Supernal Rhapsody
Nalayira Divya Prabhandham represents ecstatic outpourings in the form of hymns
sung by Vaishnava Azhwars in different era in praise of Lord Vishnu manifesting
himself in temples under different names belonging to the days of yore. The
reputation of undertaking the onerous task of compilation and codification of
hymns goes to the great Acharya, Sri Nathamunigal whose native place is
?Kattumannargudi? then called ?Veeranarayanapuram? in South Arcot district. He
had the divine guidance and command of Lord Aravamudhan, the presiding deity of
Kumbakonam, to take up this stupendous venture for the benefit of the then
humanity and the posterity. Tehse verses are considered to be an
understandable Tamil interpretation of the Vedas and a treasure of immense
esoteric value.
In order of classification Sri Nathamunigal, as ordained, has given
the top priority to the hymns of Sri Vishnu Chitta later called ?Periazhwar?,
a native of SriVilliputhur. While on a purposeful visit to Madurai Vishnuchitta
had the vision of Lord Narayana in the firmament seated on His vehicle,
?Garuda? with Goddess Lakshmi occupying the right side of His broad chest and
the Conch and Chakra held on either hands. The resplendent radiance of the Lord
with His inseparable consort and His weapons with added luster, made Sri
Vishnuchitta think that it would spell evil eye and also to avail the unique
privilege of blessing the Lord, Goddess Lakshmi, His discus and conch with an
infinite life which has no specific duration.
Sri Vishnuchitta has concentrated his Bhakthi towards Lord Krishna
describing His antics, pranks and gambol in different stages of His growth. His
hymn on Lord Krishna starts from ?Thirukottiyur? where the presiding deity is
Lord Madhava whom Sri Vishnuchitta considered as the Lord of Dwaparayuga. We
can draw logical conclusion that Periazhwar chose ?Thriukottiyur? to begin
with, for singing the celestial hymns in praise of Lord Krishna may be
attributable to the fact that the Holy place going to be further famous
providing nucleus for the propagation of essential religious concept of
Vaishnavism viz., ?Thirumandiram? at a later date by no less a person than Sri
Ramanuja who with a laudable object made it available to one and all
irrespective of Caste or Creed to enter the Kingdom of Sriman Narayana
notwithstanding his preceptor, Sri Thriukottiyur Nambi?s statutory to keep it a
top secret.
Sri Vishnuchitta describes vividly the gaiety and the happy state
of mind of the Cowheads and their maidens on the day Lord Krishna was born in
their midst and his subsequent sports while growing as it appeared before his
mental screen. The Azhwar takes the readers to that realm where his divine
emotive expression created ecstasy so as to make them also enjoy and experience
the inexplicable beatitude along with him.
On hearing the happy news of the birth of ?Kesavanambi? (Lord
Krishna), the entire population of Cowherds colony lost their mental equipoise
owing to their reaching the pinnacle of mirth resulting in running hither and
thither in a spirit of rapture. It could be called a divine frenzy as they
wandered without knowing to express their jubilation.
Some of them on seeing the divine child commented ?Is there
anything in this world that could be an object of comparison with Him!?.
Vishnuchitta in his hymn mentions the birth start of the newborn in the nature
of a riddle. i.e. ? The tenth day from the start Hastham which reveals the star
?Sravanam?. Thus masquerading the real birth star of the child which is
?Rohini? obviously to confuse the demon King Kamsa who had been forewarned
about his end by one who was born under the star ?Rohini?. We see Sri
Vishnuchitta?s extreme ?Bhakthi? by recalling what had happened in
?Dwaparayuga?, himself living in Kaliyuga forgetting about his being so.
In the colony of cowheards there was plenty of milk, curd and
butter that were their mainstay and wealth. The maidens in their exuberant
mirth and revelry threw the milk and its products to one another completely
unaware of their hair plaits getting disheveled and becoming unkempt. Lord
Krishna now as an infant was watching the whole fun and frolic with His
handsome smiling countenance so as to make the innocent folk to enjoy
themselves to their hearts content.
When the child Krishna was given a bath as per practice Yasodha
used apiece of turmeric to clean his tongue, she was bewildered to see seven
worlds in His mouth. The Gopis talked to one another that He was not an
ordinary child, but concluded that He is a divine incarnation.
It was twelfth day when there was a purification ceremony of the
chamber in which the child was born. The entire population of the Cowherd?s
colony engaged themselves in beautifying the whole area with flags and festoons
in order to celebrate the occasion. When the divine child was laid in to the
small golden cradle inset with diamonds and invaluable gems He kicked the
frames with His tiny legs that made the cradle fell down into pieces when some
maidens lifted to fondle Him, they had their hips other joints feel the twings
and the ache. Each one of them had a story to tell and was describing her
personnel experience to the other.
After a visit to a temple and offering worshipping at the shrines
each one of us comment about the beautiful features of the deity in the form of
icon. Likewise when Yashodha after giving the child a bath put it on rest in a
bed, the damsels were carried away by the infant?s beautiful and sharp eyes the
smiling face and the prominent nose. Sri Vishnuchitta expresses how he could
narrate the delectation of the womenfolk. The exhilaration of the ladies was
such that even the entire sea as Cauldron cannot hold it. Every physical
movement of the divine child stole the hearts of the unlettered cow maids.
While the child was moving about on its fours, the style of His looks, His
suckling posture, by raising the legs that measured the three worlds, to mouth
holding them fast with His hands created and inexplicable delight among the
Gopis. One lady pointed out with astonishment the uniform alignment of the
toes, which is uncommon among mortals. Some among them tried to made the
child going sleep by means of Lullaby.
The dusk brings happiness to one and all by the appearance of the
moon during its gradual waxing period and with a view to showing its full
appearance to the child, the moon comes in a haste clearing the impediments
that were in the form of passing clouds. On looking at the moon in its
entirety, the divine child calls it to come near with its supple fingers when
Yashodha cautions that moon ? Do not deride the child under the impression that
He is just like any other; He is none but the same baby who had a banyan leaf,
as his bed at the time of deluge; should you dismiss and entertain any doubt
that He is after all a small kid, you can have the veracity of the truth He
grew taller than anything in this World, checked out by King Mahabali?.
When the infant became a toddler the Cow maids enjoyed His waddle
and called the others to witness the beauty of His gait; certain of them
commented that this little lion club is the same ?NRISHIMHA? who came out of
the pillar and dismembered the demon king; certain of them watched the
footprints of the child and found the impression of conch and discus in them.
Lord Krishna when grew up as an adolescent, went to the forest
behind Cows along with the boys of the colony to graze the cattle. While
returning home just before dusk, the fatigue was noticeable with His black
complexioned body crust with full of dust over the sweat which instead of
making him look unclean added further elegance to the divine youth?s frame.
When there was a delay in his returning home with His retinue the Gopis were
fidgety for a while and heaved a sigh of relief on seeing Him.
The enchanting dulcet sound produced by the Lord from His flute
made the maidens of the colony to leave their domestic chores abruptly and to
proceed towards the direction from which the musical note wafted through the
air.
The divine escapade of Lord Krishna has been given by Sri
Vishnuchitta comprehensively in different stages of His growth and what is
given in this article is a capsule. Periazhwar?s Hymns are panacea for all the
ills, according to our great Acharyas
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