What is in a Name?
From the Bhakti List Archives
• January 8, 1996
Sri Dileepan posted an excellent note describing the thoughts behind the selection of the name for the Sri Vaishnava group as "Srivaishnava Thondar Kuzham". I agree with the title and commend the choice of the word "Thondar " . There are indeed abundant references to the word "Thondar", a word so rich in meaning for Sri Vaishnavas. On this day of Thirumangai"s Vedupari Utsavam, one can illustrate the significance of the word Thondar, who does Thondu or Kainkaryam and the centrality of that Thondu for the Lord and His consort. Inthe very first Verse of the Thirukkurunthaandakaam, the Azhvar says "Thondanen Viduhileneh ".I, your servant will not ever leave thee and cease services to you. In the Sixth Verse , He says: " Amarar Sennippuvinai Pukazhum Thondar ". Here Thondar is equated to the Bhakthas of the Lord, who are like the flower on the heads of the Devas by virtue iof the service they perform for the Lord. In the Eleventh verse, he prays for the boon of eternal service to Him as follows: "Thondelaam Paravi Ninnai thozhuthapadi Paniyumaaru--paniyaayai ". Please make me ask you for service to you and bless me to do perform that service in the manner it should be done. In the 12th verse , the Azhvar says: Yecchil Vaayaal Thuymiil Thondanen Naan Sollinen Tollai Naamam ". Impure me,who is full of Ahankaram recited the originless Sacred Ashtaakshara Mantram and you came next to me and asked me not to beafraid and entered into my closed eye. In the 16 th verse, the Azhvar describes as to waht kind of Thondu he does to the Lord this way: "SorkkaL Ennum Thooya Maalai Kondu Suttuven THONDANENEH " As your Thondan, I will decorate you with the pure garlandsof Pasurams made up of my Words. In THIRUNEDUMTHAANDAKAM, in the tenth verse, he chastises himself as:: "Ikazh Vaai Thondanen Naan " . How can I , who perform services to you with Ahankaram understand you? The contemproary of Thirumangai, Thiru Thondaradipodi Azhvar is already incorporated the word Thondar in his name and indicates his relationship to the Vaishanvite Thondars. He describes his Thondu as : Tulavatthondaaya Thol Seer Thondardipodi". He describes that he Does Tulasi Kainkaryam to the Lord. In his Thirumalai verse (34), He laughs at the false Thondars this way: " I, who does not have the knowledge of ever-dwelling Lord in my heart, I have become ignorant. I became a willing slave pretending devotion. Knowing that thou knowest by thine indwelling all the thoughts of the devotees , I was ashamed and laughed within myself to the extent of splitting my ribs." In the 38th verse, Thondaradipodi (Bhakthangrirenu) , The Service of thee is the sole end to be sought. In the next verse of Thirumaalai , He asks: "Does not the service of thine feet by thine slaves (Thondar), bring delight to thee? He continues and observes: "Is it not better to be born in the lowest caste with the boon of service to thee than those, who have pracised vedic recitation without remembering that service to thee is the sole goal of human life. IN verse 41 , he says: "Even if they had been cruel and tortured others , If they would address thy sacred names, and offer nectar-like food to you lovingly, then by itself, they would become sinless. AandaaL Said that she will do thondu only to HIm (Kurreval Engalai Kollaamar Pohathu-- Unakke Naam Aatccheyvom". Her father refers to his aspect as a Thondar to HIM this way: " Unakku PaNi seythirukkum Tamudayenin" He clearly described his service to the Lord as his Thondan this way: " Ammaan Tannai Viradam Kondu Yetthum Villiputtur Vittucchitthan ". His role as a Thondar of his is to practisde the vow of Mangalaasaasanam of Sriman Narayana.. Thus Thondu and Thondar is a sacred connotations and the group of Thondars joining together to offer loving service to the Divya Dampathis either here or as Muktha Jivans in Sri Vaikuntam is the highest of goals of a Sri Vaishnava. Hence I endorse with all my heart the choice of the title for the New organization as "Sri Vaishnava Thondar Kuzhaam ". Azhwar Thiruvadigale Saranam Sadagopan
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