Missing the forest for the trees ....

I know I am taking a detour after "Of Oracle, Spirit and Possession - Part 4". But some of the background commentary is distracting me (I guess in a positive manner). Kid in a candy store is something I can very well  understand now.

So of we go into another fascinating insight.  Thirumangai Azhwar's choice of words and intent (as explained by the Acharyas via the commentaries) are really special as he is not the one to mince words. Moksha or Veedu is always defined as the ultimate goal. In சிறிய திருமடல்  Azhwar minces no words about how   the ultimate goal is sometimes misunderstood. The first set of couplets in this  is blistering (of course sarcastic) in its description of Moksha.

To describe the people of world he first describes  பூமி . He provides 6 special attributes in describing பூமி  பிராட்டி :-) Why... Parakala Nayaki is treating her as சக்களத்தி and contrasts her splendor with the despair that Parakala nayaki is in :-). The key point to note is that, Parakala Nayaki is not concerned with the multiple competitors as that is acceptable :-)  - aka infinite jeevathmas for the single paramathmas!! The only issue here is that how can Piratti be full of splendor and happiness when Parakala Nayaki is suffering.. Fair point :-)

காரார்  வரைக்கொங்கை - Cloud surrounded mountain like breasts!! The two hills are திருவேங்கடம் and திருமாலிரும்சோலை . Why cant he refer to himalayas ... after all he is attributing the best as analogy? Parakala Nayaki wants to use appropriate analogy and the reference has to be the dwelling place of perumal which is what Bhoomi Piratti will like.. and so Thiruvengadam and Thirumalirunsolai malai :-)

கண்ணார் கடல் உடுக்கை - The oceans are her beautiful saree..

சீரார் சுடர் சுட்டி - Sun itself is her  நெற்றி சுட்டி 

செங்கலுழி  பேராற்று - The rivers and the colored flow reflect her jewels

பெருமா  மழை கூந்தல் - Black clouds (filled with water) as reference to her beautiful hair

நீரார வேலி - Being the queen ( பட்ட மகிஷி ) she needs to be in a secure location. So he says she is surrounded by ஆவரண ஜலம் .

The people who belong to such a world (of பிராட்டி) say  there are 3 goals - புருஷார்த்தம்  - They are அறம் , பொருள் , இன்பம் .

ஆரார்  இவற்றின் இடை அதனை எய்துவார் - There are folks who said that the இடை refers to middle and concluded that whoever has பொருள் can achieve தர்மம் and  காமம்/இன்பம் . But Azhwar says காமம் is the best புருஷார்த்தம்  as whoever achieved this would definitely have the other two (சீரார் இரு கலையும் எய்துவர்).

So how can காமம் be good? Azhwar refers to பகவத் காமம் rather than others. So its a mute point.

Now he starts blasting the so called ultimate goal - Moksha :-) (not exactly but we will see what he means)

The people of the world do refer to some thing else other than these three and it goes like this.

காரார் புரவி ஏழ்  பூண்ட தனி ஆழி தேர் ஆர் - The chariot with 7 horses which rides on the clouds

நிறை கதிரோன் - The brilliant sun (who rides such a chariot defined above)

மண்டலத்தை கீண்டு புக்கு - blasting thru the sun god's world to go beyond and then

ஆரா  அமுதம் அங்கு எய்தி - achieve the ultimate domain of the பரம புருஷன் with unlimited bliss

and more than that never to come back to this suffering.....

அது நிற்க - Let it be there...

The commentary refers to a sarcastic reference here ... Azhway seems to say all the above seem preposterous and out of the world/reality (literally)!!!

ஏரார் முயல் விட்டு காக்கை பின் போவதே - Why do run for crow instead of rabbit?

Crow - it flies high and difficult to catch. even if you catch the meat is pathetic ( Hey - Azhwar knows better:-))

Rabbit - runs in the land so is easier and meat is better. 

So basically why run behind something that is difficult to catch and even if you catch which is pathetic instead of getting hold of rabbit?

Crow - Paramapadham - Vaikundam!!!

Rabbit - All the Divya desams where perumal is waiting for us to come !!

PS: need to keep in mind that Azhwar is pleading with perumal to take him away. What the above refers is the higher status Azhwar accords to the Divya desams where lesser mortals like us can enjoy perumal due to his ease of approach and availability.