GITA 10.31

GITA 10.31

sarvopanishado gavo, dogdha gopala-nandanah
partho vatsah su-dhir bhokta, dugdham gitamritam mahat

We understand that Bhagavad Gita of 700 verses, delivered by Sri Krishna, as the chariot driver of Arjuna, is the remedy for our samsaram or worldly life. Sri Parthasarathy, that is Sri Krishna, lived long back and preached Gita. But if we want to worship Him as seated in the Chariot driver's seat, then we have to come to Tiruchithirakoodam.

SRI DEVADI DEVA

 The Lord here is in seated pose and has another name Sri Devadi Deva [ஸ்ரீ தேவாதி தேவன்]. When Sri Krishna preached Gita, He was above Sixty years old. But here, the Lord, as Sri Parthasarathy, is in a smaller form. The Moolavar is larger and has been praised by Tirumangai Alwar as the toddler swallowing butter, and is called Sri Govinda. He is no different from Sri Venkatesa of Tirumala.

 To prove this, just as He is gracing with Four arms and standing at Tirumala, here the Lord appears with Four arms and is reclining. Carrying discus and conch in reclining pose is somewhat a surprise. Just as Seven hills are in Thirumala, here Seven hoods of Adisesha are there. In appearance also, one can see the similarity between the Two. Lord Brahma at the navel and the Twin Consorts at the feet, the Lord is in Bhoga sayanam [enjoying sleep]. He will keep all the devotees also enjoying. Utsavar Sri Parthasarathy is seated and the right arm is in Abhaya mudra and tells 'masucha:' [don't worry]. The left hand is holding the reins of the horses. Our organs are like unreined horses trying to flee in all directions. But if we worship the Lord with all senses devoted to Him, He reins in and controls our organs and leads them in proper directions. Alwar has praised this Lord as Sri Devadi Deva. He is same as Sri Govinda, same as Sri Narayana in Vaikuntam and same as Sri Krishna to be born amongst us. Next, we see the Utsavar Sri Chithirakoodathu Ullan [ஸ்ரீ சித்திரக் கூடத்துள்ளான்], the name given by Tirumangai Alwar.

SRI CHITHIRAKKOODATHU ULLAN

 He is accompanied by Sri Sridevi and Sri Bhudevi. Sri Parthasarathy is accompanied by Sri Rukmini and Sri Satyabama. Sri Andal. Who praised the Lord in Her Thiruppavai, is also there. Kalinga was ruled by a King, who had no child. The King with his wife prayed to the Lord here. The Lord blessed them with a son Kaveran and a daughter Kaveri. Pallava King Nandi Varma had donated lots of ornaments to the Lord here. This has been indicated by Tirumangai Alwar.

 After mentioning Four groups in sloka 30, the Lord mentions another set of four groups:

pavanah pavatam asmi
ramah shastra-bhrtam aham
jhasanam makaras casmi
srotasam asmi jahnavi

"Of purifiers, I am the wind, of the wielders of weapons, I am Rama, of fishes, I am the shark, and of flowing rivers, I am the Ganges."

Pavatam = among the circulating, asmi = I [Sri Krishna] am, pavana = wind. Shastra-bhrtam = among the weapon holding [persons], rama = Sri Rama. Jhasanam = among aquatic animals, makaram = Makara [vehicle of Varuna]. Srotasam = among running water, jahnavi = [river] Ganges. Wind is never stagnant at one place and it always is in circulation. Lord Vayu, god of Wind is strongest. Vayavyam, a yagna performed to please lord Vayu, would get wealth. Hanuman is considered as the son of lord Vayu. Circulation of air is essential for our living. When the Lord is telling He is Sri Rama, among those wielding weapons, we may get a doubt whether Sri Krishna is an avatar of Sri Rama and not of Sriman Narayana. But we have to note that the Lord speaks of the quality of handling weapons. So, the Lord is the weapon handling quality of Sri Rama. This is the same as when He mentioned He is Vishnu among Adityas. Or, like He is Sama Veda among Vedas. In all these contexts He is mentioning the quality. Both Sri Rama and Sri Krishna are avatars of Sriman Narayana and that is how Alwars have praised also. River Ganges has many names like Ganga, Jhanavi, Bhagirathi, Alaknanda, etc. 

                                                                                                       (continued)