GITA 10.15

GITA 10.15

Tirumangai Alwar has composed poems on 86 Divyadesams. Swami Ramanuja, an ardent devotee of the Alwar desired to visit Kshetrams. Tirumangai Alwar had visited even difficult-to-reach kshetrams also, on his horse Adalma [ஆடல்மா]. Following him, Swami Ramanuja also visited many Kshetrams. We have come to Thalaichankadu. Here both Moolavar and Utsavar are gracing in standing pose.

MOOLAVAR SANNIDHI

SRI THALAIcHANGA PERUMAL 

 Moolavar is called Sri Nanmadhiya Perumal. As told earlier the reason for this name is that like the Moon showering coolness daily, the Lord does to His devotees. Moolavar is in standing pose with one arm in Abhaya mudra and the other is Kati hastha. Besides He is also holding the discus and conch. Utsavar is having Abhaya hastham and the firmly pressed feet indicate that He is common to all. We worship the Lord with discus and conch and accompanied by the Twin Consorts.

SRI UTSAVAR

 We also worship Sri Senkamalavalli Nachiar seated nearby.

WITH SRI SENGKAMALAVALLI THAYAR

 Utsavar is called Sri Ven Sudar Perumal [ஸ்ரீ வெண்சுடர் பெருமாள்]. Sri Thayar is called Sri Nanmadhiya Thayar. They are gracing to cool off our samsaram heat. The Moon got his curse resolved. Being near Kaviripoom Pattinam, conch business was flourishing. The Lord here also graces in the form of a Conch. Conch is considered as a form of Pranavam [AUM- ஓம்]. Tirumangai Alwar has praised this Kshetram in his Periya Thirumozhi 8-9-9 pasuram [kannaar kannapuram..கண்ணார் கண்ணபுரம்..]. This pasuram comes in the 100 pasurams sung in praise of Tirukkannapuram [திருக்கண்ணபுரம் ] Kshetram. It is a habit of the Alwar while composing poems on one Kshetram, suddenly he would remember another Kshetram's Lord - that place could be very far off - and continue the pasuram with the name of that Kshetram. Sometimes in the same pasuram, he would mention Four or Five Kshetrams also. Here also in this pasuram he mentions Tirukkannapuram, Kadigai [Sholinghur] and Thalaichanga Nanmadhiyam. He praises the Lord as being worshipped by Heavenly persons with flowers. He says like the rising Sun, He graces them with Moon's coolness. We may think there is contradiction in this description. What he means is like the Sun's rays, the Lord's fame is spread far and wide. Sun's heat is not mentioned here. Like the Nityasuris happily enjoying the grace of the Lord, in Vaikuntam, the Alwar wants to worship the Lord here always. Arjuna also praises the Lord similarly.

 We will see sloka 15:

svayam evatmanatmanam
vettha tvam purushottama
bhuta-bhavana bhutesa
deva-deva jagat-pate

"Indeed, You alone know Yourself by Your own internal potency, O Supreme Person, origin of all, Lord of all beings, God of gods, Lord of the universe!"

Arjuna uses many epithets in praise of the Lord. Alwar says that there is no limit or boundary for the fame of the Lord. Even though His greatness is being praised by many like the Alwars, Devas, lord Brahma, Upanishads, etc., they may be approaching Him, yet He is away and the epithets can not touch Him. None can say that they have completed the praise of Him. He is beyond the words and imagination of any. Upanishads say: yato vacho nivartante, aprapya manasacha:.This is what Arjuna told earlier that neither the Devas nor the Dhanavas know His greatness. Does it mean that such a Person does not exist or He does not have any great qualities? Arjuna negates that thinking, and says only He knows His greatness. Purushotthama = greatest among everyone, He is greater than us, Muktas and Nityas. Swayameva =You Yourself [Sri Krishna Himself] by Your [Sri Krishna's] knowledge, atman atmanam = Self-glory, vettha = understand. The Lord's glory is understood only by Himself with His knowledge. Others are incapable. Other than His Own knowledge nothing else has the power to grasp. Because, His fame is infinity while any of us have limitations. Bhuta bhavana = Source for all living beings; lord Brahma, lord Rudra, Indra and everyone originate from the Lord. Upanishads say that during the Maha Pralayam, Sriman Narayana alone was there. Bhutesa = Commander or Ruler of all created. Isa means controller or commander or ruler. Deva deva = Deva for Devas. Compared to us, Devas are superior in knowledge, longevity, beauty and happiness. But the Lord is much superior even to Devas, in every aspect. Just as we can not measure the greatness of Devas, Devas can never understand the greatness of the Lord. Jagat pate = Leader of Universe. Here pati means Proprietor or Swami, owning the entire Universe. Praising like this Chandra also got his curse resolved. 

                                                                                                       (continued)