SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:
SrI maNavALa mAmunigaL beautifully reveals the glory of thoNdaradippodi AzhwAr in the eleventh pAsuram of upadhEsa raththinamAlai:
manniya sIr mArgazhiyil kEtai inRu mAnilaththIr
ennidhankku ERRam enil uraikkEn – thunnu pugazh
mAmaRaiyOn thoNdaradippodi AzhwAr piRappAl
nAnmaRaiyOr koNdAdum nAL
Oh people of this world! I will tell you all the greatness of this kEttai day in mArgazhi, which has the greatness of being a SrIvaishNava month. Listen to me. This is the day which is celebrated by experts in vEdhas such as emperumAnAr (SrI rAmAnuja) as being the day on which thoNdaradippodi AzhwAr, who knew the meaning of vEdhas and who involved himself completely in it, especially being a servitor of emperumAn’s devotees alone, was born.
SrI azhagiya maNavALap perumAL nAyanAr (one of our pUrvAchAryas) shows in the 85th chUrNika (aphorism) of AchArya hrudhayam that among those who sang suprabhAtham (beautiful song sung early in the morning) on emperumAn to wake him up from his yOganidhrA (meditative sleep (while the body may be at rest, the mind is very much aware of all the happenings)), he calls thoNdaradippodi AzhwAr as thuLasIbhruthyar (one who is very fond of carrying out service with thuLasi, to emperumAn). This stems from the fact that thoNdaradippodi AzhwAr called himself in his thirumAlai prabandham “thuLabaththoNdAya thol sIrth thoNdaradippodi ennum adiyanai” (the servitor who carries out service with thuLasi). thiruppaLLiyezhuchchi is the greatest prabandham which wakes up emperumAn from his yOganidhrA.
The simple explanation for this prabandham is being written with the assistance of the commentaries of our pUrvAchAryas.
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thaniyans
thamEva mathvA paravAsudhEvam
rangESayam rAjavadharhaNIyam
prAbOdhikIm yOkrutha sUkthimAlAm
bhakthAngrirENum bhagavanthamIdE
I extol thoNdaradippodi AzhwAr who gave the garland of verses, waking up periya perumAL (emperumAn in idol form at SrIrangam) who has auspicious qualities such as wisdom, who is reclining on the mattress of AdhiSEshan (serpent), who is worshipped like a king and who is the paravAsudhEva in SrIvaikuNtam.
maNdangudi enbar mAmaRaiyOr manniya sIr
thoNdaradippodi thonnagaran – vaNdu
thiNarththa vayal thennarangaththammAnai paLLi
uNarththum pirAn udhiththa Ur
Experts in vEdhas say that thirumaNdangudi is the place where thoNdaradippodi AzhwAr incarnated. The AzhwAr has done us a great benefit by waking up periya perumAL who is reclining in thiruvarangam, which is surrounded by fields which are full of swarms of beetles.
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First pAsuram. AzhwAr mercifully mentions that all the celestial entities come to SrIrangam to wake up periya perumAL. From this it is clear that only SrIman nArAyaNa is worshipped and that all the other deities and celestial entities are those who worship that emperumAn.
kadhiravan guNadhisaich chigaram vandhaNaindhAn
kana iruL aganRadhu kAlai am pozhudhAy
madhu virindhu ozhugina mAmalar ellAm
vAnavar arasargaL vandhu vandhu Indi
edhir dhisai niRaindhanar ivarodum pugundha
irungaLiRRu Ittamum pidiyodu murasum
adhirdhalil alai kadal pOnRu uLadhu engum
arangaththammA paLLi ezhundharuLAyE
Oh the lord who is dwelling in thiruvarangam! Sun has dawned on the eastern side, rising up on the eastern mountain, driving away darkness of night. With the arrival of daytime, honey is dripping from great flowers which are just blossoming. Celestial entities and kings have gathered in large crowds at the southern entrance to the temple, claiming that they had come first to be blessed by your glance. Along with them have come the male and female elephants which are their vehicles, and also those who play on various musical instruments. The sound of clapping that they make in their enthusiasm to see you waking up from your sleep is echoing in all directions, just like the uproarious sound from the agitation of waves in an ocean.
Second pAsuram. Since the easterlies have started wafting in, waking up the swans, indicating the arrival of dawn, out of great affection towards your devotees, you should wake up from your divine sleep.
kozhungodi mullaiyin kozhumalar aNavi
kUrndhadhu guNadhisai mArudham idhuvO
ezundhana malar aNaip paLLi koL annam
InpaNi nanaindha tham irum siRagu udhaRi
vizhungiya mudhalaiyin pilamburai pEzhvAy
veLLuyir uRa adhan vidaththinukku anungi
azhungiya Anaiyin arum thuyar keduththa
arangaththammA paLLi ezhundharuLAyE
The wind from eastern direction is gently rubbing against jasmine creepers whose flowers are just blossoming. Swans which were sleeping on that bed of flowers, wake up shaking off the dew which had fallen on their beautiful wings like rain. Oh lord who is having divine sleep in thiruvarangam! You had killed the crocodile, which had hurt gajEndhran (elephant) by biting his leg with its sharp poisoned teeth and tried to swallow his leg with its cave-like mouth, and removed the elephant’s difficulties. You should wake up now and shower your grace on us.
Third pAsuram. Sun has hidden the splendour of stars with his rays. AzhwAr says that he wishes to worship emperumAn’s divine hand which is holding the divine chakrAyudham (disc).
sudar oLi parandhana sUzh dhisai ellAm
thunniya thAragai minnoLi surungip
padar oLi pasuththanan pani madhi ivanO
pAyiruL aganRadhu paim pozhil kamugin
madal idaik kIRi vaN pALaigaL nARa
vaigaRai kUrndhadhu mArudham idhuvO
adal oLi thigazh tharu thigiri am thadakkai
arangaththammA paLLi ezhundharuLAyE
Sun’s rays have spread in all directions now. The well spread light from densely packed stars has now got hidden. The cool moon too has lost its brightness. Darkness which had spread well has been driven away. The early morning breeze brings the sweet fragrance from areca plant’s leaves after blowing through them. Oh one who has the strong, divine disc on his hand! Oh the lord who has taken divine rest in thiruvarangam! You should wake up and shower your grace on us.
Fourth pAsuram. AzhwAr tells emperumAn that he should wake up and destroy his enemies who are a hurdle to his enjoying emperumAn, just as he had done during rAmAvathAram.
mEttu iLa mEdhigaL thaLai vidum AyargaL
vEynguzhal Osaiyum vidai manik kuralum
Ittiya isai dhisai parandhana vayaluL
irindhina surumbinam ilangaiyar kulaththai
vAttiya varisilai vAnavar ERE
mAmuni vELviyaik kAththu avabiradham
Attiya adu thiRal ayOdhdhi em arasE
arangaththammA paLLi ezhundharuLAyE
The sound as the herd-boys play on their flutes after letting their buffaloes to graze and the sound from the bells tied to the necks of buffaloes together pervade in all directions. The beetles on the grass have started humming. Oh SrI rAma, who has the divine bow SArngam which roasts enemies, and who is the supreme entity! Oh the one who became our lord after destroying the demons, thus helping the sage viSvAmithra to complete his yAga (ritual) and who had avabruthasnAnam (divine bath), one who became the lord of ayOdhyA which has the strength to destroy its enemies! Oh one who has divine rest in thiruvarangam! You should wake up and shower your grace on us.
Fifth pAsuram. AzhwAr says that celestial entities have arrived with flowers to worship you. Since you do not see any distinction among your followers, you should wake up and accept the services of all.
pulambina putkaLum pUm pozhilgaLin vAy
pOyiRRuk kangul pugundhadhu pulari
kalandhadhu guNadhisaik kanaikadal aravam
kaLi vaNdu mizhaRRiya kalambagam punaindha
alangal am thodaiyal koNdu adiyiNai paNivAn
amarargaL pugundhanar Adhalil ammA
ilangaiyar kOn vazhipAdu sey kOyil
emperumAn paLLI ezhundharuLAyE
Birds in the gardens, which are full of blossomed flowers, are chirping joyously. Night has withdrawn and dawn has settled in. The sound of ocean on the eastern side is heard in all directions. To worship you, celestial entities have arrived with garlands, in which beetles are humming to drink the nectar. Oh the one who is worshipped by vibhIshaNa, the king of lankA! Oh the one who is having divine rest in thiruvarangam! You should wake up and bless us all.
Sixth pAsuram. subrahmaNyan, the chief of the army of celestial entities, who was appointed by you for administering them, and other celestial entities have arrived along with their consorts, vehicles and followers. Since they have come to worship you and have their desires fulfiled, you should wake up from your divine sleep and shower your mercy on them.
iraviyar maNi nedum thErodum ivarO
iRaiyavar padhinoru vidaiyarum ivarO
maruviya mayilinan aRumugan ivanO
marudharum vasukkaLum vandhu vandhu Indi
puraviyOdu Adalum pAdalum thErum
kumaradhaNdam pugundhu INdiya veLLam
aruvarai anaiya nin kOyil mun ivarO
arangaththammA paLLi ezhundharuLAyE
The twelve Adhithyas (sun gods) have come in their chariots. The eleven rudhras who rule this world have also come. subrahmaNyan, who has six faces, has come in his vehicle of peacock. The forty nine maruththus and eight vasus [they are different classes of celestial entities] are fighting with each other to be the first in the line to have your dharSan. Standing close to each other, all the celestial deities in their chariots and horses are singing and dancing. In order to be within the zone of your glance, all the celestial entities including aRumugan [subrahmaNyan] have assembled before thiruvarangam which appears like a huge mountain. Oh the lord, who is having his divine sleep in thiruvarangam! You should wake up and shower your mercy on us.
Seventh pAsuram. AzhwAr says that the celestial entities including indhra and the seven sages have assembled in the sky, filling up the space, and are praising you. You should wake up from your divine sleep and give them your dharSan.
andharaththu amarargaL kUttangaL ivaiyO
arundhava munivarum marudharum ivarO
indhiran Anaiyum thAnum vandhu ivanO
emperumAn una kOyilin vAsal
sundharar nerukka vichchAdharar nUkka
iyakkarum mayanginar thiruvadi thozhuvAn
andharam pAr idam illai maRRU idhuvO
arangaththammA paLLi ezhundharuLAyE
Oh lord! indhran has come on his elephant airAvadham and is waiting at the entrance to your temple. Further, celestial entities from svargam (heaven) along with their followers, the sages including sanaka et al, maruththus and their followers, yakshas, gandharvas and vidhyAdharas [different groups of celestial entities] have all arrived and are standing in the sky, jostling with each other. They are all waiting to worship your divine feet, in a state of stupor. Oh the lord, who is having divine sleep at thiruvarangam! Please wake up and shower your grace on us.
Eighth pAsuram: The time of dawn, which is the most appropriate to worship you, has arrived. Since the sages, who do not have any desire other than you, have come with all the necessary materials to worship you, please wake up from your divine sleep and give them dharSan.
vambavizh vAnavar vAyuRai vazhanga
mAnidhi kapilai oN kaNNAdi mudhalA
emperumAn padimaikkalam kANdaRku
ERpana Ayina koNdu nan munivar
thumburu nAradhar pugundhanar ivarO
thOnRinan iraviyum thulangu oLi parappi
ambara thalaththininRu agalginRadhu iruL pOy
arangaththammA paLLi ezhundharuLAyE
Oh swAmy, my lord! Eminent sages, thumburu and nAradha, celestial entities who dwell in the fragrant heaven, kAmadhEnu (divine cow) have arrived with materials such as divine leaves, wealth, mirror etc which are required for carrying out thiruvArAdhanam (divine worship) for you. Darkness has faded away and sun is spreading his rays in all places. Oh lord who is having divine sleep at thiruvarangam! Please wake up and shower your grace on us.
Ninth pAsuram. Eminent musicians and dancers have assembled to wake you up and to carry out service to you. AzhwAr is telling emperumAn to wake up and accept their service.
Edhamil thaNNumai ekkam maththaLi
yAzh kuzhal muzhavamOdu isai dhisai kezhumi
gIdhangaL pAdinar kinnarar gerudargaL
gendharuvar avar kanguluL ellAm
mAdhavar vAnavar sAraNar iyakkar
siththarum mayanginar thiruvadi thozhuvAn
Adhalil avarkku nALOlakkam aruLa
arangaththammA paLLi ezhundharuLAyE
Celestial entities such as kinnaras, garudas, gandharvas et al are playing on various musical instruments such as ekkam (single stringed instrument), maththaLi (percussion instrument), vINAs, flutes etc and are spreading the music in all directions. While some have been there throughout the night, some have come during the time of dawn. Eminent sages, celestial entities such as dhEvas, chAraNas, yakshas, sidhdhas et al have come to worship your divine feet. Oh lord who is having his divine sleep in thiruvarangam! Please wake up and shower your grace on us. Provide them space in your huge assembly.
Tenth pAsuram. In the first nine pAsurams, AzhwAr prayed to emperumAn to shower his grace on others. In this pAsuram, he is asking emperumAn to shower his grace on himself, who knows no deity other than periya perumAL.
kadi malark kamalangaL malarndhana ivaiyO
kadhiravan kanai kadal muLaiththanan ivanO
thudi idaiyAr suri kuzhal pizhindhu udhaRith
thugil uduththu ERinar sUzh punal arangA
thodai oththa thuLavamum kUdaiyum polindhu
thOnRiya thOL thoNdaradippodi ennum
adiyanai aLiyan enRu aruLi un adiyArkku
AtpaduththAy paLLi ezhundharuLAyE
Oh SrI rangAnAthA who is having your divine sleep in thiruvarangam which is surrounded by the sacred, divine kAviri! Fragrant lotus flowers have blossomed on looking at sun who is rising from the uproarious ocean. Women with slender waists after having their baths in the river, have dried their tresses and have reached the banks, with fresh dresses. Please accept this servitor, called as thoNdaradippodi, who is having a basket with thuLasi garlands and effulgent shoulders, as your apt servitor and subject me to be a servitor to your followers. You should wake up from your divine sleep for this alone and shower your grace on me.
Source: http://divyaprabandham.koyil.org/index.php/2020/03/thiruppalliyezhuchchi-tamil-simple/
adiyEn krishNa rAmAnuja dhAsan
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