MoondRAm thiruvandhAdhi-Paasuram-42

Sri Parthasarathi thunai  

Srimathe ramanujaya Namaha

Srimad Vara Vara munayE Namaha

Sri vAnAchala mahA munayE Namaha

Paasuram-42

“kOvalanAi AniraigaL mEiththuk kuzhaloodhi

 mAvalanAik keeNda maNivaNNan-mEvi

 ariyuruvamAgi eraNiyana dhAgam

 teriyugirAl keendAn sinam”

"கோவலனாய் ஆநிரைகள் மேய்த்துக் குழலூதி 

மாவலனாய்க் கீண்ட மணிவண்ணன் -மேவி 

அரி(எரி) யுருவமாகி இரணியன தாகம் 

தெரியுகிரால் கீண்டான் சினம் ."

kOvalanAi -Born as a cowherd;

AniriagaL – group of cows;

mEiththu – (take to the place where grass and water are available in plenty) and let them to graze;

kuzhal oodhi – (in order to gather the cows) played the flute;

mA – KEsi, the demon who came in the form of a horse;

valan Aai keenda – one who tore him apart with great valour;

manivaNNan – one who has a blue coloured gem like physique;

mEvi arivuruvam Aagi – perfectly fitted the attire of a lion-faced narasimha;

eraNiyadhu Agam – the strong body of the rough Hiranyasura;

vugirAl -with His nails;

keeNdAn – the Lord who tore apart;

sinam – anger;

teri – (Oh mind!) realise (cognise)

Introduction

In the earlier paasuram, aazhvar celebrated the act of emperuman in saving the worlds from a person who presumed it to be his property.  In this verse, aazhvar relishes on the act of emperuman in protecting thiruvaipadi from asuras and also his bhaktha from his own father who acted rudely. In conclusion He is the sole saviour be it a danger for the whole world or one single village or a single bhaktha.

Commentary

(kOvalanAi AniraigaL mEiththukkuzhaloodhi) While the Lord entered mahabali’s yagna He took the form of a young brahmachari boy (vamana) who has the right to beg for alms.  Similarly, to protect the cowherds of thiruvaipadi from the torments of kamsa He became a cowherd boy and performed all duties accordingly.  He went at the back of the cows fed them with grass and water by allowing them to graze in the fertile area.  Once the cows finished grazing to collect them all he melodiously played his flute.

In vamanavatara vamana killed mahabali’s abhimana.  Here in gokula he killed kEsi.

(valanAi mA keeNda maNivannan) Not putting His foot back on seeing the demon in the form of a horse coming in great speed towards him little Krishna with great strength and intelligence killed Kesi, tearing apart the horse’s mouth (jaws) and with joy of victory glittered like a cool blue coloured gem.

Valan-capable personality; mA-horse

Leave alone the vigour and valour he showed as vamana (to save all the worlds from mahabali’s clutches) and as krishna (to protect gokula vasees and cows) our sole resort is the anger he showed while he rushed to protect his ardent devotee prahlada from the harsh treatment of Hiranya.

(ariyuruvamAgi mEvi) in the perfect attire of Narasimha;

Will a body of a human fit with a lion face – No doubts required.  Narasimha’s body and face matched each other perfectly.  Like sugar getting mixed with milk it is an absolute combination.

Moreover, this form was perfect for Hiranya’s mental state and conditions (No death in day or night; with or without weapons; in earth or sky; due to deva, man or animal)

(mEvi) fitting the conditions;

Periyavachan pillai says, (eriyuruvamAgi) glow like fire, such a radiance that blocks the vision;

(eraNiyana dhAgam teriyugirAl sinam keeNdAn) one who tore apart the rough body of Hiranya with His sharp nails with great anger;

teriyugir -sharp and glittering nails;

otherwise (eraNiyanadhAgam keeNdAn sinam their) Meditate on the wrath of that Lord who tore apart the rough body of Hiranya.  More than His love for prahlada He was furious over the bhaktha’s enemy.  Due to the extent of bhagavata apacharam, Narasimha was enraged by Hiranya a lot more than mahabali or kesi.  That ire is our strength.

“koNda seeRRum ondruNduladhaRindhu vunnadiyanEnum vandhu adiyiNai adaindhEn (periya thirumozhi 5-8-3) says thirumangai azhvar.

Interesting points from divyArthadeepikai of Sri Kanchi swamy

In this paasuram, aazhvar indirectly instructs his mind to rest in peace not only because of His grace but also His wrath on the enemies of His devotees as our prime refuge.  Therefore we seldom need to worry about our enemies as the Lord will take care.

Azhvar emperumAnAr Jeeyar thiruvadigalE sharaNam

Jeeyar thiruvadigalE sharaNam