Thursday, March 26, 2009

BG 14.23

Nammalwar's mother Udayanangai [உடைய நங்கை] hailed from Kerala or Malainadu [மலைநாடு]. Therefore, Alwar also had great attachment to Malayala desam! In his Thiruvaimozhi, Twelve (12) Malayala Divyadesams have been mentioned. Adding to that list is Thiruvittuvakkodu, praised by Kulasekara Alwar. Thus Thirteen (13) Divyadesams are in Chera nadu [சேரநாடு], that is present Kerala. All these Kshetrams are full of Nature's beauty! Everywhere we see greenery and rivers flowing! Coconut, arcanut and other palm trees, banana trees with bunches of banana and jack fruit [பலா] trees, welcome us in great numbers! They sway, as though to fan the Lord! We have now come to Thirumoozhikalam [திரு மூழிக்களம்], in Kerala.

tirumuzhikkalam- day view

This place is popularly known as Moozhikkalam. River Bharatapuzha [பாரதப் புழா] flows nearby, attracting with its beauty. On both sides we can see trees and greenery! It is a wonderful sight to see the morning Sun reflecting and radiating multi colors! Like Ganges for North or Godavari for Maharashtra and Andhra or Kaveri for Karnataka and Tamilnadu, Bharatapuzha is for Kerala! This river is connected with Bharata and the Lord has a name Sri Lakshmana. The reason for this is traced to Ramayana! Sri Rama, obeying the orders of the Parents, went to forest to spend Fourteen years. He was in Chitrakoot wth Sri Sita and brother Lakshmana. At that time Bharata, returned from his uncle's house, found his father Dasarata dead and Sri Rama departed to forest; and so, was very angry. He abused his mother and vowed not to accept the Kingdom. Tamil poet Kamba says in the words of Guha, that even Thousand Sri Rama, would not be equal to one Bharata! He regarded the Kingdom as Sri Rama's and so rushed to Sri Rama in the forest to offer the Kingdom and bring Him back to Ayodya. But Lakshmana misunderstood, when Bharata came with army and entire Ayodya, and he thought Bharata wanted to drive away Sri Rama. When Lakshmana expressed his fear and wanted to oppose Bharata, Sri Rama advised that Bharata would never think like that and he might be coming to handover Kingdom. When Bharata arrived and fell at the feet of Sti Rama and pleaded to accept Kingdom, Lakshmana squirmed with shame for his misunderstanding of Bharata. Later, he fell at the feet of Bharata and repented for his thoughts. At that time both exchanged lots of words [or language]. Both wanted to obey Sri Rama and serve Him. In Tamil, language is mozhi [மொழி]. Since they exchanged language, that place was called Mozhi + Kalam [மொழி lamguage+ களம்place]. Thus this place is known as Thiru +mozhi + kalam, which later got transformed to Thirumoozhikkalam! It appears these words were spoken by Bharata and Lakshmana, here, after Sri Rama became the King and they toured these places! Thus this river is named after Bharata and the Lord is named after Lakshmana! The Lord is called Sri Sookti Nathan. Sookti in Sanskrit means language or mozhi in Tamil. Sri Thayar is Sri Maduraveni Nacchiyar [ஸ்ரீ மதுரவேணி நாச்சியார்]. Vimanam is Soundarya Vimanam and Theertham is Sanka Theertham. Nammalwar and Thirumangai Alwar have praised this Kshetram. We will now see sloka 21. Here, Arjuna asks a couple of questions. Thereafter Sri Krishna is going to reply. Sri Krishna told about the person with satva quality, crossing the Three qualities and attaining supreme level. He attains atma prapti. Arjuna asks Sri Krishna to tell how to identify such a person? Only then, we could follow them. What are such person's character and outward identifications? His inner symptoms might be realized by that person alone; so, we have to understand what would be the external identifications. Sloka 21:

arjuna uvāca

kair liṅgais trīn guṇān etān atīto bhavati prabho
kimācāraḥ kathaṃ caitāṃs trīn guṇān ativartate 14.21

Two questions are asked here. Prabho = my [Arjuna's] Lord!, etan = these, trin = three, gunan = qualities, atita = crossed [person], kair = what, lingai = identifications, bhavati = would be? What would be the identifications of that person who had crossed all the Three qualities -satvam, rajas and tamas? What would be the inner identifications? Kim = what are, achara = his activities [external identifications], katham = how, trin gunan = three qualities were, ativartate = crossed [by him]? By what means, does he cross the Three qualities? We requre a boat to cross a river. Like wise, what is the aid to cross the Three qualities? Three qualities are not ike mere river, but are like a huge ocean! The Three qualities are inherent in the body. Then, how does the body-inbound atman, cross them with the same body? Arjuna wants to know how to identify the person. By merely seeing a person, we can not say whether he is learned or not. Identification is necessary to propagate the glory of that person. Vidura tells this as a point to Dridarashtra, for good rule. Madurakavi Alwar says that he wanted to spread the glory of Nammalwar everywhere [எண்டிசையும் அறிய இயம்புகேன்]. Only external or internal identifications might not be sufficient. Both should be known, as requested by Arjuna.

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