The Hindu : Peerless devotee of the Lord

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 23, 2002

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Peerless devotee of the Lord

CHENNAI NOV.23. There is a saying in the spiritual tradition that it is pardonable even if one does not remember the day of the incarnations of the Lord in the world but one should never forget the birth anniversaries of the saints and preceptors because it is through them that a layperson can approach God. The rich legacy they have bequeathed to humanity in the form of hymns and texts bears witness to their spiritual eminence and the special favour granted to them by the deities of the different abodes of the Lord.

The Azhwars of the Srivaishnava tradition are mystics who have adored the Lord in chaste Tamil verse and their hymns have been canonised in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, which is revered on a par with the Vedas. Though the Azhwars hailed from different social strata they belong to one community, that of devotees of the Lord, so much so, it is a sacrilege to make any distinctions. Tiruppan Azhwar, the ninth saint in the chronological order, came to be known by this name as he hailed from the clan of traditional singers, Panan. Born in Uraiyur he displayed remarkable devotion to Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam. Everyday he would station himself on the bank of the river flowing by the temple and sing with rapturous devotion, Veena in hand, but never dared to enter the temple precincts or go near the priests.

One day, however, he was so immersed in singing that he strayed close to the place where Lokasaranga Mamuni from the temple had come to fetch water for the deity's sacramental rituals. He admonished him to move away repeatedly but it fell on deaf ears, as he was lost in rapture. The priest became furious and flung a stone at him. Jolted to his senses he fled profusely apologising for his transgression. When the priest returned to the temple the Lord refused to accept his service for he had offended His dear devotee and ordered him to bring Panan to the temple with due respect.

In his discourse, Villivakkam Sri T.A. Varadachariar said the devotee who dared not enter the temple in his life till that day entered the sanctum sanctorum of Lord Ranganatha borne on the shoulders of Lokasaranga Mamuni and came to be hailed as Tiruppan Azhwar. It was divine dispensation that His sterling devotee should sing His glory in the hymn, the Amalanadipiran, in 10 verses as he beheld the Lord for the first time. This is the Azhwar's only hymn but its significance can be appreciated from the very fact that it gained the status of a canonical work.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Miscellaneous

Stories in this Section

The Hindu Crossword No. 7526

Solution to puzzle 7525

Peerless devotee of the Lord

dated November 23, 1952: Benedetto Croce passes away

dated November 23, 1952: Presentation to M.J. Gopalan

dated November 23, 1952: Britain supports truce proposal

Weather