PeriyAzhwAr Thirumozhi 4.5- Before the death strikes, do this- advises AzhwAr!

From the Bhakti List Archives

• May 12, 2003


SrI:
SrImathE Ramanujaya namah:
Dearest Srivaishnavas,

AzhwAr immersed himself into the glorious archa avatars of ThirukkOttiyoor 
and he is going to enjoy the KaNdamkadinagar afterwards. In between for two 
tens, he advises us: to involve ourselves in Naama sangeerthanam in our life 
time before our human birth vanishes; and hence, he also advises us to name 
our children in His divine name thereby under the pretext of calling them 
(children) we unknowingly utter his name. Perhaps in the last patthu, when 
he talked about the greatness of BhAgawathas who keep uttering Kesavaa! 
PurushOtthamaa! kiLar jyOthiyaay! And hence starts off with that in the 
first pAsuram of this ten.. Let us enjoy this excellent ten.. PLEASE do not 
miss to read the original pAsurams- they are very simple and highly 
powerful-

aasaivaaychchenRasindhaiyaraaki
	annai_aththan_enpuththirarboomi
vaasavaar_kuzhalaaLenRumayangi
	maaLumellaikkaNvaaythiRavaadhE
kEsavaa! purudOththamaa! enRum
	kEzhalaakiyakEdilee! enRum
pEsuvaaravar_eydhumperumai
	pEsuvaanpukiln^ambaramanRE. 	1.

1.	Having the mind as repository of desires, saying,: my mother, my father, 
my children, my place, my home town and also my loving fragrant haired 
beautiful spouse etc- and being in that state until death, finally being 
unable to even open (our) mouth due to disability and unconsciousness, 
[instead, before that- right now] calling Kesavaa! PurushOtthamaa! [as 
mentioned earlier in 4.4] and Oh AchyuthA! The One who appeared as 
blemishless Varaaha mUrthy! – uttered those mahathmaas- BhAgawathas- if we 
attempt to speak on the glories that those Bhagawathas are going to attain 
and attained already- then there is no possibility that we will be able to 
complete it and reach an end.. [meaning: there can not be an end to it].

Similar to mAthA pithA yuvathayas thanayaa vibHuthi: .. First desire and 
love is on mother for a child; then it goes and extends to the father who 
educates and teaches good things. Afterwards it is on spouse and thence the 
children. Then one cares and loves the little place he buys; Here AzhwAr 
specifically mentions the fragrant haired spouse; all other relations slowly 
loose our attention. But not spouseÂ… Also it may means some get wedded even 
after the children are born.. Also it is due to our spouse (wife) sharing 
our puNyam (half of it).. AzhwAr refers to the word “en” (my) after 
mentioning mother and father.. Perhaps oneÂ’s love for parents does not 
extend so much after wedding.. he says so..:-) Thus, thinking of them till 
death we waste our time, and at death, (the time of demise), we are not able 
to even open our mouth and call Him.. These Bhagawathas (as said in 4.4) 
call him loudly: Kesavaa et al- if we think of that and talk about of their 
glories, then immediately the mouths that may get closed, will openÂ… If we 
think of the unparalleled  Varaaha mUrthy (though of appearing as Huge 
Boar)- whose birth is not like ours- This is akilahEyaprathyaneekan- He has 
no defects; janma karma cha mE dhivyam- describes His avataara lakshanam. He 
appears to save the mahaathmaas whom he considers as His AthmA 
(jnAnithvAmaivamE matham).. If we attempt to speak the glories of theirs, 
there is no end.. However we will talk about the greatness and benefits.. of 
calling His divine names..

seeyinaalseRindhERiyapuNmEl
	seRRalERikkuzhambirundhu engum
eeyinaal_arippuNdumayangi
	ellaivaaychchenRusErvadhanmunnam
vaayinaaln^amOn^aaraNaavenRu
	maththakaththidaikkaikaLaikkooppi
pOyinaalpinnai_iththisaikku_enRum
	piNaikkodukkilumpOkavottaarE.         2.

2.	at the end of life, at the evening of lives, when the pus forms on the 
skins and pours over with terrible suffering – and with flies sitting on 
them adding to pains furthermore; falling into unconsciousness at times, and 
finally taking off-  Before all that, [when our body, mind and intellect are 
listening to us] hence, let us utter NAMO NARANAA ( at least with breaking 
of few letters here and there from Namo Narayanaya) and perform sirasanjali 
– keeping our palms together above our heads with devotion and then if one 
leaves this body, then [even if one gives anything whatsoever in return], he 
will never ever return even for a fraction of second..

Keeping the hands above head (sirasanjali) – thus declaring that “do not 
keep the burden of taking care of me with me.. It is now yours.. “. He [the 
Lord] would never ever let you thereafter to send you back to the earth for 
karma bandhamÂ… Not just He.. Even the nithyasUris, PiraaTTis will never ever 
let us leave the Nithya vibhUthi.. unlike the earthly human beings.. If ever 
someone (who serves) leaves us, others take that as an opportunity to talk 
all ills and names about the person so that he is hated by the master. Such 
a thing would never happen in Srivaikuntam..

sOrvinaalporuLvaiththadhuNdaakil
	sollusollenRusuRRumirundhu
aarvinavilumvaaythiRavaadhE
	andhakaalam_adaivadhanmunnam
maarvamenbadhOr_kOyilamaiththu
	maadhavanennumdheyvaththain^atti
aarvamenbadhOr_poovidavallaarkku
	aravathaNdaththil_uyyalumaamE.        3.

3.	if we keep [save and store] the wealth without othersÂ’ (relatives) 
knowledge, then they would ask repeatedly, “tell; tell where all have you 
stored and saved? “ and sit around at the time of death:- even if our loved 
ones ask, we would not be able to open our mouths (due to our evening of 
lives); and hence, before that time of death, if we build a peerless 
beautiful temple in the heart (hridhaya kamalam) for Sriman Narayaanan, the 
unparalleled Lord in our heart and consecrate Him in our heart; offer Him 
the greatest flower of Bhakthi and those who are capable of doing so, will 
be saved even from the paths of yamaÂ… for sure.

mElezhundhadhOrvaayukkiLarndhu
	mElmidaRRinai_uLLezhavaangi
kaalungaiyumvidhirvidhirththERik
	kaNNuRakkamadhaavadhanmunnam
moolamaakiya_oRRaiyezhuththai
	moonRumaaththirai_uLLezhavaangi
vElaivaNNanaimEvudhiraakil
	viNNakaththinilmEvalumaamE.           4.

4.	The praaNa vaayu (the life-air) comes up; raises itself, expands itself 
chokes the throat; hands and legs shudder; slowly the eyes fall into deep 
sleep with signs of no return; [death has struck= before that happens], 
here, realize and utter the one “padham” (with three letters) praNavam- the 
essence of all Vedas.. and hold on to Sri Vasudeva- the ocean coloured Lord; 
- if you do that; then it is possible for you to hold His lotus feet in 
Paramapdham as well.

In the first line, AzhwAr mentions about the life breath (praaNa vaayu) that 
is spoiled and is choking oneÂ’s throat- which prevents one from praNava 
utterance; in second line, he describes the sense organs and limbs failing.

madivazhivandhun^eer_pulan_sOra
	vaayilattiyakanchiyummeeNdE
kadaivazhivaarakkaNdamadaippak
	kaNNuRakkamadhaavadhanmunnam
thodaivazhi_ummain^aaykaLkavaraa
	soolaththaal_ummaippaayvadhumseyyaar
idaivazhiyiln^eer_kooRaiyum_izhaveer
	irudeekEsanenREththavalleerE.         5.

5.	From the organs, the waters (urine) ooze out without any control due to 
disability and weariness- fall via the hips to the floor; the water and 
liquid food poured into the mouth do not enter inside and spill from the 
corners of the lips and the phlegm chokes the throat; the whole body slips 
into deep sleep – dheergha nithra; [before that happens], if you are capable 
of uttering “Hrishikesa” and are able to praise Him, then the dogs of Yama 
will not devour your thighs; the servants of yama will not poke you with 
their spears; you will not lose you waist dress on the way. [You will reach 
safely the land of Paramapadham]

Here AzhwAr explains the uncontrolled organs beautifully at the time of 
death (or sometime before that). The liquid food that is poured by your dear 
ones does not enter and comes back..

angamvittavaiyaindhumakaRRi
	aavimookkinilsOdhiththapinnai
sangamvittavar_kaiyaimaRiththup
	paiyavEdhalaisaayppadhanmunnam
vangamvittulavumkadaRpaLLimaayanai
	madhusoodhananaimaarbil
thangavittuvaiththu aavadhOr_karumam
	saadhippaarkku_enRumsaadhikkalaamE.   6.

6.	When those five slowly are slipping away from the body (five may mean 
senses; or five praaNans; or five relations, wife, sons, daughters, father 
and mother), and they keep shouting, “tell; tell” (where is that wealth or 
property? OR utter now His name .. Utter Narayanaaa..” and then seeing no 
response, they keep their fingers near the nose to verify if there is still 
breath- [realizing that there is no more air in and out], they place (our) 
hands in the sides with palms facing up; and turn away from the body with 
their head hung in sorrow (and to give sign to others that it is over); - 
[before that], think, realize and meditate on the most wonderful 
MadhusUdhanan, who has the vast deep ocean with noisy waves, as His bed in 
your heart and perform (karmam- says AzhwAr meaning Prapatti- Saranagathi) 
the karmam – duty- of surrendering to His Lotus feet now, then for such 
kritha krithyars (one who has done what is to be done)- performers of such a 
deed- there will certainly be a possibility of getting the eternal kaimkraym 
to Him at Paramapadham (and here as well).

Vangam (meaning waves) also means ship.. He is the only ship that can take 
us cross this deep ocean of samsaara saagaram- samsaric ocean. 
MadhusUdhanan- In ekOdhaka samudram, He as MadhusUdhanan destroyed the Madhu 
and Kaitabha asuras.. when he took Hayagreeva avatar.
Or Karmam- meaning: One duty- Doing it once- Performance of Saranagathi..
enRum saadhikkalaamE- Always we will be blessed with what we desire for 
(while doing Saranagathi).. This also can mean that  Prapatti will yield 
sakala sowbhAgyam here and there (though we performed only for eternal 
service at his lotus feet). Similar to AndALÂ’s EErirandu maal varaitthOl 
sengaN thirumugatthu selvatt Thirumaalaal engum ThiruvaruL peRRu inbuRuvarÂ…
Saadhyabhakthisthu saa hanthrI praarabdhasyApi bhUyasi: - It (Performance of 
Prapatti) destroys praararabdha karma (sins accrued so far) and is even 
grander than bhakti Yogam as it yields mOksha saamraajyam whenever one asks 
for; It is capable of granting whenever one desires for it- right now- or 
few years later.. etc.. That is how- enRum saadhikkalaamE- is interpreted by 
Acharyas. –says Sri UttamUr Swamy in his wonderful commentary.

thennavan_thamarseppamilaadhaar
	sEvadhakkuvaar_pOlappukundhu
pinnumvan_kayiRRaalpiNiththeRRip
	pinmunnaaka_izhuppadhanmunnam
innavan_inaiyaanenRusolli
	eNNi_uLLaththiruLaRan^Okki
mannavanmadhusoodhanenbaar
	vaanakaththumanRaadikaLthaamE.        7.


7.	Similar to the male calves getting their testicles crushed (so that they 
are used for pulling bullock carts with full vigour) by holding their legs 
together and forcibly, the Yama dhUthas (messengers and servants of Yama) 
without our consent, willingness, forcibly they enter (at the time of 
demise) and pull with their “paasak kayiRu” (rope) and pull from all sides 
with despite our protests, (which can be seen visibly with our suffering and 
shuddering hands and legs- while passing away). – Before that happens, “He 
is of such merciful nature; he is most compassionate, Samastha kalyANu 
guNagaNouka maaharNavan (the most auspicious attributes); AkilahEya 
prathyaneekan (free of any defects)- He is ParamOdhArAn; Swami; 
SarvEshwaran; and yet, Sowlabhyan with tremendous sowlseelyam (mixing with 
lowliest ones like us)- “ Like that meditate, think, and utter His divine 
names in Your heart and make the darkness of ignorance vanish from there; 
Place Him – The Lord MadhusUdhanan in Your heart – The One who destroyed 
Madhu asura – and enjoy seeing Him in your heart in His entirety. – Utter 
that he is my Lord MadhusUdhanan- and those who do that will be certainly 
blessed with ParamAnandham at Paramapadham doing eternal service and 
eternally enjoying kaimkarya ruchi.

Pinmunnaaga izhuppadhan munnam- Sri Manavala mamunigal [jeer] yama dhuthas 
pull in such a way that all parts of the body go awry.. mookkum pallum 
mukhamum udhadum pallum thagarumpadi mugam keezhppada- enRanar jeerÂ…

koodikkoodi_uRRaar_kaL_irundhu
	kuRRamn^iRkan^aRRangaLpaRaindhu
paadippaadi_Or_paadaiyilittu
	narippadaikku_orupaakudampOlE
kOdimoodiyeduppadhanmunnam
	kowththuvamudaikkOvindhanOdu
koodiyaadiya_uLLaththaraanaal
	kuRippidamkadandhu_uyyalumaamE.       8.

8.	the realatives- males and females – join in groups and talk all in praise 
of the deceased in toto (without mentioning carefully of the follies of the 
deceased); compose even songs in praise of the one who passed away; and 
then, place “it” (body) on the “paadai” (flat bed made of leaves); close the 
body with a new cloth (as if it is a help (upakaaram) for the wolves- before 
that happens, if you have the mind to enjoy the Lord (who is the Jeevathma 
mabhimaani as His very kausthubhum- jewel) seated in your heart, then there 
is sure possibility of leaving this prakarithi maNdalam (the leelA 
visbhUthi) where the good and bad prevail – and reach Paramapadham to get 
saved eternally.

kuRRam niRka naRRangaL paRaindhu- When there is faults and bad deeds 
committed by them, they forget all that and talk “naRRangaL”- AzhwAr does 
not say NanmaigaL (good deeds); He says.. naRRam”- means: They also are 
kuRRam (bad ones appearing as if it is good); Thus, these relatives change 
and distort bad deeds as his good ones;
Narippadaikku oru paakudam pOlE.. – At least by throwing him to wolves will 
please the persons who were made to suffer because of this guy who passed 
away- At least few of his paapam (sins) may get washed away by doing so- .
PerumAL hugs the jeevan when He passes away.. close to His heart. He is the 
Jeevathma abhimaani-
In Paramapadham always everyone sees and does good. (unlike this prakarithi 
maNdalam).

vaayorupakkamvaangivalippa
	vaarndhan^eerkkuzhikkaN_kaLmizhaRRa
thaay_orupakkamthandhai_orupakkam
	thaaramum_orupakkam_alaRRa
thee_OrupakkamsErvadhanmunnam
	sengaNmaalodumsikkenachchuRRa
maay orupakkamn^iRkavallaarkku
	aravadhaNdaththil_uyyalumaamE.        9.

9.	The mouth moving towards (as if being pulled towards) one direction; with 
the eyes shedding tears continuously- due to the mast moments and leaving 
the kith and kin- rolling down the cheeks; mother on one side; father on the 
other; wife, on another side (perhaps at feet); crying loudly looking at his 
dying moment; In another side, son holds the fire which touches the body and 
starts approaching (towards all parts); - before it happens, be a close 
relative and be devoted to the red lotus eyed Lord, with an unflinching 
faith and unconditional unalloyed devotion be separated from others (who are 
tied down to worldly pleasures and material pursuits); if you are able to be 
that way, it is certain to escape from the severe cruel punishments of Yama.

He alone is Sarvavidha bhandhu; He alone is Matha, Pitha.. he alone is our 
Spouse.. (Master); He never leaves us for ever. This bandhuthvam alone will 
remain for ever and has been there since time immemorial. Hold Him tight 
(sikkena) – It may also mean- hold Him quickly.. fast- right now- when you 
have been able to do..
Do not associate yourselves with samsaaris. Jeer says- SamsaarigaLOduLLa 
uRavaik kalasaathE..

seththuppOvadhOr_pOdhun^inaindhu
	seyyumseykaikaLdhEvapiraanmEl
paththaraayiRandhaar_peRumpERRaip
	paazhiththOLvittuchiththanpuththoorkkOn
siththamn^an_korungiththirumaalaich
	seydhamaalai_ivaipaththumvallaar
siththamn^an_korungiththirumaalmEl
	senRasindhaipeRuvar_thaamE.         10.

10.	Think of the time of death in advance and utter divine names and naama 
sangeerthanam on the Lord Sriya: Pathi Sriman Narayanan – such devotees who 
do that and their attainment of eternal service at the lotus feet of the 
Lord at Paramadham is described and composed in this ten pAsurams 
beautifully by Sri VilliputthUrÂ’s Srivishnuchitthar with a concentared and 
devoted mind and those who recite these ten pAsurams fully understanding its 
content, will be blessed with a clear and firm mind on Sriya: Pathi on their 
own.

In this ten PAsurams, AzhwAr very beautifully lists down in second part of 
each PAsuram – Naama sangeerthanam, ThiruvashtAkshara japam, Anjali, 
Maanaseeka ArAdhanam, (having the Lord seated in the hridhaya kamalam and 
enjoy doing Pooja to Him with closed eyes), Enjoying Him as the essence and 
meaning of PraNavam, (realising us as His nithya nirUpAdhika ananhaarya 
sEshan..- eternal servant of only Sriman Narayanan and none else since time 
immemorial naturally and not enforced by anyone else),  With His mercy, and 
anugraham, praying for and trying to control the sense organs, Performing 
Parapatti (Saranagathi) at His Lotus feet, considering Him alone as 
Sarvavidha bandhu, and distance ourselves from non-devotees as far as we can 
etc..

Thus, naama sangeerthanam will yield the subsequent ones as listed in these 
ten PAsurams and yield Moksha saamrajyam and thereby the eternal service at 
His lotus feet for ever. Also His using Saadhikkalame.. and Or karumam- 
means that only Prapatti [Saranagathy] (refer to Pasuram 6) (for those who 
can not do Bhakti Yogam (as mentioned in Pasuram 7) can lead to moksham and 
eternal service at His Feet.

PeriyAzhwAr ThiruvaDigalE SaraNam
Regards
Namo Narayana
dAsan

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