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re - divya prabhandham - doubts from Smt. Rajalakshmi

From the Bhakti List Archives

M.G.Vasudevan • November 18, 2002 


Dear Sri Vaishnava Perunthagaiyeer,

I try to answer here, the questions raised by Smt. Rajalakshmi [sridharaji@-- on 11.11.2002 in her mail to the list on dhivya prabhandham. 

Smt. Rajalakshmi wrote - "In the first paasuram itself, Periaazhwar says "pallaaNdu pallaaNdu......." thus does mangaLa aasaasanam to Lord to protect Him. (Dhrishti kazhithal?) 

Yes. In the vyaakhyaanam of thirup pallaaNdu sri swamy periya vaachchaan pillai states 
1.	"kaala atheethamaana dhEsaththilE irukkiRa vasthu, kaalam saamraajyam paNNugira dhEsaththilE chakshur vishayam aavadhE | iv vasthuvukku enna theengu varugiradho ennum adhi sankaiyaalE aanai mElE kidantha maNigaLaith thaaLamaagak koNdu intha soundharya soukumaaryangaLukku theengu vaaraadhE nithyamaai sella vENum enRu thirup pallaaNdu paadugiraar".
 
-	rough translation - that "thing", which is in a place beyond the controlling conditions and limitations of time, has come to be seen by the eyes wherein this time governs. To this "thing" what sort of difficulties or problems will arise - such a serious doubt comes to the mind, and hence immediately using the bells, which are hanging on the sides of the elephant, as cymbals, starts singing "pallaaNdu - live eternally - dheerga aayushmaan bhava" - to that ever lasting beatitude and tenderness.

-	here the importance is that adhi sankai - serious doubt - may result in a harm / difficulty / problem to the lord.

2.	Why that serious doubt came?
	Because of forgetting see - 
	"mugappilE chakshur vishayamaana  soundharyaadhigaLilE bhagavath prasaadha labdhamaana bhakthi paravasaraaik koNdu azhunthi avanudaiya sarva rakshakathva sarva sakthithvaththaiyum sva samrudhdhiyaiyum marakkaiyaalE bhagavath samrudhdhiyE thamakku samrudhdhiyaagak koNdu mangala aasaasanam paNNugai".

-	Rough translation- at the apron, in front of the eyes, there lies the beauty for the eyes, which lead to deep devotion obtained again due to his grace. Forgetting his omniscient and omnipotent nature and self - fulfillment, considering his welfare alone as self's welfare started singing praise of Him.

-	here the emphasis is on forgetting his omnipotence and thinking His welfare only.

3.	Why this doubt forgetting etc is all because the manner in which he came. 
See how he came 
-	piraattiyOdE kooda sa parikaranaai eeswaran sannihithanaaga thath parikara bootharaana brahmaadhi dhEvadhaigaLum aagaasaththilE nerungi nirkira iththai saakshaathkariththu.

-	Rough translation - having seen the lord coming with piraatti - his wife and with all paraphernalia like weapons, decorations etc and surrounded by assistants and deputy gods like brahma and others, all standing together clustered.

4.	See here - a doubt - forgetting - result - fear- bayam - so immediately an effort to remove that fear by singing pallaaNdu - because just learnt [again by HIS grace] all vEdhams - kizhi aruththu -still that vEdha maNam vaayil- that vEdham smells in the mouth - vEdham lingers in the tongue - with that mangala aasaasanam - singing pallaaNdu 

-	avanukku enna theengu varugiradhO enRu bayappattu antha baya nivruththiyilE yathnam" 

	rough translation - fearing what sort of evil happenings may occur to him, and carrying out efforts in removing that fear.

	[for points 1 to 4 above refer pages 37 and 38 thirup pallaaNdu vyakhyaanam book of periya vaachchaan pillai - geethaachaaryan publications]
Thus it is clear that removal of the dhrishti is the main focus for the aazhvaar. 
See the words theengu vaaraadhe, marakkaiyaale, baya nivruththi, yathnam etc.
Smt. Rajalakshmi writes further - "But the same Periaazhwar in moondram tirumozhi "padadi kesa vannam"[actually it should be varNanam] calls everyone (vandhu kaaNeerE) to come and see His beauty from paadham to kEsam, one one beautiful pasuram for each avayam [actually it should be avayavam] and ask everyone to come, see and enjoy Him.  Why this contradictory pasurams?".
Reply point is - There is no contradiction at all. 
"singing pallaaNdu" is for the lord when he came with all his decorations paraphernalia etc piraattiyOdE kooda sa parikaranaai. 
But in 3rd thirumozhi, a young proud mother yasOdha calls ladies - ladies only - not all as sted by Smt. Raji -
- surruppaar kuzhali yasOdhai mun sonna thiruppaadha kesaththai- 1-2 -20
The thirup paadha kEsam - from foot to head - what has been said earlier by that yasOdhaa who has curled hair - the proud mother calls NOT ALL but only ladies

- see description - kaarigaiyeer, suri kuzhaleer, vaaL nudhaleer - addressing only ladies.

That proud mother with all exuberance and zeal - hey ladies, come and see my son - he is so beautiful in every part of his body. In every word there is perumai is overflowing - tham adhbutham baalaakam ambujEkshaNam - wonderful in every part of the body - in every aspect of what can be said.

So totally in a different mood - no fear, no dhrishti- no baya nivruththi needed.

Further a sincere devotee / a true devotee - a servant - always thinks of welfare to his lord. Whereas a young mother - that too a proud one for having such a wonderful child - naturally has a flair for tom- tomming about his exceptional son.

So two different character analysis is presented here - by same aazhvaar.

Since length of the post is more, the second point of Smt. Rajalakshmi will be taken up in next post.

Dhasan 

Vasudevan m.g.


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