68. kaLvan ivan enREnO lOkaguruvaip pOlE

The name "kaLvan" is one of the many names of Sriman Narayana. He is known by that name in one His divyadesams also. It means, one who steals or one who cheats/tricks others. He does this for the sake of His devotees in many cases.

In the yagasala of Mahabali, He arrived in the form of a small dwarf (vAmana), asked for and obtained three steps of land, grew up as Trivikrama and measured all the worlds with His divine feet. At that time, the asura guru, Sukracharya called Him as a "kaLvan". However, it does not appear appropriate that this is the incident being refered to in this vArththai and that Sukracharya is being called a Loka Guru.

It would be appropriate to refer to Swami Nammazhvar as Loka Guru. In several pasurams, Nammazhvar refers to the Lord as "kaLvan". In Thiruvaymozhi 5-10-4, he says "kaLLa vEdaththaik koNdu pOyp puram pukkavARum" - here he refers to the Lord going amidst the asuras and taking away their faith in the Vedas. In Thiruvaymozhi 3-8-9, Azhvar says "koLvan nAn mAvali mUvadi thA enra kaLvanE" - refering to the Lord's vAmana avtara.

In Thiruvaymozhi 2-2-10, he says "kaLvA! emmaiyum Ezulagum nin uLLE thORRiya iRaivA ..." - in this pasuram, it is Shiva who calls the Lord "kaLvA". This refers to the incident where Shiva obtained a boon from Narayana that He would ask for and get a boon from him. To fulfill that promise, during His Krishna avatara, He went on a kailasha yatra and asked Shiva to grant Him children. Shiva calls Him "kaLvA" because, it is He who is the father of all including Shiva and yet He is asking for the boon of a child. Since Shiva is known for the greatness of his knowledge it would be alright that he is refered to as the Loka Guru.

Thirumangai Azhvar in his Thirunedunthandagam, says "nIragaththAy! ... kArvAnaththuLLAy! kaLvA!". Azhvar says it is His trickery that He is hiding and not showing Himself to Azhvar. At another place in Thirunedunthandagam, Azhvar says "puLLUrum kaLvA! nI pOgEl". Since this Azhvar invited the Lord Himself to learn from him "kaNNa nin thanakkum kuRippAgil kaRkalAm kaviyin poruL", it would be appropriate to refer to him as Loka Guru.

Thirukkolur Ammal is asking "Did I refer to Him as 'kaLvan' like the knowledgeable devotees who can be called as Loka Guru's?"