SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:
Greatness of the divine name nammAzhwAr.
SatakOpa swAmy is known as nammAzhwAr. maNavALa mAmunigaL (varavaramuni swAmy), explains in upadhESa raththina mAlai 50 “namperumAL nammAzhwAr nanjIyar nampiLLai enbar avaravar tham ERRaththAl”. In this statement four personalities are shown. namperumAL (SrI ranganAtha). nammAzhwAr (Satakopa swAmy), nanjiyar (vedhAnthi jIyar) and nampiLLai (kalivairi dhAsar swAmy). These four personalities are glorified with the prefix ‘nam’.
‘nam’ means ours. By the use of the word ‘our’, affinity, the great attachment is shown. Affinity is demonstrated when we say this is “Our swAmy”, “Our Lord”.
In the above mentioned pAsuram, varavaramuni swAmy says that there is great affinity towards these four personalities. This pAsuram can be explained in two ways. First explanation is, namperumAL said nammAzhwAr, nanjiyar said nampiLLai. That is SrI ranganAtha affectionately called SatakOpa swAmy as our AzhwAr (nam AzhwAr). Similarly, vEdhAnthi jIyar called kalivairi dhAsar as our piLLai (nam piLLai). The other explanation is that many great personalities identified SrI ranganAtha as namperumAL (our perumAL), nammAzhwAr SatakOpa swAmy as nammAzhwAr (our AzhwAr), vEdhAnthi jIyar is identified as nam jIyar (our sanyAsi or our great personality) and kalivairi dhAsar swAmy is identified as nam piLLai (our piLLai). piLLai means a great personality.
In either case, the word ‘nam’ shows great affection, great affinity, and that affection is shown towards nammAzhwAr because of his greatness, and because of his great benediction given to all of us by him. Hence, he is said to be nammAzhwAr.
From next post, we’ll understand the meaning of the other 32 names of nammAzhwAr.
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