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Re: Madhurakavi AzhwAr

From the Bhakti List Archives

Shrikanth, J • October 31, 1997 


Dear BhagavathaLs,

  Wish you all a joyous deepavali. 

 In an excellent series of postings on the Azhwars, Sri V.MADHAKKANNAN
 quoted :

>
> poigaimuni bhoothathAr pEyAzhwAr thaN porunalvarunkurukEsan vittuchitthan/
> tuyya kulasEkaran naM pANanAthan thondaradippodi mazhisaivandhajothi/
> vaiyamellAm maraiviLanga vALvElEndhum mangaiyarkOnenRivargaL
> magizhndhupAdum/ seyyatamizh mAlaigaL nAm theLiyavOdhith theLiyAdha
> maRainilaNgaL theliginRomE/ 
>           (from AdhikAra sangragam by Srimad vEdAntha Desikan)
> 

  This is also the first tamil verse in the GuruparamparasAram of
  Srimad vEdAntha Desikan's masterpiece, the RahasyatrayasAram.

  The verse seems to mention only ten Azhwars. Madhurakavi Azhwar
  and Andal are not named. Could someone please give the reason
  behind this? 

  I seem to recall being told that Madhurakavi Azhwar being a devotee of
  NammAzhwar and Andal being the daughter of Periya Azhwar, they
  are included when we think of the guru and father respectively.
  Is there any other reason?

  In any case, Madhurakavi Azhwar is the subject of the next verse
  in the guruparamparAsAram. Who is a more fitting example of
  gurubhakti than the azhwar who sang 
         thEvu maRRaRiyEn kurukoornampi
         paavin innisai paadith thirivanE
  (I know of no divinity other than the pure saint of Kurukoor,
    NammAzhwar, whose sweet songs I sing about everywhere.)

 This verse by Srimad Vedantadesikan, the kavi-tArkikasimham, is a
 small gem  itself. It is infact a miniature commentary of the
 eleven pasurams of Madhurakavi Azhwar's  'kaNNinuNsirutthaambu'.

 The verse goes

  inbaththil iRainchuthalil isaiyum peRRil
    ikazhAtha palluravil irAgam mARRil
  tanpaRRil viNaivilakkil thagavOkkaththil
    thaththuvaththai unarththuthalil thanmai Akkil
  anbarkE avatharikkum Ayan niRka
    arumaRaikaL thamizhseithAn thaLE kondu
  thunpaRRa mathurakavi thOnRakkATTum
    tholvazhiyE nalvazhikaL thunivArkaTkE

 I'll try to give a translation and some notes in another posting.

>
> Veronrum Naan Ariyen Vedam Tamizh Seitha 
> Maaran Sadakopan Vun Kurugur -Yeru Engal 
> Vaazhvaam Enru Ethum Madhura Kaviyaar Emmai /
> Aalwaar Avare Saran /
>     (in Tamizh)
> Madhurakavi said -" I do not know anything other than Nammalwar also 
> known as Maaran(original name of NammAzhwAr) who rendered in Tamil the
> essence of the Vedas and who is the head of Tirukkurugur. This
> Madhurakavi is OUR master. He is THE guardian of the group of
> Prapannaas.(and Bhakti Group-
> Nathamuni has spoken just on our behalf- Let us recite everyday
> these 11 pAsurams and be blessed!)
> 
> MadhurakaviAzhwAr thiruvadigaLE saraNam
> Nathamuni ThiruvadigaLe saraNam 
>
>

adiyen 

shrikanth