PERIYA TIRUMOZHI 2.1 PASURAMS 1048 TO 1057 TIRUVENKATAM 4/4
TIRUVENKATAM
Not everyone gets to relish divine experiences. In that way AzhvAr is so delighted that his heart does not ponder over unnecessary interests, rather it’s inclined towards the Lord. So, at the end of every verse he addresses his heart saying “aDimai tozhiL pooNDAyE”.
1048. Oh my dear heart! Similar to the thoughts of Nityasooris (வானவர்), You became subservient to the Lord, who took the form of vAmana and is seated in the heart of the beings who have done much penance. This very same SwAmi resides in Tirumala where the whole place is dispersed by smoke caused by burning the wood of the agil tree for cooking by hunters. (1)
1049. Oh my dear heart! EmperumAn who is not bounded by any blood relationship due to prArabdha karma, will wipe away the sin of being born in this world, for his ardent devotees. Even you realised this goodness and became subservient to the Lord who is the embodiment of dharma residing in TiruvEnkaDam where the bees along with the gypsies sing different forms of music like kurinji, maruL and so on. (2)
1050. Oh my dear heart! EmperumAn comes forward and leads those who worship Him with garlands made from flowers brought from all corners and also those associated with them to reach the eternal abode. Realising this compassionate nature, you became subservient to the Lord who governs the eternal abode (Paramapadam) at the same time, stands in TiruvenkaDam situated in the north swarmed by bees. (3)
1051. Oh my dear heart! With an undeviating mind, you became subservient to the lord who took various avatArs earlier to conquer His devotees and liberate them to the eternal abode. He governs being the soul of even the devas (வானவர்) and is the beloved of the Gopikas, who is present in the cloud laden stately hills of TiruvenkaDam. (4)
1052. Oh my dear heart! Even though the believers of other religions who shelter themselves under the huge banyan tree with its spreading branches and the Ashoka tree, have expanded in huge number in their shrines, You refrained from joining them. Instead, you became subservient to the all gracious, beautiful eyed lord of TiruvEnkaDam who is worshiped even by the devas and asuras. (5)
1053. Oh my dear heart! The monks who wear saffron clothes and tonsure their heads mingle with each other, luxuriate in heavy food and stay obese. I am happy that you ignored such a life and became subservient to the lord who is the head of Nithyasooris residing in the hills of Tirumala where the deer herds roam around freely. (6)
1054. Oh my dear heart! Few blindly argue proving that their religion is the best and keep spreading it. They undertake cruel vows which are really frightening. Refraining from all these you became subservient to the Lord who prevails as the antaryAmi of the Sun and present in TiruvEnkaDam ever buzzing with bees . (7)
1055. Oh my dear heart! Few feel that Paramapada nAthan is not reachable. Few others do not bother even though He is present so close as a deity in the temple . Thinking about His avatars to be either lowly or profoundly they recede or refrain from worshipping Him. Whereas, even after listening to all these, you opted to be subservient to the Lord who is the head of cowherd clan residing in TiruvEnkaDam where the bamboo splits open and shower pearls everywhere. (8)
1056. kooDi ADi uraittadE uraittAi en nenjam enbAi tuNindu kEL pADi ADi palarum paNindu Etti kANhilAr | ADu tAmaraiyOnum eeSanum amararkOnum ninru Ettum vEngaDattu ADu koottanukku inru aDimaittozhil pooNDAyE || (9)
1056. Oh my dear heart! You have been mingling with people and lamenting on the same things repeatedly. Stop all your stories and listen to me boldly. Even after worshipping and singing the praise of the Lord, many have not realised his greatness. He, who is worshipped by Brahma seated in the Lotus, Shiva and Indra together in the hills of TiruvEnkaDam, is the very same Krishna who did the kuravai koottu (a form of dance). Now I am happy that, you became subservient to this Lord. (9)
1057. minnu mAmugil mEvu taNtiru vEngaDa malai kOyil mEviya annamAi nigazhnda amarar perumAnai | kanni mA madiL mangaiyar kalikanRi indamizhlil uraitta, im mannu pADal vallArku iDamAgum vAnulagE || (10)
1057. The Lord who is the master of the Nithyasooris and took the form of a swan resides in the hills of TiruvEnkaDam where lightning appears amidst clouds. Those who sing the verses sung by the AzhvAr who is king of the Tirumangai with ramparts and who annihilated the sins of Kali, will live eternally in Paramapadam (heaven). (10)
The Lord is in bhujanga sayanam blessing his ardent devotee shAlihOtra maharishi with one hand and gyAna mudra on the other. He appeared in front of RuShi asking "kim gRuham" or "evv-uL" meaning - 'Which is the place/room to rest? ShAlihOtra maharishi invited the Lord home, offered him food and gave him a shawl to rest. Hence the Lord here is always seen covered with a checked/dotted shawl called *papli dupaTTi*. (The word 'pala puLLi' seemed to have evolved as 'papli')
thiruvallur veeraraghavan and kanakavalli thayar
AzhvAr’s northern pilgrimage (vaDa nADu divya dEsham) finishes with tirunvEnkaTam. He then moves on to visit tonDai nADu divya dEshams. He first visits TIRUEVVUL, now called TIRUVALLUR. On seeing perumAL, he is reminded of bhagavAn’s kalyANa guNas and further deliberates on it.
*A COMPARE AND CONTRAST OF BHAGAVAN’S KALYANA GUNAS*
1058. kASaiyADai mooDiyODi kAdalSei dAnavan oor nASamAga nambavalla, nambi namberumAn | vEyin annatOL maDavAr veNNai uNDAn ivan enru ESa ninra emberumAn evvuL kiDandAnE || (1)
1058. *DETERMINED AND LOVING*
The demon rAvaNa with wrong intent forcibly abducted Lord rAma’s wife seetA dEvi by disguising himself as a sage wearing a saffron robe (kAshai ADai). Our trustworthy Lord rAma, (Nambi), our brave Lord namperumAl set out in search of seetA with determination and destroyed LankA . (He is determined - siddha sankalpah).
In contrast, in Krishna avatAram, our Lord of such valour entered a loving form and allowed himself to be yelled at by the cowherdesses (Aychchi) having beautiful bamboo like shoulders, for stealing and eating butter. (He is loving - vatsalah)
That friendly emperumAn, veerarAghava is reclining beautifully in ‘evvuL’. “evvuL kiDandAnE’. (1)
The asura rAvaNa, the one blessed by Lord Shiva with an invincible sword called chandrahAsa (vAL arakkan), was infatuated with the inimitably beautiful seetA dEvi (tayalAL). He abducted seetA forcibly and Lord rAma searched for her with patience and forbearance. (He is composed - kshamah)
Though rAvaNa was capable of hiding his head by magic, he could not escape rAma’s powerful arrow which slashed down all his 10 heads crowned in the coronation ceremonies like veerAbhishEkam, vijayAbhishEkam, etc. (He is powerful - satya parAkramah)
That gallant emperumAn, veerarAghava is reclining gracefully in ‘evvuL’. “evvuL kiDandAnE’. (2)
1060. mun Or toodu vAnarattin vAyil mozhindu arakkan mannoor tannai vALiyinAl mALa munindu, avanE | pin Or toodu AdimannarkAgi perunilattAr innAr toodan ena ninrAn evvuL kiDandAnE || (3)
1060. *KING AND MESSENGER*
In rAmavatAra, Lord rAma as the leader of his vAnara army, sent Hanuman as a peace messenger to rAvaNa. As rAvaNa did not heed, Lord rAma had to fight a battle with him and bring down Lanka. (He is the king - nEtAh)
On the contrary, in KrishNAvatAra, our emperumAn Himself went as a messenger to the kauravas trying to convince duryOdhana to avoid battle and give back Indraprastha to pANDavas who rightfully deserved the kingdom. (Adi mannar). At this point, KrishNa was a messenger of dharma and was not actually taking sides. Since duryOdhana refused his advice, KrishNa had to support the pANDavas who had taken refuge under Him. Hence He was praised by the people of the earth as “pANDava dootan”(innAr dootan) – the messenger of pANDavas. (He is the mesenger - satya vratah)
That ingenious veerarAghava is reclining elegantly in ‘evvuL’. “evvuL kiDandAnE’. (3)
1061. pandaNainda mel viralAL pAvai tan kAraNattAl vendiral ErEzhum venra vEndan viri pugazh SEr | nandan maindanAga hum nambi namberumAn endai tandai tamberumAn evvuL kiDandAnE || (4)
1061. *TOUGH AND CARING*
Our dauntless Lord KrishNa, son of the famous Nandagopa of Gokula tamed the seven daring bulls that were destroying Nappinai’s farmland. (He is tough - bhaya kRut)
As an honour for His valour and caring attitude, KrishNa married the tender Nappinnai whose fingers were so soft that they could not hold even a ball of flowers (pandAr virali). (He is caring - sAttvikah)
Our Lord, my father veerarAghava is reclining majestically in ‘evvuL’. “evvuL kiDandAnE’. (4)
After pralaya, Lord KrishNa takes the form of a small child and absorbs all the seven worlds in his stomach and lies down sweetly on a banyan leaf, protecting everything for several years only to revive them for the next cycle. (He is small but pervasive - vishvayOnih)
That punDareekAksha, the lotus eyed unassuming Lord is reclining peacefully as veerarAghava in yOga nidrA in ‘evvuL’, where bees drink honey from the sweet flowers of the fragrant gardens of tiruvaLLUr, the neydal land ( one of the five sangam landscapes – kurunji, marudam, mullai, neydal, pAlai,) surrounded by rich water bodies. “evvuL kiDandAnE’. (5)
BhAgavatas throng in large numbers to temples, folding their hands in anjali mudrA and addressing emperumAn through simple words like sOttam nambi ! – meaning "NamskArams nambi" or "my salutations, aDiyEn! namO nArAyaNa! Hari! etc”. Such come-at-able is our friendly Lord (Apta nambi) who shows his kAruNyam through his lotus like eyes (sen kaN nambi). (He is simple - sulabhah)
He who appears to be easily obtainable in the eyes of his devotees is extolled through profound words by austere sages and powerful dEvas as “mootta nambi –BrahmA, mukkaN nambi – Shiva” because He is all Lord of Lords - surAnandah.
That glorious nambi, emperumAn veerarAghava is reclining amazingly in ‘evvuL’ - “evvuL kiDandAnE’. (6)
BhagavAn is the antaryAmi of the panchabhootas namely the earth having the moon (tingal), water (appu), sky (vAn), fire (eri) and air (kAl). (He is the source - bhootAtmA)
He is the father of the four faced brahmA who emerged from the navel of His tirumEni, (disai muganAr tangaL appan). He is sAmi-appan, the Lord of vEdas. (He is creater of all things - bhoota bhAvanah)
When He took the trivikrama avatAra, BrahmA gave arghyam to His one feet that measured the upper worlds and the water that flowed down became Ganges. Shiva then locked the Ganges into his tresses decked with konRai poo (tongal), carrying the Lord’s feet on His head. (He is the end - sadgatih)
That omnipresent emperumAN veerarAghava is reclining magnificently in ‘evvuL’. “evvuL kiDandAnE’. (7)
BhagavAn is the fond consort of Shree (pAvai), the one born out of the cool lotus (pani malarAL), the one who has tender fingers softer than the ball of flowers that she holds. Periya pirATTi resides inseparably in the chest - tirumArbu of His tirumEni that shines radiantly like the blue sapphire. (the husband of shree - shreemAn)
At the same time, He is also the Lord of all the dEvas including Indra, who have been directed by Him to control the smaller lOkas. He readily comes forward to protect the dEvas whenever they are in trouble (Leader of the gods - surAdhyakshah).
That omnipotent emperumAn veerarAghava is reclining charismatically in ‘evvuL’. “evvuL kiDandAnE’. (9)
1067. iNDai koNDu toNDarEtta evvuL kiDandAnai vaNDu pADum paimburavil mangaiyar kOn kaliyan | koNDa SeerAl taNDamizh Sei mAlai eeraindum vallAr aNDam ALvadANai anrEl ALvar amrulagE || (10)
1067. *PHALA SHRUTI*
These 10 ‘evvuL kiDandAnE’ pAsurams have been composed by kaliyan, the king of tirumangai filled with groves where bees buzz around sucking nectar from the gardens. Shree vaishNavas who sing these 10 masterly tamizh pAsurams, offering flower garlands to Lord veerarAghava of tiru evvuL, will rule the earth and if they do not wish to rule this earth, they will be exalted to rule paramapadam. (10)
PERIYA TIRUMOZHI 2.3 PASURAMS 1068 TO 1077 TIRUVALLIKENI MANGALASHASHANAM
TIRUVALLI KENI PARTHASARTHY PERUMAL
Tirumangai AzhvAr performed mangalAshAshanam at tiruevvul kshetram and perumAL asks AzhvAr to visit tiruvallikEni, to enjoy the Divya darshan of Shri PArthasArathy perumAL, who resides here with His family. Tirupati vEnkaTAchalapati Himself, gives darshan as pArthasArathi, granting the prayers of His devotee, tONDaimAn chakravarti. This kshEtram acquired the name owing to the numerous lily ponds that were present here.
1068. viRperu vizhavum vir peru vizhavum kanjanum mallum vEzhamum pAganum veezha seTTravan tannai puram eri Seida Sivanuru tuyar kaLai tEvai | paTTralar veeya kOl kaiyil koNDu pArttan tan tEr mun ninrAnai SiTTravai paNiyAl muDi turandAnai tiruvallikkENi kaNDEnE || (1)
1068. AzhvAr declares that it is Lord Krishna and rAma themselves who gave him darshan in this kshEtram.
Here, in tiruvallikENi, I got the divine darshan of Lord Krishna, who destroyed the pompous dhanur yAgam arranged by kamsa, killed him, his wrestlers (mallan-- chAnUran and mushTikan, employed by Kamsa to kill Krishna) and the elephant (vEzham), kuvalayApeeDam and its mahout.
The swAmi, who rescued Shiva, who burnt the city of tripura, from the brahmahatti curse.
The Lord Krishna, who, armed with the whip, rode the chariot and destroyed the enemies.
The Lord rAma, who heeding to His stepmother's (siru avai) orders, relinquished His throne and kingdom. (1)
1069. Here, in tiruvallikEni, adjacent to the mylaipuri, abounded with terraced houses (mADa mAligai) with balconies, where fine ladies live, I had the darshan of -
The one who is Veda personified. The One, who, according to the desires of the devotees, gives the fruits of their prayers, as prescribed by the Vedas.
The One who is like the flawless fruit (kOdil kani) to the rishis and sages.
The One who is nandagOpan's cherished elephant calf (nandanAr kaLiRu).
The One who is worshipped as the primordial one by the people of the universe.
The One who is the ambrosia.
The emperumAn to whom I am an eternal slave. (2)
1070. vanjanai Seyya tAyuruvAgi vanda pEi alari maN SEra nanjamar mulaiyooDu uyir Seha uNDa nAdanai tAnavar kooTTrai | vinjai vAnavar SAraNar Sittar viyandu tudi Seyya peNNuruvAgi anjuvai amudam anru aLittAnai tiruvallikkENi kaNDEnE || (3)
1070. The darshan I had in tiruvallikENi is the SwAmi, who sucked the life, along with milk from the poisoned breasts of the evil PootanA, who fell down dead, screaming.
The Lord, who is yamA (kooRRu) to the asuras.
The Lord, who is worshipped with awe, by the dEvAs, vidyAdaras, sAranas and Siddhas.
The Lord, who took the form of mOhini and distributed the amRutam to the dEvas. (3)
1071. Once, when Indra was denied the annual special puja (ezhil vizhavu) that was performed ritually ( mandira vidhi), he ordered that the rains lash down on the cowherd people of AyarpADi. The frightened cowherds surrendered to You, seeking protection for themselves and their cattle from the incessant rain. Lifting the lofty Govardhan mountain, You saved them. It is You, my emperumAn KaNNan, that I see in tiruvallikENi. (4)
1072. in tuNai padumattu alar magaL tanakkum inban nalpuvi tanakku iraivan tan tuNai Ayar pAvai nappinnai tanakku irai maTTraiyOrkellAm | van tuNai panja pANDavarkAgi vAyurai toodu Senru iyangum en tuNai endai tandai tammAnai tiruvallikkENi kaNDEnE || (5)
1072. You are the loving consort of MahAlakshmi, who resides in the lotus(alar magal anban), the Swami of Bhoomi pirATTi the beloved of cowherdess Nappinnai. You provide constant refuge (vaN thuNai) to one and all! You went as a messenger for the panchapANDavas and gave dhArmic advice. You are the Swami of my clan! It is You I see here in tiruvallikENi. (5)
1073. andanan Siruvan araSartam araSarku iLaiyavan aNiyizhaiyai Senru endamakku urimai Sei ena tariyAdu emberumAn aruL enna| Sandam al kuzhalAL alakkaN nooTTruvar tam peNDirum eidi noolizhappa indiran Siruvan tEr mun ninrAnai tiruvallikkENi kaNDEnE|| (6)
1073. The blind king drudhrAshtra's son, duhshAshanA, the younger brother of the arrogant DuryOdhana, who assumed himself to be the supreme king, approached Draupadi decked in ornaments and claimed that she was their possession and slave! Draupadi pleaded to You for protection and You, the compassionate one, gave solace to the distressed draupadi, who had dark, beautiful locks, while you made the hundred kaurava wives widows! It is You, the charioteer of Indra's son, Arjuna, that I see in tiruvallikENi. (6)
1074. baradanum tambi Sattrukknanum ilakkumaNanODu maidiliyum iravum nan pagalum tudi Seyya ninru irAvaNAndaganai emmAnai| kuravamE kamazhum kuLir pozhilooDu kuyiloDu mugilgaL ninru Ala iraviyin kadirgaL nuzhaidal SeidariyA tiruvallikkENi kaNDEnE || (7)
1074. Here in tiruvallikENi, I had the darshan of the Lord, who killed rAvanA, and the one who is fervently worshipped by Bharata, Shatrugna, LakshmaNa and SeetA. This kshEtram has dense orchards, filled with fragrant kOTTam (kuruvam) flowers, where cuckoos and peacocks coo and caw! Even the sun rays cannot penetrate the canopy of the orchards, making it cool and shady. (7)
tiruvallikeni telliyasingar perumal
1075. paLLiyil Odi vanda tan Siruvan vAyil Or Ayira nAmam oLLiyavAgi pOda Angadanukku onrumOr poruppilanAgi| piLLai seeri vehuNDu tooNpuDaipa pirai eyiTTru anal vizhi pEzh vAi teLLiya SingamAgiya tEvai tiruvallikkENi kaNDEnE|| (8)
1075. Here in tiruvallikENi, I experience the darshan of the Lord who took the Narasimha avatar, intolerant (pORuppu ilAn Agi) of the abuse heaped on His devotee prahlAda.
When his young son prahlAda returned from the pAThashAlA, chanting the thousand divya nAmas of nArAyaNa, the infuriated HiraNyan smashed the pillar demanding to see the omnipresent bhagavAn. With teeth like the crescent moon, fiery eyes and gaping mouth, You appeared as teli singa perumAL! It is You, I see here in tiruvallikENi. (8)
Narasimhar, in this temple is known by the name *telliya singar* because AzhvAr addressed Him so.
1076. meenamar poigai nAN malar koivAn vETkaiyinODu Senru izhinda kAnamar vEzham kaiyeDuttu alara karA adan kAlinai kaduva| Anaiyin tuyaram teera puLLoorndu Senru ninru Azhi toTTAnai tEnamar SOlai mADa mA mayilai tirvallikkENi kaNDEnE|| (9)
1076. The elephant, gajEndra, while roaming in the forest, reached a pond where fishes swam, and plucked a fresh flower to reverentially offer to the Lord. On hearing the loud cries of gajEndra, whose leg was caught in the jaws of the crocodile, the Lord rushed to his rescue on His GaruDa mount and relieved gajEndra's grief by sending His sudarshana chakra to kill the crocodile. It is this PerumAL, that I see in tiruvallikENi, which is full of honey dripping orchards. (9)
1077. mannu taN pozhilum vAviyum madiLum mADa mALigaiyum maNDapamum tennan toNDaiyar kOn Seida nan mayilai tiruvallikkENI ninrAnai| kanni nan mADa mangaiyar talaivan kAmaru Seer kalikanri Sonna Sol mAlai pattuDan vallAr Sugam inidu ALvar vAnulagE|| (10)
1077. These ten pAsurams, on the presiding deity Parthasarathy PerumAL of tiruvallikENi, was established by the pANDya king ToNDaimAn Chakravarti. This kshEtram near mylai, is embellished with cool orchards and water bodies and surrounded by ramparts enclosing bungalows and pillared halls. Those who recite these verses of tirumangai AzhvAr, an exemplary SrivaishNava ( kAmaru seer) blessed by Lakshmi, shall rule over Paramapadam, the place that provides endless happiness! (10)
PERIYA TIRUMOZHI 2.4 PASURAMS 1078 TO 1087 TIRUNEERMALAI MANGALASHASANAM
TIRUNEERMALAI MANGALASHASANAM
When tirumangai AzhvAr came to visit this divya dEsam, it was surrounded by water. He waited for six months in the kshEtram for the water to recede. The place where AzhvAr stayed is called tirumangai azhwArpuram.
AzhwAr pleads to those who are distressed with life due to wrong advice and company, to hold on to the feet of the Lord on the divine hill of TIRUNEERMALAI and get emancipated.
1078. Lord nArAyaNa as kaNNan, the embodiment of love and affection, lived happily with nappinai pirATTi (Ayarkulam koDi), and periya pirATTi born in the divine lotus (aNi mAlar maNgaiyODu). The Lord never spared the asuras who were devoid of sympathy and kindness. He vanquished them to protect the devotees at all times.
This lord resides in the divine hill TIRUNEERMALAI enveloped by thick beautiful groves and divine water bodies. Lord nArAyanA of the four divya dEsams of tirunaRaiyUr, tiruvAli, tirukkuDandai and tirukkOvalUr surrounded by beautiful groves and ponds exhibits Himself in standing, sitting, sleeping and walking postures in tiruneermalai. (1)
At the base of the hill-
(1) TirunaRaiyur perumAL as neervaNNan perumAl in standing posture (ninRa tirukkOlam).
Atop the hill-
(2) TiruvAli perumAl as shAnta narasimhar in sitting posture (amarnda or veeTRuRunda tirukkOlam).
(3) TirukkuDandai perumAl as Sri Ranganathan in sleeping posture (shayana tirukkOlam).
(4) TirukkOvalUr perumAl as tiruvikraman in walking posture (naDanda tirukkOlam).
1079. To build the capital city of Indraprastha, KrishNa and Arjuna completely burnt down the kANDava forest (kANDAvanam). It was consumed as food by the hunger stricken agni bhagavAn (Ar azhal) as dEvEndran (who owned the forest) watched it blazing. This was the great Lord krishnNa's act to protect His devotees by wiping out the ferocious and dreadful rAkshasas who lived there. kaNNan, in the MahAbhArata war, vanquished the kauravas and their army, putting an end to the evil rule to protect the people.
emperumAn grew tall as narasimha (ariyAy), split the chest of hiraNyakashipu and slayed him using His nails as a weapon. The lord first took the form of a dwarf or vAmana (kuRal Agi) and then grew huge as trivikrama (nimirndavan).
This divine hill of tiruneermalai is the residence of perumAl in all these forms, for the welfare of His devotees. (2)
1080. Alam mannum aDal Suri Sangam eDuttu aDal AzhiyinAl aNiyAr uruvil pulam mannu vaDam punai kongaiyinAL poraiteera mun ALaDu vALamaril | pala mannar paDachchuDarAzhiyinai pagalOn maraiya paNikoNDu aNiSEr nila mannanumAi ulagANDavanukku iDam mAmalaiyAvadu neermalaiyE || (3)
1080. Long ago, krishNa sent His sudarshana chakra to brighten the setting sun and told arjuna to kill jayadrathA who was protected by several kings (pala mannar paDai) to escape the wrath of arjuna. When he rise up thinking it was sunset, arjunA killed him. Lord krishNa did this to reduce the affliction of bhoomi dEvi adorned with pearl jewellery and shield Her from the rule of evil kings.
His DIVYA MANGALA VIGRAHAM is very adorable as he holds the sharp discus (aDal Azhi), plough (alam) and the conch pAnchajanyam (suri sangu) whose sound sends waves of fear in enemies.
The nAyakan who protected this world resides here in tiruneermalai. (3)
1081. tAngAdadu Or ALariyAi avuNan tannai veeDa munindu avanAl amarum poongOdaiyar pongeri moozhha viLaittu aduvanriyum venrikoL vALamaril | pAngAga mun aivarODu anbaLavi padiTTraindiraTTippaDai vEndar paDa neengA cheruvil niraikAttavanukku iDam mAmalaiyAvadu neermalaiyE || (4)
1081. Dear lord! Once, you took the form of narasimha (Or AL aRiyAy), killing the asura king hiraNyakashipu and resulting in his wives (pooNkOdayar) entering the pyre. You also eliminated the huge kaurava army in the kurukshEtra war supporting the pANDavas. You protected the womanhood of Draupadi in the rAjyasabhA in HastinApur and poured out the bhagavad geetA to arjuna for the welfare of the universe.
It is here in tiruneermalai that this sarvEshwaran resides. (4)
1082. mAlum kaDalAra malaikkuvaDiTTu aNaikaTTi varamburuva madi SEr kOla madiLAya ilangai keDa paDai toTTu orukAl amaril adira | kAlamidu enru ayan vALiyinAl kadir neeN muDi pattum aruttamarum neela mugil vaNNan emakku iraivarku iDam mAmalaiyAvadu neermalaiyE || (5)
1082. Long ago, in rAmavatAram, emperumAnE! You built the sEtu bridge filling the ocean with huge mountains (malaikkuvaDu ittu) to reach the shores of lankA. You demolished this beautiful city with huge walls where ramparts reached the moon. Your presence caused panic in the asuras. RAvaNa fought a fierce battle. RAma! You, having vowed to vanquish the mighty king at the right time, sent the brahmAstram (ayan vaLiyinAl), severed his ten heads adorned with ten beautiful crowns. RaghuveerA! Then you proceeded to ayOdhyA along with seetA pirATTi.
It is this perumAl who resides in tiruneermalai with a hue of a dark cloud fondly called as neela mugil vaNNan. (5)
1083. pArAr ulagum pani mAl varaiyum kaDalum SuDarum ivai uNDum enakku ArAdu ena ninravan emberumAn alai neerulagukk araSAgiya | appErAnai muninda munikku araiyan pirarillai nunaku enum ellaiyinAn neerAr pErAn neDumAl avanukku iDam mAmalaiyAvadu neermalaiyE || (6)
1083. Once, Lord nArAyana after deluge ingested the huge earth (Ar pAr ulagum), massive snow-clad mountains (pani mAl varaiyum), vast oceans, the sun, the moon and yet declared that he had more space (yenakku ArAdu yena ninDRavan) in Him! He incarnated as sage parashurAma, who was praised as one who is unparalleled in war, took a pledge to vanquish the race of the kshatriya kings on this earth and the best known in performing great sacrifices (yagnyAs).
HE is the sarvEshwaran who resides in tiruneermalai as neervaNNan perumAl (neer Ar pErAn ). (6)
1084. During KrishNa avatAra, there was an asura king named pounDraka vAsudEva. Elated by false praises of his courtiers, he declared himself to be none other than Lord Krishna or the true vAsudEva. Hence he adorned a conch, discus and crown (pugar Ar uru Agi). He sent a messenger with a message to lord Krishna that he was the true vAsudEva and from then on KrishNa should not adorn the conch and discus. In case He wished to, kaNNan had to win him in a battle. This message angered kaNNan. He immediately rode atop his vehicle (periya tiruvaDi) garuDa, waged a fierce battle with pounDraka vAsudEva and his army. KaNNan severed his head with his sudarshana chakra and saved several cities that he had captured. kaNNan vanquished such evil men and protected the benevolent.
He also put an end to the rAkshasA hiraNyAkshan when he came charging with fury to kill the lord during varahA avatAram. EmperumAn, to honour the call of his devotee prahlAda took the form of narasimha. The asura HiraNyakashipu, PrahlAda’s father neither uttered the thousand names of the lord nor prostrated Him. He considered himself as most powerful and always carried a sword to kill lord nArAyaNa. The Lord split the chest of this ferocious asura king HiraNyakashipu (avuNan) and killed him.
Here is that Lord who resides in various forms in neermalai to protect his devotees. (7)
1085. pichcha chiru peeli piDittu ulagil
piNandin maDavAr avar pOl angnanE achcham ilar nANilar AdanmaiyAl avar Seigai veruttu aNi mA malar tooi | nachchi namanAraDaiyAmai namakku aruL Seyyena uL kuzhaindu ArvamODu nichcham ninaivArku aruL Seyyum avarku iDam mAmalaiyAvadu neermalaiyE || (8)
1085. In this world, some saints of certain beliefs carry peacock feathers (siru peelee) to clear their pathways to avoid killing insects. They shamelessly walk naked without fear like ghosts. Devotees, having developed a feeling of contempt and distress for these saints and their beliefs, rush to embrace the Lord who lives in tiruneermalai. They offer flowers and pray with great devotion to this lord where yama the lord of death (namanAr) cannot reach. They come willingly to embrace the vaidika sampradayAm.
This is residence of the emperumAn who stands to shower unending grace on his bhaktAs. (8)
1086. pESum aLavanru idu vammin namar pirar kETpadan mun paNivAr vinaigaL nASam adu SeidiDum AdanmaiyAl aduvE namadu uiviDam nAN malar mEl | vASam aNi vaNDarai paimburavil manam aindoDu nainduzhalvAr madiyil neechar avar Senru aDaiyAdavarukku iDam mAmalaiyAvadu neermalaiyE || (9)
1086. The greatness of emperumAn is beyond words. Oh! Devotees who are like minded (namar)! Listen! The greatness of this kshEtram tiruneermalai which has beautiful groves with swarming bees is wonderful and beyond description. Come soon and prostrate the lord to remove your sins! Those who are fickle minded and senseless, wishing to gain control over the five senses, His mere compassion and glance (kaTAksham) is enough to cleanse you. Enjoy His beautiful tirumEni and greatness before it reaches the ears of the atheists who may change your mind. (9)
PHALASRUTI
1087. neDumAlavan mEviya neermalaimEl nilavum pugazh mangaiyar kOn amaril kaDa mA kaLiyAnai vallAn kaliyan oli Sei tamizh mAlai vallArku uDanE | viDumAl vinai vENDiDil mEl ulagum eLidAyiDum anri ilangoli SEr koDu mA kaDal vaiyagam ANDu madi kuDai mannavarAi aDi kooDuvarE || (10)
1087. These ten tamil verses about the sanctity of the temple in tiruneermalai kshEtram has been written by kaliyan who is praiseworthy, skilled in fighting on elephants in the war and is the head of the place named tirumangai. Those reciting this with devotion will be freed immediately from all sins and attain mOksham. If they desire, they will easily get a position in the higher worlds (mEl ulagam) or will rule this world like respectable kings protected by white umbrellas. Later, they will reach His holy feet or paramapadam without any hindrance.
Tirumangai AzhwAr depicts the eternal glory of TirukaDalmallai with several anecdotes and avatAra rahasyams in the set of 10 pasurams that follow.
As Sriman Narayana rests His TirumuDi on the banks of the surging ocean, the words Kadalmallai and sthalasayanam" came into vogue. He is resting in anticipation of more devotees like Sri Pundarika Maharishi.* This is also the avatAra sthalam of Sri bhoodattAzhvAr.
Further, AzhwAr strongly believes and has enormous faith in the Lord that he will transform into Kalki when adharma prevails, so as to prove that Dharma always supersedes and defeats adharma. (pAsuram 1090, kaDum parimel karkiyai.....)
pArAyadu uNDu umizhnda pavaLattooNai paDu kaDalil amudattai pari vAi keeNDa SeerAnai emmAnai toNDar tangaL SindaiyuLLE muLaittezhunda teenkarumbinai | pOrAnai komboSitta pOrETTrinai puNar marudam ira naDanda porkunrinai kArAnai iDar kaDinda karpagattai kaNDadu nAn kaDanmallaittalaSayanattE || (1)
1088. AzhvAr reveals that he witnessed the divine darshan of the Lord, who held the world (during Pralayam) in his navel, describing him as the one who is as strong as a pillar;
The one who is as sweet as the divine nectar obtained during the churning of the ocean.
The supreme force who destroyed the horse-faced demon Kesi sent by Kamsa is as sweet as sugarcane.
Further, the Lord is the one who slew the elephant KuvalayApeeDam and is as powerful as a lion while he rules the entire Universe.
AzhvAr shares how the Lord destroyed the twin Maruda trees and shines brightly like a golden rock. His greatness is further explained by recalling "Gajendra mOksham", wherein the lord saves elephant Gajendra from the painful grip of a crocodile, and accepts the lotus offered by him as a symbol of devotion.
The Lord is praised by AzhvAr as the one who graciously grants numerous boons like the karpaga vruksham (tree). (1)
pooNDa avattam pirarku aDaindu toNDu paTTu poinnoolai meinnool enru enrum Odi mANDu avattam pOhAdE vammin endai en vaNangappaDuvAnai kaNangL Ettum | neeNDavattai karumugilai emmAn tannai ninra oor nittilattai toottAr SOlai kANDavattai kanaleri vAi peivittAnai kaNDadu nAn kaDanmallaittalaSayanattE || (2)
1089. AzhwAr invites all jeevAtmAs to witness the darshan of TirukaDalmallai PerumAl.
Instead of doing unworthy deeds to our fellow beings for the sake of worldly benefits and wasting time, AzhvAr humbly requests all to surrender before the lord, with the confidence that he will lead us to the right path as a father, who has been worshipped fondly by learned scholars and great Rishis. He whose simplicity is immeasurable, is none other than the KALamEga perumAl who possesses long and welcoming arms to grant boons to the yAchakas. Cool and fresh as a pearl in tiruninravoor, he is the one who put the floral kaandavanam in the mouth of Agni.(2)
1090. For the sake of survival and for performing universal deeds (sRuShTiti, Sthiti), SRIMAN NARAYANA himself assumes three different forms. (Moorty verAi ninraanai). Brahma, Shiva, Indra Chandra are all one and the same, ie., Sreeman Narayana himself.
In his Avatar as Lord Krishna, he drinks the poisoned milk fed to him by demoness pootanA.
When the calves feared to drink water from the ponds of the hilly region, Lord Krishna folded His hands and demonstrated the act of drinking water. (Varaimeekaanil tadam parugu...)
We are all aware that Karma, Gnana and Bhakti yOgams have to be practised in order to attain His holy feet and thereby attain Moksha. (3)
pEittAyai mulai uNDa piLLai tannai piNai maruppil karungaLiTTrai piNai mAn nOkkil AittAyar tayir veNNai amarnda kOvai andaNar tam amudattai kuravai munnE | kOttAnai kuDamADu koottan tannai kOkulangaL taLarAmal kunram Endi kAttAnai emmAnai kaNDu koNDEn kaDi pozhil Soozh kaDanmallaittalaSayanattE || (4)
1091. AzhvAr beautifully describes Sri Krishna, and this description makes us recall the ecstatic and beautiful moorti of the lord that we all worship at temples.
The kind of ecstasy that one would experience upon seeing a black elephant with horns, is what the lord's face always shows.
Fondly loved by all scholars, he is the mischievous one who secretively gulps all the butter churned by Mother Yashoda.
Although the lord was playfully rejoicing with the Gopikas while performing the Raasa KreeDa, he was also the one who lifted the Govardhan Mountain and held it like an umbrella for a week to protect his folks and the cattle-herd from the devastation of the storm. (4)
pAindAnai tiri SakaTam pAriveezha bAlakanAi Alilaiyil paLLi inbam EindAnai ilangoLiSEr maNikunranna eeriraNDu mAl varaittOL ammAn tannai | tOindAnai nilamagaL tOL toodir chenru appoyyarai vAi pugappeida mallar manga kAindAnai emmAnai kaNDu koNDEn kaDi pozhil Soozh kaDanmallaittalaSayanattE || (5)
1092. The Almighty Lord is described as the one who shattered the wheels of ShakaTa into pieces with His powerful tiruvaDi. He who joyfully rests on the banyan leaf, is also the one who fiercely vanquished HiranyAksha. In his avatar as Varaha, the omnipresent lord rescued and protected mother Earth or bhoomAdEvi. On one hand, the Lord, in his avatar as Krishna, aggressively destroys the Mallars in Duryodhana’s court. However, on the other, he dons the role of a humble messenger of the PANDavas and attempts to pacify the Kauravas to prevent the occurrence of the Kurukshetra war. (5)
1093. Sunk in deep thought in the vast ocean of milk or Tirupaarkadal, Lord MahAvishnu peacefully rests on tiru ananthazhwan or Sri Adisesha, the thousand-headed serpent king. Sri AdisEsha serves the Almighty Lord by assuming various forms- as an umbrella, a resting couch, throne, and footwear to Lord Mahavishnu. The Lord, in his seventh Avatar as RAma, chased the illusive deer Maarichan sent by rAvaNa to fulfil seetA mAtA's wish. In his third incarnation as VarAha, assuming the form of a wild boar with tusks, the Lord saved Mother Earth from the demon HiranyAksha. He is praised, according to the Rigveda, as the one who measured the three worlds- Earth, Heaven and the space between both- by taking three strides with his sacred tiruvaDi. In his final stride as Vamana, the Lord is said to have appeared in his spectacular Vishwaroopa form. (6)
1094. AzhvAr greatly regrets for not having found the Lord earlier. He blames himself for wandering without direction and deems this a sin that delayed him from discovering the Lord at tirukaDalmallai.
Once upon a time, the Almighty Lord clasped the shoulders of the asuras tightly during RAvaNa’s reign over Lanka. In his fourth avatar as nRusimha, he liberated His ardent devotee prahlAda from the torture of his father, King Hiranyakashipu by ferociously tearing the king’s chest of glittering jewels and flesh.
AzhvAr further illustrates a mental image of the Lord as the one who has Periya TiruvaDi Garuda as his vehicle and eternally dwells in the hearts of all his devotees.(7)
1095. AzhwAr is ecstatic on having found the lotus-eyed PerumAL in the KaDalmallai sthalam, which is surrounded by beautiful gardens and groves. Incarnating as the beautiful Mohini, the only female avatar of Lord ViShNu, the Lord secured the pot of divine nectar from the Asuras and handed it to the Devas to help them retain their powers of immortality.
AzhwAr proceeds to describe MahAviShNu, as the one who resembles the enormous Tirumeyyam mountain along the puNyabadrai river. He who is the all-pervading force, rests under the thousand heads of Sri Adisesha and possesses infinite KalyAna Gunas. (8)
1096. The Lord is praised as the one with the sacred ThiruvaDi. He is the supreme power who aimed and killed the king of Lanka, RAvana and made him prey to wild animals.
He who is considered the ParamatmA, is the one who preached the four Vedas, five vELvis (yagnas performed in sacred pyre) and six angas (parts). (9)
paDa nAgattu aNai kiDandu anru avuNar kOnai paDa vehuNDu marudiDaipOi pazhana vEli taDamArnda kaDanmallaittalaSayanattu tAmaraikkaN tuyil amarnda talaivar tammai | kaDamArum karangaLiru vallAn vel pOr kalikaniri oli Seida inbappADal tiDamAga ivai aindum aindum vallAr teevinaiyai mudalariya vallAr tAmE || (10)
1097. Tirumangai King/KalikanRi assures that whoever recites these 10 pAsurams and sings the praise of PerumAL, who is resting under the serpent king AdisEsha, will be sanctified and freed from all the sins. AzhwAr thus blissfully recollects the innumerable leelAs of Lord MahaVishNu in these ten pAsurams and concludes with the glorious image of Sthalasayana Perumal.(10)
*TIRUNINDRAVOOR* *PERUMAL COMES TO TIRUKADALMALLAI*
PASURAM 2.5.2
Ninravoornittilattai....
The interesting anecdote reads...
In Tirumozhi 2.2 after worshipping Tiruevvul, AzhwAr had visited Tiruninravoor. However, Bhaktaravi perumAl failed to notice AzhvAr as he was resting and rejoicing with his pirATTi. Hence, AzhvAr proceeded to TiruvallikkEni, following which he visited Tiruneermalai and finally reached TirukaDalmallai.
Upon noticing this, Tiruninravoor tayAr called 'ennai peRRa tAyAr' told perumAl to listen to AzhvAr's song. Considering tAyAr's request, and further being impressed by AzhwAr's parabhakti, tiruninravoor perumAL proceeded to TirukaDalmallai sthalam to hear Azhvar's pAsuram - pooNDa avattam..
After paying his obeisance and receiving the grace of the Lord sthalasayana perumAl of tirkkaDalmallai, AzhvAr realises that being subservient to His devotees (bhAgavatAs) is superior to being subservient to the Lord himself as mentioned in the scriptures. Though being the mangalAshAsanam of TirukkaDalmallai temple, in this decade AzhvAr directs his heart to revere those who are inclined towards the Lord present here.
1098. naNNAda vaLavuNar iDaipukku vAnavarai
peNNAhi amudooTTum perumAnAr maruviniya |
taNNArnda kaDal mallai tala Sayanattu uraivArai
eNNAdE iruppArai iraipozhudum eNNOmE || (1)
1098. The Lord who reclines in this cool place of TirukkaDalmallai, (after deceiving the asuras who were armed with swords, those who hardly praise Him, (நண்ணாதவாளவுணர்)), served the divine nectar to the ever-ambitious devas in their midst taking the form of “Mohini” (lady). In the same way, we shall never attempt to think about those who live here without realising His simplicity and without caring about Him lying on the floor. Our thoughts will be about the great people who always think about the Lord. (1)
AzhvAr vividly explains one of Lord’s attributes through this pAsuram. Even if our goal is not to attain Him but to seek his means to attain lesser valuable things, He will be pleased to grant considering that at least now they have come to me rather than seeking other devatas.
1099. pAr vaNNa maDa mangai pani nan mA malar kizhaTTri
neer vaNNan mArvahattil irukkaiyai mun ninaindu avanoor |
kAr vaNNa mudu munneer kaDal mallai tala Sayanam
Ar eNNum nenjuDaiyAr avaremmai ALvArE || 2
1099. With the compassionate and empathetic BhoomipirATTi biding on His left side and the Lotus borne PeriapirATTi on His right chest (the vakshasthalam), the blue cloud hued perumAL reclines in TirukkaDalmallai. The devotees who can visualise and internalize the Lord in their mind and heart alone can captivate us. (2)
1100. Enattin uruvAhi nila mangai ezhil koNDAn
vAnattil avar muraiyAl mahizhndu Etti valangoLLa |
kAnattin kaDal mallai talaSayanattu uraihinra
jnAnattin oLiyuruvai ninaivAr en nAyakarE || (3)
1100. GnAnapirAn - MangalAshAsanam
Taking the form of VarAham, the Lord extricated Mother Earth from her clutches and admired her beauty. In the same way those who get engrossed in the bright divine form of the Lord (GyAnapirAn called tiruvalavendai) reclining near the forest of TirukkaDalmallai and waiting for the devas to come and happily worship Him, will be our master. (3)
1101. viNDArai venru Avi vilanguNNa melliyalAr
koNDADum mallahalam azhalEra venjamattu |
kaNDArai kaDal mallai talaSayanattu uraivArai
koNDADum nenjuDaiyAr avar engaL kula deivamE || 4
1101. The Lord almighty who threw the bodies of the enemies as prey for the animals after winning them in the war, made fire engulf rAvanA’s chest that is most sought after by the women folks. Those who wholeheartedly celebrate this Lord reclining in TirukkaDalmallai shall become our family Gods. (4)
1102. pichcha hirupeeli SamaN kuNDar mudalAyOr
vichchaikkirai ennum avviraiyai paNiyAdE |
kachchikkiDandavan oor kaDal mallai talaSayanam
nachchittozhuvArai nachchenran nannenjE || 5
1102. Oh! My dear heart, there are various other religions that do not opine on the Vedic principals and the respective lord thereby. Eschewing yourself from such religions, please pray and offer your respect to those who worship the Lord at TirukkaDalmallai which is the place of the lord who reclines in TiruvekkA. (5)
1103. pulangoL nidikkuvaiyoDu puzhai kaimA kaLiTTrinamum
valangoL manattAl avarai valangoL en maDa nenjE || 6
1103. One can find vessels carrying heaps of golden treasures that are a treat for the eyes, huge elephants with long trunks and all the precious nine gems drifting along the shores of TirukkaDalmallai. Oh! my mind, pay your obeisance and go around the devotees (bhAgavatas) who circumambulate this Lord sthalasayana at this place. (6)
1104. panjichiru koozhai uruvAhi maruvAda
vanjappeN nanjuNDa aNNal mun naNNAda |
kanjai kaDandavan oor kaDal mallai talaSayanam
nenjil tozhuvArai tozhuvAi en tooya nenjE || 7
1104. Lord Krishna drank the milk from the poison smeared breast of the cunning PootanA who came disguising herself like YashOdA with her hair as soft as the cotton. He won over the evil minded Kamsa who was not benevolent towards him. Oh! My pure heart, emancipate yourself by worshipping those who worship this Lord Krishna as sthalasayana at TirukkaDalmallai. (7)
1105. sezhuneer malar kamalam tirai undu van pahaTTAl
uzhu neer vayal uzhavar uzha pin mun pizhaittozhunda |
kazhu neer kaDi kamazhum kaDal mallai talaSayanam
tozhu neer manattavarai tozhuvAi en tooi nenjE || 8
1105. In the fertile lands of TirukkaDalmallai the farmers plough the fields with their oxen pushing the wavy waters and the Lotus flowers back and forth. The red Lilly and lotus flowers (செங்கழுநீர்ப்பூ) that skip the plough disperses it’s fragrance throughout the place. Oh! My dear heart, revere those who exhibit their reverence to the Lord who is reclining in this very same place. (8)
1106. piNangaL aDu kADadanuL naDamADu pinjakanODu
iNangu tiruchchakkarattu emberumAnArku iDam viSumbil |
kaNangaL iyangum mallai kaDal mallai talaSayanam
vaNangum manattAl avarai vaNangu endan maDa nenjE || 9
1106. The Lord who holds the tiruchchakkaram in His hand apportioned half of his body to Shiva who dances in the graveyard where the corpses are burnt. The devas worship this lord at His abode in kaDalmallai. Oh! my silly heart, pls pay your respects to those who worship the lord of sthalasayana. (9)
Thirumangai AzhvAr who instructed his heart to always pay obeisance to the devotees will ever be reminded of their holy feet who pray to the Lord sthalasayana at kaDalmallai where the streets emanate fragrance everywhere. Those who practice the hymns of this decad given by kaliyan who always holds a spear, will become the king of kings. (10)
THE MOHINI AVATAR: (2.6.1)
Receiving a beautiful garland as a present for singing the praise of Goddess Lakshmi in vishNulOka, the girl was going past brahmaloka. On her way she met sage DurvAsA and after showing her respect gave that garland to him. He in return realising the sanctity of the garland went to devaloka and gave it to IndrA who was on his elephant airAvada. When Indra placed it in the elephant’s head, it pulled and threw it on the ground and stamped it. Getting angry on the act of the elephant the sage cursed him so as to lose all his wealth under the sea.
Later on Indra along with all the other devas surrendered to lord Vishnu and sought his help. Lord Vishnu ordered the ocean (pArkaDal) to be churned by using the mandara mountain as the churning rod and the great snake vAsuki as the rope . He himself took the form of tortoise and supported from beneath the mountain so as to protect it from drowning. The same MahAviShNu came out of the ocean with the divine nectar in his hand as Dhanvantri.
At this juncture when the asuras tried to snatch the nectar from him forcibly, taking the form of “Mohini”, He deceived the asuras and gave the nectar to the devas.
Sthalapuranam :
It is said that MahAbali Chakravarty ruled this sthalam and as per the varam he got from vAmana, one of the incarnations taken by Shreeman NArAyaNan, this sthalam is named as "MahAbalipuram". It is one of the said stories about this sthalam.
Pundareeka Maharisi started and maintained a big nandavanam (Flower park) here and wanted to dedicate all the Lotus flowers which flowers in this nandhavam to the divine feet of Emperumaan. Once, he plucked all those Lotus flowers and put them in a basket and started walking to Paramapadhanadhan in Thiruppaarkadal.
But, he could not walk cross the sea, because of the huge waves of the sea. To make the sea dry, he started to clear the water through his hands. But, actually he could not do that and it is impossible for an ordinary person to do so.
At that time, Emperumaan came there as an old man and told him he is hungry and he wants some food to eat. Perumal said if he gives the food, he can also help him to make the water dry. Hearing this, Pundareekar kept the basket which is full of Lotus at that place and went back to his house to get some food for the Perumal, who has come as an old man. When he came along with the food, he could not find the old man and found that there is no water in the sea. At the same time, he could find Emperumaan, wearing the Lotus flowers on shoulders and giving darshan in the Kidantha Kolam facing east direction, on the bare floor.
*PARAKALA NAYAKI*
*THE PINNACLE OF BHAGAVAT ANUBHAVAM*
TIRUMANGAI AZHWAR AS PARAKALA NAYAKI
Tirumangai AzhvAr first experienced the greatness of bhagavAn’s nAmas *(tirunAma anubhavam)*,
then he extolled bhagavAn’s great virtues *(tiru kalyAnaguna anubhavam)*,
then he relished His matchless beauty *(divya soundharya anubhavam)*,
then he enjoyed the temple and its surroundings *(divya dEsha anubhavam)*,
then he exalted the bhAgavatas for their dedication and sacrifice and surrendered to them.
*(bhAgavata ArAdhana anubhavam)*.
Now, his bhagavat anubhavam intensifies and he gets into *nAyikA bhAva anubhavam*.
AzhvAr expresses his feelings for Lord VishNu using shringAra rasa as he assumes the role of a woman (stree bhAvam) - as a mother, a friend and a wife. His name PARAKALA NAYAKI is attributed to the following pAsurams.
*(TAAY PASURAMS)*
தாய் பாசுரம்
AZHVAR AS A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER
AzhvAr instills confidence in the jeevAtmAs that bhagavAn will surely protect devotees who always think of Him, just as a mother would console her daughter who craves for her lover and cannot wait to see him.
*(TOZHI PASURAMS)*
தோழி பாசுரம்
AZHVAR AS A FRIEND
AzhvAr strives to unite jeevAtmAs with the supreme paramAtma, just as a close friend would always help to bring true lovers together.
*(TIRUMAGAL PASURAMS)*
திருமகள் பாசுரம்
AZHVAR AS A WIFE
AzhvAr yearns to become inseparable from bhagavAn, just as a wife would love to be ever united with her husband.
PERIYA TIRUMOZHI 2.7 PASURAMS 1108 To 1117
TIRUVIDAVENDAI MANGALASHASANAM
*TIRUVIDAVENDAI LAKSHMI VARAHA PERUMAL ALSO CALLED NITYAKALYANA PERUMAL*
This the only divya dEsham out of 108, where the moolavar is Lakshmi varAha moorti.
*UNIQUE POSTURE*
RIGHT LEG ON EARTH
LEFT LEG ON ADISHESHA AND HIS WIFE NAGALAKSHMI (VIMALA DEVI).
LEFT LAP- AKHILAVALLI NACHCHIYAR (360 wives merged to into one dEvi)
RIGHT HAND HOLDING TAYAR'S LEGS
LEFT HAND EMBRACING TAYAR
AzhvAr then visits the nearby divya dEsham at tiruviDavendai. Here, the perumAl varAha moorti is seen embracing akhilavalli nAchiyAr and resting her on His left lap (iDa pakkam). Hence this divya dEsham is called *tiru-iDa-endai*.
On seeing the charisma and compassion of tiruviDavendai perumAL, AzhvAr is enticed into assuming the role play of both a sympathizing mother and that of a lovelorn daughter crying to unite with her lover immediately. In these pAsurams called ‘tAy pAsurams’, AzhvAr as mother apprises perumAl of all the symptoms of her daughter parakAla nAyaki’s love sickness. (viraha tApam).
1108. tivaLum veN madipOl tirumuhattu arivai
SezhungaDal amudinir piranda
avaLum ninnAhattu iruppadum arindum
Ahilum ASai viDALAl |
kuvaLaiyangaNNi kolliyam pAvai
Sollu nin tAL nayandirunda
ivaLai un manattAl en ninaindirundAi
iDavendai endai pirAnE || 1
1108. Dear Lord, Periya PirATTi, the one who emerged from the bountiful ocean has a beautiful face like the shining white moon (tivalum ven madi). She looks ever youthful like a woman between 20 to 25 years of age (arivai). We know that you have always kept her very close to your heart in your divine chest called tirumArbhu. Knowing all this fully well, my daughter having eyes like the blue water lilies, (kuvalai am kaNNi), and resembling the young girls of kolli hills (kolli am pAvai), is always thinking of your divine feet wanting to attain you soon.
My Lord of iDavendai! Tell me. What are your plans for her? en ninaittirundAy! iDavendai endai piranE! (1)
1109. tuLambaDu muruval tOzhiyarkaruLAL
tuNai mulai SAndu koNDu aNiyAL
kuLambaDu kuvaLai kaNNiNai ezhudAL
kOla nan malar kuzharkkaNiyAL |
vaLambaDu munneer vaiyamun aLanda
mAlennum mAlina mozhiyAL
iLambaDi ivaLukku en ninaidirundAi
iDavendai endai pirAnE || 2
1109. My young daughter having beautiful teeth like a row of pomegranate seeds (taLam paDu) is not smiling in the company of her friends. She does not anoint herself with sandal paste like the girls of her age. Her lovely eyes that resemble the pond lilies (kuLam paDu kuvaLai) are bereft of collyrium. Her tresses look dull without fresh and bright flowers. Her behavior does not match her age. She is like a gyAni constantly uttering your divine names like varAha, trivikrama, rAma and krishNa (mAl inam mozhiyAL), and thinking of your divine sports like the trivikrama avatAra in which you measured the huge earth surrounded by rich waters. (trivikrama)
My Lord of iDavendai! How do you plan to help my tender daughter (iLam paDi)? en ninaittirundAy! iDavendai endai piranE! (2)
1110. SAndamum pooNum Sandanakkuzhambum
taDamulaiku aNiyilum tazhalAm
pOnda veN tingaL kadir SuDa meliyum
porukaDal pulambilum pulambum |
mAndaLir mEni vaNNamum ponnAm
vaLaihaLum irainillA endan
Endizhai ivaLukku en ninaindirundAi
iDavendai endai pirAnE || 3
1110. In order to pacify my sad daughter, I decorated her with perfumed skin lotions and sandal pastes (sAndu, Sandana kuzhambu) and adorned her with a necklace (pooN). But they all seemed to her like fire. (tazhal Am). When I showed her the bright moon, she said she felt the heat from its cool rays, being reminded of KrishNa’s beautiful face. So, I took her to the seashore for her to cool down, but the roar of the ocean reminded her of ksheerAbdinAtha and she cried aloud. Day by day, she is becoming thinner. Her golden skin color has turned dull with pallor (grey green pale color of the skin due to separation from lover – pasalai nOy) and her bangles have become loose for her.
My Lord of iDavendai! How do you plan to relieve my dear daughter (Endu izhai) from this viraha tApam? en ninaittirundAy! iDavendai endai piranE! (3)
1112. oozhiyil peridAl nAzhihai ennum
oNSuDar tuyinradAl ennum
Azhiyum pulambum anrilum urangA
tenralum teeyinir koDidAm |
tOzhiyO ennum tuNaimulai arakkum
Sollumin en SeihEn ennum
Ezhai en ponnukku en ninaindirundAi
iDavendai endai pirAnE || 4
1111. My daughter says that she finds it difficult to pass even one night. One nAzhigai (22.4 minutes) seems longer than a kalpa (oozhi - 4.32 billion years) for her. As sunrise seems to be delayed, she disbelieves in the existence of the Sun (ON chuddar). In the same way she also considers her beautiful body that does not merge with the Lord, to be meaningless. She tells her friends that the deep and dark ocean is grumbling, the birds are not sleeping and that the cool breeze is hot. I pity her all the more when she keeps asking her friends again and again for a solution for all these fictitious problems.
My Lord of iDavendai! How do you plan to cure my troubled daughter? en ninaittirundAy! iDavendai endai piranE! (4)
1113. Odilum un pEranri maTTrOdAL
uruhum nin tiruvuru ninaindu
kAdanmai peridu kaiyara uDaiyaL
kayal neDungaN tuyil marandAL |
pEdaiyEn pEdai piLLaimai peridu
teLLiyaL vaLLinuN marungul
EdalarmunnA en ninaindirundAi
iDavendai endai pirAnE || 5
1112. If at all my daughter opens her mouth, she only utters your names like Govinda, GopAlA, etc. and none other, not even ammA, aNNA, etc (maRRu OdAL). She always contemplates only on your divine form (tiru uru) which itself gives her your swaroopa, roopa and guna anubhavams, all in one thought. Her love for You is only increasing day by day; She spends sleepless nights anticipating you, tiring her long kayal fish like eyes. Though she is constantly in your thought, she is helpless. My silly teen daughter has become mad making me mad too. I am unable to see her restlessness.
My Lord of iDavendai! How do you plan to save my thin waisted daughter from the words of the critics (Edalar munnA)? en ninaittirundAy! iDavendai endai piranE! (5)
1114. tan kuDikkEdum takkavA ninaiyAL
taDangaDal nuDangaiyil ilangai
van kuDi maDanga vALamar tolaitta
vArtai kETTinburum mayangum |
minkoDi marungul SurungamEl nerungi
men mulaipon payandirunda
en koDi ivaLukku en ninaindiundAi
iDavendai endai pirAnE || 6
1113. Her conduct is not agreeable to the traditions of our community. She chanced to hear about the stories of Lord rAma who destroyed the rAkshashas of LankA (vaN kuDi maDanga) filled with tall ramparts surrounded by the vast ocean. And lo! She thinks that Lord rAma will come running behind her just like how He went searching for His beloved seetA dEvi. Can you not see how my daughter is brimming with love for You? Can you not see that her bright creeper-like waist is reducing and the palour of her skin is increasing?
My Lord of iDavendai! How do you plan to help my darling daughter? en ninaittirundAy! iDavendai endai piranE! (6)
1115. uLam kanindirukkum unnaiyE pidaTTrum
unakkanri enakku anbonru ilaLAl
vaLangani pozhil Soozh mAlirum SOlai
mAyAnE enru vAi veruvum |
kaLangani muraval kArikai peridu
kavalaiyODu avalam SErndirunda
iLangani ivaLukku en ninaindirundAi
iDavendai endai pirAnE || 7
1114. Heart-broken, my daughter is always in your thoughts. Unlike daughters who love their mother so much, she has no place for me in her heart. Even in her blabbers, she calls out ‘azhagar perumAl’ of tirumAlirunchOlai that billows with orchards. Oh mAyanE, Don’t you feel like embracing this sweet plum, my young daughter who is anxiously waiting for You since a long time?
My Lord of iDavendai! How do you plan to console my delicate darling daughter? (iLam kani). en ninaittirundAy! iDavendai endai piranE! (7)
1116. Alangezhu taDakkai Ayan vAyAmbarku
azhiyumAl ennuLLam ennum
pulangezhu poru neer puTkuzhi pADum
pOdumO neermalaikku ennum
kulangezhu kolli kOmaLavalli |
koDiyiDai neDu mazhai kaNNi
ilangezhil tOLikku en ninaindirundAi
iDavendai endai pirAnE || 8
1115. Her heart melts when she thinks of the sweet sound of the flute (Ambal) in the coral mouth of cowherd KrishNa, the holder of the bright disc (alam kezhu) and the one with the generous big hand (taDa kaiyan). She sings about vijayarAghava perumAl of tiruppuTkuzhi that is surrounded by refreshing water bodies. She wants us to take her to neervaNNan perumAl of tiruneermalai. Oh, what hath befallen upon my slender sweet daughter with slender waist, who has a beauty akin to the lovely girls of splendid kolli hills? I hate to see her eyes that are always showering tears.
My Lord of iDavendai! How do you plan to remove the distress of my daughter with beautiful shoulders? en ninaittirundAy! iDavendai endai piranE! (8)
1117. pon kulAm payalai poottanan mentOL
porukayal kaN tuyilamarandAL
anbinAl un mElAdaram peridu iv
aNangirukku uTTra nOyariyEn |
min kulAm marungul SurungamEl nerungi
veengiya vana mulaiyALukku
en kolAm kurippil en ninaidurundAi
iDavendai endai pirAnE || 9
1116. Unable to bear the pangs of separation from you, my daughter has developed palor on her skin. Her skin has turned greenish grey like scum or algae (pasalai – payalai, pon niram). Her beautiful fish like eyes have forgotten the word ‘sleep’. Due to her one-pointed devotion towards you, her love for you has increased manifold. She is not in control of herself. All her beauty is being wasted in solicitude.
My Lord of iDavendai! What will happen to my dear daughter? Please answer! (en Am kol?) en ninaittirundAy! iDavendai endai piranE! (9)
1118. annamum meenum Amaiyum arium
Aya emmAyanE aruLAi
ennum intoNDarku innaruL puriyum
iDavendai endai pirAnai |
mannumA mADa mangaiyar talaivan
mAnavEl kaliyan vAyolihaL
panniya panuval pADuvAr nALum
pazhavinai paTTru aruppArE || 10
1117. Oh Lord mAyanE! The one who incarnated as the swan, (annam), fish (meena), tortoise (Amai) and man-lion (ari)! These 10 pAsurams on tiruviDavendai emperumAn bestows grace to parama bhaktas who are deeply devoted. Those who sing these pAsurams (panuval) composed in detail by kaliyan, the holder of the unfailing spear, the king of the inhabitants of tirumangai filled with gorgeous towers, will be liberated from all karmas from the root, making them eligible for mOksha. (10)
PERIYA TIRUMOZHI 2.8 PASURAMS 1118 TO 1127
ATTABUYAKARAM MANGALASHASHANAM
ASTHABJUJAKARA PERUMAL, KANCHEEPURAM
These pAsurams come under the TIRUMAGAL PASURAM category.
AzhvAr assumes nAyika bhAvam as ParakAla nAyaki and enjoys perumAL's darshan. PerumAl sees AzhvAr's plight when he performed mangalashashanam in tiruviDavendai kshEtram. He takes pity on AzhvAr and regretting having given so much anguish, gives dharshan in all His magnificence, displaying His kalyANa guNas, and His eight mighty shoulders holding eight weapons in His hands, ( *ashTha* *bhuja* *karam* ) in this kshEtram, tiru aTTabuyakaram, near kAncheepuram.
AzhvAr , as ParakAla nAyaki, sees perumAl in His glorious roopam, wielding the shankha and chakram, and tells her mother and friends that she had had the darshan of perumAl , and when asked who He was, He disclosed that He was aTTabuyakarattEn!
This tirumozhi is in the question and answer format, expressing the conversation between the Lord aTTbuyakarattAn and parakAla nAyaki. The endearing vision of perumAL and His valorous deeds and kalyAna guNas are elucidated.
1118. tiripuram moonru erittAnum maTTrai
malarmiSai mEl ayanum viyappa
muritirai mAkaDal pOl muzhangi
moovulahum muraiyAl vaNanga |
eriyana kESara vALeyiTTrODu
iraNiyan Aham iraNDu koorA
ariyuruvAm ivar Ar kol enna
aTTabuyakarattEn enRArE || 1
1118. "Who is this immaculate perumAL in Narasimha roopa, with sharp sword-like teeth and mane like the blazing flame?
He, who tore the asuran HiraNyan into two, to the amazement of Shiva, who burnt the three cities, tripura to ashes, and BramhA, who was born out of the lotus , in the presence of the people of the three worlds chanting stOtras in praise of the Lord, making it sound like the huge waves of the ocean?" I exclaimed.
And He replied He was aTTabuyakarattEn. (1)
1119. ventiral veeraril veeraroppAr
vEdam uraittu imaiyOr vaNangum
Sendamizh pADuvAr tAm vaNangum
dEvar ivar kol terikka mATTEn |
vandu kuraLuruvAi nimirndu
mAvali vELviyil maNNaLanda
andaNar pOnrivar Ar kol enna
aTTabuyakarattEn enRArE || 2
1119. I am unable to decide (terikka mATTEn) if He is the incomparable valiant warrior rAmA(ven tiral veerar) who the dEvAs praise and worship by chanting the Vedas.
Is He tiruvEnkaTamuDayAn , who is praised by the mudal AzhvArs (sen tamizh pADuvAr) in their beautiful tamizh pasurams?
Is He the one who came as vAmanA to mahAbali 's yagna and took the tiruvikrama roopam to measure the three worlds?
Who is the one who came as the young brahmachAri? I asked.
And He replied that He was aTTabuyakarattEn. (2)
1120. Sempon ilangu valangai vALi
tiN Silai taNDODu Sangam oLvAL
umbar iruSuDar AzhiyODu
kEDakam oNmalar paTTri yeTTrE |
vembu SinattaDal vEzham veezha
veN maruppu onru parittu iruNDa
ambudam pOnrivar Ar kol enna
aTTabuyakarattEn enRArE || 3
1120. Who is the perumAl, dark like the rain laden cloud, who appeared in front of me, holding the eight divya Ayudhas .. golden arrow (1.vAli) and the powerful bow, the sArngam, (2. chilai ) in His right hand, the kaumOdaki, gadA ( 3. thaNdu ) , the conch pAnchajanyam,(4. shankha ) , the beautiful sword nAndaka, (5. vAL) the most superior and lustrous sudharshana chakram ( 6. Azhi ), the shield (7. kEDayam ) ,and the beautiful flower (8. malar )
Who is the one who killed the rogue elephant kuvalayApeeDam and plucked his white tusk with great rage? I asked.
And He replied that He was aTTabuyakarattEn. (3)
1121. manjuyar mA maNi kunramEndi
mA mazhai kAttu oru mAya Anai
anja adan maruppu anru vAngum
Ayar kol mAyam ariyamATTEn |
venjuDar Azhiyum Sangam Endi
vEda mun Oduvar needi vAnattu
anjuDar pOnrivar Ar kol enna
aTTabuyakarattEn enRArE || 4
1121. Is He the cowherd Krishna who lifted the gOvardhan mountain, having plenty of gems, high enough to reach the clouds (manju)?
Is He the one who entered kamsa's palace and plucked the tusk of the ferocious kuvalayApeeDam elephant? I am still awe struck (mAyam ariya mAttEn).
Who is the one who appears in front of me, wielding the divine conch and disc, chanting the vEda, like the wonderous, luminous Lord of paramapadam? I ask.
And He replies He is aTTabuyakarattEn. (4)
1122. kalaihaLum vEdamum needi noolum
karpamum Sor poruL tAnum maTTrai
nilaihaLum vAnavarkum pirarkum
neermaiyinAl aruL Seidu neeNDa |
malaihaLum mA maNiyum malar mEl
mangaiyum Sangamum tanguhinra
alaikaDal pOnrivar Ar kol enna
aTTabuyakarattEn enRArE ||
1122. Who is the one who is extolled by the upanishads (kalai), the vEdas, itihAs ( needi nool), grammar (pOruL), meemAmsa ( that explains the truth as told by the vEdas).
The one who is realised by the rishis, who reveal to us about the Lord.
Who is the one who gives the dEvas and human their positions, based on their karma.
Who is the one who is like the deep ocean with waves, bearing mountains and precious gems (kaustubha), MahAalakshmi and the conch, who appears before me, I asked.
And He replied that He was aTTabuyakarattEn. (5)
1123. enganam nAm ivar vaNNam eNNil
Edum arihilam EndizhaiyAr
Sangum manamum niraivum ellAm
tammanavAha puhundu tAmum |
pongum karungaDal poovai kAyA
pOdavizh neelam punainda mEham
anganam pOnrivar Ar kol enna
aTTabuyakarattEn enRArE ||
1123. Who is the perumAL who appears before me, whose ways are incomprehensible, however much we try to understand!
The one who deprives the maidens decked in ornaments (Endu izhaiyAr) of their bangles and make them lose their heart and womanhood to Him!
Who is the one who approached me, with complexion like the turbulent dark, deep ocean, like the memecylon flower( poovai, kAyA poo) and like the just- blooming blue water lily( karu neithal) and like the beautiful cloud? I ask.
And He replied that He was aTTabuyakarattEn. (6)
1124. muzhuSi vaNDADiya taN tuzhAyin
moimmalar kaNNiyum mEniyum SAndu
izhuSiya kOlamirundavArum
enganam SolluhEn OvinallAr |
ezhudiya tAmarai anna kaNNum
Endezhil Ahamum tOLum vAyum
azhahiyatAm ivar Ar kol enna
aTTabuyakarattEn enrArE || (7)
1124. How can I describe the perumAL who wears the garland made of the cool tulasi and flowers on His shoulders, with bees dizzy with the honey they drank, buzzing over it?
He, who has smeared sandal paste and decorated Himself?
Who is this charming perumAl whose divine eyes are like the lotus, with elegant chest, shoulders and coral lips, perfect like the painting of a proficient artist? I ask.
And He replied that He was aTTabuyakarattEn. (7)
1125. mEvi eppAlum viNNOr vaNanga
vEdam uraippar munneer maDandai
dEvi appAl adir Sangam ippAl Sakkaram
maTTrivar vaNNAm eNNil |
kAviyoppAr kaDalEyum oppAr
kaNNum vaDivum neDiyarAi en
AviyoppAr ivar Ar kol enna
aTTabuyakarattEn enrArE || 8
1125. ParakAla nAyaki continues to soak in perumAL's beauty.
Who is this perumAl I saw, who is surrounded and worshipped by the dEvAs and nityasoories and who chants the Vedas?
Who is like my life and soul, who has Mahalakshmi who was born out of the ocean as His dear consort?
Who wields the thundering conch in His left hand( appAl) and the chakrA in His right hand( ippAl).
How do I describe His complexion, which is like the water lily (kAli- neidal poo) and the ocean?
Who is He with eyes and countenance of infinite beauty and divinity? I ask.
And He replied that He was aTTabuyakarattEn. (8)
1126. tanjam ivarku envaLaiyum nillA
nenjamum tammadE SindittErku
vanjamarungul nerunga nOkki
vAi tirandu onru paNittaduNDu |
nanjamuDaittu ivar nOkkum nOkkam
nAnivar tammai ariya mATTEn
anjuvan maTTrivar Ar kol enna
aTTabuyakarattEn enrArE || 9
1126. It seems that my bangles wouldn't remain in my hands, because they were meant for Him. When I think back, even my heart and soul are His'.
His luring looks at me make my slender waist become frail.
The words He spells out as He opens His beautiful coral lips and His glace troubles me so much ,that it seems dipped in poison.
I cannot comprehend His intentions! I am also frightened to ask who He is!
Yet, He said He was aTTabuyakarattEn. (9)
1127. mannavan toNDaiyar kOn vaNangum
neeL muDimAlai vayiramEhan
tan vali tan puhazh Soozhnda kachchi
aTTabuyakattu Adi tannai |
kanni nan mA madiL mangai vEndan
kAmaru Seer kalikanri kunarA
inniSaiyAl Sonna Sem Sol mAlai
EttavallArku iDam vaihundamE || 10
PHALA STUTI
1127. Kaliyan dedicates these pAsurams to the sarvEswaran residing in tiru aTTabuyakara tirupati, in the mighty and famous kAncheepuram.
AzhvAr who possesses all desirable characters and who is the chieftain of tirumangai having tall fortresses, composed these verses, strung together as a garland of beautiful tamizh words and set to sweet harmonious music. Those who recite these pAsurams shall forever remain in vaikunTham. (10)
PERIYA TIRUMOZHI 2.9 PASURAMS 1128 TO 1137
TIRUPARAMECHCHURA VINNAGARAM
TirumaNgai AzhvAr reaches temple of vaikuNTanAtha perumAl (paramapadanAthan) in tirupparamEchchura viNNagaram in kAncheepuram (kachchi).
AzhvAr is wonderstruck by intricate architecture and the kainkaryam done in the temple by the then pallava ruler. Hence in every pAsuram, in the first part he praises the Lord and in the second part applauds the king for his kainkaryam.
This temple was built by a pallava king Nandivarman 2 who was a staunch follower of Mukundan or Sreeman nArAyaNa.
1128. Sollu vansolporuL tAnavaiyAi
Suvai ooru oli nATTramum tOTTramumAi
nallaraN nAnmugan nAraNanukku iDam tAn
taDam Soozhnda azhagAya kachchi |
pallavan villavan enru ulagil
palarAi pala vEndar vaNangu kuzhal
pallavan mallaiyar kOn paNinda
paramEchchura viNNagaram aduvE || 1
1128. The Lord, the ultimate executor of all the universal affairs resides in this beautiful kAnchipuram (azhagAna kachchi) as vaikuNTanatha perumAL, surrounded by beautiful ponds. He pervades in all the forms of sounds. He is the divine mystifying sound of the vEdas. He is beyond the characterestic of touch (ooru), sound (oLi), smell (nARRam), sight (tORRam) and taste (suvai). He is the antaryAmi of Lord Shiva and brahmA. He adorns the anklets given by great warriors (vaNaNgum kazhal) like pallavan, villavan and several more to add to his glory.
Pallavarajan (pallavan),the king of mallApuri (mallaiyar kOn) in tirukaDalmallai paid his obeisance( paNinda) and did lot of kainkaryam to this Lord who resides in this divya dEsam ParamEchchura viNNagaram. (1)
1129. kArmannu neeL viSumbum kaDalum
SuDarum nilanum malaiyum tannundi
tAr mannu tAmarai kaNNan iDam
taDa mA madiL Soozhnda azhagAya kachchi|
tEr mannu tennavanai munaiyil Seruvil
tiral vATTiya tiN SilaiyOn
pAr mannu pallavar kOn paNinda
paramEchchura viNNagaram aduvE || 2
1129. The vast space covered with dark clouds (kArmannu neeL visumbu), the oceans, the sun, the moon, the constellation of shining stars, the vast earth and towering mountains and Lord BrahmA too are created from the navel (nAbhikkamalam--tan undi tAr mannu) of the tAmarai kaNNan or puNDareekAkshan who lives in the beautiful kanchipuri with towering walls.
The pallava king (pallavar kOn), possessor of the powerful bow and sharp arrows(tin silaiyOn) daringly defeated the valiant mahAratha, the pAndiyan king(tEr mannu tennavanai) in the battlefield. It is this ksEtram ParamEchchura viNNagaram, where the pallava king ruled the earth for a long time and did abundant kainkaryam in this temple. (2)
1130. uram taru mellaNai paLikoNDAn oru kAl
munnam mAvuruvAi kaDaluL
varam tarum mAmaNi vaNNan iDam
maNi mADangaL Soozhndu azhagAya kachchi |
nirandavar maNNaiyil puNNugar vEl
neDuvAyil uga Seruvil munanAL
parandavan pallavar kOn paNinda
paramEchchura viNNagaram aduvE || 3
1130. From time immemorial, the emperumAn with an exceptional divya maNgala vigraham, reposing (mA uruvAy) in tiruppArkaDal on the soft serpent bed in yoganidra is pEraruLALa perumAl (VARADARAJA PERUMAL). The Lord with a blue hue standing on the hillock attigiri, ever ready to fulfill the desires (varam tarum) of His bhaktAs gives darisanam as vaikuNTanAtha perumal.
This gorgeous city of kAnchi with towering gem studded ramparts was ruled by the pallava king who did selfless kainkaryam to this Lord in ParamEchchura viNNagaram. He was a great warrior whose sharp spear tasted the flesh of his enemies of mannaikudi kingdom in the battlefield. (3)
1131. aNDamum eNtiSaiyum nilanum
alai neerODu vAneri kAl mudalA
uNDavan endai pirAnadu iDam
oLi mADangaL Soozhnda azhahAya kachchi |
viNDavar iNDai kuzhAmuDanE
viraindAr iriya Seruvil munindu
paNDorukAl vaLaittAn paNinda
paramEchchura viNNagaram aduvE || 4
1131. The emperumAn who ingested the universe( aNDamum), eight directions, the earth, oceans, space, air (kal), fire (eri) in his stomach without leaving anything, protecting them from the deluge, resides in the city of kAnchi with tall buildings lit with lamps.
This ksEtram, ParamEchchura viNNagaram was once ruled by the pallava king, a great warrior whose bravery scattered the enemy forces out of fear, bent their arrows thus winning every battle. It is this pallavarAjan who did kainkaryam to this divya dEsam. (4)
1132. toombuDai tiN kai van tAL kaLiTTrin
tuyar teertu aravam veruva muna nAL
poombunal poihai pukkAn avanukku iDam tAn
taDam Soozhnda azhahAya kachchi |
tEmbozhil kunru ezhil tennavanai tiSaippa
SerumEl viyandanru SenRu
pAmbuDai pallavar kOn paNinda
paramEchchura viNNagaram aduvE || 5
1132. The Lord at once came to the rescue of the elephant king with one holed mighty trunk (toombuDaya)and strong legs when he was in distress and totally surrendered unto Shreeman nArAyanA. In krishnA avatAra, he unexpectedly jumped into the beautiful pond (poigai) scaring the venomous snake kaLiyA, subdued his ego giving relief to the cowherds. This Lord resides in kAnchi amidst the waterbodies to protect his bhaktas.
The pANDya kingdom was surrounded by beautiful honey laden groves. In the battle that raged, the pANDya king was stupefied with the vigor in which the pallavarAjan with snake as his banner (pAmbuDai) defeated him. It is said that the pallava king had the snake as his banner as a mark of victory after winning nagalOkA. It is in this divyadEsam of ParamEchchura viNNagaram that the pallavarAjan did innumerable selfless kainkaryam. (5)
1133. tiNpaDai kOLariyin uruvAi
tiralOn ahalam Seruvil munanAL
puNpaDa pOzhnda pirAnadu iDam
poru mADangaL Soozhnda azhahAya kachchi |
veNkuDai neezhal SengOl naDappa
viDai vel koDivEl paDai munnuyartta
paNbuDai pallavarkOn paNinda
paramEchchura viNNagaram aduvE || 6
1133. The emperuman (pirAn)who resides in kAnchinagaram is the one who appeared as narasimhamoorthy from the pillar, tore the chest of the asura hiraNyan using his sharp nails (tiN paDai) as a weapon causing immense pain and creating unending fear among the evil.
This beautiful city of kAnchi amidst the towering crowded buildings is where the pallava king ruled the kingdom efficiently and honestly with integrity satisfying the needs of his subjects(veNkuDai nizhal seNkOl naDappa). This king with the spear (vEl paDai) as his weapon and snake on his victory banner was a great warrior who always won battles. A king who was flawless, bowed down to this Lord in ParamEchchura viNNagaram. (6)
1134. ilahiya neeN muDi mAvali tan
peruvELviyil mANuruvAi munanAL
SalamoDu mAnilanm koNDavanukku iDam tAn
taDam Soozhnda azhahAya kachchi |
ulahuDai mannavan tennavanai
kanni mA madiL Soozh karuvoor veruva
palapaDai SAya venrAn paNinda
paramEchchura viNNagaram aduvE || 7
1134. This beautiful city of kAnchipuram surrounded by water bodies belongs to emperumAn who entered the huge sacrifice of king mahAbali (mAvali) adorning a big crown, as vAmana (mANuruvAi). He cleverly grabbed the worlds occupied by the egoist mahAbali.
The pallava king charged ferociously with his army into the city of karuvoor ruled by the pANDyas causing immense fear in the enemy. He waged a war and won over the powerful pAnDyA king who was adept in fighting powerful armies and conquering several kingdoms with ease. This divya dEsam belongs to this pallava king who prostrated this Lord in ParamEchchura viNNagaram. (7)
1135. kuDaittiral mannavanAi orukAl
kurangai paDaiyA malaiyAl kaDalai
aDaittavan endai pirAnadu iDam
maNi mADangaL Soozhnda azhahAya kachchi |
viDaittiral villavan nenmeliyil veruva
SeruvEl valangaipiDitta
paDaittral pallavarkOn paNinda
paramEchchura viNNagaram aduvE || 8
1135. This beautiful city of kAnchi belongs to the emperumAn who incarnated as the generous and powerful emperor Lord rAma. Long ago, he built the sEtu bridge with huge mountains taking the help of his army of monkeys to rescue seetA pirATTi who was abducted by rAvaNa.
The pallavarAjan who was skillful in handling all weapons, with a spear in his right hand, waged a fierce battle with the dexterous king villavan of the city nenmeli who was powerful like a bull. He won the city scattering the enemy forces due to fear. It is this king who paid his humble respects to the Lord in paramEchchura viNNagaram. (8)
1136. piraiyuDai vANudal pinnai tirattu munnE
orukAl Seruvil urumin
maraiyuDai mAl viDaiyEzh aDarttArku iDam tAn
taDam Soozhnda azhahAya kachchi |
karaiyuDai vAL mara mannar keDa
kaDal pOla muzhangum kural keDuvAi
paraiyuDai pallavarkOn paNinda
paramEchchura viNNagara maduvE || 9
1136. This beautiful city of kAnchi belongs to that kaNNan who suppressed the seven mighty ferocious bulls with demonaic traits in a fight when they came charging and roaring towards Him like thunder (urumin). This was all to win the hands of the pretty nappinai pirATTi who had shining forehead like the crescent moon.
In the battlefield, the pallavarAjan, being a great warrior fought the hatred-stricken enemies, carrying the blood-stained sword after slaying them. The sound of his huge mouthed drum (kaDu vAy paRai-name of the drum of pallavarAjan) which made a loud noise like a surging ocean caused panic and butterflies in the stomach of the enemy kings ultimately killing them due to fear. It is this king who humbly bows down to the lord in ParamEchchcura viNNagaram. (9)
1137. pArmannu tOl puhazh pallavar kOn paNinda
paramEchchura viNNahar mEl
kArmannu neeL vayal mangaiyar tam talaivan
kalikanri kunrAdu uraitta |
Seer mannu Sendamizh mAlai vallAr
tirumAmahaL tannaruLAl ulahil
tErmannarAi oli mA kaDal Soozh
Sezhuneer ulagANDu tigazhvArgaLE || 10
*PHALASRUTI*
1137. Kaliyan (kalikanDRi), the head of tirumaNgai rich with paddy fields, strung these ten appealing verses in sweet uncompromised tamizh grammar (kundRAdu), praising the great attributes (kalyaNagunAs ) of emperumAn and the awe-inspiring kainkaryam done by the pallava king in the vaikuNtanAtha temple in ParamEchchura viNNagaram. Those who read these ten verses will gain the divine grace of periya pirATTi (tirumAmagaL), and become great warriors possessing charioteers (mahArathis - tEr mannarAy), and rule the earth surrounded by huge pure water bodies.
PERIYA TIRUMOZHI 2.10 PASURAMS 1138 TO 1147
TIRUKOVALOOR MANGALASHASANAM
TIRUKOVALUR ULAGALANDA PERUMAL
Tirumangai AzhvAr continues his divine journey with naDunaaDu divyadesams. In this next set of 10 pAsurams, he sings the glory of tirukovaloor, the sthalam where the first three AzhvArs met and mutually exchanged their spiritual experiences.
1138. manjADu varai Ezhum kaDalgaL Ezhum
vAnahamum maNNahamum maTTrum ellAm
enjAmal vayiTTraDakki Alin mElOr
iLandaLiril kaN vaLarnda eeSan tannai |
tunjA neer vaLam Surakkum peNNai tenpAl
tooya nAnmaraiyALar SOmuchcheyya
SenjAli viLai vayaluL tihazhndu tOnrum
tirukkOvaloor adanuL kaNDEn nAnE || 1
1138. AzhvAr narrates how he found Shreeman NArAyaNa who protected the seven mountains, seven oceans, heaven and viNNulagam from destruction by tucking into his navel and then joyfully resting on a banyan leaf, as Apatrakshakan Perumal in tirukOvaloor. He reveals that only in this rich and fertile land, surrounded by River Pennaar, did learned saints and hermits perform sOma yAgams (1)
1139. kondalarnda narunduzhAi SAndam doopam
deepam koNDu amarar tozha paNangoL pAmbil
SandaNi men mulai malarAL daraNi mangai
tAmiruvar aDivaruDum tanmaiyAnai |
vandanai Seidu iSaiyEzh Arangam aindu
vaLar vELvi nAn maraihaL moonru teeyum
Sindanai Seidu irupozhudum onRum Selva
tirukkOvaloor adanuL kaNDEn nAnE
1139. AzhvAr further elaborates and cheerily sings the glory of the Lord as he remembers the Lord’s astonishing deeds. He recollects how BrahmA and the dEvas made arrangements for tiruvArAdhana, using the sacred tulsi (basil) leaves, sandalwood paste, incense and lamps. He also recalls how scholars won the heart of the Lord, who rests on tiru anantAzhvAn at tirupaarkadal with Goddesses Sreedevi and Bhoodevi beside his sacred feet, by performing five sacred yagnas with three pyres, four vedas, six angas, singing the sapta swaras day and night. AzhvAr believes that the entire tirukovaloor is blossoming with divinity and godly wealth (2)
1140. AzhvAr blissfully recollects the incidents of Gajendra Moksham wherein Shreeman NArAyaNa saved the elephant Gajendra on hearing the words "Adi moolamE" with the help of SudarshanAzhvAr (AzhiyoorAn). He also imagines and compares the sthalam with a Goldsmith's workshop (porkalari), wherein the dark flowers are compared to coal and Punnai (mast wood tree) buds resemble pearls, Punnai flowers appear like gold and, the lotus as the spark spearing out in the workshop. (3)
1141. tAngarum pOr mAli paDa paravai oorndu
tarAtalattOr kurai muDitta tanmaiyAnai
Angarumbi kaNNeer SOrndu anbu koorum
aDiyavarhaTku Aramudam AnAn tannai |
kOngarumbu Sura punnai kuravAr SOlai
kuzhA vari vaNDu iSai pADum pADal kETTu
teengarumbu kaNvaLarum kazhani Soozhnda
tirukkOvaloor adanuL kaNDEn nAnE || 4
1141. AzhvAr continues to imagine and soulfully remarks that he identified the one who severed the head of the powerful demon Mali with his disc and saved all the demigods like a life-giving elixir, thereby expressing his Sousheelyam and Sowlabhyam. With his beautifully feathered vehicle, Garuda, the Lord shines as the deity at tirukOvaloor, which was once a beautiful place, with exotic flowers blossoming and sugarcanes growing on the sound of the bees. (reenkAram) (4)
1142. karai vaLar vEl karan mudalA kavandan vAli
kaNai onrinAl maDiya ilangai tannuL
pirai eyiTTru vALarakkar SEnai ellAm
perundahaiyODu uDan tuNitta pemmAn tannai |
maraivaLara puhazh vaLara mADandOrum
maNDapm oNDoLi anaittum vAram Oda
SiraiyaNainda pozhilaNainda tenral veeSum
tirukkOvaloor adanuL kaNDEn nAnE || 5
1142. In this pAsuram, AzhvAr tells the story of Karan, Kabandan and Vali. Kabandan was a demon, who was killed and liberated from a curse, by Lord Rama and his brother Lakshmana. The brothers severed his arms and proceeded to cremate his corpse. Karan, Vali and the whole of King RAvaNa's army were shattered in the battle by Sri RAma and LakshmaNa.
It was a practice in ancient days to learn Vedas in several formats during gurukula vaasam. One such format is ‘Vaaram odudal’ wherein, if the guru orders the shishya to chant pada paaDam, he has to chant without hesitation 250 such paaDams and this is called "Vaaram Odudal." AzhvAr describes tirukovaloor as the holy place where the breeze sways and the vedic chants like Vaaram Odudal are heard almost in every house and thus, Kaliyan happily feels that he could find EmperumAn in the serene sthalam of tirukovaloor, surrounded by dense groves. (5)
1143. uriyArnda naru veNNai oLiyAl Senru angu
uNDAnai kaNDu Aichchi uralODu Arka
tariyArnda karungaLirE pOla ninru
taDangaNgaL pani malhum tanmaiyAnai |
veriyArnda malar mahaL nA mangaiyODu
viyan kalai eN tOLinAL viLangu Selva
cheriyArnda maNi mADam tihazhndu tOnrum
tirukkOvaloor adanuL kaNDEn nAnE || 6
1143.Tirumangai AzhvAr narrates his KrishnAnubhavam in this pAsuram and delightfully quotes that he worshipped the one who found where the pot of butter was hidden by his smile, i.e., when Krishna smiles, his teeth would sparkle like the moon and produce light. When he was caught red-handed for stealing butter by Yashoda PiraaTTi, he was fastened by KanninuN SirutAmbu. He is the celestial Lord who showers innumerable blessings on his devotees, with Sreedevi, Bhoodevi and eight- handed Durga devi seated on her deer, at the holy shrine of tirukOvaloor. Due to this, AzhwAr states that the residents of tirukOvaloor would flourish with wealth (Lakshmi kaTAksham) and would possess great cultural and artistic talents ("Nilamangai" - Saraswathy kaTaksham) (6)
1144. irungai mA kari munindu pariyai keeri
inaviDaihaL EzhaDartu marudam SAittu
varum SakaDam ira uDaittu mallai aTTu
vanjam Sei kanjanukku nanju AnAnai |
karumkamuhu paSumpALai veN muttu eenru
kAyellAm marakadamAi pavaLam kATTa
Serundi miha moTTalartum tEn kOL SOlai
tirukkOvaloor adanuL kaNDEn nAnE || 7
1144.In this pAsuram, AzhvAr compares the paaku (areca palm) tree with that of precious gems. He further enhances his statement and describes how the dark coloured tree produces white pearls and that its unripe fruits resemble emerald (maragatam) and the ripe fruits appear similar to corals. AzhvAr says that he is elated by the Lord's heavenly darshan at tirukovaloor (7)
1145. pArEru perum bAram teera paNDu
bAradattu toodu iyangi pArttanSelva
tErEru SAratiyAi edirndAr SEnai
perukkaLattu tiral azhiya cheTTrAn tannai |
pOrEr onru uDaiyAnum aLagaikOnum
purandaranum nAn muhanum porundum oor pOl
SeerEru maraiyALar nirainda Selva
tirukkOvaloor adanuL kaNDEn nAnE || 8
1145. AzhvAr feels blessed that he identified tirukovaloor, where Lord Brahma, Indra, Kubera and Shiva dwell, thereby causing it to brim with divine wealth. He continues to express his bhaktirasa and recalls how he found pANDavadootan, Bhagwan Sri Krishna who was a charioteer to Arjuna and later preached the holy geetA, residing at the sthalam of tirukOvaloor (8)
1146. too vaDivin pAr mahaL poo mangaiyODu
SuDarAzhi SangirupAl polindutOnra
kA vaDivin karpahamE pOla ninru
kalandavarhaTku aruLpuriyum karuttinAnai |
SevaDi kai tiruvAikaN Sivanda ADai
Sembon Sei tiru uruvam AnAn tannai
teevaDivin Sivan ayanE pOlvAr mannu
tirukkOvaloor adanuL kaNDEn nAnE || 9
1146. The Lord comes before our eyes through the description of his vadivazhagu in this pAsuram. "Thiruvuruvam Anaan": AzhvAr soulfully describes the eternal and indescribable beauty of MahAvishNu - with His powerful conch and disc, His sacred lotus feet, His magnificent hands depicting abhayamudrA and His welcoming arms, His coral coloured mouth, His vibrant yellow robe (peetaAmbara vastram) and His glittering and divine body (TirumEni). AzhvAr happily repeats that he worshipped the Lord, in His supreme form as vadivazhagu emperumAn at tirukOvaloor. AzhvAr also thinks subconsciously that the scholars living in this sthalam of tirukOvaloor would possess the spiritual power to create and destroy – the powers of Lord BrahmA and Lord Shiva. He brings about the same meaning in tiruneDuntAnDakam. (9)
1147. vAraNangoL iDar kaDinda mAlai neela
maragadattai mazhaimuhilE pOlvAn tannai
Seer aNangu maraiyALar nirainda Selva
tirukkOvaloor adanuL kaNDEn enru |
vAraNangu mulai maDavAr mangai vEndan
vATkaliyan oli aindum aindum vallAr
kAraNangaLAl ulaham kalandu angEtta
karandu engum parandAnai kANbartAmE || 10
1147. AzhvAr concludes this set with a phalashruti as always. Undoubtedly, those who chant these ten pAsurams recited by the great warrior king of tirumangai, the land of extremely beautiful women wearing an upper cloth,("vaaraNangumulai maDavaaarmangai), would be showered abundantly with the divine blessings of TirukOvaloor Lord who saved the elephant Gajendra from his misery. This Lord who is like a blue flower, emerald gem and cool like the rain cloud resides in this hallowed place filled with sattvik people. (10)
