukkurukaippirAn piLLAn‘s introduction

No specific introduction.

Highlights from nanjIyar‘s introduction

In the sixth pAsuram, parAnguSa nAyaki‘s mother says “After reaching thirukkOLUr and seeing his friendly glance etc, my daughter, out of great joy, weakens more”.

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.

She will feel happy only when her daughter enters thirukkOLUr and sustains herself. In the previous pAsuram, she said “how will she enjoy” and in this pAsuram she is explaining how she enjoys. This is the struggle of the divine mother of parAnguSa nAyaki – on the one hand she is meditating on the target (emperumAn) of her daughter; on the other hand, she is meditating upon the state of her daughter!

pAsuram

inRu enakku udhavAdhaganRa iLamAn inip pOy
then thisaith thiladham anaiya thirukkOLUrkkE
senRu than thirumAl thirukkaNNum sevvAyum kaNdu
ninRu ninRu naiyum nedum kaNgaL pani malgavE

Listen

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

enakku – to me (who is suffering in separation from her)
inRu – now
udhavAdhu – without helping
aganRa – left
iLa mAn – my little daughter
pOy – went with anguish
then thisai – for the southern direction
thiladham anaiya – decoration like a thilak (a beautiful symbol on the forehead)
thirukkOLUrkkE – in thirukkOLUr
senRu – entered
ini – now (after entering)
than – one who eliminated her relationship with her relatives (by bestowing union with him which is dear to her)
thirumAl – SrImAn’s (consort of SrI mahAlakshmi)
thiru – glancing lovingly
kaNNum – divine eyes
sem – shining radiantly due to the welcoming words
vAyum – lips
kaNdu – after seeing

(her)
nedu – wide
kaNgaL – eyes
pani malga – filled with happy tears due to great bliss
ninRu ninRu – every moment
naiyum – weakens.

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

Without helping me, my little daughter left me with anguish now and entered thirukkOLUr; now, after seeing the SrImAn who eliminated her relationship with her relatives, lovingly glancing with his divine eyes and the lips shining radiantly due to the welcoming words, she is becoming weak every moment with her wide eyes filled with happy tears due to great bliss.

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

  • inRu enakku udhavAdhu aganRa – One gives birth to a child and nurtures the child, so that the child helps when in danger [need]. Is there any greater danger than being lonely in separation from her daughter and the current situation? She is not helping me now! SrI rAmAyaNam ayOdhyA kANdam 59.26 “athO nu kim dhu:khatharam sOham ikshvAku nandhanam | imAm avasthAm Apanna nEha paSyAmi rAghavam ||” (Having attained this state, I am not seeing SrI rAma, the scion of ikshvAku dynasty; what is more sorrowful than this?) – “Did I not perform penance for long time and beget you as my son, to have you at this juncture of suffering in separation? Alas! I have lost you today!” said dhaSaratha.
  • enakku udhavAdhu – This is the difference between [dhaSaratha] chakravarthi and self [mother]; as said in nAchchiyAr thirumozhi 9.9 “Remaining helpless”; did I treat you like other mothers would do? I always considered your happiness as mine. And she is the mediator for her daughter’s dear lord. thiruvAimozhi 6.7.6pirAn irundhamai kAttinIr” (you showed the lord), periya thirumozhi 3.7.7 “annaiyum aththanum enRu adiyOmukku irangiRRilaL” (She did not show mercy upon us (parents) who considered ourselves as her servitor). Should one who plans to leave, cause us blame while leaving? Should she consider us servitors as her controller? Why did she leave us who would have accompanied her!
  • aganRu – Why did she leave us in this manner! At least she could have remained in the same town as we!
  • iLa mAn – She is in the adolescent stage where she did not realise “I have left my own mother”! What can we do if it is her age doing it!
  • inip pOy – There is none closer/greater than mother among the relatives! While she has great attachment towards emperumAn even to discard her own mother, what more is she seeking there? After giving up the unnatural aspects, should we need to separately pursue that which is natural?
  • then thisai … – The southern direction which is known as “mlechchA bhUmi”, is looked down upon by the Aryas (the wise); though it is said like that, just as one nice ornament will make other ornaments to shine, due to the presence of thirukkOLUr, the whole southern direction became laudable. SrI rAmAyaNam AraNya kANdam 11.82 “dhakshiNa dhik kruthA yEna SaraNyA puNya karmaNA” (The southern direction was made to be the refuge for everyone by agasthya who has glorious history).
  • thirukkOLUrkkE senRu – It appears great for the divine mother.  For her daughter, the journey, entry into the town and seeing him – all of these are desirable. Just as the journey through archirAdhi gathi (the path which leads to paramapadham), the paramapadham itself and emperumAn who is constantly seen/enjoyed after entering in there are desirable and part of the goal [for an AthmA].
  • than thirumAl – As said in mahAbhAratham “sarvEshAmEva lOkAnAm pithA mAthA cha mAdhava:” (SrIman nArAyaNan is the father and mother for all the creatures in the world) – whatever relations she gave up here, he becomes all of them. He being the goal is in the form of the divine lord of SrI mahAlakshmi. She cannot focus on anything other than emperumAn‘s form with his divine consort.
  • thirukkaNNum sevvAyum kaNdu – To beg for pardon for making her come before he could have gone there, he glances gently, and the lips which tremble to say some kind words. This is how emperumAn‘s “kOvai vAy thudippa mazhaik kaNgaL” (thiruvAimozhi 6.7.3 – trembling reddish lips and eyes with rain like tears) is.
  • ninRu ninRu naiyum – Will break into pieces as days go by. When she sees him, she can no longer remember the separation; she becomes immersed in the emotions of emperumAn. She remains as said in thirukkuraL 1286 “kANungAl kANEn thavaRAna kANAkkAl kANEn thavaRallavai” (When I see my beloved, I do not see any faults, but when I do not see him, I do not see anything but his faults).
  • nedum kaNgaL pani malgavE – My whole eyes become filled with tears.
  • ninRu ninRu naiyum – Weakened continuously. Like the shore which will give in when there is a flood.
  • nedum kaNgaL pani malgavE – Just as the heart becomes weakened, the eyes become teary. When she goes to see him, the tears in his eyes become a hurdle for her. There is no difference between happy tears or sad tears; whatever stops, that becomes enemy; I got to enjoy the entity which is said in bruhadhAraNyaka upanishath 6-5-6 “dhrashtavya:” (one who is to be seen).

In the next article we will enjoy the next pAsuram.

adiyen sarathy ramanuja dasan

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mUnRAm thiruvandhAdhi – 19 – aruLAdhu ozhiyumE

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avathArikai

AzhwAr had requested emperumAn to grace him to be without fear. His divine mind told him “If we compel him like this to grace us, would it mean that we are qualified to ask him for his mercy? Or, is he capable of showering his grace on us?” and backtracks. AzhwAr then consoles his mind saying “There is nothing in this, you see. Before showering his grace on people who are qualified, he will grace even unqualified people like us due to his ability to achieve impossible tasks. Hence do not fear”.

Let us go through the pAsuram and its meanings:

aruLAdhu ozhiyumE Alilai mEl anRu
theruLAdha piLLaiyAich chErndhAn iruLAdha
sindhaiyarAych chEvadikkE semmalar thUyk kaithozhudhu
mudhaiyarAy niRpArkku mun

Word by Word Meanings

iruLAdha sindhaiyarAy – having a heart which has not been touched by the darkness of ignorance
sE adikkE – for the reddish divine feet
sem malar thUy – submitting fresh flowers
kai thozhudhu – joining the palms together as anjali
mundhaiyarAy niRpArkku –  devotees  who stand at the forefront (in emperumAn’s matter)
anRu – at an earlier point of time
theruLAdha piLLai Ay – as an innocent child
Al ilai mEl sErndhAn – emperumAn who took rest on a tender banyan leaf
mun aruLAdhu ozhiyumE – will he not shower grace ahead?

vyAkyanam

aruLAdhu ozhiyumE – Will he remain without showering grace on us? Will he remain without gracing us despite our being qualified? thirumazhisai AzhwAr also  mercifully mentions in thiruchchandha viruththam 115 “eththinAl idark kadal kidaththi Ezhai nenjamE” (Oh foolish heart! Why are you immersed in the sea of sorrows?). Was it not for us that emperumAn had said in SrI bhagavath gIthA 18-66 “aham thvA sarva pApEbhyO mOkshayishyAmi ” (I will liberate you from all sins)!

Alilai mEl anRu theruLAdha piLLaiyAych chErndhAn – the innocent child who reclined on a tender banyan leaf. For one who carried out the impossible task of keeping all the worlds in his stomach as a child, it is not that he cannot shower his mercy. When the worlds were under deluge, even without anyone asking him to protect, he protected all by keeping them in his stomach. AzhwAr is asking whether he would not shower his mercy on us to remain without fear when he is showering his mercy on those who do not even know to ask him to shower his mercy on them. He says that people would have hoped that he would protect them from deluge of samsAram just as he protected the worlds from [actual] deluge.  He says that he carried out an impossible task when he reclined on a tender banyan leaf which had just sprouted when the worlds were about to be destroyed.

iruLAdha sindhaiyarAy – those with hearts which do not have any ignorance with regard to matter concerning emperumAn.

sEvadikkE semmalar thUyk kaithozhudhu – offering fresh flowers to his reddish, divine feet. Worshipping him with hands, offering him flowers.

mundhaiyarAy niRpArrku mun – you would see [AzhwAr tells his heart] that he will grace us ahead of those who are standing in the forefront. He will delay showering his grace on those who are trying to attain him on their own efforts. For those like us who are holding on to him, he will shower his grace ahead [of others].

theruLAdha piLLaiyAy – during deluge, emperumAn did not have the knowledge to make a distinction between those who prayed to him to protect them and those who did not pray to him for protection. Isn’t that the reason that he protected everyone in his stomach!

We will take up the 20th pAsuram next.

adiyEn krishNa rAmAnuja dhAsan

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