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Re: tondar-adi-podi azhwAr

From the Bhakti List Archives

TV.Venkat • August 2, 1998 


                         Srimathe Narayanaya Namaha

     I would like to add a few words about the Azhwar, to the on going
     discussions.

     There is a saying that when some Sri Vaishnavas, from Thirupathi, on
     hearing the wonderful paasuram Thirumalai, came down to Srirangam to
     meet the Azhwar. They requested him to sing about Thiruvengadamudaiyan
     but the Azhwar refused saying that, " Aranganai paadiya vaayaal,
     Kuranganai paadamaataen".

     This only shows that how attached the Azhwar is to Ranganathar. He
     went to the extent of addressing Thiruvengadamudaiyan as "Kurangan"
     (referring to the monkeys in Thirupathi).

     I don't know whether this saying is popular, but I have heard this and
     also remembered to have studied in some book.

     When the Azhwar, refused to sing even about another Swaroopam of
     Sriman Narayanan other than Ranganathar, there is no wonder why he
     said that he will cut-off the heads on those who abuse Him.

     Finally, another saying is that, when there was a debate as to which
     Divya Desam should have the No. 1 status between the Vaishnavites of
     Srirangam and Thirupathi, it is understood that Srirangam won the
     debate on the basis that all the Azhwars have sung in praise of this
     Divya Desam, however Thondaradippodi Azhwar did not sing about
     Thirupathi and hence it got the second importance, for which the
     Vaishnavites of Thirupathi out of frustration claimed that " Sozhiyan
     keduthadhanaal than indha nilai". i.e., just because of this Azhwar
     who belongs to the Sozhiya Brahmanan lineage we have got the second
     place.

     This also clearly highlights the love this Azhwar had for Ranganathar.

     adiyEn RAmAnuja dAsan,

     Thirumalai Vinjamoor Venkatesh