thandhaikAlil

thandhaikAlil

thiruvazhundhUr 1

1. tandai kAlil peruvilangu tALavizha naLLiruTkaN
vanda endai perumAnAr maruvininra oorpOlum |
mundivAnam mazhai pozhiya moovAvuruvil maraiyALar
andimoonrum analOmbum aNiyAr veedi azhundoorE ||

The divya dESa tErazhundoor is a city with beautiful streets and vaidika brAhmaNas who perform agnihOtra daily in three sandhyas. The clouds pour rains even before the yAga is completed. Here resides emberumAn who released the fetters of vasudEva when He was born in midnight.

This divya dESa is called tErazhundoor because the king uparicharavasu (who used to wander in the sky because of the power of his tapas) once gave an one-sided judgment when there was an argument between dEvas and riShis. The latter cursed him and he fell down with his chariot. This divya dESa is the place where the wheels of the chariot left their mark (tErazhundoor).

BagavAn is called Amaruviyappan since He released His father vasudEva from the fetters. The pASura itself starts with that episode.

mundi vAnam mazhai pozhiyum—It is said the rains pour because of yAgas. In tErazhundoor as soon as the yAga is completed the rain pours.

2. pArittezhunda paDaimannar tammaimALa bAradattu
tEril pAhanAyoornda dEvadEvan oorpOlum |
neeril paNaittaneDuvALaikku anjippOna kuruhinangaL
Aral kavuLODu arukaNaiyum aNiyAr vayal Soozh azhundoorE ||

The divya dESa tErazhundoor is rich with fertile fields where live big and small fishes. The birds called kuruhu come in groups to catch fish to feed their young ones when the big fish come they are afraid and run away; When the small ones come they catch and collect them in their beaks. Still they desire to catch the big ones and wait again.

In this divya dESa resides emberumAn who drove arjuna’s chariot for the foes to die even though they had big armies and huge arms, great enthusiasm to fight and win.

periyavAchchAn piLLai—The description of the kuruhu and fish has a deeper meaning—BeeShma and others of duyOdana’s army were mahArathas and athirathas etc. They thought ‘Well! We are great warriors and we should certainly reveal our valour and heroism in this war’. So thinking they would come near arjuna’s chariot but would soon turn back with fear in their hearts when they see kriShNa as charioteer.

Thus again feeling ashamed of their act they would again come near only to run away when arjuna’s chariot moves a little bit’.

3. SembonmadiL Soozh tennilangaikku iraivan SirangaL aiyiraNDum
umbar vALikku ilakkAha udirtta uravOn oorpOlum |
kombilArnda mAdavimEl kOdimEinda vaNDinangaL
ambarAvum kaNmaDavAr aimbAlaNaiyum azhundoorE ||

The swarms of bees settle on the kurukkatti trees to peck the tender leaves and drink honey from the flowers. After a sumptuous meal they like to sleep in a dark place. They find the locks of hairs of women of tErazhundoor a nice place to settle down.

Here resides emberumAn who once killed rAvaNa with brahmAstra by severing his ten heads .

aimbAl—Having five characteristics. It normally refers to the tresses of women—curly, dark, thick, scented and long flowing hairs.

4. veLLattuLLOr AlilaimEl mEvi aDiyEn manampuhundu en
uLLattuLLum kaNNuLLum ninrAr ninra oor pOlum |
puLLuppiLLaikku iraitEDi pOna kAdal peDaiyODum
aLLal Seruvil kayal nADum aNiyArvayalSoozh azhundoorE ||

tiruvazhundoor is a beautiful divya dESa with lots of water logged fields in which fish live abundantly. The birds in pairs go there in search of food for their young ones. Here resides emberumAn who lies on a tiny green banyan leaf as a tiny babe during praLaya. AzhwAr says He entered his mind in the same form. He entered his thoughts and eyes to stay there as He does in tiruvazhundoor.

5. pahalum iravum tAnEyAi pArum viNNum tAnEyAi
niharil SuDarAi iruLAhi ninrAr ninra oor pOlum |
tuhilin koDiyum tErtuhaLum tunnimAdar koondalvAi
ahilin puhaiyAl muhilEikkum aNiyAr veedi azhundoorE ||

In tErazhundoor all seasons appears as rainy season. During this time there will be smoke in the sky, dust everywhere and wind. The tall buildings have flags hoisted which flap in the wind creating an imaginary of wind blowing. There is smoke from the burnt ahil wood to dry the wet hair of ladies and there is dust from the running chariots on the streets.

Here resides emberumAn who is the controller of sun and the moon (pahalum iravum tAnEyAi); the Lord of uBaya viBooti (the created world and paramapada); who is both light and darkness (bright objects like stars and the dark night etc) .

niharil SuDarAi iruLAi—He reveals His bright form to the sAtvic people and remain dark (unknown) to the rajosic and tAmasic people.

Though He is all these He reveals His effulgent form in the archA roopa at tiruvazhundoor.

6. EDilangu tAmarai pOl SevvAi muruval SeidaruLi
mADuvandu en manam puhundu ninrAr ninra oor pOlum|
neeDumADattanichchoolam pOzha koNDal tuLitoova
ADalaravattu ArppuOvA aNiyAr veedi azhundoorE ||

emberumAn smiled sweetly like a lotus blooming with its wide spread petals. He came near me and entered into my mind. He desired to get me. He smiled. I felt enchanted at it waiting for such an opportunity He suddenly entered my mind. Again He smiled victoriously that He had got what He desired.

He resides in tiruvazhundoor where there are tall building with spikes fixed on the top of them. They prick the clouds and cause the rain. ‘Silaiyilangu maNimADattu uchchimiSai Soolam Sezhunkoondal ahaDu urinja’—(periya tirumozhi 3-9-4). The sound of music and dance and enjoyment of men and women adds to the tumult of thunder and rain.

7. mAlaippuhundu malaraNaimEl vaihi aDiyEn manam puhundu en
neelakkaNhaL panimalha ninrAr ninra oorpOlum|
vElaikkaDalpOl neDuveedi viNtOiSudai veN maNimADattu
AlaippuhaiyAl azhal kadirai maraikkum veedi azhundoorE ||

From this pASura for three pASuras AzhwAr suddenly gets nAyaki BAva.

parkAla nAyaki says ‘The tErazhundoor perumAn came to one to have samslESha in the evening. Then He lay on the bed of flowers and had samslESha. Can smslESha can be without vislESha? He thought of going away. Suddenly my blue eyes were filled with tears. He was moved by the sight and stayed for sometime.

The divya dESa is beautiful with long streets like a sea with banks on both sides. The white mansions touch the sky. The smoke from the sugarcane juice factories hide the sunlight. Such is the greatness of this city where He resides.

8. vanjimarungul iDainOva maNanduninra kanavahattu en
nenju niraiyakkaikooppi ninrAr ninra oor pOlum |
panjiyanna mellaDi nalpAvaimArhaL ADahattin
anjilambin ArppuOvA aNiyAr veedi azhundoorE ||

Here too AzhwAr speaks the language of a nAyaki. ‘He came in my dream. We had samslESha. My slender waist pained but my mind was filled with joy. I did anjali to Him who stood like a royal king in front of me’.

This is the divya dESa where beautiful damsels dance with soft feet where they wear anklets. The sound of the ornament fills the air. The dances never ceases so too the jingling sound.

9. en aimbulanum ezhilum koNDu ingEnerunal ezhundaruLi
ponnamkalaihaL meliveida pOna punidar oorpOlum |
mannum muduneer aravindamalar mEl varivaNDiSaipADa
annam peDaiyODuDanADum aNiyAr vayalSoozh azhundoorE ||

parakAla nAyaki continues—‘He came here yesterday only to rob my five indriyas; to steal my beautiful complexion and to cause my dress loose. He went away after causing this havoc on me’.

Where is He now? He is in tiruvazhundoor where the pairs of swans living in the deep lakes dance to the tune of bees that drink honey from the lotuses (in the lake) and sing.

pulan aindum—What does it mean by saying He robbed my five senses? Normally the sense organs eyes, etc. go outward towards the worldly objects. emberumAn made them turn away from them and employed their activities at Him.

kulaSEKara AzhwAr says in mukundamAla—‘jihvE keertaya kESavam muraripum chEtO Baja Sreedharam pANidwandwa samarchaya achyuta kathA StOtradvaya tvam SruNu kriShNam lOkaya lOchana dvaya harEr gachcha angri ugmAlayam jigra grANa mukunda pAda tuzhasim moordhan nama adhOkShajam’.—Oh! Tongue! Sing kESava. Oh! Mind! Think of murAri! Oh! Hands! Offer something to Sreedhara! Oh! Ears! Hear the stories of achyuta. Oh! Eyes! Look at kriShNa! Oh! Legs! Walk to the temple of hari! Oh! Nose! Smell the tuzhasi at mukunda’s feet! Oh! My Head! Bend and do namaskAra to adhOkShaja!

punidan—The word is used sarcastically. How is He pure when He has done all these damages to me?

10. nellil kuvaLaikaNkATTi neerilkumudam vAikATTa
alli kamalam muham kATTum kazhani azhundoor ninrAnai |
valli pOdumbil kuyilkoovum mangaivEndan parakAlan
Sollil polinda tamizhmAlai Solla pAvam nillAvE ||

In tiruvazhundoor the paddy fields have weeds of karuneidal flowers which resemble the eyes of beautiful women. There are lakes where the kumuda flowers look like their red lips. There are lotus ponds where flowers are identical with their faces.

Here resides emberumAn Amaruviyappan about where tirumangai AzhwAr has sung there ten pASuras. Those who read them will be rid of all their pApas.