Kamaasikhaashtakam-- Part 3

From the Bhakti List Archives

• May 5, 1996


Dear Members of the Prapatti Group:

In  this concluding section, I will focus on the tributes 
of Peyaazhwaar and Thirumangai Azhwaar to the 
Kamaasikhaa Narasimhan of Thiru VeLLukkai Divya 
Desam.

Pey Azhwaar, who poured out his Joyous experiences of
the Darsanam of the Lord and Sri Devi at Thirukkovalur 
through the many verses of the third Thiruvandhaathi. The 
26 th, 34th and the sixty second verses of this illustrious 
AruLiccheyal of the Azhwaar offer Mangalaasasanam to 
the Adbhuta Kesari worshipped as Kamaasikhaa Narasimhan
at Thiru VeLLUkkai .

TWENTY SIXTH VERSE OF PEY AZHWAAR

SIRANDAVEN CHINTAIYUM SENKANARAVUM
NIRAINDHA SEER NEEL KACCHIYULLUM--URAINDHATHUVUM
VENKATAMUM VEHAAVUM VELUKKAIPAATIYUMEH
TAANKATAVAAR TANDHUZHAAYAAR

Here Pey Azhwaar  continues to describe his supremely 
delectable experience of Paripurna Saakshatkaram of
 the divine couple, which blossomed forth from his supreme
 Para Jnanam and focuses on his  anubhavam of the Archa Murthys.

He  identifies the three divya desams -- Attigiri (Kanchi ), Thruvenkatam 
and Thiru VeLulkkai-- as the sacred places , which  the Lord wearing
the cool Tulasi garlands blesses by His presence. The Azhwaar says 
that the Archa Murthys of these three divya desams have not  
moved away  from his mind or from the proximity of the red eyed Adiseshan
even for a moment. The azhwaar says my mind like the bed of Adisesha 
is an  eternal place of   residence for  the Lord of ThiruveLukkai Paadi .
The word Paadi that  we see at  the end of ThirukkavaLampaadi and
Thiruvelukkai Paadi as in this pasuram refers to a town .

THIRTY FOURTH VERSE OF PEY AZHWAAR

ANRRU IVVULAGAM ALANDHA ASAIVEH KOL
NINRU IRUNDHU VELUKKAI NEENAGARVAAI 
KIDANTHAANAI KEDIL SEERANAI MUN KANJAI
KADANTHAANAI NENJAMEH KAAN 

Here Pey Azhwaar engages in  a dialog with his mind.
He appeals to it to meditate  on the lord of eternal
auspicious qualities and  bring him forth in the mind"s eye
(Saakshathkaaram ). He says: " O My mind! The Lord, who 
destroyed Kamsan during the time of Incarnation as Krishna 
and who measured the universes with His feet during 
the time of incarnation as Vamana seems to be resting from 
these tiring efforts through  sitting at Vegavathi bank as 
Kamaasikhaa Narasimhan and  lying down on Adisesha at 
Thiru Vehhaa. O my Mind! Please meditate on Him and
bring Him before you like we saw him at Thirukkovalur
on a rainy night.

VERSE 62 OF PEY AZHWAAR

VINNAGARAM VEHHAA VIRI TIRAI NEER VENKATAM
MANNAGARAM MAAMAADA VELUKKAI--MANNAHATTHA
TENKUDANTHAI TENAAR THIRUVARANGAM TENKOTTI
TAN KUDANGAI NEER YERRAN THAAZHVU 

Here, Pey Azhwaar pays tribute to the sowlabhyam and 
Sowseelyam,  two of the Lord's Anantha Kalyana Gunas.
The Azhwaar reveals that the Lord of  infinite  accessibility
to the lowliest and the highest (Sowlabhyam) and
limitless virtuous qualities ( Sowseelyam ) is resident in the 
Archa form at Thiru Vinnagar, Thiru Vehhaa , Thiru Venkatam
known for its beautiful waterfalls and springs, Thiru VeLukkai 
famous for its tall spires , beautiful Thirukkudanthai , Srirangam 
with its honey-laden flowers abundant in the groves and 
Thirukkotiyur.The key words in this pasuram are " Tan Kudangai
Neererran Thazhvu " . The Lord is the owner of everything because of His
Paratvam. Inspite of it, He begged for three steps of Land  from 
Maha Bali and received the Daanam  water on His hands to seal the transaction.
Such is His Sowseelyam and Sowlabhyam says the Azhwaar here.

THIRUMNAGAI AZHWAAR'S  MANGALAASAASANAM OF THIRUVELUKKAI

In his Periya Thirumadal, Parakaala Nayaki in her ardent love of the Lord 
threatens to shame Him into submission through the invocation of 
the act of Madal as a route to gain Him back .Overtaken by passion and 
being unable to stand the thought of separation from her object of love,
Parakala Nayaki appeals indirectly to the Lord's Rakshatva and Sowlabhya .
She appeals to Him frantically " to come down from His transcendental
kingdom and Height to accept the purest flower of love -offering (Kama Pushpa)
even though the love is coming  from a being unfitted in every sense
 to receive such a grace ". Parakala Nayaki offers the Kama Pushpa to 
Kamaasikhaa Narasimhan and calls Him as Velukkai AaL Lion . She threatens 
to mount the Madal, if He does not pay  attention to her frantic appeal.The
performance of Madal has been compard to one of the limbs of Saranagathi known
as 
Kaarpanyam or prostration at  the feet of the Lord in a state of utter
helplessnes
and seeking union with Him.

MAHAA  PRABHAAVA SRI NARAYANA NARASIMHA, 
NARAYANA VIRA SIMHA, NARAYANA KRURA SIMHA,
NARAYANA DIVYA SIMHA, NARAYANA VYAAGRA SIMHA, 
NARAYAN PUCCHA SIMHA, NARAYANA POORNA SIMHA,
-- ABHAYANKARA RUPA SIMHA, -- PRAHLAADA VARADA SIMHA, 
BHAKTHAABHISHTA DHAAYEE SIMHA, LAKSHMI NARASIMHA 
SIMHA, ADHYATBHUTA RUPA SIMHA, --- PAAHI MAAM 

-- EXCERPTS FROM NRSIMHA GADHYAM

SARVA VEDAANTHA VEDHYAAYA KAARANAAYA MAHATMANEH
SARVALOKA SARANYAYA SRI NRSIMHAAYA MANGALAM

ADIVAN SATAKOPAAKYAIR YATIVARYAIR MAHATMABHI:
SAMARCHITAAYA NITYAAYA SRI NRSIMHAAYA MANGALAM

---EXCERPTS FROM THE SRI NRUSIMHA MANGALM BY THE 
TWENY FIFTH JEEYAR OF AHOBILA MUTT : SRI VAN SATAKOPA
SRINIVASA YATINDRA MAHAA DESIKAN. 

SRI NRUSIMHA PARABRHMANEH NAMA: 

Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan