Latest news with #Azhwars
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
May 10, 2025
Acharyas and pandits were engaged in a deep debate on the question of God's most eye-catching and beautiful avatar. Tirumazhisai Piran, the fourth among Azhwars, gave the verdict as 'Azhagiyaan Thaane Ari Uruvan Thaane', naming Nrisimha avatar as the most beautiful one. While the evil-minded and those with asura tendencies may cite the avatar as ferocious, to the true devotee, Nrisimha is his benevolent protector, said Tirukkudanthai Dr. Venkatesh. An old adage says , 'There is no tomorrow for Nrisimha'. This is because He comes rushing to protect His devotee who believes in Him and appeals to Him. Nrisimha is mercy personified. He took form as half-man, half-lion as a way of outsmarting the asura Hiranyakasipu, who, through severe penance, received a boon from Brahma whereby he could not be killed by man or woman or beast, at morning or night, inside the house or outside, neither on earth nor in the sky, with any weapon. Bloated with ego, he instructed all to worship him as the supreme being and forbid his subjects from praying to any God and vedic rituals among others. Ironically, his son Prahlad was born with unshaking faith in Lord Narayana, thereby posing a challenge. When Hiranyakasipu sent him to a school for asuras, where he was hailed as God, Prahlad refused to countenance such thoughts and was soaked in true bhakti. A furious Hrianyakasipu ordered his son's death and taunted him saying, 'Where is your God now?' 'He is everywhere, even in the pillar here,' responded Prahlad at which the cruel king struck the pillar, as dusk fell. With a thundering noise Nrisimha emerged, dragged the asura to the threshold, put his body on his lap and tore him apart with nails (both living and non-living 'weapon'). Mahalakshmi appeared forthwith and His countenance became tranquil and beautiful, promising protection to His devotees. One should observe Nrisimha Jayanti in the Vaishaka month of the lunar calendar (the 30 days between the new moon of Chittirai and the new moon of Vaikasi is called Vaishaka), under the star of Swati, during the twilight hour with offerings of flowers, sandalwood paste, tulasi and panagam (jaggery juice). Reading of or listening to Prahlad Charitra is highly efficacious on this day.
The Hindu
04-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
When Gods stepped up for Ramanuja
Adisesha was sent to earth as Ramanuja to spread divinity, demystify God to the ordinary people and make them realise that they could also experience God. Azhwars were expected to do the above, but consumed by bhakti, they did not mix with the average devotee, nor did they give lectures and treatises. Instead, they went into an ecstasy of composing verses and experiencing the Lord through the same. Ramanuja, on the other hand, was more pragmatic in making people understand divinity. He also ensured that everyone understood that God was not the purview of a select few but belonged to all: rich and poor, the educated and the unlearned, the high born and the one on the other end of the spectrum, said Damal Ramakrishnan. He endeared himself to not only his gurus and sishyas, but also to the archa murtis that three of them walked up to welcome him, at different kshetras. When an araiyar succeeded in bringing Ramanuja to Srirangam from Kancheepuram, a huge welcome party gathered there, including Viswaksena, sent there by Ranganatha. When Ramanuja prostrated on the sand, Periya Perumal (Moolavar) asked Namperumal, the utsava murti, to 'walk up' from the mandap and welcome Ramanuja, which was done. After asking him to set right the administrative issues, Ranganatha also empowered Ramanuja with a power of attorney, so to speak, for granting moksha to devotees. The second deity to walk up to Ramanuja is Andal, who did so, upon hearing that the son of Sriperumbudur had paid her promised offering of 100 tada akkaravadisal and 100 tada of butter to Kallazhagar. She took 100 steps to welcome him when he came to Srivilliputtur temple. The third incident took place in Delhi, where Ramanuja journeyed at 90 years of age in order to retrieve the idol from Melkote temple, held by the Sultan's daughter. When Ramanuja said, 'Chella Pillaiye, vaarum,' the idol is said to have walked towards the saint, much to the amazement of the Sultan, who permitted him to leave with the same.
