GITA 11.20

GITA 11.20

Poigai Alwar was the First among Alwars to have appeared in this World. He was born in Dwapara yug, in the month of Aippasi [ஐப்பசி], in star Tiruvonam [திருவோணம்] in a lotus flower pond in Tiruvekkha in Kanchi, as the incarnation of Panchajanya, the Conch held by the Lord. The pond is called poigai [பொய்கை] in Tamil. When we take bath in a pond by immersing, heat in the body is reduced and we feel cool. Similarly, if we immerse ourselves in Brahmam [thoughts on the Lord], our heat created by samsara is reduced. This Alwar is like a poigai, in which if we get immersed in his pasurams, our miseries will be reduced. Today's [ 23rd October 2008] lecture is from his sannidhi on the shore of a pond. We can worship the pond where the Alwar was born and remember that he was the starting point for all the pasurams in Nalayira Divya Prabhandam.

THE POND

ALWAR'S BIRTHPLACE

 TABLET DESCRIBING ALWAR BIRTH DETAILS AND PASURAMS

The aippasi month is sacred says Swami Manavala Mamunigal. In this month only the Three Alwars - Poigai, Bhootham and Pei - were born respectively, in the stars Thiruvonam, Avittam and Sadhayam, consecutively. Tiruvarangathamudhanar [திருவரங்கத்து அமுதனார்], the author of Ramanuja Nootrandhadi [இராமானுச நூற்றந்தாதி] of Nalayira Divya Prabhandam, says Poigai Alwar was like a lamp, clearing all darkness in the World.

POIGAI ALWAR

 He knew Vedas and Tamil pasurams very well. It was like lighting the lamp with two wicks, thereby the illumination also gets doubled. He composed Mudhal Tiruvandhadi [முதல் திருவந்தாதி]. This Kshetram has been praised by Poigai Alwar, Peialwar, Tirumazhisai Alwar, Tirumangai Alwar and Nammalwar. Perhaps, since this place is considered as a Sethu, all the Alwars have praised this Kshetram in the middle of other Kshetrams.

 Now we will see sloka 19:

anadi-madhyantam ananta-viryam
ananta-bahum sasi-surya-netram
pasyami tvam dipta-hutasa-vaktram
sva-tejasa vishvam idam tapantam

"You are without origin, middle or end. Your glory is unlimited. You have numberless arms, and the sun and moon are Your eyes. I see You with blazing fire coming forth from Your mouth, burning this entire universe by Your own radiance."

Pasyami = [I, Arjuna] am seeing, tvam = You [Sri Krishna], dipta-hutasa-vaktram = with brightly burning fire like mouth. Anadi-madhyanantam = without beginning, middle and end. Arjuna admires at the Image of the Lord and says it has no beginning or middle or end. Ananta-viryam = endless Six qualities of Bhagavan, namely, Gyana (knowledge), Bala (strength), Aiswarya (wealth), Veerya (bravery), Shakti (power) and Tejas (brightness), ananta-bahu = infinite shoulders or hands, sasi = Moon, surya = Sun, netram = eyes. Sva = Self [Sri Krishna's], tejasa = brightness, idam vishvam = this Universe, tapantam = is won over. Though tapantam means burns, here we should interpret it as to mean winning the Universe with His tejas. The Lord does not have beginning, middle or end, the Lord is always present. He has no birth or death or even growth. But here since Arjuna was seeing the Viswaroopam, he talks about the image of the Lord. Viryam denotes the Six qualities: Gyana - knowing everything at all times, bala - strength to support entire Universe on His body, aiswaryam - everything and everyone under His command, veeryam - at no time He is subjected to any change, shakti - power to defeat anyone at any time and tejas - brilliance to captivate anyone. 'Bhaga' means these Six qualities and 'Bhagavan' means He, Who possesses these Six qualities. Sasi surya netram means possessing eyes like the Moon and the Sun; which means eyes showering cool mercy like Moon and burning like Sun. If we approach Him with devotion like Prahalada or Vibheeshana, His eyes shower kindness; but, approaching Him like Ravana or Kumbakarna, His eyes emit anger and burn like the hot Sun. Arjuna says he was seeing a burning fire like mouth. Upanishads say that He has the entire Universe as food, during pralaya. But the Universe entering this burning mouth is not burnt to ashes, but carefully stored in the Stomach and let out again during creation. With His Tejas or brightness, He captivates the Universe or illuminates the Universe. Arjuna sees whatever he heard in Vedas. Like Arjuna, Poigai Alwar also saw the Lord in Tirukovalur and praised. 

                                                                                                  (continued)