கண்டார் உளர்
You missed it, but there were many who were fortunate to witness the Lord's Achievements
The first decad of the fourth canto is a one of a kind decad in the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham. In
the first half of the Periyazhvar Thirumozhi, Saint Poet Periyazhvar presented
a unique composition referred to as ‘Pillai Tamil’, one that traces the growth
of a unique child. The first two cantos were descriptive of celebrations around
young child’s birth and the activities during infancy phase.. Each of the child’s activities was described -
some making the mother happy but most making the neighbours complain. A large
part of the third canto dealt with his remarkable achievements much beyond his age even during the childhood phase.
In
this first decad of the fourth Canto, Periyazhvar revels once again presenting an entire decad of the Lord's achievement in the Rama and Krishna Avatara but he uses the 'Symbolic Revelation' style to showcase these achievements. Periyazhvar in these verses has used a very
interesting way to narrate the story. After describing the greatness of the
Lord in the first part of the verse, he concludes each verse by disclosing to
the devotees that there were those fortunate enough to have witnessed each of
these great achievements of the Lord almost giving out a ‘I missed it’ feeling
with these devotees.
Continuing
on from where he left off in the 9th decad of the 3rd
Canto with the Paadi Para verses
(http://prtraveller.blogspot.in/2015/09/krishna-rama-praising-their-achievements.html),
Periyazhvar once again alternates between praising the greatness of Rama and
Krishna and ends the decad with the Varaha Avatar.
Praising Two Avataras in two
different poetic ways
Rama’s
crown, says Periyazhvar, is studded with gems and its shine can be compared
with the rays emanating from a thousand Suns.
கதிர் ஆயிரம்
இரவி கலந்து
எறிந்தால் ஓத்த
நீள் முடியன்
எதிரில் பெருமை
இராமனை இருக்குமிடம்
நாடுதிரேல்
He
equates Rama with his previous Avatara and says that those interested in
knowing his location, they could probably find it out from the many lucky ones
who witnessed the Man-Lion tearing apart Asura Hiranya and had his hands in a
stream of red blood.
அதிரும் கழற்
பொருதோல் இரணியன்
ஆகம் பிளந்து
அறியாய்
உதிரம் அளைந்த கையோடு இருந்தானை உள்ளவா கண்டார் உளர்
Thus
in the first verse, he provides insights into two different Avataras- one
directly by praising Rama and his radiant features. And the next by revealing
his features symbolically by taking one back to the Narasimha Avatara.
In
the next verse, he directly describes Lord Rama and his physical posture of one
having multiple weapons in his armoury. Periyazhvar names each of his five
weapons he holds - Nandaka (Sword), Panchajanya (Conch), Kaumodaki (Mace), Saaranga
(Bow) and Thiru Chakra (Discus).
நாந்தகம் சங்கு
தண்டு நான்
ஒளிச் சார்ங்கம்
திருச்சக்கரம்
ஏந்து பெருமை
ராமனை இருக்கும்
இடம் நாடுதிரேல்
And
he goes on to his symbolic revelation of the same Lord.
He
says that if anyone is keen to know his abode, they could check out with those
who were fortunate to have seen him in his magical act of breaking the ‘Rudra’
bow and thus winning the prized hand of Sita at Janaka’s Court in Mithila. Periyazhvar
praises Sita’s hands as being soft and compares it with the bud of red Kantal
flowers.
காந்தள் முகிழ்
விரல் சீதைக்காகிக்
கடுஞ்சிலை சென்று
இருக்க
வேந்தர் தலைவன் சனகராசன் தன வேள்வியில் கண்டாருளர்
In
a matter of minutes he sent a swift arrow that ran through 7 trees before killing
the dreaded Rakshasas Kara and Dhushana. Those that are interested to meet him can
check his greatness with those who have
seen him seated alongside the sea shore, while an army of monkeys were helping
him build the bridge across the ocean by carrying big boulders on their heads.
தலையால் குரக்கினம்
தாங்கிச் சென்று
தடவரை கொண்டு
அடைப்ப
அலையார் கடற்கரை
வீற்றிருந்தானை
அங்குத்தை கண்டார் உளர்
Periyazhvar offers a clue to
locate him
If
any of the devotees are keen to spot the Lord in the middle of a huge ocean, Periyazhvar
says he has a clue to offer. As a child who seemed all innocent he had pierced
seven bulls and killed an Asura who had troubled his girl friend Nappinnai.
After his act, many found him standing there in perspiration.
In
the next verse, he once gives a feeling of missing that great event by
disclosing to the readers that those interested in seeing the Lord who Shiva
with matter hair and Brahma with 4 heads sing praise of as the one with Lakshmi
on his chest, can possibly find his whereabouts from the fortunate few who saw
his valorous act of holding his beloved Rukmini by the hand staving off
preventive efforts of her brother Rukmi and riding away in his chariot through
the army of Rukmi.
Periyazhvar
describes Dwaraka as a place where the waves strike the shore in a soft way. He
describes the Lord as one who rules the place seated in his majestic through
along with his many beautiful consorts. As seen earlier in the Periyazhvar
Thirumozhi, it was he who sucked the poisonous breasts of Putana till she
breathed her last. He says there were many who were privileged to see him
ascend the throne at Dwaraka and taking care of the loving people.
Describing the Dramatic Sunset
Event
Periyazhvar
stays on with Mahabaratha and says that there were many lucky to witness that dramatic
event just around Sun set.
நாழிகை கூறிட்டுக்
காத்து நின்ற
அரசர்கள் தம்
முகப்பே
நாழிகை போகப்
படை பொருதவன்
தேவகி தன
சிறுவன்
It
was he, Devaki’s son, who in a fraction of a moment hid the sun thus deceiving
Jayadratha who falsely believed that dusk had been reached and that he was now
safe.
As
Jayadratha basked in glory, the Lord brought back the hidden sun and Arjuna
grabbed the opportunity to send out sharp arrows that took the head of
Jayadratha.
ஆழி கொண்டு
அன்று இரவி
மறைப்பச் சயத்திரதன்
தலையை
பாழில் உருளப் படை பொருதவன் பக்கமே கண்டார் உளர்
Varaha Avatara
He ends the first
decad of the fourth canto praising the Lord, once again in his poetic style
disclosing the Lord through a symbolic revelation. He says that those
interested in seeking him can ask those who had the rare opportunity of seeing
as a Boar, in whose form he swirled through the ocean and brought back Goddess
Earth and married her.
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