based on the vyakhyanam of Sri Periyavaccan Pillai
by Smt Sumithra Varadarajan

In the last posting we saw Thondaradi podi alwar saying that it is not a rule to meditate on the divya mangala vigraham of emperuman along with nAma keertanam. Then why does andal say we have to think of him and call him? For filling our stomach it is enough if we have some rice but why do we make so many various dishes? Similarly, just the Govinda nAmam can grant all the palans we request including moksha but then if we meditate on the divine roopam of bhagavan and chant the nAma then it is more enjoyable. Doing ThirunAma keertanam to get some thing is the lowest step instead nAma keertanam should be done as a kainkaryam to bhagavan(bhagavat preertyattam). That is why andal says "vAyinal pAdi manatinAl sindikka". When I say a cow, then a figure of a cow comes in our memory. For that matter, whatever names we utter those figures flashes in our memory. So similarly when I say Parthasarathi(geethacharyan) in our memory flashes the divine beauty of the emperuman still bearing the wounds of the bhArata yuddha, in which he saved arjuna by bearing the arrows of bheeshma in his face. For those who haven't visited thiruvallikeni they will imagine, the sarathy sitting in a chariot of arjuna common in all geethopadesha pictures. So something flashes in our memory. That is what andal says when you utter his nAma, also think of him so that you get immersed in his divine beauty. But then there is one more problem, that is when I say parthasarathi, we all tend to think of one of our relative or friend who has been named with that bhagavan nAma. This happens because we consider emperuman to be a third person and the other friends or relatives to be our close associates. We remember only those who are close to us. That is why our acharyas ask us to consider emperuman as our most close associate and meditate on him always. Though in an emergency none of our close friends or relatives to our rescue only bhagavan runs and comes to help us.

As in the case of drowpathi, none of her relatives bheeshma, dradarashtra or even her husbands couldn't help her when she cried for dharma but then only the Govinda nAma saved her. Afterall emperuman also says "Ye yetamam prapathyanthe tam tataiva bajamyaham"(In whatever way you think of me I become the same). If we consider him as our brother he becomes our brother, if we consider him as our father he becomes the same. So think of emperuman in which ever way you want and show deep love and devotion towards him.

Inspite of the teachings of our alwars and acharyas we still are unable to accept bhagavan as our bhandhu and we refrain from falling under his feet. But he never gets angry with us but instead waits for the smallest of the smallest chance to save us from the ocean of samsara and grant us moksha. Alwar feels sorry for bhagavan. When these samsaris are so adament why should parabrahmam make himself low and come to save these people? Alwar now goes to the extend of calling emperuman "pitthan".

"eththanai adiyarAnAkku errangum nam pitthanai pettrum": Though we turn our faces towards him and fall into the ocean of miseries, bhagavan never enjoys us suffering. He still pities our state and wants to do something to save us. So alwar says he is a Pitthan(mentally retarded person). Who is a pitthan? Sri PVP gives a definition for pitthan. "thannaiyum ariyAde piraraiyum theriyAdu errukumavar"One who is ignorant of himself and who also doesn't understand others. Here emperuman is sarva sakthan(one who can do anything) and sarva sankalpan(everything occurs only due to his wish) whereas we jeevatmas are his dasas(servants). Still he forgets his paratvam and comes to rescue us inspite of us constantly insulting him. He doesn't feel ashamed to become pandava dhoodha or for running the chariot of arjuna. Instead he says I feel proud to be a servant of my devotee. He even grants moksha to bhootana who came to kill him, saying that though she came with a wrong intention she disguised herself as a mother. Though ajamilan or kshatrabandhu, both of whom have done so much of papas, at the end only called their son or servant with govinda narayana nAma still emperuman grants then moksha saying that they uttered his nAMa. What karunai is possesses? But then alwar feels bad that though he does so much the jeevatmas never realise his magimai.

"Andho! Piraviyul pinaggumArE": Andho! Is a word of exclamation. Alwar breathes a sign of pity. Inspite of bhagavan showing so much krupai on these jeevatmas still the jeevatmas never go near him and hence they suffer in the cycle of life and death. Even when sisupalan scolded emperuman in such a way that even his own friends couldn't tolerate it emperuman granted him moksha, giving the reason that before scolding each time he uttered his nAma.("ketpAr sevisudum kEzhmai vasaivugalE sollum sisupAlan"). To grant us all moksha emperuman permanently settled in srirangam taking a vow that he will not return until there is no one left in this leela vibuthi. But even after he settling here the number of jeevatmas visiting naraka has not reduced. What a pity! Feels alwar.