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SRISTHAVAM - 1

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Ramanbil • January 24, 2000 


            SRI STHAVAM OF KOORATHAZHWAN
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1. "SARVE JANA: SUKHINO BHAVANTHU"
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hE ! SridEvi ! samasthalOka jananeem tvAm sthOthum eehAmahE
yukthAm bhAvaya bhAratheem praguNaya prEma pradhAnam dhiyam /
bhakthim bhandhaya nandhaya  Aasritham imam dAsam janam thAvakam
lakshyam lakshmi ! kaTAkshaveechi visrutE syAma cha amee  // (2)

MEANING
Oh! SridEvi ! We desire to praise you. You are the mother of the entire 
universe.(samasthalOka jananeem) Please grant us the proper syntax and 
prosody (yukthAm bhAvaya bhAratheem) and knowledge filled with affection and 
devotion towards you (praguNaya prEma pradhAnam dhiyam) Please accept me and 
these as  "janam" (imam dAsam janam and amee) who have resorted to you 
(Aasritham) and make us worthy of your benign grace (kaTAkshaveechi visrutE 
syAma) by binding us with love towards you (bhakthim bhandhaya nandhaya) 

COMMENT:
AzhwAn addresses ThAyAr as "SamasthalOka janani" drawing pointed attention to 
her being the mother of the universe, and therefore, she should cast her 
benevolent glance on all the "janam" in this world.  

Does not the slOkam "Jananee janma soukhyAnAm" echo this sentiment?

The words "amee" meaning 'these" and "vayam" meaning "us" are significant. 
When hAzhwAn prays, he does so not for himself alone but for the entire 
humanity, nay the entire universe of living creatures "janam"- those that are 
born and live. "SarvE janA: SukhinO bhavanthu" is the cardinal hallmark of a 
Sri VaishNava

It is an indirect reminder to ThAyAr of the protection she gave as Sita 
Piraatti to the Rakshasis who tormented her by saying "na kaschit na 
aparAdhyathi" and she has a commitment to grant protection to the "Astritas."

Did not AzhwAn pray to Lord VaradarAja -
"naan petra pEru nAloorAnum perak kaDavan"- 
"Whatever you grant me, let NaaloorAn also get the same"?. 

Which NaaloorAn?. 
The one was responsible for the gouging of AzhwAn's own eyes. 

Who in the world can show such exemplary compassion to one who harmed him?  
Who else in the world can - not merely "turn the other cheek" but go further 
to "return good for evil"?
Here was an AzhwAn. When comes such another?
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TO CONTINUE : "DOG DRINKING GANGA WATERS!"
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