PeriyAzhwAr Thirumozhi 3.5- Govardhana kunRu kudaiyaay yedutthAy guNam pORRi..

From the Bhakti List Archives

• January 27, 2003


SrI:
SrImathE Ramanujaya namah:
Dearest Srivaishnavas,

[Let us continue with our PeriyAzhwArÂ’s nectarine pAsurams after the 
Anandhyayana period is completed on Jan 24th- Thai Hastham- KooratthAzhwAn 
Thirunaksharam. Please do continue to bless and encourage adiyEnÂ’s daring 
efforts to translate with all my limitations.]Govardhana mountain lifting 
incident is one of the grandest deeds of KaNNan in Gokulam. Thinking about 
it- will make us more and more be awestruck with the effortless lifting of 
huge Govardhana mountain for seven days at a stretch by this kuttan- and 
with his little fingerÂ’s tip. Holding the massive mountain upside down- 
thereby protecting even the animals, plants on the mountain during the 
torrential downpour.

When cowherd folks were doing dEvathAnthara bhajanam (worship) to 
DevEndharan, this happened. This is not like other acts where an asurA was 
killed. Here is an act which tamed DevendranÂ’s pride and arrogance. This 
destroyed DevendraÂ’s asura swabAvam. When angered Indran sent heaviest 
downpour for seven days on cowherd folks (when those cowherd group stopped 
Devendra puja and did it on KaNNan as per His instructions), KaNNan 
protected the cattle, cowherd people from the rains. kunRu kudiyaay 
yedutthAy guNam pORRi. The entire group, the cattle were staying underneath 
comfortably without any doubt or fear that the mountain will fall from the 
little finger. PeriyAzhwAr now enjoys this Govardhana giri incident in this 
ten.

attukkuvisORRupparuppadhamum
	thayirvaaviyumn^eyyaLaRum_adangap
pottaththuRRi maarippakaipuNarththa
	porumaakadalvaNNanpoRuththamalai
vattaththadangaNmadamaan_kanRinai
	valaivaayppaRRikkoNdu kuRamakaLir
kottaiththalaippaalkoduththuvaLarkkum
	gOvarththanamennumkoRRakkudaiyE.

1.	KaNNan- who ate hurriedly and to his heart content the cooked rice 
mountains, the streams of curds and ghee (offered in the Puja); who brought 
the torrential rains (through angry Indran); who is like a huge ocean (of 
mercy); and his mountain (that he lifted and held up) has housed the tribal 
women feeding milk to baby deer with the cotton tip (as a feeding nipple). 
Such greatest victorious mountain is this Govardhanam.

Like the huge rocks, mountains, mud are all hidden underneath the ocean, 
KaNNan (who is like an ocean) consumed the rice, ghee, curd etc.. and 
appeared as if he had eaten nothing. When he could eat the whole universe 
with everything in its place, this is nothing.

The tribal gypsy women – got the milk from the cowherd folks and fed to 
their pet baby deer. They could have used leaf to feed like the calves are 
fed. But the deer is too young to drink; hence they made sort of nipple 
using the cotton and the tip was soaked into the milk. This Govardhanam is 
victorious because it protected the cattle and cowherd folks and conquered 
Devendran. Hence koRRam- Jayam.

vazhuvonRumilaachcheykai vaanavar_kOn
	valippattumunindhuvidukkappattu
mazhaivandhu_ezhun^aaLpeydhumaaththaduppa
	madhusoodhan_eduththumaRiththamalai
izhavuthariyaadhadhOreeRRuppidi
	iLancheeyamthodarndhumudukudhalum
kuzhaviyidaikkaalittedhirndhuporum
	gOvarththanamennumkoRRakkudaiyE.

2.	Devendran- one who did no acts of blemishes- and became Devendran; 
(thought he) has become stronger and angered on KaNNan and sent the huge 
rain laden clouds in a row (one after another) and rained heavily for seven 
days continuously; - KaNNan (EmperumAn- MadhusUdhan) lifted and held the 
mountain upside down (maRittha malai). This victorious mountain has housed a 
strong female elephant (which has just given birth to little one and which 
can not bear to pain of losing the same) has fought and conquered the lion 
that tried to attack from behind; thus protecting the little infant elephant 
between its four legs.

Thus this mountain grooms and feeds such animals which can even fight and 
conquer the lions.

ammaiththadangaNmadavaaychchiyarum
	aanaayarum_aan^iraiyum_alaRi
emmaichcharaNEnRukoLLenRirappa
	ilangaazhikkaiyendhai_eduththamalai
thammaichcharaNenRathampaavaiyaraip
	punamEykinRamaaninamkaaNminenRu
kommaippuyakkunRarsilaikunikkum
	gOvarththanamennumkoRRakkudaiyE.

3.	The large eyed beautiful Gopasthrees (Gopika ladies) who walk along with 
KaNNan; the cowherd folks who rear the cattle; the entire cattle – all of 
them came rushing to KaNNan falling at His feet, saying, “please save us 
from the torrential downpour” and performed Saranagathi. He, KaNNan- my 
Swamy – who has the charka in His hands- lifted the huge Govardhana Mountain 
effortlessly and protected them all. This victorious mountain has housed the 
strong tribal people refer to their girls working in the fields as “deer 
group” joyously, proudly and teasingly and bend their bows to proceed with 
their hunting.

emmai saraNenRu kOlÂ… Jeer considers: emmai saraNEnRu koLÂ… For us, you alone 
are our Saviour. KaNNan did not have chakrA at that trime; but had the 
shining rings in his fingers and that appeared like ChakrA. This is vouched 
Swamy Desikan: rathnOrmikA rasmisalAkam”. Also by lifting Govardhana 
mountain, the mountain has attained greatness like the ChakrA.

Swamy Desikan mentions the same in YadhavAbhyudhayam:
prabUdhArAprathipannasaithyam praasaaramaddhim praburadhbudhAnAm |
sudharsanAdhabhyadhikAmanEshIth pavithnathAm pANisarOjayOgAth ||

When the tribal looked at their women working in the field, they get misled 
by the deer eyes and attempted at bending the bow to send arrows at them 
(for hunting thinking they are deers)- says Jeer. Whereas 
Thiruvaymozhipillai refers to as: The women looking at their men preparing 
to bend their bows and arrows, get scared and come rushing towards them and 
are consoled by the men saying, “look at these deer’s eyes; they are proud 
that they have eyes like you” and admire their eyes.

kaduvaaychchinavengaN_kaLiRRinukkuk
	kavaLameduththukkoduppaanavanpOl
adivaayuRakkaiyittu_ezhappaRiththittu
	amarar_perumaan_koNdun^inRamalai
kadalvaaychchenRumEgamkavizhndhiRangik
	kadhuvaayppadan^eermugandhERi engum
kudavaayppadan^inRumazhaipozhiyum
	gOvarththanamennumkoRRakkudaiyE.

4.	Like the mahout boldly and daringly pushing his hand inside the strong 
mouth of the hug elephant to feed the same, KaNNan effortlessly and boldly 
inserted His little hand underneath the huge mountain and lifted the 
mountain upside down. He is the Swami of Devas including Indran. This 
victorious mountain houses the merciful flock of clouds which go to the 
mouth of ocean, engulf and attempt to suck the waters of the ocean to its 
full content; go up the mountains and rain everywhere impartially.

Jeer compares the elephant in the first two lines to the clouds which appear 
like elephant that sucks the waters from the ocean to rain on the lands. 
Such a great anubhavam! This rain is not the angry IndranÂ’s rains. This is 
rain that comes out of natural process.

vaanaththilulleer! valiyeer_uLLeerEl
	aRaiyO! vandhuvaanguminenbavanpOl
Enaththuruvaakiya_eesan_endhai
	idavanezhavaangiyeduththamalai
kaanakkaLiyaanaithan_kombizhandhu
	kadhuvaaymadhamsOraththan_kaiyeduththu
koonalpiRaivENdi_aNNaandhun^iRkum
	gOvarththanamennumkoRRakkudaiyE.

5.	Oh Devas who are there are swargam! If you are strong, come and take away 
the mountain from my little hand- KaNNan appears to be telling the Devas 
when he lifted the mountain upside down. He is the One who appeared as 
Varaaha (Huge Boar) avatar – he is my Swami and SarvEswaran. This victorious 
mountain houses a strong happy elephant which has lost (broken) his tusker 
in its excitement somewhere, and which raises the trunk towards the crescent 
moon in the sky thinking that that is the part of its tusker.

You all sent the rains. I have lifted the mountain to protect the cattle and 
cowherd folks. Come together and attempt to take this mountain and let us 
suffer from the rains. – KaNNan appears to be challenging the Devas. Vedas 
also have declared KaNNan taking the huge boar avatar as “uddhrudhAsi 
varAhENa krushNEna sathabAhunA bhUmirdhEnurdharaNI lOkadhAriNIÂ… The One who 
took the whole BhUmi PiraaTTi effortlessly and took her out of troubled 
waters- how can this be difficult to life the small (huge) Govardhana 
mountain! (which is like the breast of bhUmi PiraaTTi.)

seppaadudaiyathirumaalavan than
	sendhaamaraikkaiviralaindhinaiyum
kappaakamaduththumaNin^edundhOL
	kaambaakakkoduththukkaviththamalai
eppaadumparandhizhitheLLaruvi
	ilangumaNimuththuvadampiRazha
kuppaayamenan^inRukaatchitharum
	gOvarththanamennumkoRRakkudaiyE.

6.	The most auspicious One- Sriya: Pathi Sriman Narayanan  who was earlier 
praised by celestial devas; EmperumAn KaNNan lifted the Govardhana mountain 
as an umbrella with his small lotus like fingers as the spokes of an 
umbrella; with the strong hand and shoulder as the shaft of the umbrella and 
the mountain as the cloth. This victorious mountain expands everywhere which 
houses beautiful waterfalls bringing with it the valuable gemstones and 
pearls making the whole thing appeared as the metallic kavacham for the 
umbrella.

Though Devendran sent those rains for destroying the cattle and cowherd 
folks, KaNNan- the most merciful Sriya: Pathi Sriman Narayanan- will He kill 
them? He will not. He would forgive them, when repented and sought 
forgiveness. yEsha: Narayana SrImAn ksheerArNava nikEdhana:. He appeared 
based on the pleas and prayers of these devas only.

The waterfalls referred to are the rain waters that have fallen on the 
mountains; and not the natural waterfalls of the mountain as the mountain is 
not upside down. Swamy Desikan also utters the same in Yadhavabyudhayam.
“abugranakthAnguLi panjaram thath rathnErmikA rasmilAkamantha:
navOdhakakshowmavrutham vyabAseecchathraprakANdam haribhAhudhaNdE..

padangaLpalavumudaippaambaraiyan
	padarboomiyaiththaangikkidappavanpOl
thadangaiviralaindhummalaravaiththuth
	thaamOdharan_thaanguthadavaraithaan
adangachchenRu_ilangaiyaiyeedazhiththa
	anumanpukazhpaadiththamkuttan_kaLai
kudangaikkoNdumandhikaLkaNvaLarththum
	gOvarththanamennumkoRRakkudaiyE.

7.	Like the king cobra (SarbarAjan) reclining holding on the earth, KaNNan 
lifted the huge mountain and placed the same on his five fingers of his 
hand. This victorious mountain houses the lady monkeys singing lullaby to 
their little ones to sleep, in praise of their ancestors (and friends of 
Hanuman) which went across the ocean and destroyed the lanKA city 
completely.

The way KaNNan lifted with his fingers spread and holding the mountain 
effortlessly appeared like the AdhisEshan with all his heads holding the 
earth. Swamy desikan also blesses us with the same content in his sloka:
phANAbirAmaprasruthAnguLIka: priyAngarAgavyathishangapANdu:
bhujasthadhIyO girINA babAsE bhUmaNdalEnEva bhujangarAja:

the lady monkeys praises the HanumAn and the fellow ancestor monkeys thereby 
instilling interest Bhagavath, BhAgawatha kaimkaryam in its young ones as 
well.

salamaamukilpalkaNappOrkkaLaththuch
	charamaaripozhindhu_engumpoosalittu
nalivaanuRakkEdakamkOppavanpOl
	naaraayaNanmunmukamkaaththamalai
ilaivEykurambaiththavamaamunivar
	irundhaarn^aduvEsenRu_aNaarsoRiya
kolaivaaychchinavEngaikaLn^inRuRangum
	gOvarththanamennumkoRRakkudaiyE.

8.	When the angry huge ferocious clouds, like the strong warriors sending 
fierce arrows, send the torrential down pour on the cowherd folks, KaNNan 
lifted the mountain as if he places the kEdayam (discuss) to the defence for 
the forthcoming arrows. This victorious mountain has housed the saintly 
sages doing penance and ferocious tigers sitting beside completely soft and 
saint-like (due to the kataaksham and touch of those sages), with their 
necks scratched by the sages.

When even the natural ferocious angry tigers become so saint like, how can 
the Devendran, the angry clouds be continuously raining! Naturally not. They 
will also be transformed and controlled soonest. Swamy DesikanÂ’s 
YaadhavAbhyudhayam:

irammadhArChirvyathishangadhIptha: pANow harEradhripathisChakASE!
prathyasathramindhrENa mumukshithAnAm prayukthamukkHAtha ivASaneenAm ||

vanpEymulaiyuNdathOrvaayudaiyan
	van_thooNenan^inRadhOrvanparaththai
thanpErittukkoNdutharaNithannil
	dhaamOdharan_thaanguthadavaraithaan
munbEvazhikaattamusukkaNangaL
	mudhukilpeydhuthammudaikkuttan_kaLai
kombERRiyirundhukudhipayiRRum
	gOvarththanamennumkoRRakkudaiyE.

9.	KaNNan- one has the unparalleled divine face which sucked the strong 
poothanaiÂ’s breasts- dhAmodharan- lifted the huge mountain as if it is the 
strong pillar for everyone to come under. This victorious mountain whose 
name is Govardhanam houses the monkeys which jump from branches to branches 
(with the little ones carried on their tops) to show and teach their young 
ones how to jump.

There are many mountains in the world. This mountain is the most blessed one 
for the same to be lifted and placed on the lotus hand. He is not only 
KaNNan who sucked the breast of Poothanai; also the mischievous one who got 
himself caught and tied down to the mortar by Yasodha.

kodiyERusendhaamaraikkaiviralkaL
	kOlamum_azhindhilavaadiRRila
vadivERuthiruvukirn^ondhumila
	maNivaNNanmalaiyumOrsampiradham
mudiyERiyamaamukiRpalkaNangaL
	munneRRin^araiththanapOla engum
kudiyERiyirundhumazhaipozhiyum
	gOvarththanamennumkoRRakkudaiyE.

10.	 The lines that appear on his palms, the red lotus fingers and palms, 
hand never show their sign of pain, weakness or tiredness when lifting the 
huge mountain for seven days without interruption or rest. The blue hued 
KaNNan lifted the victorious mountain which houses the large clouds that 
appear like the white hair on top of the head.

Seven days- it was raining cats and dogs. The fingers, nails, hands, lotus 
like hands never showed any sign of weakness or tiredness. It is as fresh as 
ever. The lines also appear as clear as the first day. How is the ThirumEni 
(divine body)? It is just the same – fresh, youthful blue hued beautiful 
form as fresh and cheerful as ever. Everyone thought that it should be some 
sort of magic. Bu only when they saw the other places full of waters, and 
finally devendran coming down to perform saranagathi at his feet and  
Govindha pattaabhishekam and praised him, they could believe that it was all 
true.

Thus it is not unusual for EmperumAn the Sarva sakthan to take care of few 
individuals for seven days so effortlessly. It is part of His nature and 
duty. Itr is His mercy. He always takes care of all worlds and at all times. 
He carries them at all times. He is NaaaraayaNan. The rain almost has 
stopped and hence the clouds appear white and look like white hair on the 
head.

aravilpaLLikoNdu_aravamthurandhittu
	aravappakaiyoordhiyavanudaiya
kuraviRkodimullaikaLn^inRuRangum
	gOvarththanamennumkoRRakkudaimEl
thiruviRpolimaRaivaaNar_puththoorth
	thikazhpattar_piraan_sonnamaalaipaththum
paravumanan^an_kudaippaththaruLLaar
	paramaanavaigundhamn^aNNuvarE

11.	The One who reclines on AdhisEshan- the one who danced on the poisonous 
snake KaaLingan and sent the same away from the pond; one who rides on its 
enemy GarudA – KaNNan lifted the Govardhana mountain as umbrella. About this 
victorious mountain as an umbrella Sri Bhattanathan of SrivilliputthUr 
(where Srivaishnava paramaikAnthins reside) composed these ten songs. Those 
who have the pure mind to read (and recite) these ten pAsurams will be 
blessed to attain SrivaikuNtam.

EmperumAn does not have any partiality on one and enimity on the other. He 
reclines on Adhiseshan; tamed the KaaLingan. Rides on its enemy. So he 
considers everyone same. [gajam vA vIkshya simham vA vAygram, vA(S)pi 
varAnanA. nAhArayathi santhrAsam bhAhU rAmasya samsrithA- Those who are 
devoted and surrender to EmperumAn never get any trouble from anyone else. 
Where are the cowherd folks? Where are the devas? There can be no 
compatibility. Still he saved the illiterate, poor cowherd folks from the 
strong devas. Those who read them can have their own anubhavams and enjoy 
various glories and Acharya sishya, ParamAthma jeevathma, relations and also 
the greatness of Sarva rakshakan Sriman Narayanan. He is sujana 
saarvabhouman who lifted effortlessly the huge mountain and protected the 
cattle and cowherd folks. Those who are paramaikAnthins who understand his 
Parathvam and the supremacy of Sriman Narayanan; who recite these pAsurams 
will sure attain Srivaikuntam.

PeriyAzhwAr ThiruvadigaLE saraNam
Regards
Namo Narayana
dAsan

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