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The Story of Tondar-adipOdi: Conquest of ?kaama?
   ------------------------------------------------ 
   through Reduction (?unification?) of Desire --
   ----------------------------------------------
           ?karma yOga?  (continued from Part 20)
           ----------

The story of Vipranarayana's transformation from a
complete moral wreck back once again to the state of a
redeemed and rejuvenated saint is a truly miraculous
story indeed. It is a story about how the AzhwAr was
led astray by one "kaama" too many; and how when the
other "kaama" was eventually restored to a righteous
unity, Vipranarayana re-discovered his true passion,
his one true "kaama" in life -- all the love and
devotion he had always nurtured in his heart for the
Deity of SriRangam. It is a poignant story-line quite
redolent of the leitmotif of the TiruppAvai captured
in that single magnificent line: "maRRai nam kaamangaL
maaRRu".

                  ************* 

When the king of SriRangam threw Vipranarayana into
jail, little did he realize that the deed would enable
him to witness God's miracle.

Vipranarayana did not have very long to languish in
jail. 

One night, the King had a vivid, surreal dream. The
Deity of Srirangam appeared and began to converse with
the king: "My devotee Vipranarayana has received no
justice from you. But the fault is not yours either
since it is We who have chosen to play a miracle that
would redeem our beloved devotee and bring him back to
Our Fold. Vipranarayana is innocent. The temple-goblet
was not stolen. It is we -- Ranga and our Consort,
Ranganayaki -- who chose to appear in earthly manner,
take out our golden goblet and offer it as wage in
return for Devadevi's services to our Vipranarayana.
We did so for our Pleasure, for our Purpose, and both
of which have now been served. We hence command you to
release our dear devotee, Vipranarayana, forthwith and
seek his pardon". 

The King awoke from the dream in cold sweat with his
heart in his mouth. Its vividness convinced him that
it was truly Lord Ranganatha, the Almighty Himself,
who had chosen to convey a message through him to
Vipranarayana. Immmediately, the king hastened to the
royal dungeons, ordered the release of Vipranarayana
and after narrating to him the miraculous dream he had
had, the king sought pardon.

                      ************

Set free and now finding himself suddenly a wholly
liberated man, Vipranarayana was shaken to the very
roots of his being. It was a moment of truth and
revelation. It was a moment of catharsis. It was a
moment of absolution for him....

In a great wave of recollection and remorse,
Vipranarayana realized the true significance of what
had happened. The Almighty had played a miracle upon
him to let him know that he, the wretch that he was,
yet was not beyond redemption. His soul could yet be
saved, if only Vipranarayana could truly repent and
atone for his transgressions of recent years. There
was hope certainly if only his "other desire" ("maRRu
oru kaamam") were to be discarded forever to allow his
heart yet again to be unified with his original
passion for the Lord ("nam kaamam")!

                    ************

Vipranarayanan rushed to the sanctum of the SriRangam
temple and there beheld the beauteous form of the Lord
in all its majesty and glory! He exulted! He sensed an
enormous surge of freedom coursing through his veins!
It was as if a great and malevolent burden upon him
had been lifted, letting his spirit soar towards
empyrean heights! IN the very first stanza of his
great Tamil work of mystic and devotional fervor, the
inward joy of spirit felt by the AzhwAr as he beheld
Truth, deeply resonate in the words:

kaavalil pulanai vaiththuk* kalithannaik kadakkap
paaynthu,*
naavalittu uzhi tharukinROm* naman thamar thalaikaL
meethE,*
moovulaku uNdu umizhntha* mudhalva! nin naamam kaRRa,*
aavalip pudaimai kaNdaay* arangamaa nakar uLaanE!    

                                   (1 - tirumaalai)

               ***************

He craved divine forgivance. He swore that to atone
for his sins, he would all his life serve the pilgrims
who came to worship at the SriRangam temple. He would 
feed them and administer to their every other need.
And, in return, he would ask for nothing else but to
be able to sip a few drops of the water that washed
the dust off their feet as daily sacrament.

True to his word, Vipranarayana lived such a life at
SriRangam until the very end of his days on earth.
Thus, did Vipranarayana become "Tondar-adi-podi"
AzhwAr --- he who "held sacred the dust from the feet
of Ranga's pilgrims".

            ******************

In the TiruppAvai of ANdal when the "aaypaadi" girls
sing out that great poetic refrain "maRRai nam
kaamangaL maaRRu" and beseech the Almighty to
"transform the desires that might lead them astray",
it is to the tumultous example and life-events in the
story of Sri Tondar-adi-podi AzhwAr that our minds
forthwith leaps, recollects and then rejoices! 

               *****************
               (to be continued)

Regards,
dAsan,
Sudarshan 






                
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