This composition is indicative ofthe Erudition combined with devotion unparalleled of Sri Thirumazhisai Alvar.He has packed in 120 pasurams the cardinal principles of Sri Vaishnava Philosophy as a tiny seed holdsthe huge banyan tree in its womb. It becomes imperative to study the hymns under a Guru in Kalakshepam understanding inherent special meanings which are subject of many commentaries of Nalaayiram by Acharyas of yore.
A short write up with limited knowledge and reference to texts is attempted herein.
Alvar refers to the panchabhutas( Five great gross Elements in creation ) and its attributes( Qualities ) The gross elements are Five like Ether / Akaasha, Air /Vayu, Fire / Agni, Water/ Jala or App, and Earth / Bhumi The gross elements are made of Subtle Elements. These are called THANMATHRAS.Thanmathra is substance in subtle state immediately prior to formation of gross element. It is likened to state of milk getting curdled. this state is halfway to formation of curd from Milk.These Thanmathras are five in number like SOUNDTHANMATHRA/SHABDA ,TOUCH THANMATRA / SPARSHA, COLOUR THANMATHRA / ROOPA, SAVOUR THANMATHRA/RASA, AND ODOUR THANMATHRA/GANDHA. Lord (supreme Creator )having created the elements into two. Of the two parts He keeps aside one part of its own nature, dividing other half into four parts, He combines the four sub-parts with other four elements. Thus Earth as an example is Earth because of its portion being more though other elements are also in its composition. This process is called PANCHIKARANA.
In first verse of this composition,ALVAR is speaking of Lord’s creation thus:
Who can know You fully identifying You as the inherent Spirit, Primordial Cause of , and Supreme Being of Following ? ( No One can Gauge His Greatness ) ( He Is ) AS SHABDA, SPARSHA, ROOPA, RASA AND GANDHA in Earth, in WATER, AS SHABDA, SPARSHA, ROOPA AND RASA; IN AGNI, AS SHABDA, SPARSHA AND GANDHA; IN WIND AS SHABDA AND SPARSHA ; IN SKY AS SHABDA; AS SOUL OF Celestials (Devas ) Humans,Animals and Vegetation (You are there ).
Alvar says that LORD is six occupations of reading scriptures etc. Six seasons like spring etc.,Six yagnas like Agneya etc., Five sacrificial Agnis, Gnana (Knowledge ) and Vairagya (renunciation ) Wealth, Kaivalya (Liberation ) Paramapadam (ultimate – Abode of Lord ) Vivekam (Discriminatory sense ) etc. seven in no. , Knowledge, power six in no. Different Religions Truth and Falsehood , Thanmathras are all Lord Krishna Himself !
Alvar continues to say that everything is Lord Himself in next pasuram as well.The five gross elements ( pancha Bhutas ), sense organs, and their functions totalling ten, five thanmathras, PREMORDIAL NATURE (PRAKRUTHI ) MAHAN, AHANKARA,, MANAS (MIND ) are Lord Himself who is ruling these as Atma (spirit ) of these . He has permeated ten senses by five shaktis of upanishadic origin, He is the five Enjoyments of Sound etc., Enjoyer, INSTRUMENT, DEVAS,SAGES, LIBERATED SOULS,totalling five are Yourself. Who is capable of knowing Him Fully ? ( None is capable )
He is the 33 letters (Alphabets ) that are origin of Vedas, 16 vowels,’la’kkara that are five, Rig YAJUR and SAMA vedas, meaning of twelve lettered mantra, Light in three lettered Omkara, Immutable meaning of ‘A’kara, Such is the greatness and Alvar wonders how He has entered his mind as the Leader, His kindness is infinite indeed !
Such is the burden of Alvar’s Hymns as it reads, but there are plenty meanings in each line and each verse of this Great composition.
Next we will try to enjoy Alvar’sskill in composition by taking one example.
In a single hymn, philosophical truths are charged as inner meaning. That is why aGuru is needed to understand these truths fully.
Elders have held the view that the inner meaning of a hymn is superior to the meaning which meets the eye on initial reading of the hymn. This inner meaning is called SWAPADESHAM
We shalltake the example of hymn no. 49. This hymn of four lines is about the holy place of SRIRANGAM. The last two lines of pasuram speaks about the rich natural scenery of the place.
GENERAL Meaning : The bird Egret ( Naarai in Tamil ) ate the crab in water. Due to sumptuous food, it could not fly away.So the bird moved slowly. Vaalai, a species of Fish saw the Egret walking slowly.The Fish Vaalai was afraid that the Egret’s movement was directed towards itself ( Food of Egret ). So, Vaalai leaped to another place of safety from the place it occupied. These two events were seen by another Fish of KENDAI species. Kendai fish sheltered itself under the Blue Flower nearby and stayed under its shade. Kendai moved fearlessly there.
SWAPADESHAM / INNER MEANING : Crab denotes worldly, materialistic people. These people are tortured by AHANKARA / Ego. So the bird Egret (NARAI ) which ate crab is called AHANKARA. ( Ego ) Vaalai Fish represents the people who try to live by self-effort. The act of Vaalai Fish of moving to different area out of sight of the bird Egret ( Narai ), reminds one’s effort of saving oneself through Self-effort. The KENDAI Fish considered both AHAMKARA and Self- effort (NAARAI, VAALAI ) as the source of fear. Here, KENDAI Fish remindsof the PRAPANNA, who has done PRAPATTI ( ACT OF SURRENDER ) at the Holy Feet of the Lord. Blue flower represents the Blue Hued Lord. Thus Kendai’s act reminds one of the happy state of Prapannas ( SURRENDERED ONES ) who have surrenendered at the Holy Feet Of the Blue-Hued LOrd , happy because of freedom from fear and freed of the responsibility of saving oneself through self-effort.
This composition abounds in many such meanings and should be learnt under a Preceptor.
ALVAR EMPERUMAANAAR DESHIKAR THIRUVADIGALE SHARANAM
SRIMATHE LAKSHMINRISIMHA DIVYA PADUKA SEVAKA SRIVANN SHATAKOPA SRI NARAYANA YATHINDRA MAHADESHIKAAYA NAMAHA.
