PERIA THIRUMOZHI – II Tuesday, Mar 13 2007

1.7 Alvar is singing the praise of SINGAVELKUNRAM , the present day Ahobilam .In one of the pasurams he says that here is where Lord stood as Narasimha ( Man Lion ) with teeth like the sharp blade of swords , and split the demon HIRANYA’S body by His sharp finger nails. The fire burning here in this place would appear to reach the skies by virtue of the lofty hills in abundance here. On such hill is the SINGAVELKUNRAM which is difficult to identify and see , says the Alvar.

1.8 . This group is on the Lord at THIRUVENGADAM, the present Day Thirumalai – Thirupathi.

Alvar enjoys remembering the various sports (Leela ) played by the Lord as Vamana, Krishna etc., and identifies Lord as the one residing in Thiruvengadam. Alvar commands his mind to take refuge in the Lord of Thirumalai.

1.9 This group is a continuation of pasurams on Thiruvengadam.Alvar is repentant of various sins he committed by believing the transitory world life to be real , giving in to sensual pleasures etc. He prays to the Lord of Thiruvengadam to own him as His and redeem him.

1.10 Alvar continues praying to Lord of Thiruvengadam seeking His Grace. Alvar is recounting the Greatness of the Lord and is praying to him in all humility.

2.1 This group is also on THIRUVENGADAM. Alvar is applauding his mind for accepting the Kainkaryam ( Servitude ) to the Lord of Thiruvengadam., a repository of innumerable virtues.

2.2 This group is in praise of Lord reclining on Adisesha at THIRUEVVULLOOR present day Thiruvalloor. Alvar says that it is only Lord Rama who killed Ten Headed Ravana who is lying in EVVUL.

Alvar further assures for the devotees worshipping this Lord with love, issues related to job and profession will be realized , they will realize good position in life. They will get capacity to rule the world. If not after life they will rule the celestial world. Alvar says.

2.3 Lord of THIRUVALLIKKENI, present day Triplicane of Chennai is the object of worship of Alvar in this group. He recounts the lela of Lord as Krishna as charioteer of Arjuna, SriRama, Ranganatha, Narasimha and Varadaraja, the saviour of Gajendra.

2.4 Alvar is singing of Lord at THIRUNEERMALAI, near PALLAVARAM, Chennai in this group of pasurams. Lord in Thiruneermalai is seen in Four poses of Standing posture, sitting posture, Reclining posture, and walking posture. He is in Standing posture in Naraiyur ( Nachiyar Koil ); reclining in Kudanthai aka Kumbakonam; Sitting in Thiruvaali ; As Ulagalanda Perumal in Thirukkoilur, He is in walking pose. All these postures are revealed in this one place. – Thiruneermalai. He is the Lord Krishna who annihilated the clan of Rakshasas and is seen with the Lady of cowherd.

2.5 This group is on THIRUKKADALMALLAI, Present day Mahabalipuram. Alvar is singing praises of Lord here. In one pasuram he says, I saw : Lord who swallowed this Universe at deluge only to release it during beginning of another yuga, of coral like complexion, the just and kind distributor of amrutham ( elixir) during the churning of milky ocean; Lord who is seen in Devotees’ hearts as sweet as sugarcane; the Golden hued Mountain that slayed the elephant and felled the Arjuna trees One with the complexion of dark, rain bearing clouds, One who is the Karpakam tree ( Wish fulfilling tree of Heavens ) that removes the sorrows such a Lord I found in Kadalmallai, declares Alvar.

2.6 This is a continuation of Kadalmallai Pasurams. In this group Alvar is all praise for Bhagavathas Or devotees of Lord residing in this place. In line with his practice of describing scenery he says this place is having many ships with riches navigating in the sea here. He declares that he is willing to serve the devotees of the Lord here and will have nothing to do with those who do not remember the Lord of this place in devotion and Love.

2.7 Alvar is singing in praise of Lord Nityakalyana Perumal of Thiruvidavendai. Alvar imagines himself to be the daughter and her mother and sings as a mother telling about the troubles faced by the daughter struck with Love for the Lord.

Daughter is fully aware that You have within you, Goddess Lakshmi of ever youthful form and of Complexion of full moon and who was born of Amrutham (elixir ) out of rich ocean Yet this girl of enchanting beauty with lily like eyes, cannot forget her love for You. and is constantly thinking of you. What are You thinking (plans ) about this girl, o Lord of Thiruvidavendai, asks Alvar.

2.8 Alvar is assuming the form of a Nayaki (Lady ) and is singing of the form of Lord ATTABHUYAKARAN ( Near Kanchi ) to her companion and to mother.

Alvar is familiar with the Lord in four poses in different complexions with two arms as well as four arms. He has not seen the Lord in the form seen here seated with 8 arms bearing 8 weapons. Even His complexion looks a mix of all known colours. So Alvar is asking Him who He is As if in reply, Lord is telling that He is Attabhuyakaram resident. The whole group is sung like question and answer by the Lord.

2.9 In this group Alvar sings about Lord at Parameshvara Vinnagaram , near Kanchipuram. Lord here is in three different tiers (Levels ) In the first or lower level He is seated. In the second level, He is reclining and in third level He is standing. The temple is built by the Pallava King Parameshvara Varma. King is said to have tutored in 18 vidyas by the Lord and has blessed him with victory in many of battles.

2.10 his group is on Lord of THIRUKKOVILOOR. This is the place where Nalayiram started with outpourings in devotion of the First Three Alvars - POIGAI, BHUTHAM AND PEYI Alvars. Goddess Durga followed Sri Krishna residing here and left Vindhyas to come and reside here. This is the only Vaishnava temple with a shrine for Durga.

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PERIA THIRUMOZHI – I Sunday, Mar 11 2007

THIRUMANGAI ALVAR has enriched the Divya prabandham by composing 1084 verses 0f Peria Thirumozhi besides Thirukkurunthandagam of 20 pasurams, Thirunedunthandagam of 30 pasurams, 1 Pasuram of Thiruvezhukootrarikkai, Siriya Thirumadal of 40 Pasurams and Periya Thirumadal of 78 pasurams. Total of 1253 Pasurams.An attempt is made to give a skeleton review of these celestial , Divine Hymns on the subject addressed. It is humbly hoped that this would induce the interest of readers to read and understand the original further. In such a case, this work is considered of having achieved the intended objective.1.1 In this group of Ten pasurams, Alvar speaks of the greatness of the eight lettered Mantra to which he was initiated into by Lord Himself at Thirunaraiyur ( Nachiyar Koil ).

 

1.1 Thirumangai Alvar indulges in self-pity in this group of ten pasurams. He is sad that he had wasted his precious time in seeking worldly pleasures. At last, he could identify and get to know the eight-lettered mantra which could redeem him. Alvar speaks loftily of the mantra that could save him.

In one pasuram he says that the mantra is capable of : obtaining to the person chanting it a noble clan, that is, a clan of God’s servants.; It will give all wealth and pleasures in this world and also the permanent wealth of serving the Lord’s Lotus Feet ; It will remove all sorrows by hitting at the root of all misery by removing the cycle of births and death ; It is capable of revealing the Vaikuntha, the abode of Lord Vishnu clearly; It will get the kimgdom of Moksha, (Liberation from Bith and Death cycle); It is known that there is no mantra more effective than Gayatri and no God holier than Mother. Having born out of Gayatri and developing into Ashtakshara ( Eight Lettered ) mantra, this superior mantra will nurse and take care of ourselves as a mother; Alvar says reciting this mantra he could have the vision of the Lord. We too can see him if we can chant the mantra that is His divine name.

1.2 Kaliyan sings the praise of THIRUPPIRITHI a holy place in Himalayas. This shrine has not been identified with existing temples in the region in present day. Alvar, a Divine poet he is, paints a picture of scenic nature of all places he sings about. Thiruppirithi is amid dense forest where gigantic elephants are troubled by the lions roaming therein. It is also the habitat for wild boars. The tigers there are ferocious , always in fighting profession A place where the snakes sigh deep due to hunger and where pythons of size which can easily swallow the elephants crawl about, says the Alvar.

One of ten pasurams runs like this : In Thiruppirithi huge dense clouds roll out in groups and one behind the other roaring . Seeing this a big snake leaves its living place , starting to move under the impression that a huge mountain is beginning to crawl. Those who worship the Lord reclining in such a place called THIRUPPIRITHI and also those who can sing setting to music the hymns sung by me in praise of the Lord there will not gather sins, alvar says.

1.3 This group is in praise of Thiruvadari, Badrinath of present times also in Himalayas. Alvar is singing in praise of Lord Badri Narayanan

In one of the pasurams, alvar says: Beautiful flowers surround Badri, where bees hum and are happy drinking the nectar of cool flowers Alvar has sung in praise of Lord residing there .The devotees who can sing these pasurams and dance in groups will reach Vaikuntham and rule the celestial land. So says the Alvar.

1.4 This group is also dedicated to Lord at Badari. Here Alvar sings in praise of Lord who has shown many leelas in different avatharams and who is residing in the banks of Holy Ganga.

1.5 Alvar has reached Salagramam present day Muktinath in Nepal on the banks of river Gandaki. Alvar says that this place is hard to approach, as it is in Himalayas. He sings the praise of Lord here, whom he sees as Lord Rama. (Perialvar sings of Lord here as lord Krishna.)

1.6 This group is in praise of lord at Naimisharanyam. This is present day Nimsar in U. P. Alvar is surrendering himself seeking protection to Lord at Naimisharanyam. In one of the pasuram Alvar says that in Yama Loka the punishments are severe. For sinners like the person who covets other’s wife while neglecting his wife, and those who desire other’s wealth on death will be punished like This:: They will be asked to embrace a red hot sizzling figure of woman made in Copper. So I fear to commit such sins . O Lord who does not forsake the Faithful ! I take refuge in Your Holy Feet in Naimisharanyam

 

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