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?PRESENT CONTINUOUS? AND ?PAST PERFECT?
(Anbil Ramaswamy)
=============================================================

All of us know the difference in grammar between ?Present Continuous? and 
?Past Perfect?.

But, do you know how the difference becomes applicable as between our 
Azhwaars?

When you refer to a person who is a habitual couch potato, or an inveterate 
sleeper, you call that person as ?One who continues to be lazy all the 
time?. This is a perfect example of ?Present Continuous?.

At the other end of the spectrum, we find that Azhwaars ?continue to be 
immersed in ?Bhagavad GuNa Anubhavams? all the time?. And, that is why, 
perhaps, they are called Azhwaars (aazhwaargaL) - an expression in the 
?Present Continuous?.

This also lends itself to the view that these Saint-Poets ?continue? to save 
us from the cycle of births and deaths by teaching us the means to attain 
Godhead through their classic outpourings called ?AruLicheyals? in a way 
that we could easily understand, citing anecdotes that we can readily relate 
to.

These are considered even more valuable than the Vedas. Why?

The Veda Samhitas called ?authorless?  (a-pourushEyam) the later 
BraahmaNaas, AraNyakas (Forest scriptures) and Upanishads also known as  the 
end of the Vedas (Veda- antha) that came out in the form of Question and 
Answer in intimate sessions  by the Maharishis who became the seers of hymns 
(Mantra dtrishTas) for clearing the doubts and concerns of Sishyas.

How did they become seers?

They acquired this accomplishment only after undergoing strenuous efforts 
(Tapas), concentration, meditation etc. And, their works were open only to a 
select few born in the so-called higher VarNas well versed in the divine 
language (Deva baasha)

But, the Divya Prabhandams (Divine lyrics) of Azhwaars are the result of the 
immaculate wisdom bestowed on them by Bhagavaan himself of his own volition 
(mayarvara mathinalam aruLinan) for the benefit of entire humanity without 
any discrimination on grounds of VarNa, age or sex, in a language that the 
commoner could easily understand.

(Of course, due to the constant evolution of language, the Tamil of the days 
of Azhwaars may appear to some modern readers as a little difficult to 
follow ? but perhaps, not as difficult as the Deva Baasha of Sanskrit 
especially for those who have had no exposure to that language)

PAST PERFECT
There is however, one unique personality in the galaxy of Azhwaars who 
doubles as an ?Avataara?.

Before identifying who this is, let us discuss an example of ?Past Perfect?.

A poor man had fixed the wedding of his daughter. He did not have the 
wherewithal to celebrate the marriage. He approached his friend who was not 
only rich but was also of a philanthropic attitude and a ?man of word? who 
was never known to retract from his pledge.

When the poor man put forward his request the rich friend, without any 
hesitation, assured saying: ?Don?t worry. You can go rest, taking comfort in 
the thought that marriage is as good as already celebrated ? an assurance of 
a ?fait accompli?.

This is for all intents and purposes a case of ?Past Perfect?.

Now, coming back to our thread on the Azhwaar who doubles as ?Avataara?, you 
may have guessed it by now.

It is none other than our dear divine mother, ?gOdhaa piraaTTi? known as 
?ANDAAL?- meaning ?One who had ruled over?. By her nectarine Tiruppavai and 
Nachiyaar Tirumozhi, she not only ruled over Tamil language, not only over 
ChEtanas like us but she also ruled over the Lord through both her garland 
of flowers (Poomaalai) and garland of poems (Paamaalai).

Not only did she rule over all these during her sojourn on earth (being the 
reincarnation of Mother Earth), she continues to do so, to this day and will 
continue to do so - for all time to come. (Present Continuous!).

That is probably why she is considered as one of the Azhwaars. In fact, she 
is known as the heiress to the glorious tradition of Azhwaars who preceded 
her as well as those who succeeded her.

Thus, she represents both ?Past Perfect? and ?Present Continuous? in 
grammatical parlance!






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