GITA 10.14

GITA 10.14

TIRU THALAICHANGADU NANMADHIYAM TEMPLE

We are in a very ancient Kshetram, which is near Poompuhar or Kaveripoom Pattinam. We are uncomfortable in Sun's heat. To compensate for this is the Moon, known in Tamil as madhi [மதி] . The sight of Moon in the night removes our day long tiredness. Madhi also means knowledge. Knowledge and mind activity are connected with the Moon. Moon is said to have originated from the mind of the Lord. Though the Moon relieves our heat, once the Moon also suffered the heat of a curse and it was relieved by the Lord Sri Chandra sapa vimochana Perumal in Thalaichanga Nan Madhiyam Kshetram [தலைச் சங்க நாண மதியம்]. This place is popularly known as Thalaichangadu [தலைச் சங்காடு ], but named as Thalaichanga Nanmadhiyam. On the way to Poompuhar, we come across Thalaichangadu. To the west of this place, in about a Kilometre distance, this temple is situated. It is surrounded by coconut trees, banana trees and rice fields. Since this temple is slightly off the main route, very few pilgrims arrive here and the Lord is patiently waiting to bless the devotees, as He blessed Chandra, the Moon. The Lord is in standing pose. Thalai + ch[or s]angam + kadu = thalaichangadu. Sangam means either conch or an assembly of people. In olden days. people of Tamilnadu used to come in groups to have a bath in Poompuhar. This practice was there in Sangam times also. So, there used to be a sale of conches in this place. Since this was the foremost place for commercial transactions for conches, it was the thalai or head of such centres. Therefore, Thalaichankadu means the place surrounded by forests and which was the foremost in conch business. Another interpretation is that in Poompuhar, river Kaveri joins the ocean. In Tamil, such a place is called thalai and so this place could have got its name. The Lord in this temple is called Sri Nanmadhiya Perumal. Naal [நாள் ] + madhi [மதி ] = nanmadhi, or daily sighted Moon. Since the Lord removed the curse of the Moon, He is called Sri Nanmadjyam Perumal. He also provides the coolness of the Moon daily and so the Lord is Sri Nanmadhiyam Perumal. Combining all this, Kshetram is known as Thalaichanga Nanmadhiyam. Tirumangai Alwar has composed 10 pasurams on this Kshetram (Periya Tirumozhi- 8.9). Temple is in a dilapidated condition and could be due to very few pilgrims visiting. But we should judge whether we need to look at the cooling of our samsaram heat by visiting this temple or consider the small inconvenience in reaching this temple. Just like the request made at Parthanpalli, from where this temple is half an hour journey, it is a personal request, that all should make it a point to visit this place also.

SRI NANMADHIYA PERUMAL 

We will now proceed to sloka 14:

sarvam etad rtam manye
yan mam vadasi keshava
na hi te bhagavan vyaktim
vidur deva na danavah

"O! Krishna, I totally accept as truth all that You have told me. Neither the demigods nor the demons, O Lord, can understand Your personality."

Arjuna continues to praise the Lord. The Lord had told so much about His greatness. Especially, in this Chapter, in the beginning, the Lord told about His property and His abundant auspicious qualities. Arjuna says that he believed all those are true. Arjuna says that His greatness is so much that neither the Devas nor the Danavas like Rakshasas, kinnaras, Yakshas. etc., are able to completely describe them. Here, Chandra incurred the curse of Guru. Chandra had married the 27 daughters or 27 stars of Guru. But Chandra was showing his affection to Rohini alone and neglected others. They all went and complained to their father, who cursed Moon, to wax and wane. Moon prayed the Lord at various places like at Sri Rangam in Chandra pushkarini, at Tiruvindhalur in Indu pushkarini and then here. After bathing in Chandra pushkarini the moon prayed to the Lord, Who removed his curse. Even such a deva, like Chandra, would find it difficult to completely tell the greatness of the Lord. Na deva = neither Devas or heavenly residents, danava = Yakshas and Rakshasas, vidu = know [the greatness of the Lord]. Keshava = The Lord, mam = to me [Arjuna], et vadasi = what was told [about the Lord's auspicious qualities and His wealth and property], sarvam = all those [entirely], rtam = [are] true, manye = [so Arjuna] believe[s]. Why should he say like this? The Lord does not need to divert Arjuna nor does He need to publicise His greatness. The Lord does not need any favour from Arjuna. In fact, in the beginning, Arjuna requested the Lord to do him good and preach the right thing. Upanishads say that the Lord in Vaikuntam does not derive pleasure in being alone. He desires all to join Him. In that effort, He takes avatars and preaches. His desire is that all should get redeemed from this samsaram and reach Him. Other than this He is not expecting anything else from any of us. Therefore, we can not find fault in this noble efforts of the Lord. Shastras say that in Vaikuntam, the Lord does not speak to any nor cares for any. It means that He needs no favour from anyone by their presence in Vaikuntam. Normally, if someone talks to us, mostly it would be for some favour. If that Lord speaks for hours to Arjuna, what does it mean? It is only for the benefit of Arjuna [and us]. Arjuna addresses the Lord as Keshava. It is Ka +Isha +va. Ka means lord Brahma and Isha means lord Shiva. Lord Shiva says Brahma and Shiva are commanded by the Lord [va means to command]. Bhagavan = [Arjuna addresses the Lord as] Bhagavan, which means the Lord has the Six qualities of gyana, bala, aiswarya, veera, shakti and tejas. Te = about You [Sri Krishna], vyaktim = to describe, na = never, vidu = know. All the created jeevatman can never describe the Lord fully, be they Devas or Danavas. Sage Parashara says that if we want to praise someone, we have to describe qualities he did not have, and get a favour. In the case of the Lord, we do not know what qualities He does not possess nor we know all His qualities possessed. His qualities could be told only by Him and that is what He did and Arjuna listened to them.

                                                                                                        (continued)