||     BhUthatthAzhwAr     ||

The second of the three Mudhal Azhwaars was born at Maamalla Puram (Thirukkadanmallai Dhivya dEsam). He is recognized as the amsam of Gadhai (mace) of the Lord known as KoumEdhaki.He incarnated inside a Maadhavi (Kurukkatthi) flower during an Iyppasi avitta nakshathram day. Poygai was born the previous day, when the SravaNa nakshathram was in ascendance. Pey AzhwAr was born on the day after Bhootham, when Sathaya nakshathram was in ascendance. If Poygai had intuited the Lord's presence amidst them at the dEhaLi through transcendent knowledge (para Jn~Anam), Bhootham succeded in achieving the same result through maturing gnosis passing into devotion (para-Bhakthi). Bhootham saluted the Lord with another hundered verses set in anthAthi style, where the end (antha) of one passuram provides the beginning for the subsequent paasuram .This anthaathi style assures that there is no break in the chain of thought as one moves from one passuram to the next.

Dr.K.C.Varadachari has quoted the Gita SlOkam (XI.54) to compare the states of approach to the Lord by the three Mudhal Azhwaars this way: " Knowing , seeing and entering into Him with One's own entire being are the three processes that bear comparison with the three Azhwaars: Poygai, Bhootham and pEy". Poygai saluted the Lord as Ubhaya Vibhoothi Naathan and Sarva Seshi through his power of para-jn~Anam ;Bhootham described his anubhavam of the Lord as the para-bhakthi ( para-Jn~Anam transforming into supreme devotion) anubhavam.

Bhoothattaazhwaar performed mangaLaasaasanam for thirteen dhivya dEsams:
1. Ayoddhi
2. Srirangam
3. Thiruk-Kadanmallai Tala Sayanam
4. Thiruk-kudanthai
5. Thiruk-kOttiUr
6. Thiruk-kOvaloor
7. Thiru-Tanjai MaamaNikkOil
8. Thirut-TaNNkaal
9. Thiruneermalai
10. Thiruppaatakam
11. ThiruppaaRkkadal
12. ThirumaalirumchOlai
13. ThiruvEnkatam

Second ThiruvanthAthi
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The very first paasuram of Bhootham takes the same form of Poygai's first paasuram: "Devotion as the lamp-bowl, aspiration as ghee, the mind that has melted out of delight as the wick, with melting soul I have lit the bright flame of devotion to NaarAyaNA in the revealed Tamizh language in verse". Azhwaar describes himself as "Jn~Ana Tamizh purintha naan" (I who have chosen to construct a string of verses in Tamizh revealing supreme knowledge).

Illustrative paasurams of Bhootham revealing his para-Bhakthi
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In his third paasuram, Azhwaar describes the aprAkrutha dhivya lOkam of Sri Vaikuntam reached through supreme devotion (Para-Bhakthi): “Oh! What a great wonder! Those who worship the One and Only Lord resting on AdhisEshan at the milky ocean with fresh fragrant flowers are enabled to reach the self-effulgent Sri Vaikuntam, where nithyasooris reside. Even pristine dEvaas including Brahma have only heard about it as being such and such, but have never seen it (Sri Vaikuntam) even once"(Dr.V.N.VedAntha Desikan).

In his 20th paasuram, Bhootham refers to the two types of bhakthAs of the Lord, who are destined to enjoy the bliss of life (Bhagavath anubhavam). The first type gets freed from stigmas amd dhOshams and then engages in eulogy of the Lord according to the way shown by the saasthraas. The second type has jn~Anam about the sarva rakshaka Lord (NaarAyana sabdha-vaachyan) and comprehend the glories of His ThirunAmams and recite them .This type is propelled by Bhakthi Ruchi arising from poorva janma sukruthams (fruit of good deeds from previous lives).

Bhootham praises the fruits of prapatthi in the twenty third paasuram as the attainment of any boon one seeks (viz).,Isvaryam, Kaivalyam or Mosham itself.

In the thirty third paasuram, Azhwaar describes his blissful state through the engagement of his indhriyams in service to Him: "Oh Lord of Lakshmi! My heart rejoices because of being absorbed in You. My tongue (and speech) would revel in singing about Your holy feet. My whole body too revels in a dance of joy, circling round You and Your devotees, singing then the praise of Your lovable weapons, chakram, sankham etal –with abandon not minding what others would say ".

In the thirty seventh paasuram, AzhwAr performs upadesam for us: Out Lord's holy feet are very fit objects for our aarAdhanam. Those, who do not seek these holy feet for protection would be born again and again in this samsAram and lead lives filled with grief. He asks us to banish the vulgar pleasures of the world and choose instead a life devoted to BhagavannAma SankIrthanam at all times.

In the 44th paasuram, AzhwAr reveals that the Lord takes on His mighty shoulders the burden ( Bharam) of protection of those, who seek His lotus feet as refuge remembering His role as SaraNAgatha Rakshakan.

In the 46th paasuram, AzhwAr points out the action taken by the Lord for the benefit of those, who seek His holy feet as refuge. AzhwAr describes that the Lord has already taken His abode for our sake at ThirukkOttiyoor, Thiruvenkatam, ThirumAl-IrumchOlai and Thiruneermalai and is waiting for us at these dhivya desams.

In the ninety first paasuram, Azhwar gives us excellent advice for our upliftment: “Oh Men of the World! You go on committing various sinful acts that land you in cruel narakam. If You want to escape this fate, perform prapatthi at the feet of the Lord with an anjali. Do perform Prapatthi to our Lord, the most generous one, who will take care of you and grant you mOksham .The performance of the pracise of His sworn dharmam as Sarva Loka SaraNyan and Jagath Rakshakan pleases him immensely.

In the concluding 100th paasuram, AzhwAr makes the most moving appeal to the Lord and shows us the way as well to appeal to Him for gaining His grace:" Oh Supreme Lord with great attachment to Your devottes! Oh Lord of boundless greatness! Oh Lord of Nithyasooris! Oh 'wearer of lovable TuLasi garlands! Oh destroyer of the enemies of Your devotees! My love for You is not to stay within a limit. It does not remain contained. It flows over and throws me down senseless. Please note that this love will not subside except until I have Your darsana soubhAgyam. Hence, Please grant me that boon and bliss “(Dr.V.N.VedAntha Desikan)

BhUthatthAzhwAr ThiruvadigaLE saraNam

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