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BhAgawathas and BhAgawatha apachAram

From the Bhakti List Archives

Madhavakkannan V • November 15, 2001 


SrI:
SrImathE Gopaladesika Mahadesikaya namah:
Dearest Srivaishnavas,

Sri Varadahan and others wrote very beautifully on this subject. Just 
adiyEn's two cents worth on BhAgawathas and the need to show respect towards 
them irrespective of their births: (Bhagawatha- is one who has complete 
unconditional, unflinching faith on Sriya: Pathi Sriman Narayanan and has 
surrendered to his Lotus Feet. caste no bar.:-)

I take the help from ThoNdaradippodi AzhwAr's two pAsurams to highlight 
their greatness: ThoNdaradippodi AzhwAr (Alwar- who considered himself as 
the dust at the feet of BhAgawathas)

AzhwArÂ’s respects and regards for BhAgawathAs is GREAT! Let us enjoy the 
42nd and 43rd of Thirumaalai:

pazhuthilaa vozhuka laaRRup palasathup pEthi maar_kaL!
izhikulath thavar_ka LElum emmadi yaar_ka Laakil*
thozhumineer kodumin koLmin!' enRun^in NnOdu mokka,
vazhipada varuLi NnaaypOl mathiLthiru varankath thaanE!  (42)

mathiL ThiruvarangatthaanE! - Oh Sri RanganAthanE!
Vazhipada aruLinaay pOl- (I think) You have instructed The Vedic scholars, 
ChathurvEdis (one who has learnt all four Vedas)- brahmins, saying ,"Oh 
ChathurvEdis! Even if my devotees are born in the lowliest of low castes 
(izhikulatthavar)- if they are my bhakthAs; (means- devotees of Sriman 
Narayanan- and only HIM), you all prostrate to themÂ… (neer thozhumin); give 
them (kodumin) (wealth- food; and even ourself);
get from them knowledge (that I am The Supreme Lord- Parathvam..) (koNmin)."

(AzhwAr asks Sri RanganAthan).. "Did You instruct this because You declare 
that Your BhakthAs are to be considered equal to You..? (if not even more) 
(enRu ninnodu okka)

amaravO ranka maaRum vEthamOr naan_ku mOthith/
thamar_kaLil thalaiva raaya saathiyan^ thaNar_ka Lelum/
numar_kaLaip pazhippa raakil nodippathO raLavil, aankE
avar_kaLthaam pulaiyar pOlum arankamaa nakaru LaanE! (43)

(In this pAsuram, AzhwAr condemns those who commit BhAwatha apacharam..)
Oh Sri Ranganatha! Even after having learnt all six Vedha~ngams, and the 
unparalleled four Vedas, completely, and are born in the great Brahmana 
kulam, (as brahmins), if someone scolds "pazhippargaLaagil" (or thinks low 
about) Your devotees (numargaLai), immediately, within a fraction of a 
second (nodippadhOr aLavil), at the same spot (aanghE), he (is worthy to be 
considered) becomes a chaNdaaLar.. (lowliest man) -pulayiarpOlum..

What an assertive truth! Last pAsuram, AzhWar says, "Even low caste devotees 
need to considered equal to Emperumaan Sriya: Pathi Sriman Narayanan. Next 
one- he says, even if you are born a highest caste brahmin, if you do not 
respect (or if you think of low of) a BhAgawatha (of Emperumaan), you are  
NOT a brahmin at all. You become the lowliest of low castes..

In fact, this AzhwAr was born a brahmin;

Thanks to SrI TA Varadhan and others for giving me an opportunity to mull 
these lovely PAsurams.
Regards
Namo Narayana
adiyaarkku adiyan..

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