Periyazhvar Enlightenment

சென்னி ஓங்கு

What a feeling finally - Me in You and You in Me

Starting with tracing the birth of Krishna and his growth phase (infancy to childhood), describing his various activities, achievements and the reactions from those around him, Periyazhvar spent over 250 verses in this ‘Pillai Tamil’ praise.

And then he moved on singing praise of Lords at different temples. Unlike other Azhvaars, he did not sing praise of too many. In his entire 473 verses, he refers in detail only to Srirangam, Tiruvenkatam, Thiru Kottiyur, Thiru Maliruncholai, Thiru Vellarai and Kadi Nagar. Having described Krishna through his mother and then these temples, he transforms himself into a completely different poet in these final set of verses.

He is seen engaging  in beautiful personal conversation with the Lord surrendering to him, showcasing his helpless state asking for help and finding him finally holding on to him.

Feels the Lord in Him

In this last decad, he revels in his expressions of coming together with the Lord and a feeling of being one with him. He feels the Lord inside him and presents himself in a way that the Lord too has accepted him in his heart.

Praising the lord of Venkatam where mountains rise high, he says his body and soul have now been branded and embellished with the Lord’s discus emblem. He is now waiting for the Lord’s orders and wants to know what is in store for him next from the Lord. He wants to dedicate his life to serve the Lord and asks as to what else he wants from his true devotee.

சென்னி ஓங்கு தன் திருவேங்கடமுடையாய்

உலகு தன்னை வாழ நின்ற நம்பி - தாமோதரா சதிரா

என்னையும் என்னுடைமையையும்

உன் சக்கரப் பொறி ஒற்றிக் கொண்டு

நின்னருளே புரிந்திருந்தேன்

இனி என் திருக்குறிப்பே

He expresses his transcendental experience. He says that since the time the Lord ascended on his Garuda Vahana and showered his blessings on him, he has been on a different journey. The ocean of births and deaths has dried up and become sanctified.

Finds Eternal Bliss

He says in delight that the groves that had trapped him in the ruins of everyday life- karmas of his past are now being destroyed by the raging forest fire. And he is experiencing divinity like never before. Knowledge is flowing like a river brimming with water. And these are flooding his head in waves and waves of nectar. It is eternal bliss, he calls it.

Yama has to stay away from him

He goes on with his current blissful state of life. He says that he feels emancipated. No one else in this mundane world may currently be enjoying the bliss that he is experiencing. Till recently, all the sins and miseries had hung on him very heavily life Yama. But suddenly in a silent and quiet way these have disappeared and seem to have gone into hiding somewhere in the distant bushes.

நம்மன் போலே வீழ்த்து அமுக்கும்

நாட்டில் உள்ள பாவம் எல்லாம்

கம்மெனாதே கைவிட்டு ஓடித் தூறுகள் பாய்ந்தனவே

Like the nectar churned out of the ocean and filling the pot to the brim, Periyazhvar says he melted his self, opened his mouth drank deep and filled every thought with the Lord. He is now revelling in the beautifully new realised conscious state of finding delight in the Lord. Even the Lord of death cannot come near him now for he has to obey the Lord.

கொடுமை செய்யும் கூற்றமும் என் கோள் ஆடி குறுகப் பெறா 

Inscribed the Lord in his tongue

He follows this with another gem of a verse. He compares his current stage of life to Gold. He says just like gold is rubbed on a stone to determine its purity, he too has rubbed and inscribed the Lord’s name in his tongue and has encapsulated the Lord in him, while at the same time put himself in the Lord finding himself a place in the Sun. YOU IN ME and MYSELF IN YOU.

பொன்னைக் கொண்டு உரைகள் மீதே நிறம் எழ உரைத்தாற் போல்

உன்னைக் கொண்டு என் நாவகம் பால் மாற்றின்றி உரைத்துக் கொண்டேன்

உன்னைக் கொண்டு என்னுள் வைத்தேன் என்னையும் உன்னிலிட்டேன் 

என் அப்பா என் இருடீகேசா என் உயிர்க் காவலனே

Parasurama’s Praise- A Surprise one at the end!!!!

Parasurama finds an interesting mention here. Periyazhvar praises the Lord as one who holds the axe in his right hand in an effort to subdue the arrogant kings ( he had taken an oath to erase generations of Kshatriya Kings!!!) - மன் அடங்க மழு வலங்கைக் கொண்ட ராம நம்பீ......

Like the everlasting inscription on the temple wall or the art on the wall, he has inscribed his thoughts in the lord in an indestructible manner. All his valiant deeds without any omission he has engraved in the Lord.Having thus come to reside in his heart, he now tells the Lord that he (the Lord) has nowhere else to go.

உன்னுடைய விக்கிரமம் ஒன்று ஒழியாமல் எல்லாம்

என்னுடைய நெஞ்சகம் பால் சுவர் வழி எழுதிக் கொண்டேன்

Like the Pandya King

He compares the Pandya King’s emblem to his own. He says just like the Pandya king printed his fish emblem on the mountain peak, the Lord has imprinted the blooming lotus feet on the crown of his head. He says his tongue has swollen reciting his names non-stop in the recent past. He thanks the Lord for finally taking him into his lip service.

பருப்பதத்துக் கயல் பொறித்த பாண்டியர் குலபதி போல்

திரு பொழிந்த சேவடி என் சென்னியின் மேல் பொறித்தாய்

மறுப்பு ஒசித்தாய் மல் அடர்த்தாய் என்றென்று உன் வாசகமே

உருப் பொலிந்த நாவினேன் உனக்கு உரித்து ஆக்கினையே 

Lord leaves being his vehicles

He talks about the coming to an end of his miseries. Sharing lesser love on even his Anathan and Suparna 

(Serpant and Garuda), Periyazhvar talks about the Lord having decided to enter his heart blessing him with a new life thus delighting him.

Emotional Periyazhvar

Periyazhvar expresses great emotions in this verse. Having found the Lord by his side, he uses phrases such as ‘melting heart’ and ‘tearful eyes’.

என் மனந்துள்ளே வந்து வைகி வாழச் செய்தாய் எம்பிரான்

நினைந்து என்னுள்ளே

நின்று நேக்குக் கண்கள் அசும்பு ஒழுக

He thanks the Lord for ending his physical tiredness and mental fatigue as he is now living every moment with thoughts of the Lord.

நினைத்திருந்தே சிரமம் தீர்ந்தேன்

நேமி நெடியவனே

The final verses of 473

In successive verses ending the Periyazhvar Thirumozhi, he wonders as to how the Lord left his beautiful abode in the Northern Milky Ocean, Vaikunta, walled city of Dwaraka and came to reside in him when so many others in the solar region and the heaven are awaiting him. He compares this to the bright shining flag fluttering atop a high mountain and says that the Lord shines like a flame in his heart.

மணிக் கடலில் பள்ளி கோளைப் பழக விட்டு ஓடி வந்து

என் மனக் கடலில் வாழவல்ல மாய மணாள நம்பீ

....என்றென்று உனக்கு இடமாய் இருக்க

என்னை உனக்கு உரித்து ஆக்கினையே

தடவரை வாய் மிளிர்ந்து மின்னும் தவள நெடுங்கொடி போல்

சுடர் ஒளியாய் நெஞ்சினுள்ளே தோன்றும் என் சோதி நம்பீ

வடதடமும் வைகுந்தமும் மதில் துவராபதியும்

இடவகைகள் இகழ்ந்திட்டு என்பால் இடவகை கொண்டனையே

Thiru Maliruncholai Periyazhvar

Lord of Thiru Maliruncholai is the Physician to our Life's Problems 

- SEEK HIM, OFFER SELFLESS SERVICE TO HIM AND GET PEACE OF MIND

In the penultimate decad of the Periyazhvar Thirumozhi, Periyazhvar sings praise of one of his favourite temples. In the fourth canto, he had dedicated 20 verses to the Lord of Thiru Maliruncholai and he completes his praise of temples with Lord Sundararaja Perumal of Maliruncholai.

While he praised the location and the humming bees and the beautiful peacocks in the earlier two decads, here Periyazhvar praises the Lord of Thiru Maliruncholai as his own and experiences the feeling of Azhagar Koil Lord having entered his body and pulled him out of all miseries.

Birth of Krishna

Periyazhvar refers to the episode of Kamsa killing 6 children of Devaki by smashing them on to the boulders. And then suddenly Krishna was born as her child. Periyazhvar visualises the Lord of Thiru Maliruncholai as his own father and master. He says he has finally found the Lord and cannot let him go.

புக்கினில் புக்கு உன்னைக் கண்டு கொண்டேன் இனிப் போக விடுவதுண்டே

Maliruncholai and its Greatness

As described in 4.2 and 4.3, Periyazhvar once again reminds us of the greatness of Thiru Maliruncholai referring to devotees thronging in the Nupura Ganga to take a dip in the sacred river in an effort to try to wash away their sins. Thiru Maliruncholai is described as a place with big lakes where fishes dance and play and as one with tall mansions, shining in gold.

A special kind of  Promise

Having finally caught the Lord in his grasp, he is now clear not to let him go from his body and heart and promises on the Lord’s consort to hold on to the Lord forever. Periyazhvar says that the Lord has not yet understood this true devotee’s concern and describes the Lord as someone who has not disclosed his true real form to anyone.

வளைத்து வைத்தேன் இனி போக லொட்டேன் உந்தன் இந்திர ஞாலங்களால் 

ஒலித்திடல் நின் திருவானை கண்டாய் நீ ஒருவர்க்கும் மெய்யனல்லை

I cannot leave Maliruncholai

Periyazhvar praises the love and affection the devotees have for the Lord of Thiru Maliruncholai. He gives example of gypsies harvesting wild corn in the lands of Thiru Maliruncholai and cooking fresh food and offering to the Lord.Having served him and understood him fully, Periyazhvar says that he cannot go anywhere else now for if he does so, will it not then belittle the Lord’s glory.

உனக்குப் பனி செய்திருக்கும் தவமுடையேன்

இனி போய் ஒருவன் தனக்குப் பணிந்து கடைத்தவை நிற்க

நின் சாயை அழிவு கண்டாய்

Without water and food and without any shade, Periyazhvar says he has travelled far and wide. But nowhere else other than here at Thiru Maliruncholai has he found the shadow of his feet which provides unending shade.

காதம் பலவும் திரிந்து உழல்றேற்கு அங்கோர் நிழலில்லை நீருமில்லை

உன் பாத நிழலல்லாமல் பற்றோர்

உயிர்ப்பிடம் நான் எங்கும் கான் கின்றிலேன்

Living in Lord’s Thoughts

He describes his current emotions beautifully. His legs are weak, tears roll down continuously, body trembles, voice is not heard, hairs stand in some corner of the head, shoulders are drooping and there seems to be no peace of mind. But there is a new expectation in the heart. Suddenly he is buoyed by the thoughts of the Lord and is delighted to be living with these new thoughts forever.

காலு மெழா கண்ண நீரும் நில்லா

உடல் சோர்ந்து நடுங்கி

குரல் மேலு மெழா மயிர் கூச்ச மறா என

தோள்களும் வீழ்வு ஒழியா

Maliruncholai is the Physician

Periyazhvar praises Lord of Maliruncholai as one who provides liberation to his true devotees.

He says even Lord Shiva with a flag inscribed with a bull symbol, the four faced Brahmma, the King of Gods Indra and other celestials don’t have a prescription for liberation from re - birth.

With this as the background, Periyazhvar praises the Lord of Thiru Maliruncholai as the Physician who has the medicine for this and asks the Lord to give him purity and bless him so he can enter the portal of his magnificent temple.

மருத்தவனாய் நின்ற மாமனிவண்ணா

மறு பிறவி தவிரத் திருத்தி உன் கோயிற் கடைபுகப் பெய்

திரு மாலிருஞ்சோலை எந்தாய்

From one side to the other side of the tide!!!

Periyazhvar provides a beautiful poetic description of life in one of the verses. He refers to the two shores of an ocean. For a long time he says he had been on the other side leading a floundering life full of desires and miseries. Finally he has arrived at this other shore completely tired of his previous experience. He now seeks the Lord to lift his hand in compassion and give him that ‘Fear Not’ comfort.

அக்கறை என்னுமனத்துக் கடலுள் அழுந்தி உன் பேர் அருளால்

இக்கரை ஏறி இளைத்திருன்தேனை அஞ்சேல் என்று கை கவியாய்

Periyazhvar is now engaging in real life messages for the devotees, described in simple language for every interested devotee to implement. He says for a lifetime and more he has lived life with a today and tomorrow and finally he has managed to arrive at this stage where he says he will not let go the Lord and will hold on to him tightly in his heart.

எத்தனை காலமும் எத்தனை ஊழியும் இன்றோடு நாளை என்றே

இத்தனை காலமும் போய்க் கிறிப்படேன்

இனி உன்னைப் போகலொட்டேன்

Finally settling with you

Periyazhvar looks back at a long life and says that right from the time he was in the womb, he has yearned to serve the Lord.  And now that he has got hold of the Lord, he cannot let go of him. It has taken a while but he has got what he wanted right from childhood - selfless, blemish-less service and he is ready to perform that from now on.

இன்று வந்து இங்கு உன்னைக் கண்டு கொண்டேன்

இனிப் போகவிடுவதுன்டே

Periyazhvar Fearless and Armed

பட்டினம் காப்பே 

For a long time, in this life, one is caught in the deep pit of attachment and struggle through as if caught in a deep dark cave and helplessly remaining there not knowing how to come out.

Reach out to God through Prayers and Selfless Service - Be freed from the prison of stomach, from mortal fetters of birth and loosen the shackles on the legs, nerves and bones

(5.2)

Periyazhvar began the final canto of the Periyazhvar Thirumozhi pleading for help in making him surrender to the Lord after announcing that he has been guilty of many mistakes in life.

In the 2^nd decad, Periyazhvar turns positive and supremely confident. He says he has had the much needed conversation with the Lord and he is now in safe hands knowing that he is being protected by the Lord. Hence he claims to have no fear now.

The old fearful stories of what might happen to life have changed and that fear has been removed and clarity has now been obtained. And he is now well guarded.

He compares the opportunity before us in this life to ants.

What Bondage does

Just like a swarm of ant that enters pure ghee that is to the brim, there is a sickness of bondage in different parts of the body parts. But there is an opportunity for us to flee and save ourselves.

நெய் குடத்தைப் பற்றி ஏறும் எறும்புகள் போல் நிரந்து எங்கும்

கைகொண்டு நிற்கின்ற நோய்கள்

Periyazhvar says he has seized on the opportunities to surrender to the Lord and is now well protected with nothing to worry. Now he is happy that the old insecure feelings of what will happen are all gone. He says he has received that enlightenment and the Lord has entered his soul and is inclined to stay in him.

Even Yama runs away!!!!!!!

He says with great delight that the verdict of Chitragupta, with Yama’s stamp has now been quashed. That team has now fled far away from him as the God himself has embraced him and he is assured of his protection ( In the last decade of the fourth canto, Periyazhvar had dedicated almost an entire decad describing Yama and his actions http://prtraveller.blogspot.in/2015/10/srirangam-ranganatha-advance-prayer.html).

சித்திரகுப்தன் எழுந்தால் தென்புலக் கொண் பொறி ஒற்றி

வாய்த்த இலச்சினை மாற்றித் தூதுவர் ஓடி யொளிந்தார் 

Brilliant Description of Freedom from Bondage

The Lord has provided us with the opportunity to read about him and to understand him through the many historical works and to practise austerities and restraint. Having undertaken that, Periyazhvar says he has now accepted the Lord in his service. He has been freed from the prison of stomach, from mortal fetters of birth, loosened the shackles on his legs, nerves and bones.

கயிற்றும் அக்கு ஆணி கழித்துக் காலிடப் பாசம் கழற்றி

Evil thoughts Go Away from here

Because of earlier karmas, diseases have been inflicted on him. But now, it is not so. He once again says he has found a new protection and no one can inflict evil thoughts in him anymore. No more can evil rogues affect him for he now has the treasure house of rubies. With the Lord now residing in his heart through the day and night, he directs the evil to find their way elsewhere to some weaker soul!!!

A NEW REVELATION

Periyazhvar now confidently utters that his body is no more filled with miseries of life as the key to that has been his understanding of this life and the importance of having the Lord in his mind all the time. And he repeatedly says that all the negative forces of life to go and find other weak beings who will succumb to the temptations of life.

Life bound in a Deep Dark Cave

For a long time, in this life, one is caught in the deep pit of attachment and struggle through as if caught in a deep dark cave and helplessly remaining there not knowing how to come out. Periyazhvar says he has finally got the grace of God and has now got the feeling that he has been ridden from his karmas of the past and present.

கொங்கைச் சிறுவரை யென்னும் பொதும்பினில் வீழ்ந்து வழக்கி

அங்கோர் முழையினில் புக்கிட்டு அழந்திக்கிடந்து உழல் வேனை

Having been ignorant with many doubtful claims and knowledge that was contrary, he says that like a typical human being, he failed to capture the right and wrong. But the opportune time has now arrived. And he has penetrated the Lord’s heart and stamped his feet on his forehead as a sacred symbol in his head. He feels sanctified now with no fear for anything.

He asks us to keep a vigil over his body, the sanctum sanctorum of lord. Towards the end of this decad, Periyazhvar communicates as if he has merged with the Lord.