GITA 9.27

GITA 9.27

MaaRan paNittha Tamizh maRaikku MangayarkkOn

 aaRangam kooRa avatharittha --veeRudaya

Kaarthikayil Kaarthikai NaaLL inRu yenRu kaathalippar

 Vaaittha malar ThaaLkaL nenjE ! Vaazhtthu.

This verse praising Tirumangai Alwar in Upadesa Ratnamalai by vishatavak sikhamani Swami Manavala Mamunigal. Nammalwar gave us Tiruviruttam, Tiruvasiriyam, Tiruvaimozhi and Periya Tiruvandadi, considered to be equivalent in Tamil for the Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atarvana Vedas, respectively. Vedas have Six angas called Vedangam viz.  Siksha, Vyakaranam, Chandas, Niruktam, Jyotisham and Kalpam. Equivalent to these Six Vedangams, Tirumangai Alwar has composed Six Prabhandams in Tamil namely: Periya Tirumozhi (பெரிய திருமொழி ), Tirukkuruntandagam (திருக்குறுந்தாண்டகம் ), Tiruvezhukootrirukkai (திருவெழுகூற்றிருக்கை ), Siriya Tirumadal (சிறிய திருமடல் ), Periya Tirumadal (பெரிய திருமடல் ) and Tiruneduntandagam (திருநெடுந்தாண்டகம் ). 

We are at the sannidhi of Thayar Sri Amruthavalli Nachiyar.

SRI AMRUTHAVALLI THAYAR

 Though Tirumangai Alwar was not a bhakta right from his birth, he was transformed by the grace of Sri Amruthavalli Thayar and that is no exaggeration. We may recollect that Sri Thayar here was born to Poorana Maharishi, in Tiruvali. She was born in Tiruvali and came as a bride in Tirunagari. The Moolavar Perumal here is Sri Vedarajan and Sri Utsavar is Sri Vayalali Maindhan (ஸ்ரீ வயலாலி மைந்தன்). The Divine marriage took place between Sri Amrutavalli Thayar and Sri Vayallali Maindhan in Tiruvali. This is celebrated as Kalyanotsavam in Tiruvali, during the Eighth day of the Brahmotsavam being celebrated in Panguni (March-April). From that day, the Lord is called Sri Vayalali Manavalan (ஸ்ரீ வயலாலி மணவாளன்). After marriage, when the Divine Couple was returning, Tirumangai Alwar intercepted Them as a robber. That was the time he worshipped first the Divine Couple and got the initiation into Tirumantram. Only thereafter, he started composing the Six Prabhandams. Till then he was known as Neelan (நீலன்) and Kaliyan (கலியன்). After the initiation only he became Tirumangai Alwar. Vimanam is Ashtakshara vimanam. The Alwar had Pancha Samskaram from Tirunaraiyur Nambi and got the full interpretation of Ashtaksharam from Sri Sowriraja Perumal of Tirukkannapuram.  

The place is surrounded by trees and flowers. When we see them, we should get the feeling to offer them to the Lord. And, in return we should not ask for anything, but offer more, for accepting our humble offer! 

This attitude is reflecte id his pauram "kallaar thuhayum....(கள்ளார் துழாயும் -Periya Tirumozhi, 11.7.6). He says that whenever we see different flowers, our mind should immediately think of offering them at the Divine Feet of the Lord. A mind not thinking so, is not a mind, Alwar says! When we think of offering, we might assume that the Lord would expect us to offer only very valuable floers with fragrance. We might assume that we should offer only very precious things to Him. Because He is so Great, we might think. In response to this, the Lord replies in  Sloka 26 to Arjuna. The Lord's intention is fully reflected in the Alwar's Pasuram also. It is very easy and simple to worship the Lord. 

In the previous slokas the Lord told Who He was and how people worship Him. He said that He fulfilled the desires of the devotees according to their intention and attitudes. He was the ultimate Bhokta in all Yagnas. Arjuna got a doubt. Was it necessary to perform expensive Yagnas to worship the Lord? This may detract poor people. So, the Lord says that He is never in need of anything to be offered by the devotees. He only sees the intention and attitude and never at what is offered. He says He is very easy to be pleased and worshipped. Being the Owner of everything in this World, He only examines the mind of the devotee. That is all. This is what He tells in sloka 26, which we will see today (14th July, 2008):

patram puspam phalam toyam
yo me bhaktya prayacchati
tad aham bhakty-upahrtam
asnami prayatatmanah

"If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it."

Offer anything you have, patram= an ordinary leaf, pushpam = any ordinary flower, phalam = any ordinary fruit, (or) thoyam = plain water. Offer these in vessels or in mere palms, He will accept them. yo= anyone (devotee), me = to Me (Sri Krishna), Bhaktya = with Bhakti, prayacchati = lovingly offers. The Lord implies that He will not accept even very expensive things offered with indifference and with no love. Prayatatmana: = the devotees' pure mind, bhakty-upahrtam = offered with love and devotion, tad = that, aham asnami = I (Sri Krishna) accept with great love. The Lord tells Arjuna that when a devotee offers anything with a pure and devoted mind, He accepts them with much more affection and love. So, it is not at all difficult to worship the Lord. When we want to worship and offer Him, we should do without struggling to find time, place or materials. Whatever we can afford to, should be offered. Very important is our mind and our devotion. This is waht the Lord looks at. This theme is reflected in Alwars' pasurams also. We should also note that the Lord is not particular that only certain people could worship Him, and He clearly says that 'anyone' could offer and worship Him. Bhakti in pure mind is all necessary. Pure mind means, the devotee should not expect anything in return, but only devotion to Him. Our devotion should not be a commercial transaction! We should offer what He does not have, and that is our blemishless Bhakti! 

                                                                                                         (continued)