Kulasekara Azhvaar Thiru Chitrakoodam

Narrating each phase from the entire Ramayana in a Single Decad
Kulasekara Azhvaar refers to his favourite Lord as being 'Peerless'

Kulasekara Azhvaar ends the Perumal Thirumozhi of over a 100 verses with a decad dedicated to the Lord of Thillai Chitrakoodam (Chidambaram). On reaching there, he was so moved on seeing the handsome features of Lord that instantly he was reminded of the glorious tale of Lord Rama and goes on to praise the major achievements of his favourite Lord in a sequence right from his teenage days through to the time when he reaches his abode at Vaikuntam.

Kulasekara Azhvaar begins by praising Lord Rama as one being peerless and as a Lord with Lotus eyes.

 விண்முழுதும் உயக்கொண்ட  வீரன்தன்னைச்

Following this, he goes on to narrate the achievements in a sequence.

As a youngster, he was sent out to guard the fire sacrifice of Sage Vishwamitra ( King Dasaratha reluctantly agreed as he believed that his son was too young to fight the mighty asuras). It was there that he provided the first glimpse of his astonishing powers by destroying several rakshashas with effortless ease.

மந்திரம்கொள் மறை முனிவன் வேள்வி காத்து
வல்லரக்கர் உயிர் உண்ட மைந்தன் காண்மின்  

3000 Seers in Chitrakoodam

During his time, there seemed to be Vedic Seers in several thousands as Kulasekara Azhvaar specifies that 3000 seers constantly chanted praise of the Lord of Chitrakoodam on a daily basis.  He describes Chitrakoodam as a place surrounded by groves that is full of flowers. The walls of Chitrakoodam, he says, were so huge that enemies feared entering. 

செந்தளிர்வாய் மலர் நகை சேர் செழுந்தண்  சோலைத் 

தில்லை நகர் திரு சித்திரகூடந் தன்னுள்
அந்தணர்கள் ஒரு மூவாயிரவர் ஏத்த
அணிமணி ஆசனத்து இருந்த அம்மான் தானே 

For his beloved Sita's sake

Moving into the next phase of Rama’s life, Kulasekara Azhvaar says that to attain Sita, he once again showed his physical strength as he broke the bow of Siva, that all others had failed to even lift and later drove away Parasurama, the sworn enemy of the kings.

செல்வரிதற் கருநெடுங்கண் சீதைக்கு ஆகிச்
சினவிடையோன் சிலையிருத்து மழுவாள் ஏந்தி
வெவ்வரிநற்  சிலை வாங்கி வென்றி கொண்டு
வேல்வேந்தர் பகை தடிந்த வீரன் தன்னைத்  

Follows Dharmic Path

When he was about to be coronated, Rama provided his first indication of following the dharmic path by obeying his mother’s words (though his father was hesitant to let him go) and heading to the forest. He crossed the Ganges assisted by his long time friend the boatman Guha. While in the forest he gave away his sandals and the kingdom to Bharata and lived here in Chitrakootam.

தொத்து அலர் பூஞ் சரிசுழல் கைகேசி சொல்லால்
தொல் நகரம் துறந்து துறைக் கங்கைதன்னைப்
பத்தி உடைக்க குகன் கடத்த வானம் போய்ப் புக்கு

Life in the Forest

He killed the demon Viratha thus protecting the rishis and recognising his contribution was gifted a bow by the great sage Agasthya. Later he cut off the nose of Soorpanaka and killed Khara and Dhooshana and the golden deer.

வலி வணக்கு வரை நெடுத்தேன் விரதைக் கொன்று
வன் தமிழ் மா முனி கொடுத்த வரிவில் வாங்கி

கலை வணக்கு நோக்கு அரக்கி மூக்கை நீக்கி 

கரனோடு தூடணன்தன் உயிரை வாங்கி 

He was separated from his wife Sita and lost consciousness for a while in a moment of shock. It was during his search for Sita that he gave moksham to Bird Jatayu by performing his final rites.

Gives Ravana an early warning

As he proceeded further, he made friends with Sugreeva , the monkey king and killed his elder brother Vali. He enraged Ravana when his messenger Hanuman burnt the beautiful city of Lanka with his tail.

வாலியைக் கொன்று இலங்கை நகர் அரக்கர் கோமான்
சினம் அடங்க மாருதியாற் கடுவித்தானைத்

Having found the location of Sita, he split the sea with his arrow and enabled the causeway to be built crossing the sea. He killed many rakshashas and finally their King Ravana. Handing over the kingdom to Vibheeshana, he reunited with Sita and returned to Ayodhya, a city that Kulasekara Azhvaar describes as one full of tall mansions.

Kulasekara Azhvaar presents the happiness of Rama when he heard his own story from the lips of his twin sons Lava and Kusa.

Towards the end, Kulasekara Azhvaar presents the story of the Lord killing Jambuka giving the life to the dead Vedic seer. He sent Shatrugna to kill asura Lavana. Through the curse of Durvasa, Rama had to separate from his beloved brother Lakshmana.

செறி தவச் சம்பூகன் தன்னைச் சென்று கொன்று
செழு மறையோன் உயிர் மீட்டு தவத்தோன் ஈந்த

நிறை மணிப் பூண் அணியும் கொண்டு
இலவணன் தன்னைத்

தம்பியால் வான் ஏற்றி  முனிவன் வேண்டத்
திரள் விளங்கும் இலக்குமனைப் பிரிந்தான் தன்னைத்

In the final verse, Kulasekara Azhvaar praises Rama as one who gave life to moving and even non moving creatures by taking them to Vaikunta where he entered his abode in a grand form with his four glorious arms.

Kulasekara Azhvaar Lord Rama

Lullaby to Rama that is then followed by the lament of a forlorn father

Kulasekara Azhvaar praises Thiru Kannapuram as a town with fortified walls and the temple with a huge tank

Why hasn't my heart split into two? Dasaratha on being forced to banish his son to the forest

After a couple of decads on Krishna, his love for the Gopis and mother Devaki’s feelings of missing her son through the entire growth phase, Kulasekara Azhvaar dedicates the final three decads of the Perumal Thirumozhi entirely to his favourite Lord Rama.

While the 8th decad comprises of Lullaby to Rama, the 9th one is a lament by Dasaratha on how his old promise to Kaikeyi has come to haunt him at the most inappropriate time and how, as a father, he has had the misfortune of having to banish his beloved son to the forest on the eve of his coronation.

In the 8^th decad, he praises the Lord of Thiru Kannapuram while describing the different events in Rama’s life. He praises Thiru Kannapuram as a temple surrounded by huge fortified walls ingrained with gold and the sacred water being holier than the Ganges. He praises the place as one where Cauvery flowed in full speed. He describes the removal of weeds and the consequent blooming of lotus flowers in the huge tank. Kannapuram was a place where red lotus grew everywhere around the temple.

கன்னி நன் மா மதில் புடை சூழ் கணபுரத்து என் கருமணியே

களைகழுநீர் மருங்கு அலரும் கணபுரத்து கருமணியே 

Kannapuram as a Location

Early in the morning he found bees circling around the temple with a buzzing noise that seemed to be in melodious tunes. Kannapuram, he says, was a place where learned sages lived and one where elders resided.

Kannapuram is praised as a temple by the seashore where strong winds washed ashore jewels.

காலின்மணி கரை அலைக்கும் கணபுரத்து என் கருமணியே

Kulasekara Azhvaar praises the Lord of Kannapuram as one who is seen with fragrant flower garland in his crown.

The Greatness of Rama

Through the verses, he describes the greatness of Rama through the different events including the removal of the ten heads of Ravana, the king of Lanka in the South. It was his arrow that pounded the chest of Tadaka who did not give up till the end. 

He praises Rama’s handsome features and sees him as one with lovely locks.His greatness is then brought out through his clan. Rama is praised as the Son in Law of Janaka and as Dasarathi, the descendent of Emperor Dasaratha and as the consort of Mythili.

கொங்கு மலி கருங்குழாள் கௌசலைதன் குலமாதலாய்
தங்கு  பெரும் புகழ்ச்சனைகள் திருமருகா தாசரதீ

Leaving charge of the kingdom to his brother Baratha, who is praised as being the noblest, Rama entered the blazing forest unmindful of the heat along with his devoted brother.
பார் ஆளும் படர் செல்வம் பரத தம்பிக்கே அருளி 

ஆரா அன்பு இளையவனோடு அருங்கானம்  அடைந்தவனே 

He killed Vali and handed over the Vanara Kingdom to the younger brother Sugreeva. He describes beautifully in a verse the event of building a causeway with big boulders and rocks amidst high waves in the sea  

Description of Lanka

Lanka is praised as a city with high fortified walls alongside the huge sea. It had to be his special bow, incomparable in its features, that he destroyed the huge city.

He makes a comparison of Srirangam and Thiru Kannapuram.

Dasaratha’s moaning

Kulasekar Azhvaar dedicates an entire decad, the only such in the entire Nalayira Divya Prabhandham, to moaning of a desolate Dasaratha.

While the entire city of Ayodhya was awaiting the coronation and eagerly looking to see Rama as the king, Dasaratha laments that the step mother has ordered his dear son to the dangerous forest. ‘Listening to her, I have taken the kingdom away from you. It is a pity this I have done this.’

You were to lead the royal elephant of our kingdom. You were to drive the chariot and the horses. But the harsh words from my cruel tongue has driven you to the wild forest accompanied by your consort, who looked beautiful adorning the jewels.

Sita’s eyes are praised as being lovely and long and he compares the sharpness to a spear smeared with ghee. He asks as to how he would move along the thorny forest and tehn wonders as to what he could do now having sent him away.

Dasaratha then describes the physical features of Rama and his valour.

‘His eyes are beautiful and shoulders long and strong like a mountain. Calling himself a sinner, he says that his son who was to sleep on the soft bed in the palace has to now learn to lie down under a leafless tree with the rock as his bed in the cruel forest.

He describes Sita as one whose hair was decked afresh with flowers and whose beautiful shoulders shone like a bamboo.

Once again, he is reminded of his son and asks him to return at least for a while just for a glance.

He wails that it is his past sins that have damned him to such a state. As he visualizes this dear son straying away into the forest amidst the deadly wild elephants, Dasaratha wonders as to how his heart has not yet split into two.

How unfortunate would it be if in the forest where sharp stones under the heat of the blazing sun cut open the sole of Rama’s feet causing it to bleed? “You have to now bear the torturous heat that will cause severe hunger. Listening to the words of my wicked wife, I have turned a sinner but what can be done now. There is no remedy in place’.

My son may still be calling me father with his dear sweet voice but I am not able to hear it. No more will I be able to embrace his chest and be able to enjoy his gentle caress. His steps when he walked were like elephant’s majestic walk, his face like a blossomed lotus.

Dasaratha laments as to why he should still live having sent his Godly son away in a moment of thoughtlessness.

He calls out for Sumantra and Sage Vashista and cries out that his son should have been in silk robe but instead is likely to be in dabha grass. He adds that it was time for him to be decked with flowers, but he is now with matted plaits. Would not his body be losing its lustrous beauty.

He then poses a question to Kaikeyi. By sending out the learned Rama and the beautiful Sita and handing over the kingdom to Bharata will she not be bring infamy to him and by sending her husband to his death bed, has she gained anything. He taunts her saying that they can all enjoy the huge wealth of the land.

He describes the greatness of Rama by reminding one of the episodes relating to Parasurama. Despite possessing features that are rare and keeping aside all the greatness (of Rama) and not considering mother Kausalya’s painful afflictions, it has finally come down to my earlier promise to Kaikeyi. Nothing else is important now for the son to fulfill. He lauds the greatness of Rama and says that in all his future births he would desire a son like him.

Finally, he bids adieu to this life stating that having left Kausalya and Sumantra in a state of grief and having had to listen to kaikeyi who was unduly influenced by hunch back Mantra and meeting her unfair demands, ‘I made my son leave this city that was all set for festive celebrations.’

With this he says he cannot live anymore and is willingly taking his path to heaven.  

Thiruvenkatam Kulasekara Azhvaar

'Will let go opportunities to rule a Big Kingdom or be with Celestial Beauties to be born as a Crane or a Fish or be a small piece of stone in the huge Thiru Venkatam Hills'

After three decads of experiencing Lord Rangantha at Srirangam, a temple that is believed to provide Moksham to true devotees, Kulasekara Azhvaar moves to Thiru Venkatam and showers a very different kind of praise, not seen elsewhere in the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham.  He seems to indicate that he can even forego Moksham in this birth if he has the opportunity to be born again in Thiru Venkatam. And not just as a human being!!! He says he would even be born as a tiny little insect or a small piece of stone if an opportunity to have everlasting darshan of the handsome Lord at Thiru Venkatam were offered to him.

Kulasekara Azhvaar says that he is ready to forego the best of opportunities in this world to be next to the Lord in Thiru Venkatam.  Even the temptation of being alongside celestial beauties nor ruling the entire world will equal an offer to being near the Lord of Thiru Venkatam.  

Kulasekara Azhvaar says that he is ready to forego the possibility of a birth with all the fortunes possible in a life if he were to be blessed to be born even as a crane in Thiru Venkatam hills.

ஊனேறு செல்வத்து உடற்பிறவி யான் வேண்டேன்

ஆனேறேழ் வென்றான் அடிமைத் திறமல்லால்

கூனேறு சங்கமிடத்தான் தன் வேங்கடத்து

கோனேரி வாழும் குருகாய்ப் பிறப்பேனே

He has no desire to rule even if offered the entire heavens or the best of kingdom where he could be surrounded by celestial beauties such as Ramba. Instead if ever he is to be granted another life, he would prefer to be born in Thiru Venkatam hills even as a fish.

ஆனாத செல்வத்து அரம்பையர்கள் தற்சூழ

வானாளும் செல்வமும் மண்ணரசும் யான் வேண்டேன்

தேனார் பூஞ்சோலைத் திருவேங்கடச் சுனையில்

மீனாய்ப் பிறக்கும் விதியுடை யெனாவேனே

While Shiva, Brahmma, Indra and all the celestial beings are seeking an entry into Thiru Venkatam, Kulasekara Azhvaar hopes that he will be the blessed one to secure that opportunity to hold in a golden cup the spit from the Lord’s mouth. He says he is offering his sincere prayers to be allowed an entry into the Lord’s sanctum to offer service to him.

பின்னிட்ட சடையானும் பிரமனும் இந்திரனும்

துன்னிட்டுப் புகலரிய வைகுந்த நீள்வாசல்

மின்வட்டச் சுடராழி வேங்கடக்கோன் தானுமிழும்

பொன்வட்டில் பிடித்து உடனே புகபெறு வெனாவேனே

There are many beautiful things that one can aspire to be in this life and next. And one is normally lured towards only desirous opportunities. But Kulasekara Azhvaar says that he would feel blessed if he would be present again in Thiru Venkatam, where bees seem to be singing praise of the Lord, even as a Shenbagam tree. 

பண்பகரும் வண்டினங்கள் பண்பாடும் வேங்கடத்து

செண்பகமாய் நிற்கும் திருவுடை  யெனாவேனே

I will be a Pillar at Thiru Venkatam

There are those who will seek a vast kingdom and to sit in a majestic posture atop the huge elephant. That kind of a stature would be everyone’s envy. But Kulasekara Azhvaar says he has no such desires. Instead he says that he would be delighted to be born just as a pillar inside the Thiru Venkatam temple that will allow him to be able to see the Lord every day.

கம்ப மத யானைக் கழுத்தகத்தின் மேலிருந்து

 இன்பமரும் செல்வமும் இவ்வரசும் யான் வேண்டேன்

எம்பெருமான் ஈசன் எழில் வேங்கட மலை மேல்

தம்பகமாய் நிற்கும் தவமுடை யெனாவேனே

No Menaka or Urvasi for me, I want to be a small stone at Thiru Venkatam
Would anyone ever refuse an opportunity to be alongside beautiful dancers such as Urvasi and Menaka, who have the best of lean and slim waists, but he says he has no such desires to be around them. He does not want to be in their company. His only prayer is to be a very small piece in the huge Thiru Venkatam hills and to listen to the bees humming special tunes on the Lord.

மின்னனைய நுண்ணிடையார்  உருப்பசியும் மேனகையும்

அன்னவர் தம் பாடலொடும் ஆடலவை ஆதரியேன்

தென்னலென  வண்டினங்கள் பண்பாடும் வேங்கடத்துள்

அன்னனைய பொற்குவடாம் அருந்தவத் தெனாவேனே

If one were to be given an opportunity to sit majestically on a throne with all the luxuries of life as huge as the full moon, how delighted would he be!! But Kulasekara Azhvaar says that the does not seek such princely powers.  He says that he would consider truly blessed if he were to be born as a stream in the jungle of  Thiru Venkatam flowing through the huge groves down the hill.

வானாளும் மாமதி போல் வெண்குடைக்கீழ் மன்னவர்தம்

கோனாகி வீற்றிருந்து கொண்டாடும் செல்வறியேன்

தேனார் பூஞ்சோலைத் திருவேங்கடமலைமேல்

கானாறாய்ப் பாயும் கருத்துடை யெனாவேனே

Kulasekara Azhvaar says he wants to just be a staircase that devotees would use to have darshan of the Lord at Thiru Venkatam.

நெறியாய்க் கிடக்கும் நிலையுடை யெனாவேனே

And then he goes a step further. Devotees throng the temple to offer their service to the Lord. Celestials like Rambha too are standing by the side. Kulasekara Azhvaar says he is only seeking to be a door step from where he can look at his sweet lips every day.

அடியாரும் வானவரும் அரம்பையரும் கிடந்தியங்கும்

 படியாய்க் கிடந்து உன் பவள வாய் காண்பேனே

Kulasekara Azhvaar says he would refuse the opportunities even if he was offered the entire celestial world and the beautiful Uravasi for company for what he is seeking is a place in Thiru Venkatam hills even as a non living object. Nothing else would satisfy  him.

Kulasekara Azhvaar Srirangam

From his initial lavish praise of the residents of Srirangam, he now presents a decad as an Enlightened One  

He is now able to spot a few who are still after 'Material Pursuits' and throws an open offer to them to join him in his devotional journey

In the first two decads, Kulasekara Azhvaar presented his praise of the Lord and the people of Srirangam almost as a new entrant to the place.

In the third decad, he showers praise from a position of one who is well entrenched in the town and who now knows the Lord and the people very well.

In the 2^nd decad, he praised the people as being beyond compare and as those who were benchmark in devotion. He himself glossed over their devotion and wanted to be one among them.

(http://prtraveller.blogspot.in/2016/03/kulasekara-azhvaar-srirangam-residents.html)

As days passed by and he began to settle down in Srirangam, he has come to be taken over completely by Lord Ranganatha. He hits out at others who are seen enjoying a worldly life full of pleasures and says that he is not going down that route for he has received the enlightenment and experienced the Lord. He has now become crazy of the Lord.

மெய்யில் வாழ்க்கையை மெய்யெனக்கொல்லும்

இவ்வையந் தன்னொடும் கூடு வதில்லையான்

ஐய்யனே அரங்கா என்று அழைக்கின்றேன்

மையல் கொண்டொழிந்தேன் எந்தன் மாலுக்கே

There are those who are going after women with slim waists but his mind is on singing and dancing in praise of the Lord of Srirangam. No more can he mix with people who see only the material pleasures and the physical pleasures as the real world.

நூலினேரிடையார் திறத்தே நிற்கும்

ஞாலந்தன்னொடும் கூடுவதில்லை யான் 

He finds people running around for food and clothes but his CRAVING is only for the Lord. In this pursuit, he has let go the usual importance that one gives to clothes and such material aspects in life. He says that he cannot be with those whose thoughts are all the time on food and clothes. 

உண்டியே உடையே உகந்தோடும்

இம் மண்டலத்தொடும் கூடுவதில்லை யான்

Usually, the mind has a tendency to be unstable but he has gained control over it. He has come under the influence of Lord Ranganatha and that has brought forth a clarity that had previously been missing in his life. he simply cannot ignore the virtuous path. Hence he says that he cannot mix with ‘anyone just for anything’. He cannot mix with non devotees.

எத்திறத்திலும் யாரொடும் கூடும்

அச் சித்தந்தன்னைத் தவிர்த்தனன் செங்கண்மால்

அத்தனே அரங்கா என்று அழைக்கின்றேன்

பித்தனா யோழிந்தேன் எம்பிரானுக்கே

Who is MAD - The Devoted Soul or the MATERIALIST?

The world finds him mad with the new decision he has taken to let go everything and to be with the Lord but he says that it is they who are mad. He has found a new life of happiness being in the Lord’s company. He turns to those who are accusing him and points out to them that it is they who continuing to go after worldly pleasures who are insane.

It may be true that a lot of the people would find his new way of life quite a boring one. He asks as to what is the point of getting into a discussion with such people.

பேயரே எனக்கு யாவரும் யானும்

ஓர் பேயனே எவர்க்கும் இது பேசியென்

ஆயனே அரங்க என்று அழைக்கின்றேன்

பேயனே யொழிந்தென் எம்பிரானுக்கே

Don't Succumb to Worldly Pleasures

He throws an open offer to the residents of Srirangam to join him in experiencing the Lord and asks them not fall a prey to Kama’s lure even though they may find beautiful people around that may lure them down the tempting path.

மாரனார் வரிவெஞ்சிலைக்கு ஆட்செய்யும்

பாரினாரொடும் கூடுவதில்லை யான்

He says he cannot any more mingle with those people who are not different like him. Neither does he want to reach the level of a Celestial being.

எம்பரத்தர் அல்லாரொடும் கூடலன்

உம்பர் வாழ்வை ஒன்றாகக் கருதிலன்

He has begun to love the Lord of Srirangam. And he has now got a feeling that the Lord too has taken a special liking for him.