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Bhakti of Azhwars

CHENNAI: The truth of God remains hidden as the presence of ghee in milk, sugar in cane or fire in wood, and it is out of His divine will that He chooses to reveal Himself to different people in different ways. It is only mystics and yogis who, in their advanced spiritual state, are able to realise God in their hearts and meditate on the Impersonal and Absolute God. An ordinary human being finds it difficult to become devoted to the formless God or worship Him, since, in such a state God does not offer an easy hold to the mind. The path is more arduous. That is why the glory of the Archa form in temples, wherein the Supreme Being is believed to dwell, makes Him personal and easy to seek, said Velukkudi Sri Krishnan in a lecture.

The Azhwars, who were moved by intense Bhakti Bhava when they beheld His divine form in the Divya Desams, broke forth into hymns that contain the essence of the Vedas in simple Tamil and teach the path of Saranagati through which one can attain liberation.

Each Azhwar has a pride of place in the lineage. The first three, Peyazhwar, Poigai Azhwar and Bhoodathazhwar, form an entity and have their greatness established by their unique devotion. Thirumazhisai Azhwar searched for the ultimate Truth in other faiths and finally realised that Lord Narayana is the Supreme Being.

Nammazhwar revealed the lost Divya Prabahandams, and his hymns are considered equal to the four Vedas. Madhurakavi Azhwar typifies Acharya Bhakti, for he held Nammazhwar in high esteem and sang only in praise of him. While the Kshatriya king Kulasekara Azhwar scored by his unflinching devotion to Lord Rama, Periazhwar had the great fortune to sing Thiru Pallandu to the Lord and his hymns manifesting Yasodha Bhava are rich in devotional experience. Andal as a woman devotee yearned for union with the Lord. Thondoradipodi Azhwar sang the Tirupalliyezhuchi. Tiruppannazhwar willed to attain liberation after he beheld the divine vision of Lord Ranganatha when he sang in praise of Him.

Thirumangai Azhwar has the honour of having sung hymns on the many hallowed shrines, and of receiving the direct revelation of the Ashtakshara mantra "Om Namo Narayanaya" from the Lord.

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