11 hours ago
109th Divya Desam
Vedas say that a man lives for a 100 years: fifty of these are spent in sleep; of the rest, childhood and puberty take up 15 years; the last 35 years go in sickness, age-related illnesses, etc. With nothing left of one's years, where is the need to be born? I do not want this birth, said Tondaradipodi Azhwar. What are the ways in which one can avoid rebirth? Divya Prabhandam shows the way, said Tirukkudanthai Dr. Venkatesh.
Rendered in Tamil, and accessible to all, the verses from Prabhandam showcase God in an easy to comprehend, identifiable manner and one should render relevant verses from this stellar work, every day, at home. The Divya Prabhandam celebrates God and His attributes in a manner that resonates with the emotion of a devotee. Each one experiences God in his own way, internally and the verses in Nalayira Divya Prabahandam bring to life as it were, Perumal in various stages. One may argue that various scriptural literature do likewise. The Vedas describe Perumal in Vaikunta. Agamas refer to Perumal in the Milky Ocean. Ithihasas describe Perumal's manifestations. Smritis say He is antaryami, ever present inside us. However, none of us can grasp the nuances of these four states and experience God. Prabhandam does this job admirably. The verses bring to life the archa murtis in temples and even in our homes.
Azhwars say the idols and images that are kept at home, with daily rituals of prayer, puja and offerings are also equally important and powerful. In fact, the idols at home are considered the 109th Divya Desam. There is a verse for each aspect of home prayer rituals in the Prabhandam. Ramanuja has said that conducting daily prayers at home by reciting from Divya Prabhandam is like a trailer to Vaikuntam.
