The Hindu : Miscellaneous / Religion : God's chosen emissary

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Monday, Jan 31, 2005

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

God's chosen emissary

CHENNAI, JAN.31 . The Azhwars of the Srivaishnava tradition are mystics who led extraordinary lives and hence it is not possible to rationalise many of the incidents mentioned in their biographical accounts. They are considered the manifestations of the eternal beings in the Lord's transcendental abode who were born as human beings in this world with the mission of enabling humanity steeped in worldly bondage to realise God. Their hymns describing His glory are mystical outpourings attesting to their spiritual experience and thus revered on a par with the Vedas. The hymns are reverentially referred to as the Nalayira Divya Prabandham.

In his discourse, Sri M.V.Ananthapadmanabhachariar said there were several incidents in the life of Tirumazhisai Azhwar attesting to his mystical stature. Even his birth was unusual giving a clue to his earthly sojourn. An adept in Yoga, he practised different systems of thought prevailing then before he became a convinced devotee of Lord Vishnu. Divine intercession came in the guise of Pei Azhwar who came to live next door to him and started doing bizarre acts just to catch his attention. At last, Tirumazhisai Azhwar could not control himself and reprimanded him to which Pei Azhwar countered whether what he was practising was right. He saw the light of truth and burst into song praising the glory of Lord Narayana. His hymns are the Nanmukan Tiruvandadi and the Tiruchhanda Viruttam.

Tirumazhisai Azhwar's fidelity to his chosen deity earned him the name, "Bhaktisaran" from no less than Lord Siva Himself. Likewise, there is an interesting anecdote about him being hailed as Tirumazhisai Piran, an epithet, which is normally used for the Lord. One day during his stay in Tirukudanthai, the deity Aravamudan refused to accept the ritualistic offering of food from the priest and directed him to first serve the Azhwar. Instead of considering it as a sacrilege, Tirumazhisai Azhwar accepted it because his concern was that the Lord should not be made to wait any further.

Such mystics could declare with certainty that God could not remain separated from them. It is also a pointer to the dictum that he who chooses God has already been chosen by Him. Rama's statement that He would accept even if Ravana surrendered to Him during the deliberations about accepting Vibhishana's surrender highlights the truth that God wishes every soul to reform and become His devotee.

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