Vol. V :- Iraamaanusa Nootrandhaadhi - by Velukkudi Swamy (English Translation)

From the Bhakti List Archives

• October 30, 2001


Volume V :- Iramaanusa Nootrandhaadhi Upanyaasam of
	    U.Ve. Velukkudi Krishnan Swamy
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Volume Title :- Ananya Prayojana Bhakthi
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Iraamaanusa Nootrandhaadhi - Thaniyan 3
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"Sollin thogai kondu unadhadippodhukku thondu seiyum
NallanbarEtrum un naamamelaam endhan naavinulle
Allum pagalum amaraum padi nalgu aru samaya vellum parama
Iraamaanuaa idhen vinnappame."

This third thaniyan was given to us by Swamy Thiruvarangathamudanaar
itself. This thaniyan prays emperumaanaar to give the gift reciting
and chanting his thirunaanam all the time. This prayer was done by
Thiruvarangathamudhu to emperumaanaar.

Normally when other devathaas like Indra, Agni etc. has a difficulty
or if they require refuge, they go first to Shiva. If Shiva himself
requires protection or security he goes to Brahma. When Brahmaa
requires protection he prays Emperumaan Sriman Narayanan at
Thiruppaarkadal. If all of them have problem and require refuge
they all pray emperumaan sriman Narayanan at Thiruppaaarkadal. Just
for the sake of asking, what will happen if emperumaan has a problem
and he requires security. In that case since emperumaan is the
supreme being and even though he doesn't expereince any problems as
he saves everyone from problems, but still if he himself has a 
problem, then since he looks at his own thiruvadi everytime hence his 
thiruvadi itself becomes a refuge for hiself. Similarly before 
reciting Thiruvaaimozhi of swamy Nammaazhwaar, we recite a thaniyan


Soodi Kodutha Sudar Kodi in Thiruppaavai says :-

"Kalla chagadam kalakkazhiya kaalochi.."

Means :-

When Sakataasuran came to kill our beloved lord, Maakahan Chor,
Vennai Thirudan, Kannan due to Kamsan's order, our theeraadha
vilaiyaatu pillai hit him wiht his legs. So our emperumaan's
thiruvadi became the protector for himself. Hence if in any case
emperumaan has a problem or securing himself he himself sees his
Thiruvadi and hence his problems also are destroyed. This is how
our porrvaachaaryas had experienced emperumaan's thiruvadi.


"Eeindha perunkeerthi Iraamaanusa muni than
 Vaaindha malar paadham vangugindren
 Aayndha perum seeraar Sadagopan senthamizh vedam tharikkum
 Peraadha ullam pera"

The above thaniyan prays emperumaanaar to give us a gift of a pure 
heart that will recite the Thiruvaaimozhi, which was propogated to be 
recited by everyone  by Emperumaanaar.

Like this if we have to recite Iraamaanusa Nootrandhaadhi always in 
our mind, then this gift also has to be given by emperumaanaar itself 
and no one else can bless us with this gift. Hence 
Thiruvarangathamudhu prays emperumaanaar itself to give swamy 
(Thiruvarangathamudhu), the gift of reciting Iraamaanusa 
Nootrandhaadhi always. This is the summary of the meaning of the 
entire thaniyan that is given above.

Hence even here too if "Iraamaanusa Nootrandhaadhi" has to last
ever in our hearts we need to pray emperumaanaar itself to give
his kataaksham of recite and remmeber Iraamaanusa Nootrandhaadhi
always. This is the purpose of this Thaniyan where
Thiruvarangathamudhu prays emperumaanaar to give his grace to
recite and remmeber Iraamaanusa Nootrandhaadhi always.

Now let us proceed further to enjoy the feelings of 
thriuvarangathamudhanaar in composing this thaniyan.

**********************************************************************

Vyaakyaanam for this thaniyan has been written to by Swamy Pillai 
Lokam Jeeyar :-

**********************************************************************

First let us see the meaning of this thaniyan word by word :-


Iraamaanusaa 			:- My beloved Raamaanusaa !!

Vellum Parama   		:- Who won

Aru Samayam     		:- All the other Six types of
				   philosopers
				   namely Sankara, Bhaskara,
				   Yadhawa, Bhatta, Prabhakara,
				   Paasupatha

Idhu en vinnappame 		:- Adiyen is making the
				   following Vinnappam (Request)
				   to devareer that

Sollin Thogai Kondu		:- Having made up adiyen's mind
				   that folllwing the principles
				   of Tamil Grammar for composing
				   paasurams with appropriate word
				   count for each style of
				   paasuram, having made a decision
				   that the Thirunaamam "Iraamaanusaa"
				   should appear 108 times, and
				   compose 108 paasurams on Andhaadhi
				   style

Nalgu				:- Please bless adiyen that

Un Naamamellaam 		:- All the thirunaamams of Devareer

Unahadippodhukku Thondu Seiyum
Nallanbar Ethum 		:- which are chanted and praised by
				   all devareer's devotees and those
				   mahaanubhaavaas like Swamy
				   Koorathaazwhaan who does eternal
				   service to devaree's thiruvadi
				   (Note :- Even though it is        
                                    mentioned as Swamy 
                                    Koorathaazhwaan here it
				    is not actualy mentioned in
				    the paasuram. It has been given
				    as an exapmle)

Amarum padi  			:- Should always stay

Allum pagalum 			:- Day and Night and ever

Endhan naavinulle 		:- In my tongue


The overall summary of the above verse is as follows :-

Meaning :-

Oh..!! Ramanuja, the defeater of six mathams like Sankara, Bhaskara,
Yadhawa, Bhatta, Prabhakara, Paasupatha please accept adiyen request
that, those thirunaamams or names of devareer which are recited and
chanted by all thos emahaanubhaavaas like Swamy Koorathaazhwaan and
other who does eternal service to devareer's lotus feet, should stay
in adiyen's tongue always irrespective of day and night and ever.


Now let us look at the inner meaning or vyaakyaanam of our
poorvaachaaryas. Swamy Pillai lokam jeeyar renders his vyaakyaanam
as follows :-


"Sollin thogai kondu" here means :-

- Having decided that the thirunaam "Iraamaanusa" will appear in all
  the paasurams

- Having decided that 108 verses should be there in the paasurams

- Having decided that the thirunaamam "Iraamaanusaa" should appear
  for 108 times

- Having decided that the for letters "Raa", "Maa" "Nu", "Saa"
  (please read these letters appropriately in Tamil) should appear
  in the paasurams. These four letters have significance in the
  effect of reciting the thirunaamam as it contains the "Ra" shabdham
  which is also there in the "Raama" naamam which Ravanaa use to be
  afraid of. Hence the "Ra" shabdham here gives the same effect and
  protects from the enimies of the Kaliyuga

- Having decied that these words in the paasurams are grouped together
  in appropraite style that adheres to the paasuram composing style

Any of these meanings will be applicable to the above group of words.


"Unadhadippodhukku thondu seiyum: here means :-


Doing eternal service to devareers lotus feet as kainkaryam.

Kankaryam can be of three different types :-

1. Kaaykia Kainkaryam 	-

  	   Kainkaryam that is done phisically with our legs and hands

2. Vaachika Kainkaryam 	-

	   Kainkaryam that are done through words like what our
	   aazhwaars have done using the 4000 sacred text

3. Maanasika Kainkaryam -

	   Kainkaryan done through the mind and within the mind
	   thinking of the lotus feet of emperumaanaar or emperumaan


Nallanbar ethum :-

Hence, those who deos kainkaryam using the group of words as to 
devareer mentioned above.

The word "Nallanbar" here makes us to think that whom do we call as
"Nallanbar" ??

Nallanbar generally means mahaanubhaavaas or bhaagavthaas who does
eternal service to lord or his bhakthaas.

Here Swamy Pillai lokam Jeeyer in his vyaakyaanam says 
that "Nallanbar" here means :-

"Ananya Prayojana Bhakthi yukthar Ethum.."

The words "Ananya Prayojana" here means :-

To get the essence let us assume that we are going to Parthasarathy
Swamy Temple to do archanai expectin some fruits for this archanai as
many of us do. When we as the Archakar to do Archanai, archakar swamy
takes the details of Gothram, Naamam, Nakshathram etc. from us and 
does
a sankalpam before performing archana. The sankalpa goes as follows :-

"Aayur Arogya Ishwaryam..".

These are the words we here often when archakar swamy does the 
sankalpam. We assume that the word "Aayur" here means that the 
archani is done forus to get more years to live and experience the 
worldly pleasure. Perhaps we might even think that we get more than 
100 yrs.

"Arogya" here means strength and  "Ishwaryam" here means wealth.

We all think that these words request emperumaan for us to give more 
life, strength and wealth that gives all of us temporary pleasures in 
this bhoolokam. But we fail to listen how actually the archakar swamy 
starts the Sankalpam. If we listen to it carefully we can also hear 
the following :-

"Bhagavath Preethyartham or Bhagavan Mukollaasam" etc. Please fogive 
adiyen if adiyen has misused the words here.

These words here means that all the "Aayur, Arogya, Ishwaryam" are all
for the mukollaasam of emperumaan. How does it apply ? Its like this. 
If we have more years or Aayu: then we can do kainkaryam in this 
world for emperumaan for more no. of years. If we have "Aarogyam" we 
can do Kaayika Kainkaryam to emperumaan in his temples by cleaning, 
making garlands or buliding tanks or even visiting 108 divya desam 
and does kainkaryam that can bring mulollaasam to emperumaan.

"Ishwaryam" here means not the wealth that we think in dollars or 
rupees or any other materialistic wealth. Here the "Ishwaryam" means 
the wealth of "Bhagavath Bhaagavatha Kainkaryam" is what it actually 
means. But we all think that these lines are for materialistic needs. 
Most of us go to the temple for our materialistic needs to get 
fulfilled.


Even aazhwaar says :-

"Naaganai Misai Nambiraan Sharane Sharan.."

Here aazhwaar surrenders to emperumaan. But for what reason ??

"Naaldhorum Eka Sindhaiyanaai.."

Means, that by travelling all the way to your thirukkoil adiyen become
tired and when I come to your sannidhi and when I see you I start 
melting by your sevai. Hence oh..!! Bhagavan please give strength so 
that adiyen can stand at your sannidhi have your nithya sevai always 
without any of these hindrances.

Hence we need not pray emperumaan to give "Aarogyam" for our 
materialistic pleasures but for having nithya sevai of emperumaan 
alswyas in his divya desams.

Why all the above examples. It is to illustrate who are all called
"Ananya Prayojana Bhakthaas". Those who pray emperumaan to give 
anything whether it could be more Aayu: or age, Aarogyam or strength, 
or Wealth, all for his Bhagavth , Bhaagvatha Kainkaryam and all for 
eternal service to his lotus feet only and for nothing else. Hence 
these people are called "Ananya Prayojana Bhakthaas" which simply 
means those who dont expect any fruit out of their service to 
Bhagavan or Bhaagavtha expect requesting his grace and eternal 
kainkaryam itself as a fruit.

With regards to this our poorvaachaaryaas have categorised the 
bhakthaas at four different level or steps :-

1. Those who prays to emperumaan or goes to the temple desiring for
   materialistic needs

2. Those who prays to emperumaan or goes to the temple without any 
desire as said above

3. Those who prays to emperumaanaar or goes to his sannidhi in the 
temple desiring for materialistic needs

4. Those who prays to emperumaanaar or goes to his sannidhi in the 
temple without any desire


Most of us in this world belong to the First Category. But as aazhwaar
says :-

"Pachai Maa malai pol meni, pavazha vaai kamalachankann
Achyutha amararere aayartham kozhunde ennun
Ichuvai thavira yaan poi indira logam aalum
achuvai perinum venden, aranga maa nagarulaane"

Here aazhwar shows an example of "Ananya Prayojana Bhakthi" where he 
says, Oh..!! bhagavan.. !!, even if adiyen is given the wealth of 
Indra Lokam adiyen doesn't need it, if adiyen always get to see your 
Thirumeni which is like a green mountain and your Thirukkann which is 
like a Red Lotus flower and your coral lips.

>From this we can realise how aazhwaar prays for Emperumaan's
"Sundara Anantha Sayana" sevai at SriRangam without any other 
materialistic fruits or desires.

Hence bhakthaas who doesn't expect any fruits from bhagavaan belong 
to the second category called "Ananya Prayojana Bhakthaas".

This type of Bhakthi can be done only great Mahaanubhaavaas like 
aazhwaars or other bhaagavathaas. Even then these type bhakthaas 
desn't come to an aachaaryaa or emperumaanaar. They only directly go 
to emperumaan rather than going to emperumaanaar.

The third category are those who come to Swamy Emperumaanaar for
materialistic needs. People of this  type might be there but most of 
us have not seen this probably. Such type of bhakthaas are in the
next step because they atleat come near to an aachaaryaa whether it 
may be for materialistic desires or for any other purpose. Such 
bhakthas are slightly better because they feel that the four 
lettered "Ramaanusaa" is more better than the four lettered 
thirunaamam "Narayanaa" which has more power than the Bhagavan Naamam.

The fourth Category is "Ananya Prayojana Aachaarya Bhakthi" which are
bhakthaas who come to  emperumaanaar sannidhi by saying "Ramaanusaa",
without any materialistic needs,  except praying to show the way to
reach emperumaan's thiruvadi at Sri Vaikuntam or requesting for
Bhagavath Bhaagavtha Kainkarya Praapthi (attainment) in this world.

We should praise the last two category of bhakthaas. Becasue even 
though the third category of bhakthaas come to emperumaanaar for 
materialistic needs, but they atleast say the thirunaamam
"Raamaanusaa" rather then saying "Partha Sarathy" or "Naaraayanaa". 
Hence those bhakthaas shoule be respected.

Even Swamy Madura Kavi Aazhwaar says in his "Kanninun Sriudhaambu"
that :-

"Paavin Innisai Paadi Thirivane.."

Meaning I don't have any other means or ways of life except singing 
the glorious "Thiruvaaimozhi" of Satagopan or Swamy Nammaazhwaar.

Also aazhwaar says :-

"Nanni Then kurgoor nambi ennakkaal, annikkum amudhoorum en 
 naavukke.."

Meaning that "When adiyen takes the thirunaamam "Thirukkurugoor 
Nambi", adiyen taste the divya amrutham in my adiyen's mouth..!!"

Hence "Ananya Prayojans Bhakthi Yukthar ethum.." means those Bhakthaas
who surrender to  emperumaanaar without expecting any materialistic
fruits. Those who does eternal service to emperumaanaar's thiruvadi
by taking his thirunaamam "Iraamaanusaa..!!".


Thodarum, Will continue in the next issue..


RAAMMANUJASYA CHARANAU SHARANAM PRAPADYE, SRIMATHE RAAMAANUJAAYA NAMA:


Emperumaanaar, Bhaagavatha, Bhagvath Thiruvadigale sharanam,

The VEDICS Iraamaanusa Nootrandhaadhi Team







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