PeriyAzhwAr Thirumozhi 4.5- Before the death strikes, do this- advises AzhwAr!
From the Bhakti List Archives
• May 12, 2003
SrI: SrImathE Ramanujaya namah: Dearest Srivaishnavas, AzhwAr immersed himself into the glorious archa avatars of ThirukkOttiyoor and he is going to enjoy the KaNdamkadinagar afterwards. In between for two tens, he advises us: to involve ourselves in Naama sangeerthanam in our life time before our human birth vanishes; and hence, he also advises us to name our children in His divine name thereby under the pretext of calling them (children) we unknowingly utter his name. Perhaps in the last patthu, when he talked about the greatness of BhAgawathas who keep uttering Kesavaa! PurushOtthamaa! kiLar jyOthiyaay! And hence starts off with that in the first pAsuram of this ten.. Let us enjoy this excellent ten.. PLEASE do not miss to read the original pAsurams- they are very simple and highly powerful- aasaivaaychchenRasindhaiyaraaki annai_aththan_enpuththirarboomi vaasavaar_kuzhalaaLenRumayangi maaLumellaikkaNvaaythiRavaadhE kEsavaa! purudOththamaa! enRum kEzhalaakiyakEdilee! enRum pEsuvaaravar_eydhumperumai pEsuvaanpukiln^ambaramanRE. 1. 1. Having the mind as repository of desires, saying,: my mother, my father, my children, my place, my home town and also my loving fragrant haired beautiful spouse etc- and being in that state until death, finally being unable to even open (our) mouth due to disability and unconsciousness, [instead, before that- right now] calling Kesavaa! PurushOtthamaa! [as mentioned earlier in 4.4] and Oh AchyuthA! The One who appeared as blemishless Varaaha mUrthy! – uttered those mahathmaas- BhAgawathas- if we attempt to speak on the glories that those Bhagawathas are going to attain and attained already- then there is no possibility that we will be able to complete it and reach an end.. [meaning: there can not be an end to it]. Similar to mAthA pithA yuvathayas thanayaa vibHuthi: .. First desire and love is on mother for a child; then it goes and extends to the father who educates and teaches good things. Afterwards it is on spouse and thence the children. Then one cares and loves the little place he buys; Here AzhwAr specifically mentions the fragrant haired spouse; all other relations slowly loose our attention. But not spouse… Also it may means some get wedded even after the children are born.. Also it is due to our spouse (wife) sharing our puNyam (half of it).. AzhwAr refers to the word “en” (my) after mentioning mother and father.. Perhaps one’s love for parents does not extend so much after wedding.. he says so..:-) Thus, thinking of them till death we waste our time, and at death, (the time of demise), we are not able to even open our mouth and call Him.. These Bhagawathas (as said in 4.4) call him loudly: Kesavaa et al- if we think of that and talk about of their glories, then immediately the mouths that may get closed, will open… If we think of the unparalleled Varaaha mUrthy (though of appearing as Huge Boar)- whose birth is not like ours- This is akilahEyaprathyaneekan- He has no defects; janma karma cha mE dhivyam- describes His avataara lakshanam. He appears to save the mahaathmaas whom he considers as His AthmA (jnAnithvAmaivamE matham).. If we attempt to speak the glories of theirs, there is no end.. However we will talk about the greatness and benefits.. of calling His divine names.. seeyinaalseRindhERiyapuNmEl seRRalERikkuzhambirundhu engum eeyinaal_arippuNdumayangi ellaivaaychchenRusErvadhanmunnam vaayinaaln^amOn^aaraNaavenRu maththakaththidaikkaikaLaikkooppi pOyinaalpinnai_iththisaikku_enRum piNaikkodukkilumpOkavottaarE. 2. 2. at the end of life, at the evening of lives, when the pus forms on the skins and pours over with terrible suffering – and with flies sitting on them adding to pains furthermore; falling into unconsciousness at times, and finally taking off- Before all that, [when our body, mind and intellect are listening to us] hence, let us utter NAMO NARANAA ( at least with breaking of few letters here and there from Namo Narayanaya) and perform sirasanjali – keeping our palms together above our heads with devotion and then if one leaves this body, then [even if one gives anything whatsoever in return], he will never ever return even for a fraction of second.. Keeping the hands above head (sirasanjali) – thus declaring that “do not keep the burden of taking care of me with me.. It is now yours.. “. He [the Lord] would never ever let you thereafter to send you back to the earth for karma bandham… Not just He.. Even the nithyasUris, PiraaTTis will never ever let us leave the Nithya vibhUthi.. unlike the earthly human beings.. If ever someone (who serves) leaves us, others take that as an opportunity to talk all ills and names about the person so that he is hated by the master. Such a thing would never happen in Srivaikuntam.. sOrvinaalporuLvaiththadhuNdaakil sollusollenRusuRRumirundhu aarvinavilumvaaythiRavaadhE andhakaalam_adaivadhanmunnam maarvamenbadhOr_kOyilamaiththu maadhavanennumdheyvaththain^atti aarvamenbadhOr_poovidavallaarkku aravathaNdaththil_uyyalumaamE. 3. 3. if we keep [save and store] the wealth without others’ (relatives) knowledge, then they would ask repeatedly, “tell; tell where all have you stored and saved? “ and sit around at the time of death:- even if our loved ones ask, we would not be able to open our mouths (due to our evening of lives); and hence, before that time of death, if we build a peerless beautiful temple in the heart (hridhaya kamalam) for Sriman Narayaanan, the unparalleled Lord in our heart and consecrate Him in our heart; offer Him the greatest flower of Bhakthi and those who are capable of doing so, will be saved even from the paths of yama… for sure. mElezhundhadhOrvaayukkiLarndhu mElmidaRRinai_uLLezhavaangi kaalungaiyumvidhirvidhirththERik kaNNuRakkamadhaavadhanmunnam moolamaakiya_oRRaiyezhuththai moonRumaaththirai_uLLezhavaangi vElaivaNNanaimEvudhiraakil viNNakaththinilmEvalumaamE. 4. 4. The praaNa vaayu (the life-air) comes up; raises itself, expands itself chokes the throat; hands and legs shudder; slowly the eyes fall into deep sleep with signs of no return; [death has struck= before that happens], here, realize and utter the one “padham” (with three letters) praNavam- the essence of all Vedas.. and hold on to Sri Vasudeva- the ocean coloured Lord; - if you do that; then it is possible for you to hold His lotus feet in Paramapdham as well. In the first line, AzhwAr mentions about the life breath (praaNa vaayu) that is spoiled and is choking one’s throat- which prevents one from praNava utterance; in second line, he describes the sense organs and limbs failing. madivazhivandhun^eer_pulan_sOra vaayilattiyakanchiyummeeNdE kadaivazhivaarakkaNdamadaippak kaNNuRakkamadhaavadhanmunnam thodaivazhi_ummain^aaykaLkavaraa soolaththaal_ummaippaayvadhumseyyaar idaivazhiyiln^eer_kooRaiyum_izhaveer irudeekEsanenREththavalleerE. 5. 5. From the organs, the waters (urine) ooze out without any control due to disability and weariness- fall via the hips to the floor; the water and liquid food poured into the mouth do not enter inside and spill from the corners of the lips and the phlegm chokes the throat; the whole body slips into deep sleep – dheergha nithra; [before that happens], if you are capable of uttering “Hrishikesa” and are able to praise Him, then the dogs of Yama will not devour your thighs; the servants of yama will not poke you with their spears; you will not lose you waist dress on the way. [You will reach safely the land of Paramapadham] Here AzhwAr explains the uncontrolled organs beautifully at the time of death (or sometime before that). The liquid food that is poured by your dear ones does not enter and comes back.. angamvittavaiyaindhumakaRRi aavimookkinilsOdhiththapinnai sangamvittavar_kaiyaimaRiththup paiyavEdhalaisaayppadhanmunnam vangamvittulavumkadaRpaLLimaayanai madhusoodhananaimaarbil thangavittuvaiththu aavadhOr_karumam saadhippaarkku_enRumsaadhikkalaamE. 6. 6. When those five slowly are slipping away from the body (five may mean senses; or five praaNans; or five relations, wife, sons, daughters, father and mother), and they keep shouting, “tell; tell” (where is that wealth or property? OR utter now His name .. Utter Narayanaaa..” and then seeing no response, they keep their fingers near the nose to verify if there is still breath- [realizing that there is no more air in and out], they place (our) hands in the sides with palms facing up; and turn away from the body with their head hung in sorrow (and to give sign to others that it is over); - [before that], think, realize and meditate on the most wonderful MadhusUdhanan, who has the vast deep ocean with noisy waves, as His bed in your heart and perform (karmam- says AzhwAr meaning Prapatti- Saranagathi) the karmam – duty- of surrendering to His Lotus feet now, then for such kritha krithyars (one who has done what is to be done)- performers of such a deed- there will certainly be a possibility of getting the eternal kaimkraym to Him at Paramapadham (and here as well). Vangam (meaning waves) also means ship.. He is the only ship that can take us cross this deep ocean of samsaara saagaram- samsaric ocean. MadhusUdhanan- In ekOdhaka samudram, He as MadhusUdhanan destroyed the Madhu and Kaitabha asuras.. when he took Hayagreeva avatar. Or Karmam- meaning: One duty- Doing it once- Performance of Saranagathi.. enRum saadhikkalaamE- Always we will be blessed with what we desire for (while doing Saranagathi).. This also can mean that Prapatti will yield sakala sowbhAgyam here and there (though we performed only for eternal service at his lotus feet). Similar to AndAL’s EErirandu maal varaitthOl sengaN thirumugatthu selvatt Thirumaalaal engum ThiruvaruL peRRu inbuRuvar… Saadhyabhakthisthu saa hanthrI praarabdhasyApi bhUyasi: - It (Performance of Prapatti) destroys praararabdha karma (sins accrued so far) and is even grander than bhakti Yogam as it yields mOksha saamraajyam whenever one asks for; It is capable of granting whenever one desires for it- right now- or few years later.. etc.. That is how- enRum saadhikkalaamE- is interpreted by Acharyas. –says Sri UttamUr Swamy in his wonderful commentary. thennavan_thamarseppamilaadhaar sEvadhakkuvaar_pOlappukundhu pinnumvan_kayiRRaalpiNiththeRRip pinmunnaaka_izhuppadhanmunnam innavan_inaiyaanenRusolli eNNi_uLLaththiruLaRan^Okki mannavanmadhusoodhanenbaar vaanakaththumanRaadikaLthaamE. 7. 7. Similar to the male calves getting their testicles crushed (so that they are used for pulling bullock carts with full vigour) by holding their legs together and forcibly, the Yama dhUthas (messengers and servants of Yama) without our consent, willingness, forcibly they enter (at the time of demise) and pull with their “paasak kayiRu” (rope) and pull from all sides with despite our protests, (which can be seen visibly with our suffering and shuddering hands and legs- while passing away). – Before that happens, “He is of such merciful nature; he is most compassionate, Samastha kalyANu guNagaNouka maaharNavan (the most auspicious attributes); AkilahEya prathyaneekan (free of any defects)- He is ParamOdhArAn; Swami; SarvEshwaran; and yet, Sowlabhyan with tremendous sowlseelyam (mixing with lowliest ones like us)- “ Like that meditate, think, and utter His divine names in Your heart and make the darkness of ignorance vanish from there; Place Him – The Lord MadhusUdhanan in Your heart – The One who destroyed Madhu asura – and enjoy seeing Him in your heart in His entirety. – Utter that he is my Lord MadhusUdhanan- and those who do that will be certainly blessed with ParamAnandham at Paramapadham doing eternal service and eternally enjoying kaimkarya ruchi. Pinmunnaaga izhuppadhan munnam- Sri Manavala mamunigal [jeer] yama dhuthas pull in such a way that all parts of the body go awry.. mookkum pallum mukhamum udhadum pallum thagarumpadi mugam keezhppada- enRanar jeer… koodikkoodi_uRRaar_kaL_irundhu kuRRamn^iRkan^aRRangaLpaRaindhu paadippaadi_Or_paadaiyilittu narippadaikku_orupaakudampOlE kOdimoodiyeduppadhanmunnam kowththuvamudaikkOvindhanOdu koodiyaadiya_uLLaththaraanaal kuRippidamkadandhu_uyyalumaamE. 8. 8. the realatives- males and females – join in groups and talk all in praise of the deceased in toto (without mentioning carefully of the follies of the deceased); compose even songs in praise of the one who passed away; and then, place “it” (body) on the “paadai” (flat bed made of leaves); close the body with a new cloth (as if it is a help (upakaaram) for the wolves- before that happens, if you have the mind to enjoy the Lord (who is the Jeevathma mabhimaani as His very kausthubhum- jewel) seated in your heart, then there is sure possibility of leaving this prakarithi maNdalam (the leelA visbhUthi) where the good and bad prevail – and reach Paramapadham to get saved eternally. kuRRam niRka naRRangaL paRaindhu- When there is faults and bad deeds committed by them, they forget all that and talk “naRRangaL”- AzhwAr does not say NanmaigaL (good deeds); He says.. naRRam”- means: They also are kuRRam (bad ones appearing as if it is good); Thus, these relatives change and distort bad deeds as his good ones; Narippadaikku oru paakudam pOlE.. – At least by throwing him to wolves will please the persons who were made to suffer because of this guy who passed away- At least few of his paapam (sins) may get washed away by doing so- . PerumAL hugs the jeevan when He passes away.. close to His heart. He is the Jeevathma abhimaani- In Paramapadham always everyone sees and does good. (unlike this prakarithi maNdalam). vaayorupakkamvaangivalippa vaarndhan^eerkkuzhikkaN_kaLmizhaRRa thaay_orupakkamthandhai_orupakkam thaaramum_orupakkam_alaRRa thee_OrupakkamsErvadhanmunnam sengaNmaalodumsikkenachchuRRa maay orupakkamn^iRkavallaarkku aravadhaNdaththil_uyyalumaamE. 9. 9. The mouth moving towards (as if being pulled towards) one direction; with the eyes shedding tears continuously- due to the mast moments and leaving the kith and kin- rolling down the cheeks; mother on one side; father on the other; wife, on another side (perhaps at feet); crying loudly looking at his dying moment; In another side, son holds the fire which touches the body and starts approaching (towards all parts); - before it happens, be a close relative and be devoted to the red lotus eyed Lord, with an unflinching faith and unconditional unalloyed devotion be separated from others (who are tied down to worldly pleasures and material pursuits); if you are able to be that way, it is certain to escape from the severe cruel punishments of Yama. He alone is Sarvavidha bhandhu; He alone is Matha, Pitha.. he alone is our Spouse.. (Master); He never leaves us for ever. This bandhuthvam alone will remain for ever and has been there since time immemorial. Hold Him tight (sikkena) – It may also mean- hold Him quickly.. fast- right now- when you have been able to do.. Do not associate yourselves with samsaaris. Jeer says- SamsaarigaLOduLLa uRavaik kalasaathE.. seththuppOvadhOr_pOdhun^inaindhu seyyumseykaikaLdhEvapiraanmEl paththaraayiRandhaar_peRumpERRaip paazhiththOLvittuchiththanpuththoorkkOn siththamn^an_korungiththirumaalaich seydhamaalai_ivaipaththumvallaar siththamn^an_korungiththirumaalmEl senRasindhaipeRuvar_thaamE. 10. 10. Think of the time of death in advance and utter divine names and naama sangeerthanam on the Lord Sriya: Pathi Sriman Narayanan – such devotees who do that and their attainment of eternal service at the lotus feet of the Lord at Paramadham is described and composed in this ten pAsurams beautifully by Sri VilliputthUr’s Srivishnuchitthar with a concentared and devoted mind and those who recite these ten pAsurams fully understanding its content, will be blessed with a clear and firm mind on Sriya: Pathi on their own. In this ten PAsurams, AzhwAr very beautifully lists down in second part of each PAsuram – Naama sangeerthanam, ThiruvashtAkshara japam, Anjali, Maanaseeka ArAdhanam, (having the Lord seated in the hridhaya kamalam and enjoy doing Pooja to Him with closed eyes), Enjoying Him as the essence and meaning of PraNavam, (realising us as His nithya nirUpAdhika ananhaarya sEshan..- eternal servant of only Sriman Narayanan and none else since time immemorial naturally and not enforced by anyone else), With His mercy, and anugraham, praying for and trying to control the sense organs, Performing Parapatti (Saranagathi) at His Lotus feet, considering Him alone as Sarvavidha bandhu, and distance ourselves from non-devotees as far as we can etc.. Thus, naama sangeerthanam will yield the subsequent ones as listed in these ten PAsurams and yield Moksha saamrajyam and thereby the eternal service at His lotus feet for ever. Also His using Saadhikkalame.. and Or karumam- means that only Prapatti [Saranagathy] (refer to Pasuram 6) (for those who can not do Bhakti Yogam (as mentioned in Pasuram 7) can lead to moksham and eternal service at His Feet. PeriyAzhwAr ThiruvaDigalE SaraNam Regards Namo Narayana dAsan _________________________________________________________________ Download Norah Jones, Eminem and more! http://www.msn.com.sg/ringtones/ -------------------------------------------------------------- - SrImate rAmAnujAya namaH - To Post a message, send it to: bhakti-list@yahoogroups.com Group Home: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bhakti-list Archives: http://ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/ Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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