archAvathAra anubhavam – azhagiya maNavALa perumAL nAyanAr anubhavam



sri:
srimathE rAmAnujAya nama:
srimadh varavaramunayE nama:

sri vAnAchala mahAmunayE nama:


In the previous article (https://granthams.koyil.org/2012/11/archavathara-anubhavam-pillai-lokacharyar/) we enjoyed piLLai lOkAchAryar’s archAvathAra anubhavam.
Let us now move on to see how azhagiya maNavALa perumAL nAyanAr enjoyed archAvathAra emperumAns.
azhagiya maNavALa perumAL nAyanAr is the second son of vadakku thiruvIdhi piLLai and younger brother of piLLai lOkAchAryar. He was born by the divine mercy of srIranganAthan himself.


nayanar




mAmunigaL, in his upadhEsa rathina mAlai pAsuram 47, glorifies nAyanAr and his contributions.


NanYchIyar cheytha vyAkkiyaigaL NaliranNdukku (நஞ்சீயர் செய்த வ்யாக்கியைகள் நாலிரண்டுக்கு)

enYchAmai yAvaikkum illaiyE (எஞ்சாமை யாவைக்கும் இல்லையே)
tham chIrAl vaiyaguruvin thambi mannu manNavALamuni (தம் சீரால் வையகுருவின் தம்பி மன்னு மணவாளமுனி)
cheyyumavai thAmum chila (செய்யுமவை தாமும் சில)


Simple translation:

NanjIyar did vyAkyAnams for a few prabhandhams in aruLicheyal (even before periyavAchAn piLLai). After periyavAchAn piLLai, azhagiya maNavALa perumAL nAyanAr who is filled with divine qualities and the dear brother of piLLai lOkAchAryar wrote vyAkyAnams for some prabhandhams in aruLicheyal as well.

In the vyAkyAnam piLLai lOkam jIyar brings out the glories of nAyanAr.

  • For “tham chIr”, he brings out one of the important glories of nAyanAr. He identifies that nAyanAr’s expertise in aruLicheyal is far greater than all other AchAryas. This can be understood by studying AchArya hrudhayam which is fully built using the words from aruLicheyal (with some words from ithihAsa, purANams as well).
  • When explaining “vaiya guruvin thambi”, it is show that nAyanAr’s greatness is due to him being born as the younger brother of piLLai lOkAchAryar. He is popularly glorified as “jagath guruvarAnuja” (brother of jagath guru piLLai lOkAchAryar).

It is also explained that piLLai lOkAchAryar and nAyanAr lived in srirangam amidst great personalities like NampiLLai, periyavAchAn piLLai, vadakku thiruvIdhi piLLai, etc and these two brothers were blessed by all these great personalities. It is also explained based on nAyanAr’s avathAra charithram that he is none other than srIranganAthan himself.

Both piLLai lOkAchAryar and nAyanAr took the vow of naishtika brahmacharyam – that they will not get involved in gruhasthAshramam (married life) and lived by that vow. They both focussed on presenting the great hidden meanings for the benefit of everyone in this samsAram.


To understand some one’s greatness, one has to see the words of other great personalities on that person. nAyanAr decided to leave his thirumEni at an early age and ascended to paramapadham leaving behind piLLai lOkAchAryar. piLLai lOkAchAryar fell in an ocean of sorrow and cried out keeping nAyanAr’s thirumudi in his lap and said:


mAmudumbai mannu manNavALa anNnNalodu (மாமுடும்பை மன்னு மணவாள அண்ணலொடு)

chEmamudan vaikuNtham chenRakkAl (சேமமுடன் வைகுந்தம் சென்றக்கால்)
mAmenRu thotturaiththa chollum thuyam thanninAzh poruLum (மாமென்று தொட்டுரைத்த சொல்லும் துயம் தன்னினாழ் பொருளும்)
ettezhuththum inGguraippArAr (
எட்டெழுத்தும் இங்குரைப்பாரார்)


Simple translation:

After nAyanAr ascending to paramapadham with all glories, who is present here to explain the rahasya thrayam – thirumanthram, dhvayam and charama slOkam (where emperumAn touched his heart and said “mAm” – I am the protector).

Such is nAyanAr’s glories that piLLai lOkAchAryar himself glorifies him.


While nAyanAr has done vyAkyAnams for thiruppAvai, kaNNinun chiruthAmbu, amalanAdhipirAn, etc., which are all greatly relishable, his master piece is AchArya hrudhayam. 


After piLLai lOkAchAryar compiling the great srIvachana bhUshaNa dhivya sAsthram, some in srirangam did not like the message presented in it. They came and complained to NamperumAL that it contains matters that are against sAsthram (specifically related to varNAshrama dharmam). NamperumAL wanting to hear the glories of this prabhandham from piLLai lOkAchArar himself, summons him to the sannidhi. At that time, piLLai lOkAchAryar had gone out for bathing, so nAyanAr arrives at the sannidhi. When NamperumAL asks nAyanAr about the particular issue, nAyanAr declares that srivachana bhUshaNa dhivya sAsthram is purely based on AzhwArs/AchAryas thiruvuLLam and it has nothing against the sAsthram. Immediately to prove that, he recites AchArya hrudhayam in front of thiruvaranganAthan. emperumAn after hearing it fully becomes greatly pleased and accepts the greatness of srIvachana bhUshaNam and AchArya hrudhayam. emperumAn drives away the people who complained to him and gives great honours to nAyanAr.


mAmunigaL in the vyAkyAna avathArikai for AchArya hrudhayam shows that AchArya means NammAzhwAr (who is the prathamAchArya for srivaishnavas) and hrudhayam means AzhwAr’s thiruvuLLam (heart). He also says that nAyanAr has done this grantham by purely out of his mercy, using the words from aruLicheyal with in-depth meanings. Because of the usage of words from aruLicheyal and its in-depth meanings this grantham is most relishable from both shabdham (words) and artham (meanings) perspective for the ones who understand the real truth. mAmunigaL specifically identifies that this grantham is like “mukamaRiNthavan kOrththa muththu” (முகமறிந்தவன் கோர்த்த முத்து) meaning a necklace that is strung by one who exactly understands the pearls that are used – which means nAyanAr exactly knows the thiruvuLLam of AzhwAr and so was able to beautifully bring out the same using AzhwAr’s words themselves.


In this grantham, nAyanAr explains various topics. Let us quickly see them:

  • emperumAn‘s great favours done for the salvation of jIvAthmAs
  • NammAzhwAr‘s glories and glories of his prabhandhams.
  • svApadhEsa arthams for commonly used terms in aruLicheyal.
  • AzhwAr sending messages to various manifestations (para, vyUha, vibhava, antharyAmi and archai) of emperumAn.
  • archAvathAra emperumAns who were glorified by NammAzhwAr and the qualities that shine in each of those emperumAns.
  • NammAzhwAr’s glories in comparison to others.
  • Comparison between bhagavath gIthai and thiruvAimozhi.
  • artha panchakam in thiruvAimozhi
  • consolidation of each pathu (centum) of thiruvAimozhi.
  • emperumAn’s attachment towards AzhwAr and AzhwAr ascending to paramapadham.

Of this, we will focus on nAyanAr’s presentation of how AzhwAr enjoyed various dhivya dhEsa emperumAns. AzhwAr has performed mangaLAsAsanam for 30 dhivyadhEsa emperumAns in thiruvAimozhi. nAyanAr highlights that each emperumAn shows one particular guNam mainly to AzhwAr and AzhwAr ecstatically enjoys that particular guNam in his thiruvAimozhi.

nAyanAr presents that AzhwAr sends thUthu (message) to various manifestations of emperumAn in chUrNikai 156. AzhwAr’s thUthu is explained in a detailed manner in https://kaarimaaran.com/downoads/thoodhu.xls.


In chUrNikai 157, nAyanAr shows the various manifestations using an example. He equates emperumAn to a king and explains just like the king has 5 different roles, emperumAn also takes up 5 different roles through his 5 different manifestations. This chUrNikai is already explained in https://granthams.koyil.org/2012/10/archavathara-anubhavam-parathvadhi/.


In chUrNikai 158, nAyanAr starts bringing out the glories of archAvathAram.


thamarugaNtha adiyOmukkE ennum pinnAnAr vanNanGgumidaththilE ellAm pUrnNam. (தமருகந்த அடியோமுக்கே என்னும் பின்னானார் வணங்குமிடத்திலே எல்லாம் பூர்ணம்.)


Simple translation:


NammAzhwAr (and all other AzhwArs) were so attached to archAvathAram which is full in qualities and glorified as:

  • thamarugaNtha – the one where all the qualities are fully manifested and clearly visible.
  • adiyOmukkE – the one that is specifically there for us (who are in samsAram)
  • pinnAnAr vanNanGgumidam – the one who is there for the jIvAthmAs who are there after the completion of vibhavAvathArams.

Right here we can see the beauty of nAyanAr’s compilation purely using AzhwAr’s words. thamarugaNtha is from mudhal thiruvanthAdhi (44), adiyOmukkE is from periya thirumozhi (4.9.5), pinnAnAr vanNanGgum is from thirunedunthANdakam (10) and pUrNam is from upanishads.

After this, nAyanAr starts glorifying each emperumAn as sung by AzhwAr. He shows that AzhwAr enjoyed one particular quality in each of those emperumAns which outshone the other qualities (all qualities exist in all archAvathAra emperumAns, AzhwAr was attracted by one particular quality in each emperumAn).


mAmunigaL beautifully explains that since thiruvarangam is the main dhivadhEsam nAyanAr starts with thiruvaranganAthan. Since nAyanAr started with thiruvarangam first where he sees vyUhva vAsudhEvan, he continues on to thirumalai (where he sees antharyAmi emperumAn’s qualities) and AzhwAr thirungari (where he sees parathvam in archAvathAram). After that he goes on with the actual sequence of AzhwAr’s thiruvAimozhi padhigams until the end. Even though thirumAlirunchOlai azhagar is glorified in a whole padhigam before thiruvEnkatamudaiyAn, mAmunigaL shows that since azhagar is glorified again in the end, nAyanAr explains azhagar’s glories in that sequence towards the end. Let us now start enjoying each archAvathAra emperumAn as shown by nAyanAr and mAmunigaL (in his vyAkyAnam).


Note: It is very difficult to translate the chUrNikais directly. We can only try to present the essence of the chUrNikai.


chUrNikai 159 – thiruvarangam (7.2 – kangulum pagalum) vanperuvAnaga mudhaluyya inithAgath thirukkanNgaL vaLarginRa thiruvALan thiruppathi, vadivudaik kadalidam katkilI ennumavaRRil ivaL thiRaththu enkolO enbikkiRa vyUhasauhArdham pradhANam. (வன்பெருவானக முதலுய்ய இனிதாகத் திருக்கண்கள் வளர்கின்ற திருவாளன் திருப்பதி, வடிவுடைக் கடலிடம் கட்கிலீ என்னுமவற்றில் இவள் திறத்து என்கொலோ என்பிக்கிற வ்யூஹஸௌஹார்தம் ப்ரதாநம்)


periya perumaal



In srirangam, where sriya:pathi emperumAn is lying down beautifully to uplift jIvAthmAs of bhUlOkam to brahmalOkam. As seen in kangulum pagalum, AzhwAr (in mother bhAvam) is asking emperumAn to bless parAngusa nAyaki and enquires him how he is going to do that. AzhwAr also says emperumAn is vadivudai vAnOr thalaivan (வடிவுடை வானோர் தலைவன்), kadalidam konNda kadalvanNnNA (கடலிடம் கொண்ட கடல்வண்ணா), katkilI (கட்கிலீ), etc which relates to kshIrAbdhinAthan who has descended to samsAram purely to uplift all the jIvAthmAs. From this, we can understand that the main guNam enjoyed by AzhwAr in thiruvarangam is vyUha sauhArdham (kind hearted nature).

chUrNikai 160 – thiruvEnkatam (3.3 ozhivil kAlamellAm, 6.10 – ulagamuNda peruvAya)manNnNOr vinNnNOr vaippil, pOginRa Ezhulagukkuyir pAcham vaiththa Nigaril vAthsalyam ujjvalam. (மண்ணோர் விண்ணோர் வைப்பில், போகின்ற ஏழுலகுக்குயிர் பாசம் வைத்த நிகரில் வாத்ஸல்யம் உஜ்ஜ்வலம்)

srinivasan

 
thiruvEnkatam is explained as the prApyam (goal) for both nithya sUris and samsAris. mAmunigaL quotes “kanNnNAvAnenRum manNnNOR vinNnNOrkku” (கண்ணாவானென்றும் மண்ணோற் விண்ணோர்க்கு) where emperumAn is said as the controller of ubhaya vibhUthi. because of his relationship with all jIvAthmAs he has unbounded affection over everyone which is explained by AzhwAr himself in “en kanN pAcham vaiththa paranYchudar chOthi” (என் கண் பாசம் வைத்த பரஞ்சுடர் சோதி) – i.e., after showing mercy to AzhwAr emperumAn’s glories became much greater. AzhwAr also glorifies emperumAn’s vAthsalyam in “agalagillEn” (அகலகில்லேன்) pAsuram as Nigaril pugazhAy” (நிகரில் புகழாய்). Here pugazh means glory and nigaril pugazh means unmatched glory – this vAthsalyam – motherly love of emperumAn cannot be shown by anyone else. Thus, emperumAn’s vAthsalyam (motherly forbearance) is enjoyed by AzhwAr in thiruvEnkatam. vAthsalyam is also one of the important qualities of antharyAmi emperumAn, since he stays in everyone’s heart out of pure love and guides them like a mother. So, here, emperumAn’s antharyAmithvam is also enjoyed by AzhwAr.


chUrnNikai 161 – AzhwAr thirungari (4.10 – onRum dhEvum) ubhaya pradhANa pranNavamAna uRaikOyilil eththEvumennum parEchathvam poliyum. (உபய ப்ரதாந ப்ரணவமான உறைகோயிலில் எத்தேவுமென்னும் பரேசத்வம் பொலியும்.)


polindhunirapiran


Like praNavam which has importance for both paramAthmA (akAram) and jIvAthmA (makAram), thirukkurugUr temple has  importance for both AthinAthan emperumAn and AzhwAr. Here, AzhwAr enjoys emperumAn’s parathvam. mAmunigaL quotes “eththEvum evvulaganGgaLum maRRum thanpAl maRuvil mUrththiyOdoththu  iththanaiyum NinRa vanNnNam NiRkavE” (எத்தேவும் எவ்வுலகங்களும் மற்றும் தன்பால் மறுவில் மூர்த்தியோடொத்து  இத்தனையும் நின்ற வண்ணம் நிற்கவே) – All the chEthanams and achEthanams are sharIram to him and such emperumAn is situated firmly in thirukkurugUr. So, here, emperumAn’s parathvam (supremacy) is enjoyed by AzhwAr.


chUrNikai 162 – thirukkurungudi (5.5  – enganEyo)vaishnNava vAmaNaththil NiRaiNtha NIlamEniyin ruchijaNaka vibhava lAvanNyam pUrnNam. (வைஷ்ணவ வாமநத்தில் நிறைந்த நீலமேனியின் ருசிஜநக விபவ லாவண்யம் பூர்ணம்)


thirukurungudi-nambi.jpg

 mAmunigaL explains that nAyanAr uses “vaishnava vAmanam” since thirukkurungudi nambi took a humble position in front of emperumAn to become srivaishnava nambi just like he went for bikshai infront of mahAbali. Another reason he quotes is, in the end of this padhigam, AzhwAr says “aRiyak kaRRu vallAr vaishnNavar” (அறியக் கற்று வல்லார் வைஷ்ணவர்) – one who learns this padhigam and puts this knowledge in practice is a vaishnavan and this place is popularly known as vAmana kshEthram – so a combination of those two becomes “vaishnava vAmanam”. AzhwAr says Neela mEniyum NAngu thOLum en NenYcham NiRaiNthanavE” (நீல மேனியும் நான்கு தோளும் என் நெஞ்சம் நிறைந்தனவே) meaning his heart is filled with the beautiful bluish form and his four strong shoulders. Here, AzhwAr enjoys emperumAn’s lAvanNyam (full beauty) of emperumAn. AzhwAr also enjoys vibhavAvathAram (vAmanavathAram) here.

chUrNikai 163 – vAnamAmalai (5.7 – NORRa) ruchi vivacharkku pAdhamE charanNAkkum audhAryam vAnamAmalaiyilE kozhuNthuvidum. (ருசி விவசர்க்கு பாதமே சரணாக்கும் ஔதார்யம் வானமாமலையிலே கொழுந்துவிடும்)



For the one who develops the taste based on seeing the beauty of emperumAn, dheivanAyakan emperumnAn shows his lotus feet as the upAyam out of his audhAryam (pure generosity). mAmunigaL shows “ARenakku Nin pAdhamE charanNagath thaNthozhiNthAy” (ஆறெனக்கு நின் பாதமே சரணகத் தந்தொழிந்தாய்) meaning emperumAn shows his lotus feet as the upAyam for AzhwAr. He also shows “vaNdharuLi …” (வந்தருளி) which means emperumAn descended here as archAvathAram to accept AzhwAr instead of AzhwAr approaching emperumAn. Also, it is shown that vandhu is upEyam (emperumAn’s presence is the goal) and aruLi is upAyam (his grace is the means to get him).


With this, in the first five dhivya dhEsams, in addition to one specific guNam, AzhwAr also enjoys the five different types of manifestations viz vyUham, antharyAmi, param, vibhavam, archai (in sequence of the anubhavam).


chUrNikai 164 – thirukkudanthai (5.8 – ArAvamuthE)kaLaikanNARRArai urukkum mAdhuryam kudamUkkilE pravahikkum. (களைகணாற்றாரை உருக்கும் மாதுர்யம் குடமூக்கிலே ப்ரவஹிக்கும்)




In thirukkudanthai, ArAvamuthan emperumAn’s mAdhuryam (sweet nature) which melts the heart of the ones who are completely surrendered to him flows. mAmunigaL quotes that AzhwAr said “kaLaivAy thunbham kaLaiyAthozhivAy kaLaikanN maRRilEn” (களைவாய் துன்பம் களையாதொழிவாய் களைகண் மற்றிலேன்) meaning “whether remove my sorrows or not, I have no other go” showing his ananya gathithvam. emperumAn revealed his sweet nature to him which melts AzhwAr as shown by him in “NIrAy alaiNthu urukkuginRa NedumAlE” (நீராய் அலைந்து உருக்குகின்ற நெடுமாலே).


chUrNikai 165 – thiruvallavAzh (5.9 – mAnEi nOkku)melivilum chEmam koLvikkum krupai thennagarilE Nithyam. (மெலிவிலும் சேமம் கொள்விக்கும் க்ருபை தென்னகரிலே நித்யம்)






When AzhwAr’s heart melts for kOlappirAn emperumAn and when such emperumAn is not immediately seen and enjoyed, AzhwAr becomes worried. At this time, emperumAn’s mercy comforts AzhwAr and develops his faith in emperuAn’s quick arrival. mAmunigaL aptly quotes “adimEl chEmam koL thenkurugUrchchatagOpan” (அடிமேல் சேமம் கொள் தென்குருகூர்ச்சடகோபன்) and “perumAnathu thollaruLE” (பெருமானது தொல்லருளே) meaning AzhwAr is comforted by emperumAn’s krupai (mercy).


chUrNikai 166 – thirvaNvaNdUr (6.1 – vaigal pUnkazhivAy)vyavasAyajnYar rakshanNasthairyam pampOththara dhEchastham. (வ்யவஸாயஜ்ஞர் ரக்ஷணஸ்தைர்யம் பம்போத்தர தேசஸ்தம்)


 



For the faithful ones, pAmbaNai appan emperumAn’s protection is stabilized in their minds by looking at thirvaNvaNdUr emperumAn who is on the banks of pampai river. In this padhigam, AzhwAr enjoys emperumAn as srIrAman who says “Na thyajEyam” (I wont give up), “Ethath vratham mama” (This is my vow). mAmunigaL also brings up “ERu chEvakanArkku ennaiyum uLaL enmingaLE” (ஏறு சேவகனார்க்கு என்னையும் உளள் என்மின்களே) meaning AzhwAr sends a messenger to emperumAn to tell him that there is still one person left to be protected and unless he protects him, his quality of rakshakathvam cannot be fulfilled. Here AzhwAr enjoys the sthairyam (stability) of emperumAn.


chUrNIkai 167 – thiruviNNagar (6.3 – nalkuravum selvum)viLambha virOdhamazhikkum virudhdhagataNA sAmarththyam NannagarilE visthIrnNam. (விளம்ப விரோதமழிக்கும் விருத்தகடநா ஸாமர்த்த்யம் நன்னகரிலே விஸ்தீர்ணம்)





When AzhwAr showed his dissent to thiruviNNagar appan emperumAn in minnidai madavArgaL padhigam (6.2) and did not accept him for arriving late, emperumAn shows in this padhigam that he is able to bring contradictory features together and tells AzhwAr that he will change AzhwAr’s mind as well which is not accepting emperumAn at the moment. mAmunigaL quotes “pOgu NambI” (போகு நம்பீ), etc., where parAngusa nAyaki asks kaNNan emperumAn to leave and then AzhwAr seeing Nalkuravum chelvum” (நல்குரவும் செல்வும்) where emperumAn controls everything and this is highlighted in “thiruvinNnNagar NannagarE” (திருவிண்ணகர் நன்னகரே) meaning the good place named thiruviNNagar. Thus AzhwAr enjoys virudhdhagataNa sAmarthyam (ability to bring conradictory features together) of emperumAn here.


chUrNikai 168 – thirutholaivillimangalam (6.5 – thuvaLil mAmani mAdam) gatithagatakavikataNA bhANdhathvam avvUrilE dhvigunNam (கடிதகடகவிகடநா பாந்தத்வம் அவ்வூரிலே த்விகுணம்)

tholaivillimangalam


Here AzhwAr enjoys emperumAn’s bhAndhathvam (eternal relationship) with parAngusa nAyaki which makes her friend tell her mother to give up any attachment towards her. This dhivya dhEsam emperumAn has special relationship with AzhwAr since AzhwAr declares “dhEvapirAnaiyE thaNthai thAy” (தேவபிரானையே தந்தை தாய்), dhEvapirAn is only my father and mother. Also it is said “dhviguNam” here because the joy is doubled in this dhivya dhEsam due to the presence of dhEvapirAn and aravindha lOchanan emperumAns.


chUrNikai 169 – thirukkOLur (6.7 – uNNum sOru)kaimmudhalizhaNdhAr unNnNum Nidhiyin Apathsakathvam pugumUrilE samrudhdham (கைம்முதலிழந்தார் உண்ணும் நிதியின் ஆபத்ஸகத்வம் புகுமூரிலே ஸம்ருத்தம்)


vaithamanithi

 



As AzhwAr’s mother worries for parAngusa nAyaki for having lost everything for emperumAn in mAlukku padhigam (6.6), emperumAn shows himself as “vaiththa mANidhi” (வைத்த மாநிதி), a huge treasure, AzhwAr enjoys emperumAn here as thAraka, bhOshaka and bhOgyam (sustaining, nourishing and enjoying), emperumAn’s Apathsakthvam (helping the needy) is enjoyed by AzhwAr here. This dhivyadhEsam is called “pugumUr” by AzhwAr. Once ananthAzhwAn meets a srivaishnava in a village. He asks where he is from and that srivaishnava says he is from thirukkOLur. When asked why he was here in this village leaving behind thirukkOLur, he says he came here looking for livelihood. For that ananthAzhwAn says, thirukkOLur is the place where everyone should enter, but you have left that place – you could have even had a couple of donkeys and made some livelihood of them right there instead of leaving that dhivyadhEsam.

chUrNikai 170 – thenthiruppEreyil (7.3 – vellaichuri sangodu)chenRu chErvArkku uchAththunNai aRukkum sauNdharyam mANagarilE gOshikkum (சென்று சேர்வார்க்கு உசாத்துணை அறுக்கும் ஸௌந்தர்யம் மாநகரிலே கோஷிக்கும்)


ThenThiruPerai-makaranedumkuzhaikathar

 

When AzhwAr rushes to see emperumAn unable to wait for him, emperumAn’s saundharyam (beauty) first pulls AzhwAr’s closest aide, that is his heart, towards him. AzhwAr himself says, “if emperumAn takes away my heart what can I do now”. makara nedum kuzhai kAthan emperumAn’s beauty is explained by AzhwAr as “chenGkanivAyin thiRaththathAyum” (செங்கனிவாயின் திறத்ததாயும்), etc. Here “mAnagar” means the great place where emperumAn’s adiyArs are so ecstatic and constantly reciting sAma vEdham.


chUrNikai 171 – thiruvAranviLai (7.10 – inbam payakka) – pravanNachiththam parathva vimukamAkkum ANaNdhavruththi NInNagarilE (ப்ரவணசித்தம் பரத்வ விமுகமாக்கும் ஆநந்தவ்ருத்தி நீணகரிலே)


thiruvaranvilai-thirukkuralappan





When emperumAn comes with his mahishis to stay in thiruvAranviLai to listen to AzhwAr’s pAsurams, AzhwAr’s attachment towards thirukkuraLappan emperumAn increases too much and makes him simply give up parampadham as well. AzhwAr himself says “chiNthai maRRin thiRaththathallAth thanmai” (சிந்தை மற்றின் திறத்ததல்லாத் தன்மை), that my mind is fully situated in thirukkuraLappan and no one else. Thus emperumAn’s Anandha vruththi (blissful activity) is enjoyed by AzhwAr here.


chUrNikai 172 – thirukuLanthai (perunguLam) (8.2 – nangaL varivaLai)sAdhararai parichazhikkum chEshtithAchcharyam kuLaththE kodividum. (ஸாதரரை பரிசழிக்கும் சேஷ்டிதாச்சர்யம் குளத்தே கொடிவிடும்)

 

thirukulanthai-mayakuthan


mAyakkUthan emperumAn shows his divine activities to AzhwAr who is fully attached to him. By showing his divine activities (such as vAmana-thrivikrama charithram), he removes the lajjai (shyness), etc of AzhwAr. Thus AzhwAr enjoys emperumAn’s Accharya chEshtitham (marvellous activities) here.


chUrNikai 173 – thiruvaNparisAram (8.3 – angum ingum)chramamanam chUzhum saukumArya prakAcham AychchEriyilE (ச்ரமமனம் சூழும் ஸௌகுமார்ய ப்ரகாசம் ஆய்ச்சேரியிலே)

  

THIRUVANPARICHARAM


AzhwAr looking at thiruvAzhmArbhan emperumAn’s saukumAryam (delicate nature) starts worrying for him who has descended to samsAram which is full of calamities leaving behind paramapadham which is full of joy. mAmunigaL shows that nAyanAr uses the term “AychchEri” since it is the birth place of udaiyanangai who is the mother of NammAzhwAr (Ay – mother, chEri – place). This padhigam is called NammAzhwAr’s thiruppallANdu, where AzhwAr is performing mangaLAsAsanam for emperumAn.


chUrNikai 174 – thiruchiRRAru (thiruchengunRUr) (8.4 – vArkadA varuvi)mahAmadhigaL achcham kettu amarum chauryAdhigaL chiRRARRilE kozhikkum (மஹாமதிகள் அச்சம் கெட்டு அமரும் சௌர்யாதிகள் சிற்றாற்றிலே கொழிக்கும்)

 

thiruchenkundrur-imayavarappan


Like vidhura who is called mahAmadhi for his extreme attachment to kaNNan emperumAn, AzhwAr who is fearing for emperumAn’s well being and emperumAn immediately shows his sauryam (bravery), where he defeated kuvalayApItam, the wrestlers and finally kamsan as well very easily. AzhwAr identifies that this emperumAn is imayavarappan – one who is the leader of all nithya sUris and also he is the controller of all dhEvathais in this world.


chUrNikai 175 – thirukkadithAnam (8.6 – elliyum kAlaiyum)sAdhya hrudhisthanAyum sAdhaNamorukkadukkum kruthajnYathA gaNdham thAyappathiyilE (ஸாத்ய ஹ்ருதிஸ்தனாயும் ஸாதநமொருக்கடுக்கும் க்ருதஜ்ஞதா கந்தம் தாயப்பதியிலே)

 

thirukkadithanam-arpudhaNarayanan.jpg


aRputha NArAyaNan emperumAn’s main goal is to capture AzhwAr’s heart. But to achieve that he first arrives at thirukkadithAnam. AzhwAr seeing emperumAn at thirukkadithAnam gives his heart to him and says “thirukkadiththAnamum ennudaich chiNthaiyum orukkaduththuLLE uRaiyum pirAn” (திருக்கடித்தானமும் என்னுடைச் சிந்தையும் ஒருக்கடுத்துள்ளே உறையும் பிரான்). But even after capturing AzhwAr’s heart, emperumAn does not give up his residence in thirukkadithAnam since he wants to show his kruthjnYathai (gratitude) to the dhivyadhEsam which brought AzhwAr to him. piLLai lOkAchAryar also highlights the same point in srIvachana bhUshaNam in “iLam kOyil kaividEl” (இளம் கோயில் கைவிடேல்), emperumAn will not give up his dhivyadhEsams even after achieving his goal. AzhwAr calls this place “thAyappathi” indicating there is paternal relationship here.


chUrNikai 176 thirupuliyur (kuttanAdu) (8.9 karumANikka malai)avagAhiththArai aNaNyArhamAkkum NAyakalakshanNam vaLampugumUrilE kuttamidum. (அவகாஹித்தாரை அநந்யார்ஹமாக்கும் நாயகலக்ஷணம் வளம்புகுமூரிலே குட்டமிடும்)

 

thiruvaranvilai-thirukkuralappan (1)


emperumAn is the only husband to all jIvAthmAs. AzhwAr says “appan thiruvaruL mUzhginaL” (அப்பன் திருவருள் மூழ்கினள்)  meaning he plunged in to the ocean of mercy of the emperumAn. Once AzhwAr did that, mAyappirAn emperumAn reveals him all the bodily beauty and the beauty of the ornaments that decorate him – these two are part of the completeness of a husband. Once AzhwAr saw that he became completely subservient to emperumAn. It is the nature of jIvAthmA to be completely subservient to emperumAn and not to look at any one else. AzhwAr enjoys this NAyaka lakshaNam (husbandness/manliness) in mAyappirAn emperumAn.


chUrNikai 177 thiruppulingudi/thiruvaraguNamangai/srIvaikuntam (9.2 – paNdai NALAlE)bhOgyapAgathvarai theLiNtha chaNthaikku munnil mUnRilum prakatam. (போக்யபாகத்வரை தெளிந்த சந்தைக்கு முன்னில் மூன்றிலும் ப்ரகடம்)

 

srivaikuntam-mayapiran.jpgthiruvaragunamangai-vijayasanar.jpgthirupulingudi-kaisinivendan.jpg


emperumAn is showing his urgency to enjoy AzhwAr who’s love is increasing towards emperumAn in thiruppuLingudi, thiruvaraguNAmangai and srIvaikutam dhivya dhEsams. But emperumAn is unable to wait for that love to reach its peak. Just like if some one is hungry, first he will be lying down in the hall, then he will start sitting in the dining room and finally he will come closer to the kitchen and stand in the entrance looking out for the food, mAmunigaL quotes “puLinGkudikkidaNthu varagunNamanGgaiyiruNthu vaikuNthaththuL NinRu” (புளிங்குடிக்கிடந்து வரகுணமங்கையிருந்து வைகுந்தத்துள் நின்று) meaning emperumAn is lying down in thiruppuLingudi as kAisini vEndhan, he is sitting in thiruvaraguNamangai as vijayAsanan and his standing in srIvaikuntam as mAyappirAn. Thus AzhwAr is enjoying emperumAn’s bhOgya pAga thvarai (urgency to enjoy AzhwAr after AzhwAr developing parama bhakthi) in these three dhivyadhEsams.


chUrNikai 178 – thirukkAtkarai (9.6 – urugumAl nenjam) – bhOgaththil thattu mARum chIlam kAtkaraiyil karaiyazhikkum. (போகத்தில் தட்டு மாறும் சீலம் காட்கரையில் கரையழிக்கும்)

thirukatkarai-appan


When AzhwAr’s manifests such paramabhakthi, thirukkAtkarai appan emperumAn’s anubhavam with AzhwAr leads to emperumAn giving up his sEshithvam (lordship) to AzhwAr and him becoming subservient to AzhwAr. mAmunigaL quotes vArikkonNdu” (வாரிக்கொண்டு) pAsuram where AzhwAr says he wanted to enjoy emperumAn, but emperumAn had so much more desire to enjoy AzhwAr, that he enjoyed him even before AzhwAr can do that. Thus, AzhwAr enjoys emperumAn’s sauseelyam (magnanimity) in this dhivyadhEsam.


chUrNikai 179 – thirumUzhikkaLam (9.7 – engAnal aham kazhivAi)mahAthmAkkaL viraham sahiyAtha mArdhdhavam vaLaththin kaLaththE kUdu pUrikkum. (மஹாத்மாக்கள் விரஹம் ஸஹியாத மார்த்தவம் வளத்தின் களத்தே கூடு பூரிக்கும்.)

thirumuzhikalathan


thirumUzhikaLaththAn emperumAn is so tender hearted that he cannot bear to see the sorrow of the great devotees of him who cannot bear his separation.  mAmunigaL quotes ALavandhAr‘s sthOthram “mahAthmabhir mAmavalOkyathAm Naya kshanNEpi thE yathvirahOthidhussaha:” (மஹாத்மபிர் மாமவலோக்யதாம் நய க்ஷணேபி தே யத்விரஹோதிதுஸ்ஸஹ:) – those mahAthmAs who consider just seeing emperumAn’s vigraham (thirumEni) once is better than mukthi itself, cannot bear the separation from emperumAn even for a second. Thus AzhwAr enjoys emperumAn’s mArdhavam (tender hearted nature) here.


chUrNikai 180 thirunAvAi (9.8 arukkum vinai) – piriNtha thunbhakkadal kadaththum vishnNu pOtha ANrusamsyam NAvAyilE Nizhalezhum. (பிரிந்த துன்பக்கடல் கடத்தும் விஷ்ணு போத ஆந்ருஸம்ஸ்யம் நாவாயிலே நிழலெழும்)

 

thirunavay-narayanan


For the ones who are suffering in the ocean of vislEsham (separation) which is this samsAram, NArAyaNan emperumAn becomes the ship out of compassion which helps them cross this samsAram. mAmunigaL quotes “vishnNu pOtham viNA NANyath kinYchithasthi parAyanNam” (விஷ்ணு போதம் விநா நாந்யத் கிஞ்சிதஸ்தி பராயணம்) meaning only emperumAn can be the ship to cross this ocean of samsAram. mAmunigaL also quotes “NAvAyuRaiginRa” (நாவாயுறைகின்ற) meaning emperumAn is firmly situated in thirunAvAy to uplift the jIvAthmAs especially the ones who are surrendered to him. Thus, AzhwAr enjoys emperumAn’s Anrusamsyam (compassion) here.


chUrNikai 181 thirukkaNNapuram (9.10 – mAlai naNNi) – charanNya mukuNdhathvam uthpalAvathakaththilE prasidhdham. (சரண்ய முகுந்தத்வம் உத்பலாவதகத்திலே ப்ரஸித்தம்)

 

thirukkannapuram


sourirAjan emperumAn guarantees to AzhwAr that AzhwAr will reach paramapadham as soon as he gives up his thirumEni. mukundhan means one who can grant mOksham. uthpalAvathagam is the name of the vimAnam in thirukkaNNapuram. And AzhwAr says “charanNamAgum thana thAL adaiNthArkkellAm maranNamAnAl vaikuNtham kodukkum pirAn” (சரணமாகும் தன தாள் அடைந்தார்க்கெல்லாம் மரணமானால் வைகுந்தம் கொடுக்கும் பிரான்), for the ones who surrenders unto the lotus feet of emperumAn, he will give them mOksham as soon as they give up their body. Thus AzhwAr enjoys emperumAn’s mOksha prathathvam (ability to give mOksham) here.


chUrNikai 182 – thirumOgur (10.1 – thALa thAmarai)mArggabaNdhuchaithyam mOhaNaththE maduvidum. (மார்க்கபந்துசைத்யம் மோஹநத்தே மடுவிடும்)

 

kalamegar-Thirumogur


For the ones who are going to paramapadham, thirumOgur Apthan emperumAn, accompanies them with his cool nature enroute to paramapadham. Apthan means wellwisher – emperumAn being our best well-wisher, even accompanies us in our journey to paramapadham. AzhwAr explains him as “kALamEgam” (காளமேகம்) meaning cool as cloud and “marathaga manNith thadam” (மரதக மணித் தடம்) meaning a cool pond. This dhivya dhEsam is named after emperumAn who took mOhini avathAram. Such cool nature of emperumAn is required for the jIvAthmA to relieve himself of all the hardships he went through in the samsAram. Thus AzhwAr enjoys emperumAn’s chaithyam (coolness) here.


chUrNikai 183 – thiruvananthapuram (10.2 – kedumidar)sasaiNyaputhrachishya-sAdhyasidhdhabhUsurArchchanaththukku muka NAbi pAdhanGgalai dhvArathrayaththAlE kAttum sAmyam aNaNthachayaNaththilE vyaktham. (ஸஸைந்யபுத்ரசிஷ்ய-ஸாத்யஸித்தபூஸுரார்ச்சனத்துக்கு முக நாபி பாதங்கலை த்வாரத்ரயத்தாலே காட்டும் ஸாம்யம் அநந்தசயநத்திலே வ்யக்தம்)

thiruvananthapuram


ananthasayanan emperumAn shows his head, navel and lotus feet via three entrances for accepting worship from nithyasUris (his divine sEnai), dhEvas (his son brahmA, etc) and prapannas (his sishyas). mAmunigaL brings out “amararkOn archchikkinRu anGgu agappanNi cheyvar vinNnNOr” (அமரர்கோன் அர்ச்சிக்கின்று அங்கு அகப்பணி செய்வர் விண்ணோர்) which identifies nithyasUris like sEnai mudhaliAr who performs confidential services to emperumAn, “amararAyth thiriginRArgatku” (அமரராய்த் திரிகின்றார்கட்கு) which identifies brahmA, etc who runs around and looks after themselves and “padamudaiyaravil paLLipayinRavan pAdham kAnNa NadaminO NamargaLuLLIr” (படமுடையரவில் பள்ளிபயின்றவன் பாதம் காண நடமினோ நமர்களுள்ளீர்) which identifies the prapannas who go to take the dharshan of emperumAn’s divine feet. We can recollect how ALavandhAr immediately left srIrangam after hearing this pAsuram during arayar sEvai to perform mangaLAsAsanam to anantha sayanan emperumAn. Thus, AzhwAr enjoys emperumAn’s sAmyam (equality) towards all types of jIvAthmAs here.


chUrNikai 184 -thiruvAttARu (10.6 – aruLperuvAradiyAr)mOksha dhANaththil pranNatha pArathaNthriyam  vaLammikka NadhiyilE karaipuraLum. (மோக்ஷ தாநத்தில் ப்ரணத பாரதந்த்ரியம்  வளம்மிக்க நதியிலே கரைபுரளும்)


Thiruvattaru-AdiKesava

 

Adhi kEsavan emperumAn follows the heart of his adiyArs while giving them mOksham. mAmunigaL quotes “aruL tharuvAn amaiginRAn athu Namathu vidhi vagaiyE” (அருள் தருவான் அமைகின்றான் அது நமது விதி வகையே) which means emperumAn gives mOksham as commanded by his devotee. Thus AzhwAr enjoys emperumAn’s Ashritha pArathanthriyam (subservience to his devotees) here.


chUrNikai 185 – thirumAlirunchOlai (10.7 – senchorkavikAL)thyAjya dhEha vyAmOham maruLgaLkadiyum mayalmigu pozhililE thazhaikkum. (த்யாஜ்ய தேஹ வ்யாமோஹம் மருள்கள்கடியும் மயல்மிகு பொழிலிலே தழைக்கும்)

 

kallalagar-2



azhagar emperumAn is bewildered in looking at AzhwAr’s thirumEni just like a prince will like his wife’s remanants. Here dhEham is shown as thyAjya dhEham which means the body that should be given up. But in AzhwAr’s case, it is thirumEni where ultimate devotion towards emperumAn grew, so emperumAn considers AzhwAr’s thirumEni similar to dhivya dhEsams like thirumAlirunchOlai malai, thiruvEnkatam, paramapadham which are very dear to him. Also, emperumAn who clears everyone’s ignorance himself becomes bewildered looking at AzhwAr. So, AzhwAr now turns around and instructs emperumAn that this thirumEni should be given up by saying “manGgavottu un mAmAyai” (மங்கவொட்டு உன் மாமாயை), achith is your own property but you have to give it up in the samsAram and just carry me (the jIvAthmA) to paramapadham. Thus AzhwAr enjoys emperumAn’s vyAmOham (bewilderment) here.

chUrNikai 186 – thiruppErnagar (10.8 – thirumAlirunchOlai malai)anGgIkarikka avagAcham pArkkum svAmithvam peruNagarilE pEr peRRathu. (அங்கீகரிக்க அவகாசம் பார்க்கும் ஸ்வாமித்வம் பெருநகரிலே பேர் பெற்றது)


appakkudathan-koviladi

 
appak kudaththAn emperumAn is looking for some good quality in jIvAthmAs to acknowledge them and establish his svAmithvam (that he is the propreitor of every one and everything). AzhwAr says “thirumAlirunYchOlai malai enREn enna thirumAl vaNthu en NenYchu NiRaiyap puguNthAn” (திருமாலிருஞ்சோலை மலை என்றேன் என்ன திருமால் வந்து என் நெஞ்சு நிறையப் புகுந்தான்), as soon as I said thirumAlirunchOlai malai, emperumAn entered my heart and established himself fully there. The same concept is explained by piLLai lOkAchAryar as emperumAn uplifting jIvAthmAs based on “en Uraich chonnAy, en pEraich chonnAy, etc” (என் ஊரைச் சொன்னாய், என் பேரைச் சொன்னாய், etc) meaning you recited the name of the dhivya dhEsam I reside, you recited my name, etc. Thus AzhwAr enjoys emperumAn’s svAmithvam (propreitorship) here.

Finally, nAyanAr shows the great importance of gruhArchai in chUrNikai 75. After all, one must truly appreciate emperumAn’s extreme saulabhyam of entering our own homes without any hesitation and accepting direct kainkaryam from every one of us. This chUrNikai is actually presented by nAyanAr to show that one must not disrespect AzhwAr based on his birth. He is citing gruhArchai as an example to establish his point.


vIttinba inbappAkkaLil dhravyabAshA NirUpanNa samam inbamAriyilArAychchi. (வீட்டின்ப இன்பப்பாக்களில் த்ரவ்யபாஷா நிரூபண ஸமம் இன்பமாரியிலாராய்ச்சி).


Simple translation: 

Disrespecting AzhwAr based on his birth is as bad as judging the archAvathAra emperumAn (who has arrived to our home to give happiness to us) based on the rawmaterial his thirumEni is made of and disrespecting aruLicheyal (which is so relishable to great AchAryas) based on the language it is sung.

mAmunigaL takes many pramANams from sAsthram which explains that only fools will engage in these acts of disrespecting AzhwAr based on his birth, etc.


We have seen a little bit from nAyanAr’s archAvathAra anubhavam in AchArya hrudhayam. This grantham is the best research work done on thiruvAimozhi, analysing various aspects in detail. Without mAmunigaL‘s vyAkyAnam we cannot understand even a little bit in this.

mamunigal-srirangam

 mAmunigaL – srIrangam

nAyanAr has also done vyAkyAnams as we have seen before. If we start going into his vyAkyAnams, there is so much relishable topics in them. His vyAkyAnams to aruLicheyal are very elaborate and very exquisite with in-depth meanings. Let us pray at his lotus feet so that we can also develop some attachment towards our AzhwArs and AchAryas.


In the next article we will see vEdhAnthAchAryar’s archAvathAra anubhavam.

adiyen sarathy ramanuja dasan

sources: vyAkyAnams, 6000 padi guru paramparA prabhAvam, yathIndhra pravaNa prabhAvam

archived in https://granthams.koyil.org, also visit https://acharyas.koyil.org.

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