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A Sanyasi ascends the peetam: Part 3

From the Bhakti List Archives

V. Sadagopan • July 5, 1997 


Dear BhakthAs of Sri Lakshmi Narasimhan :

I will continue with the remaining paasurams of 
Thirumangai on Ahobilam in this posting .

Paasuram 6 : yerintha paimkaNN ilangu --
**********************************************
In this paasuram , Thirumangai states that the 
DevAs were frightened out of their wits at the intimidating
appearnace of the Lord as Narasimhan during the time
of His incarnation to destroy the offending HiraNyan . 

During that time , the Lord had eyes that were red from
the flames of fire(anger) radiating out of them . He had a gigantic
face of a lion , sharp and huge teeth . The DevAs were unable 
to comprehend this adhbhutha and spine -chilling roopam 
of the Lord and ran away out of fear .

Thirumangai says that today , in this residence of 
the HiraNya -samhAra moorthy , bands of tigers hide in 
the crevices among the dense thickets of bamboos growing 
on the hillsides and wait to attack the unsuspecting elephants 
that roam in the forest . The AzhwAr begs his mind to meditate
upon that adhbhutha KshEthram of the Lord , where His valour
and anger were displayed in equal measure.

Paasuram 7 : ( munaittha seeRRam viNN sudappOy ---)
**************************************************************

Until the above (sixth ) pasuram , the overawed Thirumangai dealt
with the HiraNya SamhAram and the Lord's terrifying appearance
at that time . Now , the AzhwAr shifts his attention to the anugraha roopam 
of the Lord responding to His dear devotee as PrahlAda Varadan .

During the time of His avathAram to destroy HiraNyan , the flames of 
His anger rose up and up and reached Satya Lokam , where 
BrahmA has his abode. The residents of Satya Lokam and 
BrahmA were overtaken by fear at the spreading flames of 
anger of the Lord. After the samhAram of HiraNyan , PrahlAdA 
approached the Lord at he behest of MahA Lakshmi and the Lord's
anger was replaced by the great affection for His devotee. He 
became thus a santha Moorthy ; MahA  Lakshmi , BrahmA and 
other DevAs were able thereafter  to approach the Lord. 

Thirumangai points out that in the thiruppathi of the peaceful
Lord , the only sounds of the day competeing with each other 
loudly and shutting out any other sounds are the noise arising from 
the cracking of the bamboos exposed to wild fire, the shattering 
sound of the overheated stones as a result of the same fire 
and the shoutings of the excited hunters with bows chasing 
the animals that try to escape from the spreading ground fire . 
The AzhwAr requests his mind to concentrate on the glories 
of the Ahobila KshEthram , the abode of Saantha Narasimhan .

Paasuram 8 : ( Naatthazhumbha Naanmuhanum --)
*********************************************************

Here , Thirumangai AzhwAr describes the chnages in 
the Ahobila KshEthram after the HiraNya SamhAram . 
He now finds the chathurmukha BrahmA and MahEswaran
eulogizing Lord Narasimhan one after another for extended 
periods . Their tongues have become thick from that unceasing
exercise of sthothram of the Saantha NarasimhAn's soundharyam 
and anantha kalyANa guNams . 

The Lord's rage over the misdeeds of HiraNyA had subsided .
There were no flames of kOpam originating from BhagavAn Narasimhan . 
The only flames to be seen at the Ahobila kshEthram  now were 
the forest fires caused by the friction of dry bamboo bushes 
strikinging each other in the hot wind. That fire cause the dry seeds 
of the near by Vaahai trees to explode loudly and serve as fuel 
to feed the ongoing fire . Thirumangai AzhwAr asks his mind to meditate 
upon this  kshEthram presided over by Saantha Narasimhan .

Paasuram 9 : Nallai NenjE ---)
***********************************

This is a gem of a paasuram that is used daily 
during the Sannidhi Saatthumurai at Ahobila
Matam . This paasuram and the subsequent palasruthi 
paasuram of Thirumangai AzhwAra are the firs two 
paasurams  recited during the occasion of saathumurai
in front of Maalolan seated in the silver mantapam .
I will attempt to give the word by wod meaning of 
these two important paasurams .

The ninth paasuram is a profoundly moving one :

Nallai nenjE naam thozhudhum nammudai namperumAn
allimAthar pulha ninra aayiram thoLanidam 
nelli malhikkalludaippa pullilai aartha atharvaai 
silli sil yenru ol aRaatha SingavEL kunramE  

PadhArthams : 

nenjE ! - Oh, my mind 

nallai - you are indeed filled with auspicious qualities
              as a result of your meditation on our Lord of 
              Ahobilam in response to my appeal 
.
Nammudai NamperumAn  - the one , who has specially blessed 
us with His darsanam is our Sarva SwAmi .

alli maathar pulha ninra aayiram thoLan  - He is the thousand-
shouldered asritha vathsalan , who is embraced by the lady 
( mahA Lakshmi ), who appeared in the lotus flower at 
the milky ocean during the time of churning for Amrutham .

( aayiram  ThOLAn)  idam -- The preferred place of residece of 
this aasritha Vathsalan as Lakshmi Narasimhan ( MaalOlan ) 
is the KshEthram of AhObilam . 

In that kshEthram , Nelli trees grow to uncommon heights 
and during that growth , their long roots penetrate the stony
ground ( nelli malhi kal udaippa ) and generate a loud noise..

In that kshEthram , the sound of therustling of long leaves of 
coconut palm trees , date palm trees ( eeccham tree ) and 
the  palmyrah trees  by the wind are heard ( Pul ilai aarndhu ) .

In that KshEthram , the mountain sides  resonate with 
the sharp , awry and loud sound of the crickets rubbing 
their legs in unison in anticipation of their mating season 
(athar vaai sil yenru ol aRAtha SingavEL kunram ) .

Three kinds of sounds are heard by the AzhwAr at 
AhObilam ( Viz)., Kalludaippu oli , pullilai oli and 
silliyin silloli . The combination of those three sounds 
makes the KshEthram awesome to experience . 
Thirumangai's celebration of the untamed , natural 
beauty of AhObilam is most beautiful .

In the previous paasuram , Thirumangai referred to
BrahmA and ParamEsvaran eulogizing Lord Narasimhan
at the time , when he was not united with His Devi .

In this paasuram , AzhwAr celebrates the Lakshmi 
samEtha Narasimha roopam ( MaalOlan ) . He is embraced by 
MahA Lakshmi and the bhakthAs can approach Him
now with ease as Sriya: Pathi . The most merciful Mother of 
us is next to Him to intercede for us . Thirumangai is in
a very happy mood over that darsanam of the Divya Dampathis
in the united form and points that auspicious state to us 
and asks us to approach the Lord of AhObilam with reverence
and ease .

Paasuram 10 : (senkaNALi ittu irainjum---)
************************************************

senkaNALi Ittu irainjum singavEL kunruduya 
yengaL Isan empirAnai irumtamizh nooRpulavan
MangayALan mannu tol seer vandaRaithArkkaliyan
semkayALan semcholmAlai vallavar theethilarE 

Here , Thirumangai AzhwAr reveals that those , who 
learn , recite and understand the meaning of the ten
paasurams offered by him to the Lord of AhObila KshEthram 
would never come across any inauspiciousness
in their lives.

Those  blessings come the way of the above bhAgyasAlis
because of the bhakthi and kaimkarya sampath of the AzhwAr,
who is rightfully revered as Kaliyan  or the one , who did away
with the cruelty of Kali purushan . The AzhwAr  is also " sem kai
aaLan " or the one , who has unlimited kaimkarya Sree as a result
of his Bhagavadh kaimkaryam since the time of his initiation
by the Lord Himself. 

semkaNN aaLi ittu irainjum yengaL Isan  -- 
The Lord , our sarva Swami presiding over AhObilam
is sarvOpakAri and the red eyed lions prsent Him with 
ivory tusks of the elephants at this KshEthram .  
 
empirAnai iru Tamizh nool Mangai aaLan,
mannu tol seer vandu aRai taar Kaliyan -- 
the ruler of  Thirumangai , Kaliyan  wearing the garland of 
flowers inhabited by the honey drinking bees and known for 
his kaimkarya Sree  sang sacred poems on the Lord of
AhObilam , which are  known for their poetic excellence and 
depth of devotion . 

(Kaliyan ) sem sol maalai vallavar theethu ilar --
Those bhakthAs , who reflect on the profound 
paasurams known for their depth of meaning and 
intensity of devotion would be saved from any type 
of taapams during their existence on earth . No 
inauspiciousness will come their way due to the power
of these verses eulogizing Lord Narasimhan of AhObilam .

Sri RanganAtha SatakOpa Yatheendhra dhrushtam
Lakshmi Nrusimha satajith karuNaika paathram I
Sriranga Veera RaghurAtt SatakOpa hrudhyam
VedAntha Desiak Yatheendhramaham PrapathyE II

Thirumangai AzhwAr ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam .
Oppiliappn Kovil VaradAchAri sadagopan