Monthly Archives: October 2018

thiruvAimozhi – 7.8.1 – mAyA! vAmananE!

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Full series >> Seventh Centum >> Eighth decad

Introduction for this pAsuram

Highlights from thirukkurukaippirAn piLLAn‘s introduction

No specific introduction.

Highlights from nanjIyar‘s introduction

In the first pAsuram, AzhwAr mediates upon emperumAn having variegated causes and effects as his wealth, and asks emperumAn “how is this!” in amazement.

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

mAyA! vAmananE! madhusUdhA! nI aruLAy
thIyAy nIrAy nilanAy visumbAyk kAlAy
thAyAyth thandhaiyAy makkaLAy maRRumAy muRRumAy
nIyA nI ninRavARu ivai enna niyAyangaLE!

Listen

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

mAyA – Oh one who has naturally amazing abilities
vAmananE – (matching such ability, one who requested for alms in a tiny form as the huge mEru mountain was shrunk into a small stone) being vAmana
madhusUdhA – Oh one who destroys (like you destroyed madhu to eliminate the doubts of those who doubted your variegated abilities)!
nI – yourself
aruLAy – should kindly explain the way you have your variegated wealth;
thI nIr nilan visumbu kAl – five great elements which are the cause for the spherical universe
thAy thandhai makkaL maRRum – mother, father, children et al (who are all residents in the universe and are unique in their own ways)
muRRum – all entities which are connected to mother, father, children et al
Ay – having them as prakAram (form) to have them at your full disposal

(not limited to that)
nIyAy – being the one with distinguished form
nI – you
ninRa – remaining
ivai ARu – this manner
enna – what
niyAyangaL – are under [what] principles?

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

Oh one who has naturally amazing abilities! Oh vAmana! Oh destroyer of madhu! You should kindly explain the way you have your variegated wealth; under what principles, are you remaining in this manner with the five great elements which are the cause for the spherical universe, mother, Father, children et al and all entities which are connected to them, as your form and being the one with a distinguished form as well? AzhwAr is mercifully saying “since the causal entities are themselves present as effectual entities, bhagavAn who is the antharyAmi of everyone/everything, without being contaminated with the faults of those entities, should himself mercifully explain these confidential principles of vEdhAntham”.

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

  • mAyA – This one word is the essence of this decad.
  • vAmananE – The meaning of the word mAyA is well manifested here. AzhwAr is saying “born on one day, grew up on the same day, went to mahAbali and stood in front of him, mercifully spoke so convincingly that he will follow every word of it, showed small feet and measured the world with huge feet, and oh vAmana who thought about all of these ahead!”
  • madhusUdhA – Just as vAmanAvathAram is for amazing acts, madhusUdhanAvathAram is for eliminating hurdles.
  • madhusUdhA nI aruLAy – Just as you killed madhu, you should mercifully eliminate my doubts as well.
  • thIyAy … – The variegatedness which is seen in the effect, will be seen in cause as well. That is, each one is distinct in nature. In this manner, emperumAn is the controller of the five great elements.
  • thAyAy … – Even the effectual entities, what is done by mother is not done by father; the help done by father is not done by the sons; the help done by the sons is not done by the relatives; in this manner, being all types of relatives.
  • muRRumAy – Oh controller of all those related entities in the form of chEthanas (sentient beings) and achEthanas (insentient objects) who are not mentioned here!
  • nIyAy – His distinguished form is unlike [much more glorious than] the universal form. AzhwAr acquired great knowledge that emperumAn‘s presence in paramapadham being enjoyed by the nithyasUris and his having universal form, are equally enjoyable.
  • nI ninRavARu – The manner in which you remained with these variegated forms.
  • ivai enna niyAyangaLE – How amazing these forms are! Though in the beginning itself AzhwAr has enjoyed emperumAn‘s wealth, he is enjoying emperumAn’s wealth as if he has never experienced them, just as while experiencing emperumAn’s qualities is ever fresh as mentioned in thiruvAimozhi 2.5.4appozhudhaikku appozhudhu en ArAvamudhamE” (every moment, emperumAn is like infinitely relishable nectar).
  • ivai enna niyAyangaLE nI aruLAy – You should kindly explain this. Just as you cleared the doubt of arjuna as said in SrI bhagavath gIthA 6.39thvadhanya: samSayasyAsya chEththA na hyupapadhyathE” (none other than you are qualified to clear this doubt), you should clear my doubt as well.

In the next article we will enjoy the next pAsuram.

adiyen sarathy ramanuja dasan

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periya thiruvandhAdhi – 13 – vazhakkodu mAru

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avathArikai

In the 11th pAsuram, AzhwAr spoke about how emperumAn allowed him to unite with himself when AzhwAr left him thinking that he is unsuitable for emperumAn. In this pAsuram he requests emperumAn “If you do not wish to allow me to leave, you must allow me to get near you, see you with my eyes and experience you”.

Let us go through the pAsuram and its meanings:

vazhakkodu mARukolanRu adiyAr vENda
izhakkavum kANdum iRaiva izhappuNdE
emmAtkoNdAgilum yAn vENda en kaNgaL
thammARkAttu un mEnichchAy

Word by Word Meanings

iRaiva – Oh the supreme being!
odu – clinging (to samsAris)
vazhakku anRu – is not appropriate (for you)
mARu koL vazhakku anRu – expecting something in return (from them) is also not appropriate
adiyAr vENda – when followers beseeched
izhakkavum kANdum – we have seen (masters) losing (themselves and their possessions) while carrying out tasks (for their followers)
izhappu uNdE – could your followers lose?
Agilum – even if you have to obtain something from us
yAn vENda – as I pray
em AL koNdu – making me as a servitor
en kaNgaL thammAl – for these biological eyes of mine
un mEni chAy – the beauty of your divine form
kAttu – please manifest

vyAkyAnam

vazhakkodu mARukoLanRu – this should be split as odu vazhakkanRu and mARukoL vazhakkanRu to get the correct meanings. odu refers to connection with samsAris (dwellers of materialistic realm). odu vazhakkanRu – AzhwAr tells emperumAn that it is not appropriate for emperumAn to approach a samsAri and stand in front of him. mARukoL vazhakkanRu – unlike people (samsAris) who expect a return of compliment when one helps another, it is not appropriate for emperumAn to expect any return of favour when he gives a benefit to a samsAri. mARu – return of help (as an exchange).

emperumAn asks AzhwAr to explain what he intends saying . . . .

adiyAr vENda izhakkavum kANdum – in the world we see a leader with noble qualities losing himself and his possessions in order to fulfil the wishes of his followers when they approach him.

emperumAn counters saying that he will have such a compulsion only if AzhwAr is his (emperumAn’s) follower.

iRaiva – it does not matter whether I am a follower or not. The fact that you are the lord cannot be obliterated. When you are the lord, will it not follow as a natural corollary that I am the follower?

izhappuNdE – While it may happen in the world that followers (of others) may not have their wishes fulfilled, is there any such loss for your followers?

emperumAn asks AzhwAr “If you have to obtain whatever you desire without any loss, should you not have some connection with servitorship?” AzhwAr responds  . . .

emmAtkoNdAgilum yAn vEnda – this could be rearranged to get Agilum yAm vENda em AtkoNdu – If I say “I too want such and such” you should consider my request [my prayer to you] itself as a kainkaryam (service) and fulfil my desire.

emperumAn further asks AzhwAr “What is the desire that you wish to have fulfilled ”, AzhwAr says …

en kaNgaL thammAr kAttu un mEnichchAy – you must manifest the beauty of your divine form such that I could see that with these eyes of mine. It is not enough if you say “I will show you in paramapadham”. What is the purpose in showing it in some other place with some other form of mine when I want to see you here, with these eyes? Will a person’s hunger be sated if another person eats food? Did not sIthAppirAtti too desire to attain emperumAn with the same physical form and in the same place, as mentioned in SrI rAmAyaNam sundhara kANdam 40-3 “yathA tham purushavyAgram gAthrai: SOkAbhikarSithai: I samspruSEyamsakAmAham thathA kuru dhayAm mayi II ” (you should shower your mercy on me such that I, having lot of affection, would be able to touch the greatest man [SrI rAma] with these limbs which have become wizened due to grief)? Just as ANdAL had desired to carry out service in this birth itself, as mentioned in nAchchiyAr thirumozhi 13-9 “gOvindhaRkOr kuRREval immaippiRavi seyyAdhE inippOychcheyyum thavandhAnen?AzhwAr too desires to see emperumAn with these eyes.

We will take up the 14th pAsuram next.

adiyEn krishNa rAmAnuja dhAsan

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thiruvAimozhi – 7.8 – mAyA! vAmananE!

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Full series >> Seventh Centum

<< Previous decad

Audio

Highlights from thirukkurukaippirAn piLLAn‘s introduction

See nampiLLai’s introduction.

Highlights from nanjIyar‘s introduction

See nampiLLai’s introduction.

Highlights from vAdhi kEsari azhagiya maNavALa jIyar‘s introduction

In the eighth decad – AzhwAr observed emperumAn‘s vaichithriyam (diversity) of stopping the physical experience while he was having uruveLippAdu (visualisation) and causing him great anguish, AzhwAr thinks about emperumAn having such diversified ability, highlights the following aspects of emperumAn:

  1. his amazing form of being a mendicant/seeker
  2. his supremacy which was acquired due to attaining the desired aspect
  3. his obedience towards his devotees, while having such supremacy
  4. his puNdarIkAkshathvam (being lotus-eyed) which reveals his supremacy and simplicity
  5. his being infinitely enjoyable for ananyaprayOjanars (those who are exclusively devoted to him)
  6. his activities which cause bewilderment
  7. his causing sorrow etc based on one’s karma
  8. his being unintelligible even for greatly knowledgeable persons
  9. his ultimate subtleness which is the cause for not being able to understand him
  10. his having chith and achith as prakAram (form) as highlighted by well established scriptures

AzhwAr meditated upon these aspects and questioned emperumAn who is seen by his intelligence “How are you, with such aspects, having amazing ability to have the universe which is having such contradictory aspects, as your wealth?” and becomes satisfied thinking that he has nothing to do in eliminating his own hurdles.

Highlights from periyavAchchAn piLLai‘s introduction

See nampiLLai‘s introduction.

Highlights from nampiLLai‘s introduction

In the previous decad – AzhwAr experienced uruvuveLippAdu (visualisation) in previous decad; as he could not reach out to emperumAn, he understood it to be mere visualisation. Now, he also understands that sarvESvaran will keep him in this material realm until emperumAn accomplishes the desire task; yet, as he cannot sustain himself without emperumAn, he will not remain patient thinking about this aspect. Even if AzhwAr prays to emperumAn saying “please eliminate my hurdles”, he will not fulfil that until AzhwAr completes his prabandham. Though he does not fulfil AzhwAr’s desire, emperumAn knows how to sustain him in this material realm. Hence, as some entities [fish etc] are sustained by keeping them together with water, AzhwAr too is sustained so that he never perishes nor lives happily and is tormented; meditating upon this, he says to emperumAn “though I don’t fit in this material realm, you are keeping me here and making me live; kindly explain to me this amazing act of yours”; as those who would divert others when a particular question is asked by answering in an unrelated manner, emperumAn said “Are you amazed by this one aspect? You now behold my variegated universal form!” and manifested his amazing universal form – though AzhwAr did not expect to see that, since it was shown by emperumAn himself, it will be pleasing for AzhwAr. Hence, as AzhwAr asked one question, emperumAn manifested many amazing aspects and satisfied him. akrUra, on the banks of yamunA, stepped in to the river and saw the children (krishNa and balarAma) inside the river as well and being fearful looked out; he saw them there as well; seeing them there, he said as in SrIvishNu purANam 5.19.7 “jagath Ethath mahAScharyam  rUpam yasya mahAthmana: | thEnAScharya varENAham bhavathA krishNa sangatha: ||” (Oh krishNa! I united with you who are having amazing activities and with you, the mahAthmA (great soul) who are having this amazing universe as your form) and became amazed; AzhwAr too becomes amazed seeing his variegated universal form.

Each pAsuram is discussed subsequently.

adiyen sarathy ramanuja dasan

archived in http://divyaprabandham.koyil.org

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SrIvaishNava education/kids portal – http://pillai.koyil.org

periya thiruvandhAdhi – 12 – nIyanRE Azhthuyaril

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avathArikai

After approaching emperumAn, AzhwAr grieves for the time that he had lost [in not being with emperumAn earlier] and loathes his heart which did not stop him [when he moved away from emperumAn].

Let us go through the pAsuram and its meanings:

nIyanRE Azhthuyaril vIzhvippAn ninRuzhanRAy
pOyonRu solliyen pO nenjE nIyenRum
kAzhththubadhEsam tharinum kaikkoLLAy kaNNan thAL
vAzhththuvadhE kaNdAy vazhakku

Word by Word Meanings

nenjE – Oh [my] mind!
Azh thuyaril – in deep sorrow
vIzhvippAn – to push (me)
ninRu uzhanRAy – one who made perennial efforts
nI anRE – was it not you?
pOy – repeatedly
onRu solli – by saying one word
en – what is the purpose?
pO – leave this
upadhEsam tharinum – even if I instruct you (about emperumAn’s simplicity)
nI – you
kAzhththu – getting angry (with me)
enRum kaikkoLLAy – you do not recognise (that instruction)
kaNNan thAL – the divine feet of krishNa
vAzhththuvadhE – to keep praising
vazhakku kaNdAy – is appropriate for us, please see

vyAkyAnam

nIyanRE Azh thuyaril vIzhvippAn ninRu uzhanRAy – the interpretation for Azh thuyar (deep sorrow) could be taken as either [AzhwAr] leaving the presence of emperumAn considering himself as being “unsuitable” or losing out on emperumAn on account of engaging with worldly matters for a very long time. AzhwAr is making his heart as the reason for not stopping him when he was engaging with worldly matters or when he was leaving emperumAn.

His heart, finding that all along AzhwAr was praising it with words such as mundhuRRa nenjE (as in the 1st pAsuram), yAmE sEyOm en nenjinAr sArndhozhindhAr (pAsuram 7) and nal nenjE (pAsuram 10), asks him as to why he was finding fault with it now for his wrong-doing. AzhwAr says . . .

pOy onRu solli en pO nenjE – I am telling you about your not stopping me when I was deep in sorrow. AzhwAr tells his heart “What is the purpose in our blaming each other? Let us leave this argument at this”. The word pO gives the meaning of “Leave it aside”.

AzhwAr tells his heart further that not listening to his instruction for a long time is also a reason for his present predicament.

upadhEsam tharinum nI enRum kAzhththuk kaikkoLLAyAzhwAr says “Did you not remain aloof and become angry with me when I instructed you, for a long time, not to think that sarvESvaran (supreme entity) has only greatness and that he has the quality of simplicity too? ”

His heart tells him “Now tell me as to what is to be done”. AzhwAr says . . .

kaNNan thAL vAzhththuvadhE vazhakku kaNdAy – We should not stand aloof when emperumAn is ready to accept us. It is appropriate for you to keep praising the divine feet of kaNNan (krishNa) who has qualities such as simplicity, affability etc.

We will go on to the 13th pAsuram next.

adiyEn krishNa rAmAnuja dhAsan

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thiruvAimozhi – 7.7.11 – katkariya piraman

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Full series >> Seventh 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 end, AzhwAr says “Those who know this decad, will not go through the sufferings which I endured in this decad, and will eternally associate with ayarvaRum amarargaL (nithyasUris)”.

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

katkariya piraman sivan indhiran enRivarkkum
katkariya kaNNanaik kurugUrch chatakOpan sonna
utkudai AyiraththuL ivaiyum oru paththum vallAr
utkudai vAnavarOdu udanAy enRum mAyArE

Listen

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

katku – for the eyes (of humans et al)
ariya – difficult to see
piraman sivan indhiran – brahmA, rudhra, indhra et al
enRu – as told
ivarkkum katku – for their eyes
ariya – difficult to see
kaNNanai – krishNa
kurugUrch chatakOpan – AzhwAr (who experienced through visualisation)
sonna – mercifully spoke
utku – strength (to reveal bhagavAn’s svarUpa (true nature), rUpa (forms), guNa (qualities) etc)
udai – having
AyiuraththuL – among the thousand pAsurams
oru – distinguished (due to revealing bhagavAn’s great beauty)
ivaiyum paththum – this decad
vallAr – those who can practice
utku udai – those with strength (to eternally experience bhagavAn)
vAnavarOdu – with the residents of paramapadham
enRum – always
udanAy – to be known as equals
mAyAr – will live (without destruction in nature of self which is in the form of bondage in samsAram).

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

AzhwAr mercifully spoke this distinguished decad among the thousand pAsurams which are having strength [to reveal bhagavAn’s true nature, forms, qualities etc] and which are on krishNa who is difficult to be seen by the eyes of brahmA, rudhra, indhra et al who are told to be difficult to be seen by the eyes of humans et al. Those who can practice this decad will be always known as equals to the residents of paramapadham who have the strength to eternally experience bhagavAn and will live with them.

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

  • katkariya … – krishNa who cannot be seen by the eyes of dhEvathAs such as brahmA et al who cannot be seen by the eyes of humans. krishNa, who cannot be seen by brahmA et al, revealed himself to AzhwAr through visualisation so that AzhwAr cannot forget him and krishNa chased and surrounded AzhwAr wherever he went. Just as he made it difficult for the eyes of brahmA et al to see him, he manifested himself to AzhwAr, as said in “sUzhavum thAmarai nANmalarmEl vandhu thOnRum” (he came and appeared like fresh lotus flower).
  • kurugUrch chatakOpan sonna – Mercifully spoken by AzhwAr.
  • utkudai AyiraththuL … – Among the thousand pAsurams which have the strength to reveal the subject matter as it is, those who can practice this decad, will become united with the nithyasUris who have the qualification to keep enjoying bhagavAn while eternally experiencing him.
  • enRum mAyArE – AzhwAr is considering uruveLippAdu (visualisation) and mAygai (separation) as synonyms. mAyAr – will not separate. They will become part of the assembly of devotees as said in thiruvAimozhi – 2.3.10adiyArgaL kuzhAngaLai – udan kUduvadhu“. Unlike sufferings inflicted by bhagavath apachAram (offenses committed towards bhagavAn) and bhAgavatha apachAram (offenses committed towards bhAgavathas), this suffering [of AzhwAr] is caused after getting acceptance of bhagavAn and not having that joy perpetually. As in deluge, AzhwAr’s eyes is directly covered by emperumAn‘s eyes [not letting him see anything else and hence suffering. Such suffering will not be there for those who practice this decad].
  • sUzhavum – [trick] All of these are done by him over his neck [i.e – suffering inflicted by his facial beauty; this would also mean that he inflicted this suffering just from his mouth and not from his heart].

In the next article we will enjoy the next pAsuram.

adiyen sarathy ramanuja dasan

archived in http://divyaprabandham.koyil.org

pramEyam (goal) – http://koyil.org
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periya thiruvandhAdhi – 11 – nAzhAl amar muyanRa

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avathArikai

Looking at the greatness of emperumAn, when AzhwAr tried to move away from him thinking that he is unsuitable to be with emperumAn, emperumAn removed that thought from AzhwAr and made him to praise him again. After seeing this ability, AzhwAr wonders “For you who won over me and made me unite with you, is winning over rAvaNa a great deed?” In the interpretation where AzhwAr said a few words in frustration after being unable to see emperumAn directly, we can consider that emperumAn showed his form of ruling all the universe and his activity of destroying the demon, thus bringing clarity in AzhwAr and removing his frustration.

Let us go through the pAsuram and its meanings:

nAzhAl amarmuyanRa vallarakkan innuyirai
vAzhA vagai validhal nin valiyE AzhAdha
pArunI vAnunI kAlunI thIyunI
nIrunI Ay ninRa nI

Word by Word Meanings

AzhAdha pArum nI – you are the earth which does not submerge in water and which floats
vAnum nI – you are the ethereal layer too
kAlum nI – you are wind too
thIyum nI – you are fire too
nIrum nI – you are water too
Ay ninRa nI – you are the antharAthmA (indwelling soul) for all these
nAzhAl – due to his pride
amar muyanRa – one who fought with you
val arakkan – the powerful demon rAvaNa
in uyirai – (his) dear life
vAzhA vagai validhal – hurting (that rAvaNa) such that he could not live
nin valiyE – is it any great skill (for you)?

vyAkyAnam

nAzhAl amar muyanRa vallarakkan innuyirai vAzhA vagai validhal nin valiyE – due to his arrogance that he is the king of all demons, rAvaNa, ignorant of the fact that he should not stand in fight with SrI rAma, waged a war with him. SrI rAma destroyed him in such a way that he lost his dear life. AzhwAr is asking whether this is such a great ability for emperumAn. The opinion here is that for emperumAn who was able to win over AzhwAr who was about to leave his presence considering himself to be unsuitable to be with emperumAn, the act of destruction of rAvaNa does not appear to be a patch on the former act. Thus it is clear that those who move away from emperumAn considering themselves to be ‘unsuitable’ will be on a par with rAvaNa who separated sIthAppirAtti from emperumAn.

AzhAdha pArum nI vAnum nI kAlum nI thIyum nI nIrum nI Ay ninRa nI – Contrasting elements such as soil [earth] which will dissolve in water, water which will put out fire etc are all emperumAn’s wealth. You are the indwelling soul for all these five elements which are your wealth. You unite all these elements and rule over them. For a person with such great ability (to put together contrasting entities) is making me appropriate for you such a great skilful act? For you who are the antharyAmi for these elements, who are their controller and who are referred to by any word which refers to any of these five elements, is making us, who are under your control and who cannot sustain ourselves if we do not attain you, suitable for you, such a great deed? We can also consider this to mean that just as killing rAvaNa is not a great deed, making us appropriate for you is also not a great deed.

We will move on to the 12th pAsuram next.

adiyEn krishNa rAmAnuja dhAsan

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thiruvAimozhi – 7.7.10 – niRRi muRRaththuL

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Full series >> Seventh 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 tenth pAsuram, parAnguSa nAyaki says “My heart is captivated by the beauty of his crown; your scolding me has no purpose”.

Highlights from vAdhi kEsari azhagiya maNavALa jIyar‘s introduction

Subsequently, parAnguSa nAyaki explains how her heart became attached to his divine crown which reveals his supremacy.

Highlights from periyavAchchAn piLLai‘s introduction

See nanjIyar‘s introduction.

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

Tenth pAsuram. parAnguSa nAyaki explains how the beauty of his divine crown is tormenting her thinking “even the SrIya:pathi (lord of SrI mahAlakshmi) is wearing me on his head, for this situation [to torment her]”.

pAsuram

niRRi muRRaththuL enRu neriththa kaiyarAy ennai nIr
suRRiyum sUzhndhum vaidhir sudarch chOdhi maNi niRamAy
muRRa im mU ulagum viriginRa sudar mudikkE
oRRumaik koNdadhuLLam annaimIr! nasai en nungatkE

Listen

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

(From inside)
muRRaththuL – in the courtyard
niRRi – standing there
enRu – saying
neriththa – pressed [in anger]
kaiyarAy – having hand
ennai – me
nIr – you
suRRiyum – surrounding
sUzhndhum – (due to anger) tricking
vaidhir – scolding me;
sudar – spreading as radiance
sOdhi – having shining
maNi – gems
niRamAy – having complexion
im mU ulagu – the world which has three types of chEthanas (sentient beings) and achEthanas (insentient objects)
muRRavum – all
viriginRa – pervading
sudar – having radiance
mudikkE – in the divine crown
uLLam – heart
oRRumaik koNdadhu – became attached;
annaimIr – oh mothers!
nungatku – for you (who are scolding me)
nasai – having desire (towards me)
en – what is the use?

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

You are saying “you are standing in the courtyard”, having hands pressed, surrounding me, tricking me and scolding me; my heart became attached to the radiant, divine crown [of emperumAn] which is spreading like radiance, having the complexion of shining gems and pervading the world which has three types of chEthanas and achEthanas;  oh mothers! what is the use for you to have desire towards me?

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

  • niRRi … – Unless she tells them to give up attachment towards her, it appears that they won’t give up on her.
  • niRRi muRRaththuL enRu – They will say “Why are you standing in the courtyard?” They thought “instead of staying in the bed, she has risen and is standing in the courtyard to be seen by everyone – what is more shameful than this?” SrI rAmAyaNam ayOdhyA kANdam 33.7 “yA naSakyA” (one (sIthAp pirAtti) who was not seen even by those who wander in the sky). They are thinking her act to be similar to that which is mentioned in the same SlOkam “rAjamArgagathAjanA:” (those who are walking on the road are seeing her). They are pressing their hands in anger for her courageous act of stepping out to the courtyard.
  • ennai nIr – I who was brought out to the courtyard by the uruvu veLippAdu (visualisation) and you who are fortunate to remain unharmed by this visualisation. I who was brought out to the courtyard by him, and you who have nothing to do with this.
  • suRRiyum sUzhndhum vaidhir – Analysing within your heart thinking “how to make her escape from this situation?” and standing around me, being unable to leave. Alternative explanation – you are scolding me, going in and out of the place.
  • sudarch chOdhi … – Unlike them who are standing in a particular place trying to help her escape, it (the divine crown) remains everywhere tormenting her. She is saying “my heart became fully attached to the divine crown which is pervading its radiance everywhere we see and is having the radiance of a very shining gemstone”. Alternatively, saying “I have written myself off for the divine crown”.
  • annaimIr nasai en nungatkE – You mothers should give up attachment towards me. The mothers should beget the girl, raise her and once she becomes enjoyable, should leave her with the one who married her and stay away. Instead should they show anger and scold? As one becomes a matured adult, should the mothers try to advice and withdraw the girl, just because they have given birth?

In the next article we will enjoy the next pAsuram.

adiyen sarathy ramanuja dasan

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periya thiruvandhAdhi – 10 – iru nAlvar

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avathArikai

Three avathArikais were mentioned for this pAsuram [by nanjIyar]. The first avathArikai is that AzhwAr is moving away from emperumAn citing his unsuitability since he is trying to attain a means [emperumAn] who is attainable only by the thirty three dhEvas who are great in terms of knowledge, power etc. The second avathArikai relates to AzhwAr saying disgustedly to his heart “emperumAn will be attained only by dhEvas who are interested in other benefits and not by us who are totally desirous of only him”. The third avathArikai is about AzhwAr telling his heart in a dejected manner “emperumAn will be attained only by dhEvas who hold on to other means but not by us who hold on to only him as the means”.

Let us go through the pAsuram and its meanings:

iru nAlvar Iraindhin mEl oruvar ettOdu
oru nAlvar Oriruvar allAl thirumARku
yAmAr vaNakkamAr EpAvam nannenjE
nAmA miga udaiyOm nAzh

Word by Word Meanings

nal nenjE – Oh mind which has goodness
iru nAlvar – the eight vasus
Iraindhin mEl oruvar – the eleven rudhras
ettOdu oru nAlvar – the twelve Adhithyas
Oriruvar – the two distinguished aSvinI dhEvathAs
allAl – apart from these entities
thirumARku – to attain the consort of mahAlakshmi
nAm Ar – in what classification do we belong?
vaNakkam Ar – to which type will the attainment that we [people with lowly power] make, belong?
E pAvam – how are (our) sins?
nAm – we
miga nAzh udaiyOm – have lot of unnecessary desires
A – a sound made in wonder [as in nAmA]

vyAkyAnam

iru nAlvar Iraindhin mEl oruvar ettOdu oru nAlvar Oriruvar – the thirty three dhEvas comprising 8 vasus, 11 rudhras, 12 Adhithyas and 2 aSvinI dhEvas. It is pertinent to recall here poygai AzhwAr who says in his mudhal thiruvandhAdhi 52eNmar padhinoruvar IraRuvar Oriruvar” and ANdAL who says in thiruppAvai 20muppaththu mUvar”. vEdha also says “thrayas thrimSadhvai dhEvA: ” (33 dhEvas)

allAl – apart from these [33 entities] who are full of knowledge and power.

thirumARku nAm Ar vaNakkam Ar – do we have the qualification to attain the consort of SrI mahAlakshmi? Couldn’t only great people attain him? Is our salutation etc, of any significance for him?

E pAvam – The reason for our losing him when he is at such close proximity is our sin only. One interpretation here is that we had to lose out on emperumAn since we went away from emperumAn considering our unsuitability. The second interpretation is that the reason for losing emperumAn and not enjoying him despite our heart seeing him is due to our sin [here, the term ‘our’ refers to AzhwAr].

nannenjE – On my good heart who remains with me irrespective of whether I attain emperumAn or lose out on him.

nAm miga nAzh udaiyOm – As mentioned in the decad “vaLavEzh ulagum” (thiruvAimozhi 1-5) , if we consider the unsuitability interpretation, it would mean “do we, the epitome of faults, have the qualification to approach the consort of SrI mahAlakshmi? Isn’t moving away from him the proper course of action? Isn’t it due to our ignorance that we approached him despite our lowliness?” If we consider the second interpretation (losing him out due to our sin), it would mean “emperumAn who carries out activities for those who have other means [to attain him] and who seek other benefits, would consider us, who have no other means and who seek no other benefit, as having sins”. The long syllable A in nAmA is indicative of the element of surprise.

We will move on to the 11th pAsuram next.

adiyEn krishNa rAmAnuja dhAsan

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thiruvAimozhi – 7.7.9 – koLginRa kOLiruLai

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Full series >> Seventh 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 ninth pAsuram, parAnguSa nAyaki explains how the beauty of his divine hair which is beyond this world, is tormenting her.

Highlights from vAdhi kEsari azhagiya maNavALa jIyar‘s introduction

Subsequently, parAnguSa nAyaki explains how the matchless, divine hair of krishNa who has an amazing form, is tormenting her.

Highlights from periyavAchchAn piLLai‘s introduction

See nanjIyar‘s introduction.

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

Ninth pAsuram. parAnguSa nAyaki is explaining how the beauty of his divine hair is tormenting her saying “It is for this purpose [to torment her] that we are decorated with flowers and fragrant substances”.

pAsuram

koLginRa kOL iruLaich chugirndhitta kozhunjuruLin
uL koNda neela nannUl thazhaikol? anRu mAyan kuzhal
viLginRa pUndhaNdhuzhAy virai nARa vandhu en uyirai
kaLginRavARu aRiyIr annaimIr kazhaRA niRRirE

Listen

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

koLginRa – to contain (the whole world)
kOL – having pride
iruLai – darkness
sugirndhitta – (to eliminate all blemishes) reformed
kozhum – dense
suruLin – collection’s

(without being touched by hands)
uL – inside
koNda – (spun and) kept
neelam – having dark complexion
nal – beautiful
nUl thazhaikol – is it a bunch of thread?
anRu – it is not like that (due to krishNa’s hair being curly);
mAyan – krishNa who is having amazing form, his
kuzhal – (matchless) divine hair
viLginRa – blossomed
pU – having flower
thaN – having freshness
thuzhAy – thiruththuzhAy’s (thuLasi)
virai – fragrance
nARa – to spread
vandhu – come
en – my
uyirai – soul
kaLginRa – stealing
ARu – means
aRiyIr – you don’t know;
annaimIr – being the mothers
kazhaRA niRRIr – you are ordering me (without knowing my state)

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

Is krishNa’s hair a bunch of beautiful thread, which is having prideful darkness to contain the whole world, which is reformed and is a dense, internal collection of such darkness kept with dark complexion? it is not like that. The divine hair of krishNa who is having an amazing form, which is having blossomed flowers and having fresh thuLasi, which is spreading its fragrance, has come to steal my heart; you don’t know the means by which it does this; being my mothers, you are ordering me.

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

  • koLginRa … – Starting to give an example for his divine hair, and since the example does not match his hair, the example is getting decorated [to make it a match]. The darkness which consumed everything and pervaded everything, during praLayam (deluge) where there is no difference between day and night; kOL means pride, implying prideful darkness. sugirdhal means reforming it. After extracting the reformed, dense portion, and eliminating the extraneous aspect (the internal diamond-like strong dark pigment is extracted) – is this such a bunch of dark coloured thread?
  • anRu mAyan kuzhal – She saw his beautiful hair in her heart. Only after decorating the example, it can be compared. Still, she is saying that it is the divine hair of krishNa who has an amazing form. Will these extraneous decorations bring any comparability to his naturally divine hair?
  • viLginRa … – The fragrance from the blossoming, fresh and cool thuLasi is appearing to hit her face. For the beauty of his divine hair, the fragrance of the thuLasi becomes the army and is causing harm.
  • en uyiraik kaLginRavARu aRiyIr – kaLginRa – stealing. While you all remain happy, you will not know how it is specifically coming to me and stealing my soul. What does it mean by stealing? Taking it away without the acceptance of the soul. It is emperumAn who is stealing. The roles have reversed [i.e. usually, AthmA claims ownership of self, which is considered as stealing of emperumAn’s property]. One can stop if an inapt person steals, but if emperumAn who is apt [to have our soul] steals, there is no stopping. Once he gets a hold of the soul, he will then start talking with authentic texts to justify his act.
  • annaimIr kazhaRA niRRirE – You, being angry, are scolding me thinking that I am assisting in his theft. [Instead] Can you help me by stopping this uruveLippAdu (visualisation)? Does being my mother where you can control me, give you rights to scold me? kazhaRal – hurting by words.

In the next article we will enjoy the next pAsuram.

adiyen sarathy ramanuja dasan

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periya thiruvandhAdhi – 9 – numakkadiyOm

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avathArikai

Since his desire to see emperumAn directly was not realised, AzhwAr tells his heart “Oh heart! What is the purpose in our showing twelve teeth to emperumAn and beseeching him? It does not appear at all that he is going to show himself to us”. After analysing this a little, he feels that he cannot go away from emperumAn due to this and tells his heart “Whether he showers his grace or despises us, keep thinking of something or the other about emperumAn”.

Let us go through the pAsuram and its meanings:

numakkadiyOm enRenRu nondhu uraiththu en mAlAr
thamakkavar thAm sArvariyarAnAl emakkini
yAdhAnum AgidukAN nenjE avar thiRaththE
yAdhAnum sindhiththiru

Word by Word Meanings

nenjE – Oh mind!
avar thAm – he, the supreme entity
sArvu ariyar AnAl – if he is not attainable
“numakku adiyOm – are we not servitors to you, the lord?”
enRu enRu – saying this many times
nondhu – feeling anguished
mAlAr thamakku – for such a great entity
uraiththu en – what is the purpose in saying?
emakku – for us (who are his possession)
ini – from now onwards
yAdhAnum Agidu kAN – let whatever happen
avar thiRaththE – towards him
yAdhAnum – something or the other
sindhiththu iru – keep meditating on

vyAkyAnam

numakkadiyOm enRenRu – It is enough to say only once “I am your servitor” to get his mercy, since he is naturally related to us. When this is the case, to say this many times will be a reason for hurting his divine mind.

nondhuraiththu en – due to the craving to see him directly, isn’t saying this many times, purposeless! Whatever emperumAn had said in  SrI rAmAyaNam yudhdha kANdam 18-28 “ArthO vA yadhi vA dhruptha:parEshAm SaraNAgatha:  I arI: prANAn parithyajya rakshithavya: kruthAthmanA II” (among the enemy warriors, one who has surrendered due to craving (due to feeling apologetic) or one who has surrendered due to patience (half-heartedly) should be protected by a person with well disciplined mind, even if he has to give up his life) has become false!

mAlAr thamakku nondhu uraiththu enmAlAr – one who is great; the opinion here is that when we were together with emperumAn he said that he is our servitor, he said a few words in anguish and showed his happiness, but now there is no point in saying these things to him, who is such a great person.

avar thAm sArvu ariyar AnAl – when he was with us, he was obedient to us and showed that he was dependent on us, but now he is beyond approach for us. My desire to see him in person would have fructified on the day he had thought “we will do” [show himself to AzhwAr]; however, when he is not thinking of us now, there is no purpose in saying repeatedly in anguish, that “we are your servitors”.

This is the meaning of the first half of the pAsuram. In the second half of the pAsuram, AzhwAr mercifully describes how he tells his heart “if this is the case, we can leave him”.

emakku ini yAdhAnum AgidukAN nenjE – for me who had desired to embrace him with this physical form, once it is clear that it will not happen, there is no difference between attaining him and losing him. What is the point in getting food later when it was not available when one was hungry? This is similar to ANdAL saying in nAchchiyAr thirumozhi 13-9 “kommai mulaigaL idar thIra gOvindhaRku Or kuRREval immaippiRavi  seyyAdhE inippOychcheyyum thavandhAnen” (What is the purpose in carrying out service to gOvindha (emperumAn) later when I cannot carry it out for him in this birth?)

When asked, “Let him come when he wants to. Until then, can you not wait patiently?” AzhwAr says that it is possible for those who can sustain themselves in separation but not for him who cannot sustain himself in separation. Did not sIthAppirAtti tell that she cannot live if separated from emperumAn, as said in SrI rAmAyaNam ayOdhyA kANdam 27-8 “IrshyA rOshau bahishkruthya bhukthaSEsham iva udhakam I naya mAm vIra visrabhdha: pApam mayi na vidhyathE II ”  (Oh brave man! Getting rid of jealousy and anger, just as one gets rid of excess water after drinking what is required, take me, believing (my words); I do not have the sin (which is the reason for my  separation from you)). This SlOkam is explained in detail now, in the vyAkyAnam. This SlOkam has been recited by sIthAppirAtti in anger which came out of affection, after SrI rAma had told her “There are wild animals and demons in the forest; I cannot take a gentle person such as you to the forest”.

IrshyA rOshau bahishkruthya – (Leaving aside jealousy and anger) Do you need so much of jealousy and anger since I will get a name with people saying ‘when SrI rAma went to forest, sIthA also followed him’. Just as you would get a name since ‘rAma took the words of his father [emperor dhaSaratha] and went to the forest’ should I not get a name ‘sIthA went to the forest following her husband’? Will the greatness ‘he followed the instructions of elders’ be appropriate only for you? Will it not be suitable for me?

IrshyArOshau bahishkruthya bhukthaSEsham ivOdhakam – the opinion here is ‘you are a disciple of vaSishta. You are very knowledgeable. That being the case, just as excess water, after quenching thirst is got rid of, should you not get rid of your jealousy and anger?’

naya mAm – (take me with you) Once you get rid of jealousy and anger, you would strive for the benefits of others. Hence, please take me too along with you.

vIra – You may hesitate to take me if there is any shortcoming in your valour, having taken the responsibility for others’ wellbeing. Since you are great warrior, there is no possibility for this doubt.

visrabdha – (having faith in my words) You know yourself that you have the capability to protect me in the forest too. My words ‘take me along with you’ were not said for the sake of saying. These were said whole heartedly. Hence, keeping faith in my words, please take me.

sIthAppirAtti says further, thinking that perumAL (SrI rAma) may be of the opinion that ‘it would be better to live in the city [of ayOdhyA] without any hardship than living in forest, facing many the hardships’

pApam mayi na vidhyathE  – Since I will not live if separated from you, there is no possibility that I will suffer in separation from you. The opinion is that due to this fact, there will be no sin for her, as a result of that.

Now, we get back to the main pAsuram.

avar thiRaththE yAdhAnum sindhiththu iru – [AzhwAr’s heart is asking him] ”Could you think that both attaining emperumAn and losing him are the same? He is very much required for our existence” AzhwAr responds “It is not required to attain him for our existence. Since we are a part of his physical form, when he exists, we also will exist. Now, in order to spend time purposefully, keep thinking of something or the other about him”. The opinion here is that even if emperumAn says “you are not needed for me”, AzhwAr could sustain himself by thinking about this.

We will move on to the 10th pAsuram next.

adiyEn krishNa rAmAnuja dhAsan

archived in http://divyaprabandham.koyil.org

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