Venkatanathanum Thiruvenkadamudayanum - part 2

Continued From : http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2015/09/venkatanathanum-thiruvenkadamudayanum.html

kaNNan adiyiNai emakku kaattum veRpu *

kaduvinaiyar iruvinaiyum kadiyum veRpu *

thiNNamidhu veedenna thihazhum veRpu *

theLindha perum theerththangaL seRindha veRpu *

puNNiyaththin puhal idhena pugazhum veRpu *

ponnulahil bOgamellaam puNarkkum veRpu *

viNNavarum maNNavarum virumbum veRpu *

vEnkata veRpena viLangum vEdha veRpE.

 Swami Desikan’s Tribute To Pei Azhwar and Thirumahizai Piran

In the above pasuram on Tiruvenkatam, Swami eulogizes the holy hills as the divine mountain which reveals to us the thiruvadi of Lord Srinivasa. The word ‘verpu” means mountain in the Tamil language. Although the most commonly used word for mountain in Tamil is “Kunram”, Swami Desikan has purposefully used the word “verpu”.

Swami Desikan was inspired by Sri Pei Azhwar who used this very word in moondram thiruvandhadhi. Azhwar held a special place in Swami Desikan’s heart. The following pasuram is dedicated by Swami Desikan to Mudhal Azhwars. In this pasuram, he addresses Sri Poigai Azhwar as “punitha” ; “the one who is pure”, Sri Bhutat Azhwar as “vende” meaning “the emperor” but, he specifically refers to Sri Pei Azhwar as “Deve” meaning “divine being”.

 

Pei Azhwar captured the heart of Swami Desikan because, he was the first Azhwar to sing in Nayika Bhavam in the 69^th pasuram of moondram thiruvandhadhi. He set the trend for the other Azhwars to sing in Nayika Bhavam.

 

In the above pasuram, Azhwar sings as the Nayaki’s mother who comments that, the moment her daughter hears someone utter the word “mountain”, she immediately starts to sing the praise of Tiruvenkatam. Thirumahizai Piran, the disciple of Sri Pei Azhwar, also used the word “verpu” in the 40^th pasuram of Naanmugan thiruvandhadhi while singing about the glories of Tiruvenkatam.

 

Thus, inspired by both Pei Azhwar and Thirumazhisai Azhwar, Swami Vedanta Desikan has also used the word “verpu” in his pasuram on Tiruvenkatam. By using this particular word, Swami Desikan has made us to recall the Vaibhavam of Sri Pei Azhwar and Sri Thirumahizai Piran.

To Be Continued

Continued On:

 

 

Venkatanathanum Thiruvenkadamudayanum - Part 1

Introduction

The holy hills of Tirumala have been eulogized in the Vedas as the divine hills capable of burning our sins. The hills are sacred because, Perumal Himself is considered to be the Tiruvenkatam hills. Thirumoolar in his padigam, “Venkadanathanai -Vedantha koothanai” acknowledges the fact that, Perumal Himself is the holy hills of Tirumala as well as the great acharyan Swami Vedanta Desikan who playfully taught Vedanta to even the common people. Swami Vedanta Desikan named as Venkatanathan by his parents, is the incarnation of the divine bell “ganta” of Lord Srinivasa of Tirumala. It is impossible to not think about Swami Vedanta Desikan while focusing our mind on Lord Srinivasa and vice versa as, they are but one and the same. 

Swami Desikar kannan kolam - Thiruvaheendrapuram

Swami Desikan has written many Sri Sukthis and prabandhams in both Sanskrit and Tamil. Each word composed by swami Desikan when analyzed, yield a variety of meaning which help us to understand our SrI Vaishnava philosophy with great ease. Not only are the Sri Sukthis rich with philosophical explanations but, the beauty of the composition focused on the description of the auspicious qualities of the lord, makes them enjoyable. In this essay, we will analyze just one line from a pasuram composed by Swami Desikan in order to see how Swami Desikan experienced Dasavataram of Lord Narayanan in Tiruvenkatam. 

To Be Continued

Continued On: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2015/09/venkatanathanum-thiruvenkadamudayanum_19.html