I got a note from one of my colleagues yesterday night basically greeting us and to express thanks for having such a great team. I looked at this tradition and realized that this has both civil and religious context.
I guess the equivalent in tamil tradition is the தை திருநாள் where Sun, Rain, farm animals and workers are thanked. But then thoughts wandered around topics that are of my interest. The question basically was "whats the equivalent for "Thanksgiving" from the Sri Vaishnava tradition". Before long, it became obvious to me that most of my previous posts were from the "thanksgiving finale" of திருமங்கை மன்னன்.
The introduction to the commentary (அவதாரிகை) clearly shows that Azhwar thinks of all the blessings bestowed upon him (உபகார பரம்பரைகள்) and expresses them in திருநெடுந்தாண்டகம்.
In some of the previous posts (Oracle et al), we have seen the context for the different works. We can see them again quickly as they are the blessings Azhwar says that he got in his "thanks giving" to Perumal.
In his own words, Azhwar was like this. God created women for me to enjoy! And the primary cause of such a thought is this "My body is the soul. There is nothing else". Due to such a situation, there was no possibility for Azhwar to even contemplate about things beyond the physical body ,senses and the pleasures.
1. Perumal decides to bless Azhwar by revealing his divine beauty. After all, this vessel is not ready for discourses or other such mechanisms. Because he was such a connoisseur , he got immersed deeply in this experience.
2. Perumal went ahead to the next step. Such a relationship will be transient and so he wanted to strengthen it. When Azhwar threatened perumal with his sword to reveal his magic, Perumal gave him the Thirumantra. However he also explained the mantra revealing the nature of Jeevathma, Paramathma and their relationship, along with the divyadesams that showcase those divine attributes.
3. After Azhwar goes all around Bharat, singing in praise of the divyadesams and perumal, Perumal reveals the temporary nature of this life and the associated suffering.
4. When Azhwar understands the nature of this Samsara to his horror, he starts screaming for help (மாற்றம் உள ). Perumal waits (as a mother waits when a child has just recovered from Indigestion) to make sure Azhwar is fully ready before granting him Moksha.
The above are the various actions of perumal. The below is how Azhwar conveys his "Thanks".
Perumal explained the nature of non sentient (அசித்), sentient (சித்) and Easwara (ஈஸ்வரன்) without any other qualifications or expectations from Azhwar. Through this Azhwar was blessed with knowledge of everything and he ends his first song by wondering as follows:
என் உருவில் நின்ற எந்தை - Even if perumal comes into my soul, it will only reduce his glories. But he goes further and comes inside my physical body itself!!
தளிர் புரையும் திருவடி என் தலை மேலவே
Perumal's feet was dessicated and dry due to separation from Azhwar. Now that Azhwar has come to realize his true nature, perumal's feet is literally 'blooming'.
From having feet of women on my head, I have come to a situation where my lord's feet is on my head. After all, celestial beings (நித்ய சூரிகள் ) are the ones who have this blessing. And I have got the same with no effort from my side.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
I guess the equivalent in tamil tradition is the தை திருநாள் where Sun, Rain, farm animals and workers are thanked. But then thoughts wandered around topics that are of my interest. The question basically was "whats the equivalent for "Thanksgiving" from the Sri Vaishnava tradition". Before long, it became obvious to me that most of my previous posts were from the "thanksgiving finale" of திருமங்கை மன்னன்.
The introduction to the commentary (அவதாரிகை) clearly shows that Azhwar thinks of all the blessings bestowed upon him (உபகார பரம்பரைகள்) and expresses them in திருநெடுந்தாண்டகம்.
In some of the previous posts (Oracle et al), we have seen the context for the different works. We can see them again quickly as they are the blessings Azhwar says that he got in his "thanks giving" to Perumal.
In his own words, Azhwar was like this. God created women for me to enjoy! And the primary cause of such a thought is this "My body is the soul. There is nothing else". Due to such a situation, there was no possibility for Azhwar to even contemplate about things beyond the physical body ,senses and the pleasures.
1. Perumal decides to bless Azhwar by revealing his divine beauty. After all, this vessel is not ready for discourses or other such mechanisms. Because he was such a connoisseur , he got immersed deeply in this experience.
2. Perumal went ahead to the next step. Such a relationship will be transient and so he wanted to strengthen it. When Azhwar threatened perumal with his sword to reveal his magic, Perumal gave him the Thirumantra. However he also explained the mantra revealing the nature of Jeevathma, Paramathma and their relationship, along with the divyadesams that showcase those divine attributes.
3. After Azhwar goes all around Bharat, singing in praise of the divyadesams and perumal, Perumal reveals the temporary nature of this life and the associated suffering.
4. When Azhwar understands the nature of this Samsara to his horror, he starts screaming for help (மாற்றம் உள ). Perumal waits (as a mother waits when a child has just recovered from Indigestion) to make sure Azhwar is fully ready before granting him Moksha.
The above are the various actions of perumal. The below is how Azhwar conveys his "Thanks".
Perumal explained the nature of non sentient (அசித்), sentient (சித்) and Easwara (ஈஸ்வரன்) without any other qualifications or expectations from Azhwar. Through this Azhwar was blessed with knowledge of everything and he ends his first song by wondering as follows:
என் உருவில் நின்ற எந்தை - Even if perumal comes into my soul, it will only reduce his glories. But he goes further and comes inside my physical body itself!!
தளிர் புரையும் திருவடி என் தலை மேலவே
Perumal's feet was dessicated and dry due to separation from Azhwar. Now that Azhwar has come to realize his true nature, perumal's feet is literally 'blooming'.
From having feet of women on my head, I have come to a situation where my lord's feet is on my head. After all, celestial beings (நித்ய சூரிகள் ) are the ones who have this blessing. And I have got the same with no effort from my side.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Reason for treating Thirunedunthaandagam as his last composition unlike some others proposing Peria Thirumadal to be his last one
ReplyDeleteoh! Did not know that there are folks who treat Peria Thirumadal as the last composition!!
ReplyDelete