Once JagathAcharyar Swamy Ramanuja was giving a discourse on the magnum opus “Nachiyar Thirumozhi ” from the 4000 Divya Prabhandam composed by Azhwars .
The disciples were engrossed with the inner meaning of “Nachiyar Tirumozhi ” a set of 143 divine verses that was composed by Andaal the only women saint among the Azhwars .
Mother Andaal’s eagerness to meet Lord Krishna is wonderfully described in these emotional outpourings .
Andaal attempts various methods to attain union with Lord Krishna which forms the major part of this epic ” Nachiyar Thirumozhi” .
Among these verses ,”Varanamaiyeeram ” is recited at all srivaishnava wedding ceremonies compulsorily . The divine verses narrate Mother Andaal’s experiences with her friends on her way to submit herself to the Lordships and thus fulfill her purpose of birth .
Another set of verses are chanted daily in Srivaishnava houses while offering the bhoga to the Lordships ..The verse goes like this ……in tamil
nAru narum pozhil mAlirunchOli nambikku
nAn…… nooru thadAvil vennai vAi nErindhu parAvi vaiththEn…
nooru thadA niraindha akkAra vadisil sonnEn……….
Aruthiruv udaiyAn endru vandhu evai kollungolO??
..In the above verses Andaal amma prays to Lord Sundararajan of “Thirumaliruncholai” a srivaishnava divya desam near Madurai .
She submits ..
Oh Lord !! I would place before your Lordships ,
One hundred vessels of butter and another one hundred vessels of nectarine sweet pudding ( Akkarav adishil …. Payasam of rice cooked in Milk with jaggery and ghee ) and If my Lord you accept them…..
I would place another one hundred thousand more …………………………..
(This Nooru Thada (vessel ) utsavam is celebrated to this day in Melkote at Mysore)
Swamy Ramanuja stopped at this verse . He looked at his disciples and said ..
Why not we proceed to this Holy shrine “Thirumaliruncholai” at once…
and carry out our Goddess Andaal’s wish ?
So saying this, they all rose and journeyed to the holy place and spread a great feast before the LORDSHIPS chanting the divine pasurams .
The occasion was too special for Swamy Ramanuja .
After completion , they proceeded to Srivilliputtur the appearance place of Goddess Andaal. With tears he submitted his prayer before her in giving him an opportunity to serve the Lordships with by offering the nectarine bhoga ….
As he entered the ardha Mandapam of Andaal’s temple , he was surprised to see Goddess Andaal eagerly waiting for him in person to appreciate for the services he rendered on her behalf to the Lordships at Thirumalirumcholai .
She moved out of the Inner sanctum and waited near the ardha Mantapam to greet her “elder brother ” for carrying out her task after the span of few centuries just as a responsible elder brother would fulfill the dear wishes of his younger sister.
She suddenly broke the protocol of archa silence and called Swamy Ramanuja as her annan ( brother ) .
She never went back into the sanctum and stays even today at the Ardha Mantapam with Her consort.
Ramanuja is therefore glorified with the title KOIL ANNAR .
With humble reverence , Swamy Ramanuja proceeds to Azhwar Tirunagari the appearance place of Swamy Nammazhwar and offers his obeisances to Lord Aadi deva perumal . Further he proceeds to Thirukkolur with the object of having darshan of Lord Vaithamanidhi Perumal .
Being the appearance place of Madhurakavi Azhwar it had special significance and is believed that one who reaches this place and has darshan of the Lord here seldom wishes to leave the place due to the incomparable divine beauty of the LORD at this place .
This is the place where Nammazhwar imagined himself as a beautiful maiden and sings the wonderful pasuram ..
Unnum sorum.. pasuram ……..
Recollecting the below sweet verses Swamy Ramanuja walking along with his disciples have Lord’s darshan . En route , all people from the nearby villages had arrived to seek Jagathacharyar blessings .Among them a lady humbly prostrated and offered obeisances . Swamy Ramanuja pleased with her devotion asked her as to where was she coming from.
The lady replied that she was leaving Thirukkolur once for all . Swamy Ramanuja smiled and quoted a line from Nammazhwar’s paasuram
and said my child !!
how is that when all women are waiting here to go to Thirukkolur whereas you have decided to leave the divine place……………..
My child !! You know ….Thirukkolur is a holy place and most sought by the devotees who rush to be among the wonderful people there worshiping the Lordships .
The lady who was glowing with effulgence replied eloquently in a free flowing and unimpeded manner a set of eighty rhetorical questions, which referred to various divine incidents in the lives of sages, saints and the Lordships on her eligibility to stay at Thirukolur .
In each of the questions she compares the depth of devotion displayed by the immortal characters and thus submits her ineligibility to worship the Lordships and had no right to expect that Lord would treat her in a special way.
This great work is called ” Thirukkolur Pen Pillai Rahasyam” written by the great Acharyar Swamy Thiruvaimozhi Pillai provides deep insights for a aspiring devotee to spiritually progress in a material world.
The 81 questions referred have been briefly reflected below along with english translations
( The inner meanings and reflections shared by advance devotees in their discourses shall be shared separately in the coming posts )
The Thirukkolur Pen Pillai Ammals questions ..…..
Holy sire !!!
What is my eligibity in staying at this holy place …??
Did I go on a holy mission like the great devotee Akrura ?
Azhaiththu varugiren endreno akroorarai pOle…
Did I entertain Vidhura in my home ?
Agamozhiththu vitteno vithurarai pole…
Did I cast off my body like the Rishi’s wife ?
Dhegaththai vitteno rishi paththiniyai pole…
Did I cause a demon Ravana to be killed like Sita
Dhasamuganai setrenO piraattiyai pOle…
Did I raise like the dead like Tondaman Chakravarthy
PiNam ezhuppi vittenO thoNdaimaanai pOle…
Did I offer a corpse like Ghantakarana
PiNavirundhittenO gantaakarNanai pOle…
Did I adorn Goddess Sita like Anusuya
ThaaikkOlam seydhenO anasooyaiyai pOle…
Did I seek a father like Dhruva
Thandhai engE endREnO Dhruvanai pOle…
Did I repeat the 3 lettered name like Kshatrabandhu
Moondrezhuththu sonneno kshathra bandhuvai pOle…
Did I get trodden like Ahalya
Mudhaladiyai petREnO agaligaiyai pOle…
Did I ripen while yet raw like Andal
Pinjaai pazhuththEnO aaNdaaLai pOle…
Did I glorify Lord Narayana like Peria Azhwar
Did I ransack religions like Thirumisai Azhwar ?
Aaraaindhu vittEnO thirumazhisaiyaar pOle
Did I realise LORDSHIPS as the subtlest like Nammazhwar
Avan (Naan) siriyan endREnO aazhwaarai pOle
Did I say anything like Kulasekhara Azhwar
Edhenum endreno kulasekararai pOle…
Did I say ! I pledge my word like little krishna
Yaan saththiyam endreno krishnanai pOle...
Did I give clues to Lord Rama like Kabandha
Adaiyaalam sonneno kabandhanai pOle…
Did I reveal secrets like Trijatha
Andharangam sonnenO thirijadaiyai pOle…
Did I recognize LORD like Mandodari
Avan dheivam endREnO mandodhariyai pOle…
Did I say know thee like sage Vishwamitra
Aham vEdhmi endREnO vishwaamiththirarai pOle…
Did I say I know “No god” like Madhurakavi Azhwar
ThEvu matRaRiyEnO madhurakaviyaarai pOle…
Did I give birth like Devaki
Dheivaththai petREnO dhEvakiyai pOle…
Did i say conceal thy discuss like vasudeva
Aazhi marai endREnO vasudhevarai pOle…
Did I bring up the cowherd like Yasoda
Aayanaai (Aayanai) valarthEno yasodhayai pOle…
Did I do a mite of service like the squirrels..
Anuyaathirai seydheno anilangalai pOle…
Did I take beaten rice like Kuchela
Aval poriyai eendhEnO kuchelarai pOle…
Did I bestow weapons like Agastaya
Aayudhangal eendheno agasthiyarai pOle…
Could I enter the war mentally like sanjaya
Andharangam pukkeno sanjayanai pOle…
Could I by works obtain bliss like Janaka
Karmaththaal petREnO janakarai pOle…
Did I bite the toe and see HIM like Kaliyan ( Thirumangai Azhwar )
Kadiththu avanai kandeno thirumangaiyaarai pOle
Did I become an Umbrella like Adhisheshan
Kudai mudhalaanadhu aaneeno ananthaazhwaanai pOle…
Did I carry HIM like Garuda
Kondu thirindhEno thiruvadiyai pOle…
Did I keep up the promise like Nampaduvan
Ilaippu vidaai theertheno nampaaduvaanai pOle…
Did I behold HIM in a nook like the foremost Azhwars
Idai kazhiyil kandEnO mudhalaazhwaargalai pOle…
Did I guard the two princess like sage valmiki
Iru mannarai petREnO vaalmeekarai pOle…
Did I offer the two garlands like Tondaradipodi Azhwar
Iru maalai eendhEno thondaradipodi Aazhwaar pOle…
Did I obtain truths like Thirukachi Nambee
Avan uraikka petREnO thirukkachchiyaarai pOle…
Was I absorbed into God like Tiruppan Azhwar
Avan mEni aanEno thiruppaanarai pOle…
Did I say send them like vashista
Anuppi vaiyum endREnO vasishtarai pOle……….
Did I worship sandals like Kongil Piratee
Adi vaanginEno kongil piraattiyai pOle…
Did I offer clay flowers like Kuruva Nambi
Mann poovai ittEno kurava nambiyai pOle…
Did I exclaim Oh ! The originator like Gajendra
Moolam endru azhaithEno gajaraajanai pOle
Poosa koduthEno kooniyai pOle…
Did I offer wreaths like Malakara
Did I keep my assigned place like Bharata….
Vaiththa idaththu irundhEno bharathanai pOle…
Did I serve on the way like lakshmana
Vazhiyadimai seydhEno lakshmananai pOle…
Did I land on the other shore like Guha
Akkaraikke vittEno guhaperumaaLai pOle...
Did I fight with the demon Jatayu ?
Arakkanudan porudhEno periyavudaiyaarai pOle…
Did I land on this shore like Vibhishina
Ikkaraikke sendrEno vibheeshananai pOle…
Did I offer sweet fruits like Sabari
Iniyadhendru vaiththEno sabariyai pOle
Did I say Here he is like Prahalada
Ingum undu endrEno prahlaadhanai pOle…
Did I hide Little Krishna like Dhadhibandha the cowherd
Ingillai endrEno Dhadhipaandanai pOle…
Did I go to the forest like Lord Rama’s followers
Kaattukku pOnEno perumaalai pOle…….
Did I proclaim discovery of Mother Sita like Hanumanjee
Kandu vandhEn endrEno thiruvadiyai pOle…
Did I relinquish both hands like Draupadi
Iru kaiyyum vittEnO Dhraupadhiyai pOle…
Did I say the excuse Milk boils over like Vaduga nambee
Ingu paal pongum endrEno vaduga nambiyai pOle…
Did I hold my throat like Selva pilai
Iru midaru pidiththEno Selva pillaiyai pOle…
Did I deserve the command STOP HERE as Idaiyaitrukkudi nambi
Nillena petrEno idaiyaatroor nambiyai pOle…
Did I carry the message He is dead like Marutiyandan
Avan pOnAn endrEnO maaruthi AndAnai pOle...
Did I go in pursuit like Nathamiunigal
Nedundhooram pOnEno naatha munigalai pOle…
Did I say I want HIM not like kuresa
Anukoolam sonnEno maalyavaanai pOle………
Did I refute Advaita like swamy Ramanuja
adadhwaitham vendrEnO emperumAnArai pOle…
Ananthapuram pukkEno aaLavandhaarai pOle…
Did I go to Anantapuram like Alavandar
Did I feel separation like Teyvavariyanden
Aariyanai pirindhEno dheivaari aandaanai pOle…
Did I compose Andhadee like Malyavan
Andhaadhi sonnEno amudhanaarai pOle…
Did I opine mere ocean roar like Mahapurna
SooLuravu kondEno thirukkottiyooraarai pOle…
Did I exact promise like Goshtipurna
yaan siriyan endrEnO Thirumalai nambiyai pOle…
Did I obtain mercy like a dumb person…
Uyiraaya petrEno Oomaiayai pOle…
Did I give up my body like Tirunariyurariyar
Udambai veruththEno thirunaraiyooraararai pOle…
Did I profuse insignificantly like srisailapurna
Sutri kidandhEno thirumaalaiyaandaanai pOle…
Did I force my finger into snakes mouth like Embar
Vaayil kaiyittEno embaarai pOle…
Did I vanquish a pundit by showing marks on arm like Bhattaraya
ThoL kaatti vandhEno battarai pOle
Did I seek secluded spot like Villiputhur bhagavathar
Turai veru seydhEno bagavarai pOle…
Did I jump into water like kannapurattammal……………..
On hearing these questions and her deep understanding , Swamy Ramanuja was thunderstruck. Swamy Ramanuja delivered a sweet discourse that made her reconsider her hasty decision in leaving the holy place .
The lady very respectfully offered obeisance’s to Swamy Ramanuja and requested Swamy to initiate a system to be adopted at the temple where the Lord is offered traditional poojas daily , fortnightly ,monthly and annual festivals with pomp and show .
This would increase the glory of the holy place and force the people to stay there forever .
Swamy Ramanuja ,Ammai along with the disciples entered the holy place Thirukolur The pious lady invited Swamy Ramanuja to her house and offered prasada to be honoured by Jagathacharya . Swamy gladly accepted the same .
Later all of them went to the temple at Thirukoloor and offered prayers to the Lordships.
Thus the glory of Thirukolur spread and the great spiritual treasure……
Thirukolur Penpillai rahasyam (Thirukkolur Ammal Varththaigal ) became a legendary guideline for ardent devotees seeking Lords lotus feet .
He blessed her and saw to that the due performance of all festivals connected with LORDSHIPS and Madhurakavi Azhwar are celebrated grandly as emphasised by shastras .
( The inner meanings and reflections shared by advance devotees in their discourses shall be shared separately in the coming posts in detail very soon by Acharyar’ s abundant mercy )
Adiyen Ramanuja dasan
Photos credits : Google images and social media pics uploaded by several devotees
Video credits : Thanks to “Sharp videos” / Thirukoshtiyar Vembu/ 4000 divyaprabhandam
