Mangalam to
Ethiraja who
1) uprooted the six irreligious schools, which grew like wild
bush of plants
2) vanquished those who misinterpreted
3) removed completely the evils caused by Kali Purusha.
4) managed the rich ritualistic administration of Lord Ranganatha
5) interpreted Vedic Texts and scriptures correctly in his memorable
works like Sri Bashyam etc
6) spread the gospel of Nammazhvar's thoughts and scriptures
correctly as reflected in his
Prabandhams.
7) is born in holy Sriperumbudur to spread Dharma
8) shines with his beautiful Holy feet.
After praising the personality
of Ramanuja, in this stanza, MM glorifies his scholarly treatises
to
vanquish all rival schools of thought
by various means. This stanza summarizes the purpose of His Avatar.
At that time, various schools of thought were irreligious and
did not accept Vedic thoughts and others who though accepting
Vedic authority misinterpreted them. In the first line it is
stated that Ramanuja has charred the six irreligious schools,
which grew like wild bush, by uprooting hem completely.
The six schools referred to above
are 1) Sakya 2) Ulukya 3) AKSHA PADA (akshapaaatha) 4) Kshapana
5) Kapila 6) Patanjalai. In the second line Ramanuja is referred
to have vanquished the schools which misinterpreted Vedic texts.
Then Mamunigal refers that the evils of Kalipurusha have been
removed as a result of Ramanuja's birth and people in thousands
have been converted to righteous path. "kaliyum kedum"
is the popular Srisukthi appearing in Nammazhvar's stanza "poliga
poliga" conveying the above sentiment. In this stanza the
Birth of Ramanuja in the form of an idol as Bhavisyad Acharya
even before the birth of Nammazhvaar's idol is referred to and
hence the supremacy of Archa form of Ramanuja is unparalleled.
In the next line Mamunigal refers to the take over of Temple
administration by Ramanuja and his reforms effected in the administration
of rituals, which are followed even to day. Then Mamunigal refers
to the service rendered to Vaishnavism and how Ramanuja laid
the Vaishnavite thought on a solid foundation in his works like
Sri Bashyam, Vedartha Sangraham etc. In the next line Mamunigal
refers to Ramanuja's service in popularizing Nammazhwar's prabandhams
and how he directed Pillan to write a commentary on Thiruvaimozhi
which is the forerunner for several subsequent commentaries.
In the last two line MM concludes by glorifying the Birth place
Sriperumpudur and Ramanuja's Holy feet and concludes that the
ultimate surrender at His Holy feet which is the core of Vaishnavite
doctrine is his aim. In this it will be appropriate to cite Swamy
Desikan's Srisukthi expressed in Ethiraja sapthathi. Vide sloka
(39) mentioned below.
Ramanuja's Holy Birthplace is Sriperumpudur surrounded by fertile
lands with copious water supply wherein fishfolk thrive in abundance.
His birthday Star is Arudra. His Birthday signifies the extinction
of the doctrine of Sankara, Bhaskara etc. It is the day when
the glory of Vedas was revived. It is the day when the evils
associated with kaliyuga perished. It is the day when Bhoomi
Devi rejoiced for being unbuskered from the weight of evil doers.
It is the day when the teaching enunciated by Azhvars like Parakala,
Parankusha in their prabandams spread very widely. It is the
day when Divya Deshams like Srirangam prospered.
MM's Acharya Bhakthi is revealed
in various forms. After glorifying his personality, and the purpose
of his Avatar, he glorifies the Birthday with identical sentiments.
In upathEsaraththinamaalai MM describes his Birthday as follows.
Oh "Ethiraja,
How long shall I live in this world in human form. How, when
and at which place I will be freed from this human bondage is
not within my knowledge. As you only know about them, I beseech
your grace to free me from this human bondage and enable me to
attain Moksha. Kindly enlighten me why you are delaying to do
this.
MM after glorifying Eythiraja once
again refers to the topic of his anxiety for the delay in granting
his wish, which is the central theme of his prayers in this Prabandham.
(34)
"I will
liberate my devotees from the three kinds of sins they commit"
so spoke Ranganatha who is ever ready to comply with your wish.
I surrendered completely at your feet, as I know nobody else.
My sins are in abundance. Only by your recommendation I must
be liberated from my sins and sent to Moksha.
Sarva paapEpyO mOkshayishyaami"
is the esence of charamasloka for which the Lord is committed.
Sins are classified as poorvaagam, uththaraagam, and praarapthakarumam.
(I have dealt in detail about this in a separate article titled
"chEthanan ujjeeeeeevikkum vagaigaL" published in Sapthagiri
which may please be referred). MM says "paapathvaanNthakshayaaya"
ie. You are capable of liberating me from my sins in a moment.
So MM pleads to help him in this task fervently.
(35)
Oh Ethiraja,
you have been kind enough to take me under your care and afford
shelter to me. In spite of such a gesture from you even though
I fell an easy prey to the worldly pleasures due to ignorance,
I have been drawn to you by your grace. The most learned Kooresha
and his illustrious son Bhattar called themselves as worst sinners
out of humility. But in my case those pronouncements are true
and so you will place think about lifting me from my sins.
In kaNNinNun siRuththaampu Madhura
Kavigal says "seyal nNanRaagath thiruththip paNi koLvaan".
Likewise Ethiraja knows how to rerail the man who had gone astray
and help him to attain salvation. In Ethiraja Vimshathi MM echoes
identical thoughts in respect of Kooresha and Bhattar vide His
Srisukthi "kooranNaatha pattaakya thEsiga varOktha SamaSthanNaichyam.
nErisai veNbaa
(36)
The wicked desire
for sensual pleasures has overtaken me. Perhaps it is due to
the habitual way of committing sins. Those sins cannot be nullified
even by atonement. I am not able to fix the exact reason for
this state of affairs.
This is the echo of Bhavadgita
Srisukthi;" inNthriyaNi pramaatheenNi HaranNthi praNapam
manNa:" wherein it is stated that mind is susceptible to
the vagaries of sensory organs. Here MM lowers himself to the
rock bottom level and thereby reaches the zenith of humility
(Naichayanusandhanam)
(37)
Oh Ethiraja, If
I am not eligible to attain Moksha till today, perhaps I will
not be eligible at all in future. Is it not so? Please clarify.
Hence why not destroy the abundant sins I have accumulated and
help me to attain Moksha early.
As MM proceeds in his fervent prayer
to attain Moksha. The intensity increases stage by stage with
the result He repeats his appeal in various forms.
ansilaRiyaadhaaraimbadhilum
thaamaRiyaar
(38)
Oh Ethiraja, there
is a maxim that a man who does not learn in five years will not
learn even in fifty years. Perhaps it is a maxim meant for me
only. Even though the goal is ultimate surrender at your holy
feet, my mind refuses to think in that direction but is after
other sinful acts. It does not even repent for this.
MM says that advancing age had
not made him wiser. Maturity has not still set in with the result
sinful acts continue and accretions of sins increase day by day.
Even at this stage this is not even slightest sign of repentance.
(39)
Neem leaves
even though sour in taste are converted as a side vegetable dish
to be relished with meals in a certain context. This is an allegoric
reference. Just as Neem leaves that are repugnant in taste are
relished, Ethiraja has accepted me with all my defects to be
taken in his fold.
This sentiment is similar to the
one expressed by Thirumazhisai Azhvar in His Nanmugan Thiruvanthaathi
vide his Srisukthi "vEmpum kaRiyaagum enRu (94)"
(40)
Even though
I am destined to enjoy your virtues, I wasted my lifetime otherwise.
Is it worthwhile to continue this imprisoned life of Samsara
(family)? I can no longer bear this. Oh Ethiraja! The abode of
all virtues! Help me to attain Moksha.
(31)
(32)
(33)
(34)
(35)
(36)
(37)
(38)
(39)
(40)