||    Thirukkurnthaandakam of Thirumangai Azhwaar    ||

In an earlier posting, I mentioned that I will cover the two Thaandakams of Thirumangai. Thirukkurnthaandakam (TKT) has 20 moving verses celebrating the rakshatvam of Sriman Narayana and the Maha Viswasam of the Azhwar. After his deep immersion in the mysteries of the Ashtakshara Maha Mantram of the Lord and after visiting the many Divya Desams, at the end of Periya Thirumozhi, Thirumangai is in a mellow mood. In the pasurams of his Periya Thirumozhi, he expressed his fear of being caught in the snares of Samsara and rebirth and cried aloud for the Lord's boon of Moksham. The Lord wanted to enjoy few more Pasurams from his dear Bhaktha and therefore did not respond to the fervent plea of the Azhwar. In his desperation, the Azhwar engaged in a strenous effort to enjoy the auspicious qualities of the Lord by mind, body and speech in TKT and declared his utter servitude to Him under all circumstances. As a result of this exercise, he got his boon of Moksham and overcame the afflictions of Samsara. He continued on in TNT and although there is no clear proof, TNT might have been the last work of Thirumangai judging from the mood of the two Thaandakams.

Another school of thought centers on the theme that Sriman Narayana blessed the Azhwar at the end of Composing Periya Thirumozhi and presented himself before him and blessed him. This school believes that the joyous outpourings of the Azhwar in TKT is a reflection of the ecsatatic state and the mindset of the Azhwar. Independent of the correctness of one point of view or the other, the verses of TKT are testimony to the unshakable belief of the Azhwar in the Rakshakatvam and Bhaktha Vaatsalyam of Sriman Narayana. TKT also houses the Mangalasaasanam of the Azhwaar for the Archamurthys of Srirangam, Thirukkudanthai, Thirupper Nagar, Venkatam, Thirukkandiyur, Thirukkadanmallai, Kacchi and Thirumayyam. The Azhwaar seems to point out that the Murthy Jnanam is essential even after understanding the means (Upaayam) and Target (Upeyam) aspects of Saranagati. There are pasurams in TKT that capture the mood of Nirvedam, where the Azhwaar laments over the time lost in chasing the transient pleasures of life instead of reflecting on the holy feet of the Lord. Like Nammazhwaar, He recognizes that the thought of the Lord and the experience of His Kalyana Gunaas are his food and Water (UNNum Sohr and Paruhum Neer). His celebration of the Bhakti Yogam in one of the Pasuram is a marvel from the point of succinct capture of the essence of this Yogam. He answers the Rg Vedic Question: Kasmai Devaaya Vidhema. To Which god shall we offer our offerings and obesiance is the question raised by the Rg Veda mantra. Like Nammazhwaar, Thirumangai states unambigouosly that Sriman Naryana is the God, who is the supreme principle and the adoration of HIM is the highest rite (charya) to enjoy Moksha Sukham (eternal bliss).

In the following sections, I will focus on the highlights of the twenty pasurams of TKT.

FIRST VERSE:
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It is a marvel from the poetic point of view. The rhyming is perfect. The first word of each of the four lines of this Pasuram rhymes perfectly with one another, while incorporating deep meanings inside them. The words are Nidhiyinai, Gathiyinai, Mathiyinai and Vidhiyinai.

He equates in the first word of TKT that the Lord is like a Nidhi in the spirit of Upanishad that described the Lord in his Antharyami state as Hiranya Nidhi or the golden Treasure.

The Second line starts by pointing out that he is the Gathi. This word Gathi is a Sanskrit word originating from the Root Gum, which means accessible, approachable, fit to be practised or aspired as the ultimate goal of one's existence on this earth. It also means the supreme Lord, who is the one, who creates and protects all Jivans and blesses one with Jnana.

The third line of the first Pasuram starts with the Word Mathiyinai. AaLum mathiyinai is the context in the Pasuram line. The reference in one intrepretation is to Varaha Sarama Slokam, where he says "Aham Smaraami ". Mathi stands for mind or mental disposition. His mind set is to think of his Bhaktha at the time, when latter is like a stone or wood during the last moments of his life and is unable to think of the Lord. He not only thinks of His Bhaktha at that time, but leads him to Vaikutam by hand.

The last line starts with the word Vithiyinai. Vithi stands for the Parama Purusha or Devathidevan. Azhwaar Qualifies this PeraruLaLan as "EN MANATTHU VANDHA VITHIYINAI ". He describes the Lord as the one, who enthroned Himself in his mind and sanctified it. The Azhwaar says that he conducted Mangalaasaasanam for the Lord residing in his mind and prostrated before Him through the words "Vaazhtthi VaNangi". He concludes this sublime pasuram by stating that he will never ever leave that Lord, whom he has discovered as the resident of his heart and to whom he has saluted and offered his deep devotion. He says "Thondanehn Viduhileneh". I, your servant will not let go of your holy feet . Mahaviswasam of the Azhwaar is abundantly clear here.

SECOND VERSE:
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This one also has similar meaningful rhymes at the beginning of each line. The words are KaaRRinai, YeRRinai, AaRRinai and KooRRinai. KaRRu stands for the Lord, who is the force behind the wind or Vayu or KaRRu. He is the force by which the wind blows, the water wets and the fire burns according to the Upanishads.

YeRRInai stands for the Sanskrit word "PURUSHARSHABA" or the bull among men or the Parakramasaali. Thirumangai saluted Vijaya Raghavan of Thirupputkuzhi as "PoReRu" or as the valorous Bull of Thirupputkuzhi. Following along these lines, Swami Desikan saluted the PoReru of Thirupputkuzhi as Aahava Pungavan and RaNapungavan. Thirumangai has the Rakshakatvam of Vijayaraghavan in mind here in the spirit in which Hanuman saluted him in Sundara Khandam:

"Baahucchaayam Avashatbdho Yasya Loko Mahaatmana:"

Hanuman says that Raman is the One powerful Lord , who with the shadow of his hand offers protection to the whole world from all types of Fears. Thus YeRRinai stands for the Lord"s mighty Valour to rescue the
Prapannas from all kinds of calamities.

(Inba) AaRRiniai is the beginning of the third line of the Pasuram. Here, He is saluted as the Bliss-yielding River of Nectar or Aaraavamudan. Here, Azhwaar recognizes the Lord as the first and foremost essence of life, the life giving, thirst quenching, the blissful nectar as.visualized by the Rg Veda Mantram(I.31.1) .

(avuNan Aaruyir Unda) KooRRinai is the first word of the fourth line of the second Pasuram of TKT. KooRRu stands for Yaman or the one, who takes away life. Here the Lord's destruction of the evil ones like Hiranya Kasibhu is referred to. Here the Dushta Nigraham aspect of the Lord is saluted.

After Praising the Antharyaamitvam, Valor, Blissful nature and the Power to destroy evil ones, Azhwaar converses with his mind and asks it to persist in offering praise to the Lord of so many auspicious attributes.

THIRD VERSE:
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Here, Azhwaar says that he prostrates before the Lord of Thirumaalirumsolai to the limits of his physical strength. The first Pasuram dealt with Maanasa Kainkaryam. The Second covered the Vaachika Kainkaryam. The third Pasuram concludes with the Kaayika Kainkaryam. Thus, Azhwaar salutes the Lord through his Mind (Manas), Speech (Vak) and Body (Kaayam).

FOURTH and FIFTH VERSES:
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The full blossoming of the Bhakthi of the Azhwaar is revealed here. In the fourth verse, Azhwaar declares like his Guru Nammazhwar that Lord is the "UNNum Soru", his food. He says that the spontaneous mercy (Avyaaja Karuna) of the Lord permitted him to " devour " Him, when he presented Himself before the Azhwaar. In the fifth Pasuram, Thirumangai states that the Lord is the "Paruhum Neer", the water that he drinks.Since the Lord is the Unsatiable Nctar (Aaraavamudan), Azhwaar says that he devours that nectar of adrink ceaselessly.

SIXTH VERSE:
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Lord"s Paratvam (Para vasudeva Tattvam) and Sowlabhyam (Easy accessibility) are saluted here. Azhwaar describes the Lord of Thirukkudanthai with choice eulogies and then says that both he and the Bhakthas are at a loss to find words to adequately praise Him.

SEVENTH and EIGTH VERSES:
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Sri Ranganathan and the Lord of Thiruvenkatam are saluted here. The greatness of Bhagavathas are also saluted by the Azhwaar, who declares that the feet of the Bhagavathas of the Lord always adorn his head. In the Eigth verse, he pities those, who do not understand the uniqueness of the Bhagavathas or their relationship to the Lord have wasted their lives as Human beings and may as well be born as birds or animals. Azhwaar is disgusted with such people.

NINTH VERSE:
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Here he thinks that life spent among the unfortunate people like the ones described above is like an ant caught between the fire at both the end of the stick and that he will stay away from such people and seek only the Lord as his company always.

TENTH VERSE:
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Here Azhwaar calls with affection the Lord as "EN Attha", my affectionate Master.He confesses that he mind is unsteady and runs from one thought to the other. What can I do? Please bless me to have unwavering devotion to You and You alone! My father! I do not know of
anything other than eternal servitude to you.

ELEVENTH VERSE: Here, the Azhwaar begs the Lord to bless him so that his Mind, Speech and the Limbs will be engaged in HIS service forever.

TWELFTH VERSE:
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This is a grand verse or a verse with ennobling thoughts. His humbleness/Helplessness (Kaarpanyam) blossoms into the next stage of Saranagathi , Viz., Mahaviswaasam. He says: Me , the Egotist , who is not pure of thought with my unclean body and mouth recited HIS ancient and Sacred Mahamantram. I was afraid of having engaged in reciting His Mantram in my unclean, unfit state. To my utter surprise, the most merciful Lord appeared before me and told me not to be afraid. I was overcome by this experience and closed my eyes out of fear. Lo and Behold! He entered into my closed eyelids and appeared before my eyes there. Here, he points out that the Lord is resident at Srirangam to give hope to people that they do not need to worry about their state of perfection and that he will bless them and come to their side , when they make even a meager effort.

THIRTEENTH VERSE:
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Here the Azhwar describes his experience after the Lord appeared to him as he closed his eyes in fear. He says that he "devoured" the beauty of the Lord, who showed up inside his closed eyelids. He confesses that he was afraid that the appearance of the Lord would evaporate and disappear like the water, when hot iron is dipped into it .Instead, he says that the "hot and thrilling "experience of the Lord's appearance inside his closed eyelids stayed there and caused the utter destruction of his ancient sins. The queasy thought of his unfitness to utter the Lord's name disappeared. He says that a great desire rose inside him to open his eyes and enjoy the beauty of the Lord of Srirangam. He says that his sins were gone now and that he became engaged in the delectable experience of tasting the physical beauty of Lord Ranganatha.

FOURTEENTH VERSE:
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In this verse, he thinks of the Lord of Thirukkudanthai and laments over the days of yore lost in chasing worldly pleasures instead of spending his time reflecting on the supreme principle resting on the bed of Adisesha on the banks of holy river Cauveri. He experiences the mood of Nirvedam here.

FIFTEENTH AND SIXTEENTH VERSES:
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In these two pasurams, Azhwaar is in an exalted mood of offering Kainkaryam to the Lord. He thinks of incidents related to the Vibhava Avatharams of the Lord. He offers first Snaana Alankaram and then Garland alankaram. In the 15th pasuram, he thinks of Ramaavatharam and the incidents of Sundara Khandam. That thought elvates his sense of Bhakti to the Lord in the spirit of the statement "Bhakthyaa Saastraath Vedmi Janardhanam". That heightened Bhakthi leads to Jnanam, which took the form of scent-laden, perfumed water fit for the Thirumanjanam of the Lord. Azhwaar says that he conducted Thirumanjanam (Snaanaalankaram) for the Lord with that perfumed water constituted by Divya Jnanam. In the 16th verse, He decorates the Lord with exquisite flower garlands made up of his words serving as the fragrant flowers. He says " Emperumaanaarkku Ennudai SorkaL ennum Thuya Maalai Kondu Sootuvan Thondanehneh. "

SEVENTEENTH VERSE:
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Here, the Azhwaar expains his positon based on his knowledge of the Saastraas. He says that the Gopis got the boon of Moksham by kainkaryam to the Lord; others got the same result by baiting the Lord like Sisupaalan; Kamsa reached the Lord through his fear and constant thoughts based on his fear of HIM. As for himself, Azhwaar reveals that he will follow the route of Bhakti and Prapatti instead of the other routes. He recommends the same approach to us out of his concern for us as our Achaarya.

EIGHTEENTH VERSE:
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Here, Thirumangai celebrates Bhakthi Yogam and the Ashtaanga Yogam that precedes it. This Jewel of a Pasuram on Bhakti Yogam can also be considered as an indeirct mangalaasaasanam of Deepaprakasan (ViLakkoLi Perumal). He reveals that the final stage (Dhyaanam) of the Ashtaanga Yogam (Yama, Niyama, Aasana,Praanaayama, Pratyaahaara, Dharana and DHYANA) , RESULTS in the visualization of the resplendent Lord (Darsana Samanaakaaram). The successful practioners of Bhakthi Yogam thus enjoy the Lord as a Splendid and bright flame of a lamp in their minds(fruits of of Savikalpa Samaadhi).

NINETEENTH VERSE:
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The Sarvesvara Tattvam of the Lord is saluted by the Azhwaar in this Pasuram. He salutes Hara Saapa Vimochana Murthy of Kandiyur Divya Desam along with the presiding Archa Murthys of other sacred sites such as Srirangam, Thirumeyyam, Kanchi, Thirupper and Mallai. From the incomplete Darsana Samanaakaram state (resembling direct seeing) of Bhakthi Yogam, the Azhwaar goes on to the ACTUAL experience of feasting one's eyes on the Subhaasrayam (Thirumeni) of the Archamurthys of the different Divya Desams.

TWENTIETH VERSE (PALA SRUTI PASURAM):
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In this concluding verse, Azhwaar points out the benefits of recfiting the twenty verses of TKT. He touches on the Nityasuri tattvam in this verse. Our Sampradhaayam asserts that the Nityasuris are blessed to enjoy the same measure of Aanandham as the Lord Himself enjoys at Srivaikuntam. Azhwaar states that the recitation of the 20 verses of TKT would result in one attaining the state of Nityasuri , which leads one to enjoy Brahmaanandam at the same level enjoyed by Sri Vaikunta Naathan.

Thirumangai Mannan Thiruvadigaleh Saranam

Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan

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