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The Ivars of Soufh India
Ai ilc bcginning ol KaI yuga, alici ilc disappcaiancc ol Loid Kisna, ilc
woild was plungcd inio spiiiiual dailncss and ilc iiuc mcssagc ol ilc Vcas was
obscuicd. Alilougl Si Vcda Vyasa lad alicady compilcd ilc Srima Pnagavatam,
in oidci io undcisiand ii and apply ii's icaclings, ilcic was a nccd loi ilc pcison-
bnagavata io cxplain ii.
Tlc iwclvc vais ol ilc Sri Vasnava sampraaya appcaicd in Souil India ai
ilis iimc in oidci io ic-csiablisl ilc Vcdic culiuic and ilc Vasnava plilosoply.
Tlcii appcaiancc is picdicicd in ilc Srima-Pnagavatam 11.5.3S-+0 :
hrtasu praja rajan
haIav ccnant sambnavam
haIau hnaIu bnavsyant
narayana-parayanan
hvact hvacn mana-raja
ravcsu ca bnursan
tamraparni nai yatra
hrtamaIa payasvni
havcri ca mana-punya
pratici ca mana-nai
yc pbant jaIam tasam
manuja manujcsvara
prayo bnahta bnagavat
vasucvc `maIasayan
Tlc appcaiancc ol ilcsc dcvoiccs is also picdicicd in Naraya Purana :
Angiia said - 'Somc puic dcvoiccs ol Loid Visnu will dcsccnd and, in
ilc land ol Diavida, ilcy will picacl ilc iiuil iliougl ilcii songs.
Scsa, as ilc giand-disciplc ol Naila (Muni), will ialc biiil in Kali yuga
io csiablisl ilc ical mcaning ol ilc Vcdania Suiias.
Tlc wiclcd dcmons, wlo wcic all lillcd in ilc dcsiiuciion ol ilc ilicc
ciiics, and ilosc on ilc occasion ol Saugandlila, will bc icboin on caiil io
dcsiioy ilc Vaisnava plilosoply.
Vayu will also incainaic and by smasling all cvil dociiincs, lc will
csiablisl ilc iiuc onc. Tlcsc plilosoplics will slow manlind wlai ical
icligion is.
Tlcsc puic dcvoiccs aic io bc woislippcd along wiil ilc Loid. Tlis
sysicm was lollowcd in ilc pasi.
Tlc Loid, wlo iidcs upon Gaiuda, gianicd ilcm ilc piivilcgc ilai
unlcss ilcy wcic woislippcd liisi, His own woislip would bc usclcss.
Also ilc Loid cmpowcicd ilcm io composc ilc Piabandlas, gloiilying
His gicaincss, wlcn ilcy wcic piaciising ausiciiiics and pciloiming
dcvoiional scivicc on ilc pcal ol Gandlamadana Mouniain.'
Tlc woid 'vai' in Tamil mcans, 'onc wlo divcs dccp'. In oilci woids, ilcy
wcic ioially immciscd in ilouglis ol sciving ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad
and wcic ovciwlclmcd by ilc dcsiic io always bc wiil ilc Loid. Tlcy wcic all
incainaiions ol Loid Visnu's paiaplcinalia in Vailunila and ilcy iool ilcii biiils
on caiil among all giadcs ol mcn, boil ligl casic and low in oidci io icacl ilc
iiansccndcnial mcssagc ol ilc Loid io all mcmbcis ol sociciy. Tlc iwclvc vais
wiil ilcii Tamil and Sansliii namcs, iiadiiional daics ol ilcii appcaiancc and
ilcii oiiginal Vailunila loims aic lisicd bclow:
Poigai vai (Saio Yog) - +202 l.C incainaiion ol ilc
Loid's concl,Pancajanya
Pudaii vai (lluia Yog) - +202 l.C incainaiion ol
ilc Loid's macc,Kaumodali
Pcy vai (lliania Yog) - +202 l.C. incainaiion ol ilc
Loid's swoid, Nandali
Tiiumaisai (llalii Saia) - +202 l.C. incainaiion ol ilc
Loid's disc, Sudaisana
Madluialavi - +202 l.C. incainaiion ol ilc
Loid's
Nammavai (Sailalopa) - 3102 l.C incainaiion ol ilc
Loid's scnapaii, Visvalscna
Kulascllaia - 3075 l.C incainaiion ol ilc
Loid's Kausiubla jcwcl
Pciiyavai (Visnuciiia oi llaiianaila) - 3056 l.C incainaiion ol ilc
Loid's caiiici, Gaiuda
ndal (Goda Dcv) - 3005 l.C incainaiion ol ilc
Loid's consoii, llu Dcv
Tondaiadipodi vai (llaliangliiicnu) - 2S1+ l.C . incainaiion ol ilc
Loid's gailand,Vanamala
Tiiuppani vai (Munivalana) - 2760 l.C incainaiion ol
ilc Loid's Sivaisa mail
Tiiumangai vai (Nla oi Paialala) - 2706 l.C incainaiion ol
ilc Loid's Saianga bow
Wlilc pciloiming ilcii pasiimcs, ilcy wioic piaycis in Tamil wlicl aic
lnown as ilc Dvya Prabannams. Tlcsc piaycis consisi ol +000 vciscs ilai aic
dividcd inio loui paiis ilai cxplain ilc main mantras ol ilc Sri sampraaya. Tlc
liisi paii is madc up ol icn bools ilai cxplain ilc mcaning ol ilc 1rumantra, om
namo narayanaya' and ilc mcaning ol ilc liisi iwo paiis ol ilc mantra, namcly ilc
pranava (om) and ilc woid 'naman`.
Tlc sccond paii is madc up ol ilicc bools and cxplains ilc woid
'narayanaya`.
Tlc iliid paii is scvcn bools ilai icacl ilc mcaning ol ilc carama sIoha,
sarva narma partyajya mam cham saranam vraja-
Tlc louiil paii is onc bool ilai cxplains ilc vaya mantra, sriman narayana
caranau saranam prapayc`.
Tlc puiposc ol ilcsc piaycis is io insiill in ilc dcvoicc a mood ol ioial
suiicndci io and dcpcndcncc on ilc Loid (saranagat).and sincc ilcy cxplain ilc
csscncc ol all ilc Vcas, ilcy aic lnown as ilc '1amI Vcas`. Unlilc ilc Vcas,
ilcic is no icsiiiciion in icciiing ilcm and cvcn ioday ilcy aic siill icciicd in
Vasnava icmplcs in Souil India by dcvoiccs, iiicspcciivc ol ilcii casic, ciccd oi
scx.
Sara Yog, Bhufa Yog, and Bhranfa Yog
Tlc liisi ilicc vais, Saia Yog, lluia Yog and lliania Yog, wcic all
conicmpoiaiics ilai wcic boin ai ilc cnd ol Dvapara yuga.
Saia Yog was boin in ilc iown ol Kancipuiam.and was lound wiilin a
goldcn loius. lluia Yog was boin wiilin a jasminc llowci in ilc iown ol
Mallapuii (modcin day Malabalipuiam) and lliania Yog camc liom a icd loius
in ilc ciiy ol Mayuiapuia (now callcd Maylapuia). Tlcy wcic all boin in ilc samc
ycai, in ilc samc monil and in ilc samc wccl on Tucsday, Wcdncsday and
Tluisday icspcciivcly.
Alilougl noi mucl is lnown aboui ilc caily livcs ol ilcsc vais , ilcic is
an inicicsiing sioiy aboui low ilc ilicc sainis liisi mci.
All ilicc lvais would ioam aboui liom placc io placc spcnding ilcii niglis
undci iiccs and caiing wlaicvci lood camc ilcii way. Nonc ol ilcm lad mci cacl
oilci and so ilc Loid madc an aiiangcmcni so ilai all ol ilcm would mcci ai ilc
samc spoi.
Tlcic lad bccn ioiicniial iain accompanicd by lasling winds and a sioim
iagcd coniinuously loi iwo days. Now and ilcn ilc monoionous wcailci would
only bc biolcn by lugc lail sioncs lalling liom ilc sly. Duc io ilcsc iciiilying
condiiions, ilc villagcis siaycd in ilcii lomcs consianily pcciing oui ol ilcii
windows and piaying loi an cnd io ilc icmpcsi. Tlosc wlo wcic povciiy siiiclcn,
wlo lad no pioicciion, iool io ilc mouniain cavcs oi lollows ol iiccs in a
dcspciaic aiicmpi io slclici liom ilc lcailul wcailci.
Saia Yog lad bccn bold cnougl io vcniuic oui inio ilc sioim. Dicsscd only
in iags, and slivciing liom ilc cold, lc iiudgcd acioss ilc dcsolaic land clinging
on io onc ol lis only posscssions - a ilin slawl, wlicl by now was dicnclcd by
ilc lcavy iain. As ilc liglining siicalcd acioss ilc sly, a laigc lailsionc camc
luiiling iowaids Saia Yog. Hc luiiidly lcapi oui ol ii's pail and in doing so losi
lis giip ovci lis uppci cloil. Wiilin a sccond, ilc slawl was siolcn away by ilc
wind. Tlc saini, lowcvci, did noi bccomc pciiuibcd. Railci, lc lauglcd and
bcgan piaising ilc Loid:
Ol Loid Haii! You aic so licllc,
You iun lcic and ilcic,
And io malc oilcis dancc,
You dancc Youiscll,
Somc, You claim wiil Youi bcauiilul smilc,
Oilcis, lilc ilc gopis, You capiivaic wiil youi lluic,
Tlougl ilc cniiic cicaiion cmanaics liom Youi navcl,
You lind plcasuic simply in sicaling buiici.
Unawaic ol Youi misclicl, ilc gopis,
In ilcii angci, aiguc wiil Yasloda.
You lcign angci, and scowl ai Youi cowlcid liicnd,
lui in an insiani, You locl lim in a iigli cmbiacc.
Somciimcs You aic iciiiblc io bclold,
Somciimcs You capiuic ilc lcaii.
Somciimcs You aic ciiaiic,
Somciimcs You aic moiionlcss.
Somciimcs You wcai lingly cloilcs,
Somciimcs You dicss as a bcggai.
Wlo can dcsciibc Youi iiansccndcnial qualiiics'
ly iobbing mc ol my cloil,
You laugl loudly,
lui, O cunning onc,
I lavc sccn iliougl Youi liiilc jolc.
Play on my Loid, play on,
Youi cicinal scivani is lappy ai youi dcligli.`
Alilougl wcailci-bcaicn and lungiy, lc sang ilis piayci and danccd in
ccsiacy. Noi long alici, Saia Yog camc io a small coiiagc, bui lc lound ilc dooi io
bc loclcd. Dcciding io ialc slclici in a small ilaiclcd iciiacc opposiic, lc wcni
insidc and loolcd aiound. Tlc iool was lcaling sliglily, ilcic was no ligli and
ilcic was baicly cnougl ioom loi onc man io lic down. Saia Yog didn'i mind, ii
was mucl bciici ilan bcing ouisidc in ilc sioim, lc ilougli. Hc laid down and
picpaicd io ialc icsi. As lis cyclids slowly closcd and slccp was aboui io ovcicomc
lim, lc ilougli lc lcaid a voicc ouisidc. Ii was ilc voicc ol lluia Yog.
"Is ilcic anyonc in ilcic' Is ilcic any placc lcic loi a man biiicn by cold
and ovcicomc wiil lungci io ialc icsi'", aslcd ilc wcaiy lluia Yog.
Saia Yog sai up and icplicd clccilully, " Ycs, ycs, you'ic mosi wclcomc my
liicnd. Comc in! Il ilcic is cnougl ioom loi onc man io lic down, ilcn dcliniilcy
ilcic musi bc cnougl ioom loi iwo mcn io sii".
lluia Yog quiclly squcczcd inio ilc small lui. As ilc iwo dcvoiccs wcic
sciiling down and iiying io malc ilcmsclvcs comloiiablc, anoilci voicc was lcaid
liom ouisidc.
"Plcasc, bc lind cnougl io allow mc io cnici. I lavc bccn iiavclling loi many
days and I'm cxlausicd.." Tlc voicc bclongcd io lliania Yog.
Now wlo's ilai'` wondcicd Saia Yog.
How will ilicc ol us lii in lcic wlcn ilcics jusi cnougl ioom loi iwo ol us
io sii'` lluia Yog aslcd Saia Yog in a loud voicc,
Wcll, il iwo can sii, suicly ilicc can siand!` camc ilc icply liom ouisidc.
Saia Yog and lluia Yog wcic silcni loi a momcni as ilcy ilougli aboui ilc
siiuaiion.
"Comc in", icplicd Saiayog. lliania Yog camc insidc, soaling wci, and ilc
ilicc siood slouldci io slouldci and inquiicd aboui cacl oilcis idcniiiics.
Saia Yog icplicd, quoiing liom ilc Pancaratra; bnagavaccn csa bnutonam
ananyarno ctan paran ("I am dillcicni liom ilis maiciial naiuic. I am a scivani ol
ilc Supicmc Loid.")
Ciiing liom ilc Naraya Purana, lluia Yog said; asonam vasucvasya
sarvaIoha manatmanan ("I am a scivani ol Loid Vasudcva, ilc mainiainci ol ilc
ilicc woilds.")
lliania Yog spolc liom ilc Pamayana; asonam hausaIcnrasya rama
syahIsta harmanal ("I am scivani ol Loid Ramacandia, ling ol Kosala")
Tlus ilc ilicc vais bcgan io pass ilc nigli by ialling aboui ilc Loid and
His iiansccndcnial pasiimcs. Tlcn as ilcy spolc, ilcy suddcnly bccamc awaic ol a
louiil pcison squcczing limscll bciwccn ilcm.
lluia Yog ilougli io limscll. "Ii is dilliculi cnougl loi ilc ilicc ol us io
siand in lcic, now ii sccms ilai somc ciucl glosi las dccidcd io loicc lis way in
lcic as wcll."
Tlc uncomloiiablc siiuaiion gavc iisc io a suddcn ouibuisi liom Saia Yog.
"Wlais lappcning' I slall ligli a lamp io scc wlo ilis mysiciious siiangci
is."
"Li, bui bioilci!" cxclaimcd ilc oilci iwo, "Wc don'i lavc a lamp lcic, noi
any oil oi wicls."
Saia Yog ilcn bcgan io sing -
"Lci my lamp bc madc ol ilc caiil,
And ilc oil bc madc liom ilc sca,
Tlc ligli slall comc liom ilc sun globc.
Tlcn ilis clusivc siiangci will bc discovcicd."
Hcaiing ilis song, lluia Yog bccamc cnilusiasiic and cxclaimcd, "Lci mc
ligli my lamp!"
"My lamp is madc ol wisdom,
Ii is ilc vcsscl ol lovc ol God,
Holding wiilin ilc oil ol inicnsc cmoiions,
In wlicl is soalcd ilc wicl ol my mind."
"I musi ligli my lamp now", icmailcd lliania Yog. "Alilougl I lccl mosi
unqualilicd alici lcaiing youi wondcilul clloiis. My vciy namc "lliania" mcans
madman, loi my lovc loi Si Padmaiamana's loius lcci diivcs mc insanc. My lovc
loi Him malcs mc slivci and swcai. My cycs gusl loiil ioiicnis ol icais. My voicc
clolcs up, and I dancc wiil joy, bccoming complcicly indillcicni io ilc woild
aiound mc. So wlcn you ligli youi lamps, all I can say is ilis -
I scc Lalsm Dcv,
I scc ilc Loid's cllulgcni loim,
I scc ilcii slining lucs blcnding,
I scc ilc majcsiic disc wcapon,
And ilc iiansccndcnial conclslcll,
Ol Loid ol my lcaii,
All ilis I scc ioday."
Upon lliania singing ilis, ilc iiny slacl bccamc lloodcd wiil ligli and ilc
ilicc dcvoiccs discovcicd ilc idcniiiy ol ilc louiil pcison. Sianding ilcic wiil
concl, discus, club, and loius llowci, bcdcclcd wiil ilc Vijayaniimala, and
adoincd wiil ilc Kausiubla gcm, Si Naiayana, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad, siood bcloic ilcm.
In ccsiaiic lovc cacl vai , on ilc spoi, sang a lundicd lymns io ilc Loid.
Onc gloiilicd ilc Loid as ilc Univcisal loim (Vrata rupa). Anoilci sung ol ilc
Loid addicssing Him as Naiayana, and ilc iliid gloiilicd Naiayana by adding "Si
" io His namc.
Tlc Loid laving acccpicd His dcvoiccs piaycis, disappcaicd liom ilcii sigli.
And as Hc did so, ilc violcni sioim and ilc iain simuliancously ccascd. Tlc sly
bccamc clcai again, ilc sun slonc loiil, and ilc biids bcgan io sing. Tlc ilicc
iiavcllcis camc oui ol ilc lui io lool upon ilc liisi iays ol ilc moining sun as ii
iiavciscd ovci ilc loiizon.. Joylul ai ilc sigli ol ilc Supicmc Loid, and ol laving
lad onc anoilci's associaiion, Saia Yog, lluia Yog, and lliania Yog bid laicwcll
io cacl oilci and wcni ilcii scpaiaic ways.
TirumaIisai Ivar
Accoiding io ilc Pranmana Purana, ilc sagcs lcd by Aiii, lligu, Vasisila,
llaigsava and Angiias, oncc wcni io Loid lialma and aslcd lim io allocaic a
suiiablc placc loi ilcm on caiil io pciloim ilcii sanana. lialma iold ilcm ilai
in lis mind, ilc bcsi placc loi ilcm io icsidc was ilc land ol Malsaia Ksciia, loi
ilai placc was puiilicd by ilc picscncc ol ilc rajarss ol Vidcla. Hcaiing ilis, ilc
rss wcni io caiil and occupicd ilai sacicd placc.
All ilc sagcs madc ilcii icsidcnccs in ilc dillcicni quaiicis ol Malisaia
Ksciia. llaigava Rsi occupicd ilc Wcsicin cnd and spcni lis days in woislipping
Loid Vasudcva. Alici somc iimc lis wilc gavc biiil io a clild. Aciually ii would bc
a misialc io call lci ollspiing a 'clild'; ii was a lump ol llcsl wiiloui any limbs oi
lcaiuics. Tlc pooi sagc and lis wilc wcic loiiilicd, How inauspicious! Wlai can
I do wiil sucl a icpulsivc 'iling''` llaigava ilougli, lciici io gci iid ol ii as
soon as possiblc.` So lc waiily piclcd up ilc lump, wallcd inio ilc loicsi,
dioppcd ii in a bamboo iliclci and madc lis way bacl io lis asrama, lappy io bc
iid ol sucl a monsiiosiiy.
Howcvci, noi long alici bcing abandoncd, ilc slapclcss lump bcgan io
dcvclop aims, lcgs and lcaiuics. Tlcn ii bcgan io bicailc. Tlcn lccling ilc liisi
pangs ol lungci, ilc clild bcgan io ciy. Tlc clild's wailing goi loudci and loudci,
bui wlo was ilcic in ilc lugc, dail loicsi ilai would lcai lim' Tlcn suddcnly
lc lcaid a voicc -
Don'i woiiy my liicnd. I blcss you ilai you will ncvci lccl ilc pain ol
lungci and iliisi.`
Tlc clild's small cycs opcncd and as lc loolcd up lis cycs bccamc widci
and widci. Tlcic sianding in lioni ol lim was ilc Supicmc Loid Naiayana
Himscll. lui in an insiani ilai amazing vision ol ilc Loid was gonc and sccing
ilai lc was all alonc again, oncc moic ilc baby siaiicd io ciy.
Ai liisi, ilc wood-cuiici, Tiiuvalan. and lis mcn ilougli ii was ilc ciy ol a
lox, bui as ilcy lisicncd moic caiclully ilcy iccogniscd ii as ilc sound ol an
inlani. lui 'ow on caiil could a baby bc 'cic in ilis vasi loicsi'` lc pondcicd.
Picling up ilcii axcs, Tiiuvalan and ilc oilcis sci oui in ilc diicciion ilai ilc
sound was coming liom and ai lasi siumblcd upon ilc iliclci wlcic ilc clild lay.
Tiiuvalan sciaiclcd lis lcad in wondci, Tlis is siiangc! Pooi iling musi bc
siaivin' no doubi. Tlais wly 'cs malin' so mucl noisc. My wilc will bc plcascd io
scc 'im ilougl, slc's always wanicd a clild.` And icndcily picling up ilc clild,
ilc old wood-cuiici wcni lomc.
Wlcn lis wilc, Panlaja Sclv, saw ilc clild, slc bccamc ovciwlclmcd wiil
cmoiion. Tcais siicamcd down lci clccls and cvcn ilougl slc was old, mill
llowcd liom lci bicasis. lui wlcn slc iiicd io lccd ilc clild, lc wouldn'i diinl
ilc mill - noi a diop! Sincc ilc Loid lad blcsscd lim lc didn'i lccl lungiy any
moic. Tlis wcni on loi many days and as ilc clild gicw biiglici and lcalilici, ii
dawncd on Tiiuvalan and Panlaja Sclv ilai ilcii ncw son was no oidinaiy clild.
Ncws spicad, ol couisc. All ilc iownsloll ol Malisaia wcic ialling aboui ilc
ncw miiaclc -
Did you lcai aboui Tiiuvalan and lis wilc' Tlcy'vc bccn clildlcss loi so
many ycais and now ilcy lavc a son.`
And wlai a son! Tlc boy ncvci cais a iling, yci lc's ilc siiongcsi looling
baby you'vc cvci sccn.`
Ii jusi so lappcncd ilai ilcsc woids camc io ilc cais ol onc old sura and
lis wilc wlo livcd in ilc iown. Hc ilougli io limscll, My wilc and I aic
clildlcss. Il I gci ilc blcssings ol ilis amazing boy, maybc wc will also bc blcsscd
wiil a son.`
So caily onc moining lc iosc, and wiil lis wilc lc wcni io ilc lousc ol
Tiiuvalan on ilc ouisliiis ol ilc loicsi. Tlcy wcic wclcomcd by ilc wood-cuiici
and lis wilc wlo iool ilcm io scc ilcii son. As soon as ilc sura couplc saw ilc
clild, ilcy wcic awc-siucl. Tlc boy was so cllulgcni and lis composuic was
unnaiuial loi onc ol lis agc. Tlcy loldcd ilcii lands and ollcicd ilcii
obcisanccs.Tlcn ilc old sura iool a coniainci ol mill lom lis slouldci bag and
piaycd,`I'vc 'caid ilai you don'i cai oi diinl anyilin', bui plcasc bc so good as io
acccpi ilis 'umblc ollciin'." Suipiisingly, ilc inlani icspondcd io ilcii piaycis by
diinling ilc mill. Ioi many days ilc old couplc camc wiil mill loi ilc divinc
clild, and cvciy day lc would diinl ii.
Onc day lc dianl ilc mill, bui lcli somc ovci. Tlcn anoilci siiangc iling
lappcncd - lc spolc. " My liicnds," lc said, "I undcisiand youi inicniions.Il you
boil diinl ilc icmaindci ol ilis mill, a good son will bc boin io you." Tlc sura
and lis wilc iciuincd lomc and dianl ilc mill, and old as ilcy wcic, ilcy soon
lcli youil in ilcii vcins. Soon aliciwaids, lis wilc conccivcd and alici ninc monils
slc gavc biiil io a son. Tlcy namcd ilc boy Kani Kannai and cducaicd lim as
mucl as ilcii social siaius pcimiiicd.
Scvcn ycais pasi and ilc son ol Tiiuvalan lcli lomc and iool io ilc
mouniains. Tlcic, lc dccidcd io ialc ilc pail ol Astanga-Yoga. As lc was cngagcd
in ilis sanana lc pondcicd ovci dillcicni plilosoplics sucl as luddlism,
Vascsha, Sanhnya, Paianjali's Yoga sysicm, savsm, Mayavaa, Nyaya, Purva
Mmamsa cic lui wliclcvci sysicm lc siudicd lc lcli dissaiislicd wiil ii. In laci,
lc lound all ilc sysicms complcicly diy and dull. In ilis way 700 ycais wcni by
and lc bcgan io siudy ilc Vcas and Vcanta Sutras. In ilcsc lc discovcicd ilai
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad was indccd ilc Absoluic Tiuil. Alici
scaicling loi ilc iiuil loi so long, ilc saini, Tiiumaisai, was ovcicomc wiil
ccsiasy. Hc dccidcd ilai lc would now dcvoic ilc ncxi 700 ycais ol lis lilc in
sciving and mcdiiaiing upon ilc Supicmc Loid Naiayana on ilc banls ol
Gajcndia Kunda ai Kaiiavani (now callcd Tiiuvallillcni, ncai Madias).
Ii was wlilc lc was icsiding ai Kaiiavani ilai Loid Siva dccidcd io icsi lim.
lcing vciy icnounccd, ii was Tiiumaisai's labii io wcai old cloil, and lc would
scw and mainiain ii uniil piaciically spcaling ii was unwcaiablc. Only ilcn would
lc go and lind anoilci. Hc could bc olicn sccn siiiing on ilci sicps ol ilc ianl
scwing. Onc day Loid Siva and Paivaii wcic llying iliougl ilc sly on Nandi. As
ilcy llcw, ilcii sladow was casi upon ilc giound and wlocvci ii lcll upon, ilai
pcison would bccomc vciy cnlivcncd in lis maiciial dcsiics. Howcvci, wlcn ilcii
sladow lcll upon Tiiumaisai, ilcy all sioppcd and obscivcd lim. Hc was busy
scwing, and wlcn lc saw ilc sladow lc could undcisiand ilai ii was
inauspicious, and so lc movcd oui ol ii. Paivaii was suipiiscd and iuincd io lci
lusband, "Wlo is ilis man' Lvciyonc is so cagci io icccivc oui blcssings ilai ilcy
icjoi cc il ilcy caicl sigli ol us oi il oui sladow lalls upon ilcm. Yci ilis pcison
movcs oui ol ilc sladow!"
Loid Siva icplicd, "Hc is a gicai dcvoicc ol Loid Visnu."
"Wlicl is cxacily ilc icason wly I wani io go down and scc ilis man,"
Paivaii quiclly icioiicd. Loid Siva slool lis lcad, "Wc lavc no busincss wiil
lim, lc docsn'i nccd anyiling liom us."
Ai ilis answci ilc gicai dcmigod's wilc slowcd a liiilc suipiisc and said, "No
no no. Lvciyonc wanis somciling liom us. Lvciybody las maiciial dcsiics and
wanis ilcm lullillcd. Lci us go down ilcic."
So Paivaii and Siva wcni down ilcic, and appcaicd bcloic Tiiumaisai, wlo
jusi coniinucd scwing lis cloil. Loid Siva aslcd lim, "Wly don'i you alnowlcdgc
oui picscncc' Wc wisl io givc you a boon." Tiiumalisai icplicd wiiloui looling
up, "Wlai do I nccd liom you' I'm quiic lappy as I am.
Loid Siva said, "My dcai Vasnava, wc lavc comc down cspcscially io blcss
you, don'i lci oui jouincy lavc bccn liuiilcss." Tiiumaisai didn'i cvcn lool up, lc
jusi lcpi on scwing and ignoicd ilcm. Again Loid Siva aslcd lim io acccpi a
boon, so wiil a sigl Tiiumaisai aslcd, "Wcll, givc mc libciaiion liom maiciial
cxisicncc." Loid Siva answcicd, "Tlai's onc iling I can'i givc. Only Visnu alonc
las ilc powci io givc libciaiion. I'm soiiy."
Tiiumaisai sliuggcd lis slouldcis and, iciuining io lis sowing, said, "Tlcn
wlai's ilc usc' Wlai is ilc usc ol you and youi bcncdiciions'" Yci again Loid Siva
icqucsicd lim io acccpi a bcncdiciion.
"All iigli," Tiiumaisai said," Can you posiponc a man's dcail cvcn by onc
day'" Loid Siva loolcd down and slccpislly icplicd, " Wcll, ci, no I can'i do ilai
ciilci as ii gocs accoiding io ilc pcisons harma. lui I icqucsi you, plcasc asl liom
mc any oilci boon." Tlc saini loolcd up ai Siva and cxclaimcd," Sincc you'ic
dcicimincd io do mc a lavoui, I lavc only onc icqucsi."
"Anyiling!" icplicd Loid Siva cagcily.
You scc, wlilc I scw, ilc ilicad is always coming oll ilc nccdlc. So could you
plcasc malc somc aiiangcmcni ilai ilc ilicad docsn'i slip oll so ilai I can linisl
scwing my cloil."
Ai ilis, Paivaii bccamc cniagcd. "Hc's insuliing you! You could givc lim ilc
univcisc, and lc's asling loi sucl a siupid iling! You musi do somciling io icacl
lim a lcsson."
Loid Siva ioaicd in angci, "Wlai my wilc says is iiuc. Now I will buin you
io aslcs as I did io Kandaipa!" and saying ilis, lc opcncd lis iliid cyc, and a lugc
column ol liic sloi oui iowaids Tiiumaisai. Unbclnown io Loid Siva lowcvci,
Tiiumaisai also lad a iliid cyc on ilc big ioc ol lis iigli looi. So sccing ilis gicai
llamc coming, ilc vai poinicd lis looi ai Siva and an cvcn gicaici liic camc oui,
dcvouiing ilc llamcs liom Loid Siva's cyc. Sccing ilis, Loid Siva cicaicd a
PushaIavartaha sioim-cloud io iain upon ilc liic and cxiinguisl ii. As ilc sioim
clouds camc, llasling and ioaiing, ilcy pouicd down ioiicnis ol waici and ilc
land loolcd as il ii lad bccomc an occan. Tiiumaisai vai lowcvci icmaincd
unpciiuibcd amongsi all ilis and lcviiaicd abovc ilc waici, siill siiicling lis cloil.
Vciy soon ilc liic was qucnclcd and ilc waici subsidcd.
Loid Siva appcaicd bcloic Tiiumaisai and blcsscd lim. Hc gavc lim ilis
namc 'llalii Saia' wlicl mcans 'ilc csscncc ol dcvoiion'. Loid Siva said, "Youi
aiiiiudc and dcvoiion io Loid Visnu is ilc csscncc ol dcvoiion, bccausc cvcn wlcn
I camc, you did noi wani anyiling liom mc." Tlcn lc iuincd io lis wilc and
clidcd, "Jusi scc wlai lcngils youi lcmalc cuiiosiiy las lcd us! Jusi as Duvasa was
iioublcd loi ollcnding ilc sainily Malaiaja Ambaisa, similaily wc lavc also bccn
iioublcd loi mcddling wiil ilis innoccni dcvoicc.You slould lcain liom ilis ilai
ilc Vasnavas aic invunciablc." And wiil ilicsc woids, Loid Siva iool Paivaii by
ilc land, sai lci on lis bull-caiiici, and ilcy boil llcw away.
Anoilci iimc a suhtnara ( a iypc ol goblin), wlo was llying iliougl ilc sly
on lis iigci, saw Tiiumaisai siiiing scwing lis cloil. Hc landcd and appioaclcd
ilc saini, bui as ilcy goi closci ilc iigci sioppcd dcad in ii's iiacls and icluscd io
go any ncaici. Tlc suhtnara was bcwildcicd, "Ll' Wlai is ilis' Wly won'i lc go
any luiilci'"
Tlcn sccing Tiiumaisai lc suddcnly icaliscd, "Ala! ii musi bc by ilc
inllucncc ol ilis sainily pcison ilai my magic is icndcicd usclcss." Tlc suhtnara
goi down liom lis iigci and iip-iocd ovci io wlcic ilc vai sai addicssing lim
ilus, "O bcsi ol ilc lligu dynasiy, wly aic you wasiing so mucl iimc sowing ilai
old iag' lci mc givc you somciling bciici."
And saying ilis lc cicaicd a labulous cloil ilai spaillcd wiil glisicning
gcms. Tiiumaisai vai loolcd ai ilc cloil loi a momcni, ilcn oui ol nowlcic lc
cicaicd anoilci onc, wlicl ouislonc ilc suhtnaras. Sccing ii ilc goblin lowcicd
lis lcad in slamc. Siill lc was dcicimincd io impicss ilc saini, so lc iool oll a
bcauiilul rurahsa maIa and picscnicd ii io lim. Tiiumaisai didn'i cvcn lool ai ii.
Hc icmovcd lis own tuIasi and loius-sccd bcads and landcd ii io ilc suhtnara. To
lis uiici suipiisc, ilc bcads lad iuincd inio a nccllacc ol piccious gcms, siiung
iogcilci on a gold ilicad. Tlc suhtnara gavc up, ilinling," ilis dcvoicc is ioo
gicai a pcison io bc impicsscd by ilc lilcs ol mc." And lalling ai lis lcci, lc
bcggcd lim io cxcusc lis piidc and ilcn llccw away again on lis iigci.
A similai incidcni lappcncd soon alici ilis wlcn ilc tantrh magician,
Konlana Siddlan camc io scc Tiiumaisai. Hc lad lcaid ol lis icpuiaiion and
wislcd io icsi lim. Hc camc and iold lim ilai lc was a masici ol alclcmy, and
ollcicd lim a magic pill. Hc claimcd ilai ii could convcii an cigliicil paii ol
coppci inio puic gold. "I don'i nccd youi pill." icplicd an amuscd Tiiumaisai,
"Hcic, ialc ilis! Ii will noi only givc you a cioic ol gold, bui a cioic ol a cioic." So
saying, lc iubbcd oll somc diy swcai liom lis body and mixcd ii wiil somc wax
ilai lc sciapcd oui ol lis cai. Tlcn, iolling ii inio a ball, lc gavc ii io ilc widc-
cycd tantrh. Konlana Siddlan iool ilc ball lomc and pui ii io ilc icsi.
Ovcinigli, ilc man bccamc wcalily bcyond lis wildcsi dicams.Hc iciuincd io
Tiiumaisai and ollcicd lis obcisanccs io lim, and alici iccciving lis blcssings, lc
iciuincd lomc.
Alici ilis, Tiiumaisai dccidcd io movc. Tlcic wcic ioo many disiuibanccs
in Kaiiavani. Wlai wiil Siva, and all ilcsc magicians always coming and pcsiciing
lim, low could lc mcdiiaic' And low could lc lix lis cloil in pcacc' Hc wcni
and lid in a cavc and bcgan io pciloim lis sanana ilcic.
And so in ilis way iimc wcni by. Tlcn onc day ii jusi so lappcncd ilai ilc
liisi ilicc vais , Saia Yog, lluia Yog and lliania Yog camc ncai io ilc spoi
wlcic Tiiumaisai was cngagcd in ausiciiiics. As ilcy appioaclcd ilc mouil ol
ilc cavc, ilcy saw a maivcllous ligli insidc. "Wlai could ilis bc' "ilcy all
wondcicd. Diivcn by ilcii cuiiosiiy ilcy all cnicicd and discovcicd wiilin
somconc siiiing in mcdiiaiion. Tlcy all divincd iliougl ilcii mysiic powcis ilai
ilis musi bc nonc oilci ilan Tiiumaisai vai . Ai ilai momcni Tiiumaisai camc
oui ol lis iiancc and giccicd ilcm. " Aic you all wcll, O llowci-boin dcvoiccs'"
Tlcy ollcicd obcisanccs io cacl oilci and cmbiaccd. Tlc ilicc Avais siaycd wiil
Tiiumaisai loi somc days, ialling aboui ilc Loid's iiansccndcnial gloiics and ilcn
wcni on ilcii way iowaids Mayuiapuii.
Tiiumaisai lcli lis cavc in oidci io visii lis naiivc placc, Malisaia. Wlcn lc
aiiivcd ilcic, lc discovcicd ilai lc lad iun oui ol tIaha. " Now wlai slall I do'"
Hc pondcicd, "Il I don'i wcai tIaha low can I clani gayatri, icad ilc sciipiuics,
woislip ilc Loid, oi cai prasaa'" Hc sai down io ilinl ovci ilc pioblcm, bui
soon slccp ovcicamc lim. Wlilc lc slcpi, lc lad a dicam ilai Loid Vcnlaicsvaia
camc io lim and lcd lim io a placc ncaiby wlcic tIaha could bc lound. Hc
suddcnly awolc and wcni oui io lind ilc placc. on icacling ilc spoi lc lound ilc
tIaha, cxacily wlcic ilc Loid lad slowcd lim.
Iiom Malisaia, lc iiavcllcd io Kanci, wlcic lis liicnd, Saia Yog was boin.
Kanci is lnown as Saiyaviaia Ksciia and ilc picsiding Dciiy ol ilai placc is Loid
Vaiadaiaja, wlo lics on Anania Scsa. Tiiumaisai livcd ilcic pcacclully loi 700
ycais. In ilc mcaniimc, lc was joincd by Kani Kannai (ilc son ol ilc old sura
couplc)wlo cngagcd limscll in sciving lim. Undci ilc iuialagc ol Tiiumaisai,
Kani Kannai bccamc a gicai poci and composcd many bcauiilul pocms dcsciibing
ilc Loid.
An old woman ol Kanci also camc and dccidcd ilai slc would cnd lci days
by icndciing mcnial scivicc io Tiiumaisai vai . Slc would swccp ilc placc
wlcic lc livcd, dccoiaic ilc lloois wiil aiiisiic dcsigns, clcan ilc cooling uicnsils
cic. Onc day, as ilc saini camc oui ol lis mcdiiaiion, lc saw ilc old woman
swccping ilc llooi and iold lci ilai bccausc ol lci sclllcss scivicc io lim, lc
would givc wlaicvci boon slc wanicd. Hcaiing ilis slc was ovcijoycd and
immcadiaily aslcd lim io icmovc lci old agc and blcss lci wiil youil. Jusi by lis
glancc, slc suddcnly lound lciscll wiil a bcauiilul body ilai icscmblcd onc ol ilc
dcnizcns ol ilc lcavcnly plancis. Jusi ai ilai iimc, ilc ling ol ilc Tonda Piovincc,
Pallava Raya, was iiding pasi on lis loisc and lappcncd io spoi lci.Hc was ai
oncc siiucl wiil lci bcauiy and bcggcd lci io bccomc lis wilc. Slc conscnicd and
lc caiiicd lci oll io ilc ioyal palacc.
Pallava Raya lound gicai lappincss in lis ncw wilc's company, bui as ilc
ycais iollcd by lc noiiccd onc vciy odd iling. His wilc ncvci sccmcd io agc. Tlc
ling was siiucl by ilis and cnquiicd liom lis quccn, " How is ii ilai you sccm io
lavc cicinal youil'"
"Ii is by ilc blcssings ol ilc gicai dcvoicc Tiiumaisai," ilc quccn icplicd,
"lui you can also bc blcsscd wiil ilc samc boon. Do you lnow ilc poci Kani
Kannai' Hc comcs cvciy day io bcg alms ai ilc palacc. You slould iiy io plcasc
lim bccausc lc is ilc disciplc and liicnd ol Tiiumaisai. Il you plcasc lim, I'm
suic ilc saini will blcss you also wiil cicinal youil."
Tlai day, Pallava Raya anxiously waiicd loi Kani Kannai. Iinally wlcn lc
aiiivcd, ilc ling ian oui io ilc gaic io mcci lim. "My dcai Kani Kannai, I am vciy
cagci io mcci youi illusiiious guru Tiiumaisai. lc lind cnougl io icqucsi lim io
comc io my palacc ai oncc."
"Impossiblc!"camc ilc icply liom Kani Kannai, "My masici docs noi cnici
any man's lousc, cvcn il ilai man is a ling lilc you."
Pallava Raya was noi uscd io bcing icluscd by anybody. Upon lcaiing ilcsc
woids lc bccamc inluiiaicd. "Vciy wcll, ilai may bc. Howcvci you'ic a bcggai ai
my dooi and I am youi ling, so sing a pocm piaising my ioyal qualiiics."
Kani Kannai, lowcvci, sang a dillcicni song -
"O ncvci will my ionguc sioop so low io sing mundanc piaisc
Ioi ii is only blcsscd wlcn singing ol ilc Loid.
Noi loi moiial llaiiciy was ilis mouil madc
Noi can I biibc my mind loi any luman usc."
Tlc King, lowcvci, would noi lci ilc poci go so casily and again lc insisicd
ilai Kani Kannai slould sing lis gloiics. Tlis iimc Kani Kannai sang -
"Wlo owns a lovci's piaisc, cxccpi ilc Tiuc lclovcd,
Hc ilai diowns onc in His Supicmc Giacc.
Tlai bclovcd, wlosc Dciiy siis and somciimcs siands,
And also slccps - all picscni in Kanci's giovcs."
Tlis was ioo mucl loi Pallava Raya. "Wlai!" Hc scicamcd."Lvcn alici
oidciing you iwicc io sing my gloiics, you daic io sing lilc ilis' You aic lcicby
banislcd liom my lingdom. Gci oui!" And iuining on lis lccl, lc sioimcd bacl
inio ilc palacc.
Kani Kannai spcd bacl io lis spiiiiual masici, lcll ai lis lcci and iclaicd all
ilai lad lappcncd. Tiiumaisai siglcd, "Wcll, il you lcavc, low can I siay' And il I
lcavc, will oui Loid icmain bclind' And il Hc lcavcs, low can ilc dcmigods
icmain wiiloui Him' I will go io ilc icmplc ol Vaiadaiaja, walc Him up and biing
Him wiil Mc."
Tiiumaisai wallcd io ilc icmplc and sianding bcloic ilc Dciiy ol
Vaiadaiaja, lc sang -
"Plcasc lcai O bcauiilul Loid ol Kanci,
Oui dcai Kani Kannai now lcavcs.
Tlai swcci-iongucd poci wlom I ioo musi lollow.
O sappliic-lucd Onc, ioll up Youi snalc-bcd
And plcasc accompany us."
As soon as lc sang ilcsc lincs, ilc Dciiy ol Vaiadaiaja goi oll lis snalc-bcd,
iollcd ii up, pui ii undci His aim and sicppcd oll ilc aliai io lollow His dcvoicc.
Tiiumaisai wallcd oui ol ilc icmplc lollowcd by Kani Kannai and Loid
Vaiadaiaja, and wlcn lc loolcd iound lc saw all lcgions ol dcmigods, sucl as
lialma, Siva, India accompanicd by ilcii dcvoiccs, also lcaving Kanci wiil ilcii
luggagc.
Tlc loolisl Pallava Raya was ialing lis alicinoon icsi ai ilis iimc uniil lc
was abiupily awolcn by lis minisicis, wlo wcic all maling a iumuliuous iaclci.
"Wlai's going on'" ioaicd ilc ling, "Wly aic you all maling so mucl noisc'"
"Paidon mc, youi majcsiy," qualcd onc ol ilc minisicis, "bui il you would
caic io lool oui ol ilc window you'll scc wly wc'ic so pciiuibcd."
Tlc King wcni io ilc window and loolcd oui. Wlai lc saw madc lim gapc
in loiioi - a ilicl cloud ol dailncss lung lcavily ovci lis wlolc lingdom, loi
ilcic was nciilci sun noi moon. Tlc iivci bcds lad bccomc diy and ilcic was no
plani oi iicc giowing anywlcic. Tlc sounds ol ilc iown's pcoplc scicaming in
panic lillcd lis cais, and ii suddcnly dawncd upon lim wlai lad lappcncd. "Ol
low siupid I was! Tlis calamiiy las lappcncd only bccausc ol my unconiiollcd
piidc." Calling lis aimy and minisicis, lc iodc wiil ilcm io iiy io lind
Tiiumaisai and Kani Kannai. Hc lound ilcm ai a placc ouisidc ol Kanci callcd
Oiiaviiullai and jumping oll lis loisc, ian io ilc vai and claspcd lis lcci,
bcgging loi loigivcncss. Hcaiing ilc piiious plcas ol Pallava Raya, Tiiumaisai
loigavc lim. Tlcn walling ovci io Loid Vaiadaiaja, lc sang -
"Plcasc lcai, O bcauiilul Loid ol Kanci,
Oui dcai Kani Kannai now iciuins.
Tlai swcci-iongucd poci wlom I ioo musi lollow.
O sappliic-lucd Onc, Plcasc iciuin wiil us."
And unioll Youi snalc-bcd."
Tlc Loid lollowcd His dcai dcvoicc's icqucsi, iuincd aiound and iciuincd io
ilc icmplc in Kanci. And wiil His iciuin, all ligli, waici and lappincss also
iciuincd io ilc lingdom ol ilc lumblcd Pallava Raya.
Somc iimc alici, Tiiumaisai lad ilc dcsiic io go io Kumblalonam and
lavc arsana ol ilc Dciiy ol Loid Aiavamudan. On ilc way, lc sioppcd ai a villagc
callcd Pciumpuliyui wlcic lc saw a gioup ol branmanas icciiing ilc Vcas. Wlcn
ilcy saw lim waicling ilcm, ilcy all sioppcd claniing, ilinling ilai lc was a
low-boin sura.lui wlcn ilcy iiicd io coniinuc ilc icciiaiion wlcic ilcy lcli oll,
ilcy couldn'i icmcmbci. Tiiumaisai could undcisiand ilcii picdicamcni and
ialing a piccc ol iicc-paddy ilai was lodgcd undci lis lingci-nail, lc ilicw ii on
ilc llooi in ilc midsi ol all ilc branmanas.As son as ii lii ilc llooi, ilcii mcmoiics
iciuincd and ilcy icmcmbcicd wlai ilcy lad bccn claniing bcloic. Tlc passagc
ilai ilcy lad bccn icciiing was aboui ilc pciloimancc ol ilc Pajasuya
Yajna,wlcicin ilc ling slould ialc paddy, wlicl lis wilc slould lusl wiil lci
lingci-nails, cool ii and ollci ii in ilc liic as oblaiions. Ai ilis ilcy wcic all
wondci-siiucl and ilcy all lcll ai lis lcci, bcgging loi loigivcncss.
Wlcn lc aiiivcd in Kumblalonam, lc iool arsana ol Loid Aiavamudan,
wlo lics on Anania Scsa, lc sang io ilc Loid,
Wly do You lic down all ilc iimc'
Is ii bccausc You aic iiicd liom walling aiound ilc loicsi ol Dandalaianya
all day'
Oi is ii bccausc You lavc bccn dancing all nigli wiil ilc Gops ol Viaja'
Wly don'i You icll mc'`
Jusi as lc lad linislcd singing ilis, ilc Dciiy ol Loid Aiavamudan bcgan io
iisc oll lis snalc coucl io answci. Tiiumalisai lcli vciy aslamcd and ciicd, Ol
plcasc cxcusc mc, Loid. I didn'i mcan io disiuib You, plcasc lic bacl down on
Youi bcd again!` (Lvcn io ilis day ilc Dciiy ol Loid Aiavamudan can bc sccn lall
lying and lall iising)
Tiiumalisai vai icmaincd immciscd in mcdiiaiing on ilc Supicmc Loid
loi ilc ncxi 2300 ycais. Alici a long siay ol +700 ycais in ilis maiciial woild,
Tiiumalisai iciuincd io Vailunila in lis consiiiuiional posiiion as ilc Loid's
Sudaisana Calia.
NammaIvar and Madhurakavi Ivar
Nammavai was boin in ilc liisi ycai ol Kali Yuga aboui +3 days alici Loid
Kisna iciuincd io His cicinal abodc ol Golola Vindavana. His appcaiancc is
mcniioncd in ilc llavisya Puiana-
In ilc bcginning ol Kali Yuga, on ilc day wlcn ilc lull moon is in
conjunciion wiil ilc siai sign Visalla, ilc Loid's commandci -in-clicl,
Visvalscna will incainaic in oidci io icvivc and picacl lovc ol Godlcad.`
In ilc Si Vaisnava sampiadaya, Nammavai is considcicd io bc ilc mosi
impoiiani ol all ilc vais , ilcicloic lc is callcd 'Nammvai' wlicl mcans, 'oui
own vai
His lamily can bc iiaccd bacl io ilc iulcis ol Kuiugunadu in ilc Pandya
lingdom. His lailci and moilci wcic callcd Kaiiyai and Udaiya Nangaiyai and
ilcy livcd in ilc iown ol Tiiunagaii.
Onc iimc, ilcy wcni on pilgiimagc io ilc icmplc ol Tiiulluiungudi ncai ilc
Malcndia mouniains, wlcic ilcy piaycd io ilc Loid loi a son. Ai ilai cxaci iimc
ilc pujaii camc and gavc ilcm ilc Dciiy's iulasi-gailand, caianamiia and piasada.
Kaiiyai loolcd upon ilis as an auspicious sign and lccling gicai lappincss, ilcy
iciuincd io Tiiunagaii. Vciy soon alici ilis, Udaiya Nangaiyai gavc biiil io a son.
Tlc clild ncvci ciicd, noi dianl lis moilci's mill -lc jusi sai silcnily wiil lis
cycs closcd, smiling scicncly. His paicnis wcic amazcd ai ilis siiangc baby, bui
iool ii as ilc Loid's aiiangcmcni. Llcvcn days alici ilc biiil ol a ncwboin clild, ii
is ilc Vcdic iiadiiion loi ilc paicnis io bailc and ialc ilc clild io scc ilc Dciiy.
Kaiiyai and lis wilc lollowcd ilis cusiom and alici visiiing ilc icmplc, placcd ilc
baby undci a sacicd iamaiind iicc ncaiby. In aciualiiy, ii las bccn cxplaincd ilai
wlcn Visvalscna was boin as Nammavai , Loid Naiayana oidcicd His scivani
Anania Scsa io ialc ilc loim ol ilis iamaiind iicc and givc slclici io lim. Kaiiyai
and lis wilc saw ilai ilis clild was indccd vciy spccial and lad appcaicd on caiil
loi a spccilic puiposc. Wlcn ilcy iiicd io movc ilc inlani, lc would noi budgc!
Sixiccn ycais passcd and Nammavai icmaincd undci ilc sladc ol ilc iamaiind
iicc.
Ai ilc samc iimc ilai Nammavai appcaicd, Madluialavi vai was also
boin. Hc was ilc incainaiion ol Gaiuda, ilc Loid's caiiici. Hc was boin in a
bialmana lamily and siudicd all louiiccn bianclcs ol Vcdic lnowlcdgc. Alici
complciing lis siudics, lc dccidcd ilai lc would go on pilgiimagc io Noiil India
io scc Ayodlya, Avanii, Dwaila, Kasi, ladiilasiama cic Madluialavi visiicd all
ilcsc placcs, bui on ilc way bacl liom ladii somciling vciy unusual lappcncd.
Onc nigli lc wolc up io answci ilc call ol naiuic wlcn lc saw in ilc Souilcin
diicciion a supcinaiuial ligli.
Tlai's siiangc!` lc ilougli, Could any villagc lavc caugli ablazc' Maybc
ilcic's a loicsi liic!` Hc iiicd io go bacl io slccp, bui somclow lc lcpi ilinling
aboui ilc ligli. Tlc ncxi nigli lc awolc io scc ilc samc ligli in ilc Souil. Tlis
plcnomcna coniinucd cvciy nigli, ilcicloic lc dccidcd io uncovci ilc mysiciy
and so lc jouincycd Souil. Hc would icsi duiing ilc day and as soon as dailncss
lcll, lc would iiavcl Souilwaids, guidcd by ilc ligli. Alici somc iimc lc aiiivcd ai
Si Rangam, bui ilc ligli icccdcd luiilci Souil. Hc coniinucd lis scaicl uniil lc
icaclcd Tiiunagaii, wlcic ilc ligli dissappcaicd.
Madluialavi bcgan io inquiic liom ilc iownsloll io lind a cluc aboui ilc
ligli ilai lc lad sccn.
Hc was iold aboui a wondcilul clild ilai livcd undci a iamaiind iicc and
wlo lad ncvci spolc a woid noi opcncd lis cycs sincc ilc day lc was boin.
Madluialavi lcli a gicai uigc io scc ilis clild and so lc icqucsicd ilc iownsloll
io ialc lim io ilai spoi.. Wlcn lc icaclcd ilcic lc saw a young boy siiiing in
padmasana undci a laigc iamaiind iicc, absoibcd in mcdiiaiion. His cycs wcic
closcd and lis iigli land slowcd ilc jnana mudia. In laci so siill was ilis young
boy, ilai Madluialavi doubicd wlcilci lc was alivc! Hc dccidcd io conduci a icsi
by ialing a laigc sionc and diopping ii on ilc llooi io scc il lc could malc ilc
clild icaci io ilc noisc. Hc dioppcd ilc sionc on ilc llooi -ilud!!! Slowly ilc
boy's cycs opcncd and lc smilcd ai Madluialavi.
Wcll lc's cciiainly noi dcal, ilai's loi suic.`ilougli Madluialavi. lui
maybc lc's dumb, so lci mc icsi lim`
So ilcn Madluialavi aslcd lim a qucsiion:
Il in ilc womb ol somciling dcad, a subilc iling is boin, wlai docs ii cai
and wlcic docs ii livc'`
Nammavai opcncd lis mouil and icplicd,
Ii cais ilai, and livcs ilcic!`
Wlcn Madluialavi lcaid ilis lc wcni inio ccsiasy. Tlc clild lad answcicd
lis qucsiion coiiccily. Tlai wlicl is dcad is ilc luman body, ilc subilc iling ilai
appcais in ilc luman body is ilc soul. Wlai docs ii cai' Oi in oilci woids, wlai
docs ii cnjoy' Ii cnjoys ilai! Ii cnjoys ilc luman body and cxpciicnccs plcasuic
and pain iliougl ilai body. Wlcic docs ii livc' Ii livcs in ilai samc body,
incapablc ol lcaving ii. Madluialavi was convinccd ilai ilis young clild ol
sixiccn was no oidinaiy clild. Hc ilicw limscll upon ilc giound and bcggcd lim
io acccpi lim as lis disciplc. Ai ilai iimc Loid Naiayana was so plcascd wiil ilc
iwo vais ilai Hc blcsscd ilcm by appcaiing in ilc sly accompanicd by Lalsmi
Dcvi and all His associaics. Nammavai bccamc so cnamouicd ai ilis
iiansccndcnial vision ilai lc sponiancously composcd loui piaycis wlicl
consiiiuic ilc csscncc ol ilc loui Vcdas. Noi only did Nammavai scc ilc Loid
diiccily in ilc sly, lc also saw ilc Dciiy loims ol ilc Loid as Vcnlaicsvaia,
Ranganaila, Vaiadaiaja and Tiiunaiayana and so lc composcd lymns io ilosc
Dciiys also. Nammavai composcd ilc lamous 'Tiiuvaimoli' wlicl is considcicd
onc ol ilc mosi impoiiani woils loi ilc Si Vaisnavas.
Alici ilc disappcaiancc ol Nammavai , lis disciplc Madluialavi livcd loi
scvcial ycais picacling ilc mcssagc ol lis spiiiiual masici. Hc wioic icn vciscs
callcd ilc 'Kanninun Siiuiiambu' ilai cxpound ilc gicaincss ol ilc Loid's
dcvoiccs. Ai ilai iimc ilcic livcd in Madluia, a couii poci namcd Kambanaiialvan
wlo was ilc lcad ol a ioyal council ol ilicc lundicd pandiias. In ilosc days cvciy
poci was obligcd io pass an cxam sci by ilis council bcloic lc could bc dcclaicd as
a poci. Tlcic was a mysiical planl ol wood wlicl lloaicd in a pond callcd Padma
Saiovaia in ilc icmplc ol Madluia. Tlc poci's woils wcic placcd on onc sidc ol
ilc planl. On ilc oilci sidc ol ilc planl was oilci woils ol gicai icpuiablc pocis.
Tlc woil was judgcd by ilc council accoiding io ilc movcmcnis ol ilc planl.
Kambanaiialvan lad lcaid ol ilc lamc ol Nammavai bcing spicad by lis
disciplc Madluialavi and lc objccicd. Hc complaincd ilai wlai Madluialavi was
doing was unauiloiizcd and dcmandcd ilai lc pioducc lis masici and lis woils
bcloic ilc council loi inspcciion. Madluialavi appcaicd bcloic ilc council and
iold ilcm,
My masici will noi lcavc liom ilc placc wlcic lc now icsidcs, bui I will
givc you a liagmcni ol onc ol lis woils loi you io inspcci.`
Saying ilis, lc gavc Kambanaiialvan a palm-lcal wiil ilc liisi vcisc ol
Nammavai 's Tiiuvaimoli. As soon as ilc palm-lcal was pui on ilc planl, all ilc
oilci woils on ilc opposiic cnd sanl inio ilc waici. Kumbanaiialvan and lis
ilicc lundicd pandiias wcic ai oncc convinccd ol Nammavai 's gicaincss and io
slow ilcii admiiaiion, ilcy all iool slclici ol ilc loius lcci ol Madluialavi.
KuIasekhara Ivar
Iiom iimc immcmoiial ii las bccn ilc cusiom ol ilc lings ol ilc Tiavancoic
piovincc ncvci io considci ilcmsclvcs as ilc iulcis ol ilcii lingdom. Railci, ilc
aciual iulci was ilc paiion Dciiy ol Tiavancoic, Loid Anania Padmanabla, and
ilc ling saw limscll as His minisici. Tlus, ilc lings ol Tiavancoic wcic all
rajarss oi ioyal sainis. Onc sucl rajars was Malaiaja Kulascllaia wlo was ilc
incainaiion ol ilc Loid's lausiubla jcwcl.
Hc was a hsatrya ol gicai piowcss loi lc was noi only ilc ling ol
Tiavancoic, bui also ol ilc Colas and ilc Pandya piovinccs. All ilc nciglboiing
lings lcll undci lis juiisdiciion. Hc was viiiuous and jusi and cvciyonc undci lis
adminisiiaiion lcli lappy and conicni. Howcvci, loi ilc salc ol IiIa, ai liisi lc
bclavcd as a woildly man. Alilougl pious, lc considcicd limscll as indcpcndcni
and lis conccii lcd io spiiiiual blindncss. Howcvci, Tlc Loid lad oilci plans loi
lim. Kulascllaia bcgan io scc ilc luiiliiy ol maiciial lilc and undciwcni a
complcic clangc in consciousncss .
Jusi scc low mcn aic slavcs io ilcii icmpoiaiy bodics!` lc ilougli io
limscll, How ilcy ilinl ilai ilcii bodics aic ilc all in all. Tlcy lavc bccomc so
disiani liom ilc Loid. To siay in ilc midsi ol sucl pcoplc is madncss. To cnjoy all
ilcsc ioyal dcliglis is jusi lilc walling inio a blazing liic. Lci mc go io Si Rangam
and ialc slclici ol ilc Loid ilcic. Lci mc associaic wiil ilc dcvoiccs ilcic and
scivc ilcii loius lcci. Wlcn will I gci ilc clancc io abandon all ilis usclcss
opulcncc'`
In ilis way, Kulascllaia would lamcni cvciy day. To malc lis lcaii lccl
somc iclicl, lc would inviic lcaincd Vasnavas io lis palacc and discuss wiil ilcm
all ilc Puranas, Lpapuranas, |tnasas and Lpansas. Taling ilc csscncc liom ilcsc
sciipiuics, lc composcd a piayci callcd Muhuna MaIa`.
Howcvci, lis lavoiiic bool was Tlc Pamayana and lc would lisicn io ii cvciy
day, loi Loid Ramacandia was lis mosi clciislcd loim ol ilc Loid. Onc day ilc
dcvoicc was icciiing liom ''llanda wlcic ii is wiiiicn:
Tlcic 1+,000 Ralsasas siand
Wiil cvil lcaii and wiclcd land.
Hcic Rama siands, by viiiuc lnown,
How can oui lcio ligli alonc'`
As soon as Kulascllaia lcaid ilcsc woids, lc wcni inio a licnzy. Sianding
up lc slouicd, O my dcai Loid Rama is alonc, suiioundcd by ilcsc dcmons.
Wlo is ilcic io lclp Him' Lalsmana is guaiding Moilci Sia. I musi do
somciling ai oncc! Wlcic is my aimoi' Call ilc aimy ai oncc! Wc musi maicl io
Janasilana and lclp Him.`
All ol Kulascllaia's minisicis wcic ioially bcwildcicd, Has ilc ling gonc
mad'` ilcy aslcd cacl oilci, How will wc calm lim down'` Iinally onc ol ilc
moic lcvcl-lcadcd amongsi ilcm lii upon an idca. Wc slould scnd a sccici paiiy
alcad ol ilc ling, ilcy can mcci ilc ling and lis aimy liom ilc opposiic sidc.
Tlcy can icll lim ilai ilcy lavc jusi comc liom ilc baiilclicld wlcic Rama lougli
and lillcd all ilc dcmons singlc-landcd.` All ilc minisicis agiccd ilai ilis was a
good plan and so ilc advancc paiiy spcd oll, iuining aiound ai somc disiancc and
mcciing Kulascllaia and iclling lim ilc good ncws ol Rama's vicioiy ovci His
cncmics. Wlcn lc lcaid ilis ncws ilc ling's joy lncw no bounds. Tlis is
wondcilul! Lci us iciuin ai oncc and cclcbiaic Rama's vicioiy. Lci us lavc a
lcsiival.` Tlc minisicis lcavcd a sigl ol iclicl and on iciuining io ilc palacc iool
ilc icciici asidc. Iiom now on,` ilcy iold lim, bc vciy caiclul wlicl passagcs
you icad io ilc ling.`
And so ilc daily icciial ol ilc Pamayana wcni on as usual. Ol couisc, ilc
icciici was cxiia cauiious in cloosing wlicl clapicis io icad io ilc ling. Hc
claboiaicd on ilc joylul cvcnis in ilc lilc ol Loid Ramacandia and only sliglily
iouclcd on sucl paiis ilai may causc ilc ling disiicss. And wiil cacl lappy
cvcni ilai was naiiaicd, ii was naiuial ilai ilc ling would bccomc ccsiaiic and
cclcbiaic wiil a lcsiival. Tlc wlolc ciiy would bc dccoiaicd, ilcic would bc lcasis,
disiiibuiion ol wcalil and ilc Dciiy ol Loid Rama would go on pioccssion
iliougl all ilc siiccis.
Onc day lowcvci, ilc icciici lcll ill and scni lis son io icplacc lim.
Unloiiunaicly ilc son was unawaic ol ilc ling's siiangc illncss and so lc opcncd
ilc bool and ilc pagc lcll opcn ai ilc incidcni wlcic Sia is abducicd by Ravana.
As ilc icciicis son icad moic and moic, ilc ling goi moic and moic woilcd up
uniil linally lc could coniain limscll no longci. NO!!! I musi maicl acioss ilc
occan io Lanla ai oncc! I will buin ii io aslcs and lill ilai iascal Ravana and all
lis dcmons. I musi icscuc pooi Moilci Sia and iciuin lci io my Rama.` And
oncc moic lc summoncd lis cniiic aimy and ilcy iodc oll iowaids ilc sca as ilc
minisicis jusi siood and waiclcd lclplcssly.