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From the Bhakti List Archives

Vijay Triplicane • August 13, 1999 


    Sri Anbil Ramaswamy mama rightly pointed out the inappropriate use
of "adiyEn" by most of us without really understanding the extent of
humility and obedience it expresses. This reminds me of a story that
Late Sri vELukkudi svAmi used to tell.

    It is uthsavam time. PerumAL is beautifully decorated. The puRappAdu
is about to start. The bhattAchchAr's are busy running around getting
things in order. One of the senior bhattAchchAr is on the pallAkku. All
the bhAgavathAs are gathered around eagerly waiting for the puRappAdu to
begin so that they can start their recital. Among them is this person
called "adiyEn svAmi". He always starts speaking with "adiyEn". Just
then the bhattAchchAr on the pallakku realized he is missing thIrththam.
He quickly asked our adiyEn svAmi to bring some water right away. He
replied," enna Oy! adiyEnaiyA thIrththam koNdu varach chonnIr.
adiyEnukku vEra vElai illai? adiyEnai yArunnu nenachchIr!..."
He is still 'adiyEn svAmi'. But does it make sense?

AzhvAr emberumAnAr jIyar thiruvadigaLE SaraNam
adiyEn (trying to be)
"Viji" Triplicane

--
Vijay Triplicane