Nammalvar was the ninth generation of a family of very devout worshipers of Vishnu.
Tiruvalutinatar.
Arantankiyar'
Cakrapaniyar.
Acyutar.
Centamaraikkannan.
Cenkannan.
Pokariyar.
Kariyar.
Maran or Nammalvar.
Nammalvar was a mystic. He had abiding faith in God and his grace. He was born at Kurukur, on the banks of the river Tamarapani. Bahudhanya was the year, Vaisakha month, Karakataka lagna, Purnima, Friday and vishaka star. He was born to Kariyar, eighth in line of very devout vishnu worshipers, and Utayan Nankaiyar (a woman having all accomplishments)
Maran the child did not cry, nor drink mother's milk and did not open the eyes; but there was no sign of emaciation. The parents were deeply disappointed but after a while reconciled to the situation, that god's will always prevails. The child was taken to the shrine of Sri Adinatha on the 12th day since its birth and was named Maran. There the child crawled towards the tamarind tree and sat beneath it and remained motionless, without displaying any sign of hunger or any want. For nearly 16 years. and then an incident occured when he opened his eyes. -------
Earlier another child was born in a brahmin family in a nearby town of Tirukkolur. He is said to be an incarnation of Vainateya, or Kumuda Ganesa, who serves Vishnu under Visvaksena. He was given the name Madhurakavi, because of his poetic abilities. He decided to go on a pilgrimage to the holy shrines in the north of India. In the course of his travels when he was on his way to Ayodhya from badarikashrama, he saw one night a strange light illumining the southern direction. at first he ignored it. But night after night went by and he would wake up and see the same strange light. It was as if the light was beckoning him, he decided to find out the source of the light and began making enquiries and following the light. he used to walk by night and rest by day to follow the light. he was travelling south, till he found himself before Maran beneath the tamarind tree.
through his enquiries he had herd of Maran the 16 year old child and the strange circumstances under which he was growing up under the tamarind tree. he was now sure that the light was emanating from this strange being under the tamarind tree. but this Maran had not spoken or opened his eyes in all of 16 years. he had to test and find out more. he picked a stone and threw it before Maran, strangely enough Maran was disturbed in his Meditation and he opened his eyes. Madurakavi was to investigate some more so he asked Maran. If in the womb of what is dead, a subtle thing is born, what doth it eat and where doth it abide? namallavar spoke then for the first time, answering It eateth that; it abideth there. This was indeed a strange answer, But to Madhurakavi they were words which opened the doors of his heaven. He understood the answer as. the soul which is atomic in size is born in a body made of the non sentient matter. It will experience the results of his past deeds and be there in that body. By birth, the contact of the self with the body is meant, this goes on till the results of the past deeds get exhausted. the full import of the answer given became evident to the scholar Madurakavi. Maran's reply was unpremeditated. He was not a scholar of the ordinary kind. he found a saint in Maran, completely free from the weakness which afflict people of the world. Though Madurakavi was senior in age to maran he surrendered himself to Maran and became his disciple. The teacher too found a fit pupil in Madurakavi. He taught him the nature of reality, means of attaining it and the nature of Moksha. These are painstakingly noted down by the kavi and are available in four works Thruviruttam, Tiruvasiriyam, Periya Tiruvantadi and Tiryvaimolhi.
Lord Vishnu with his consort sri, appeared to Nammalvar seated on the Garuda. This vision became a catalyst, and verse after verse of ecstatic devotion poured forth from Nammalvar, Madurakavi the great scholar noted these verses and set them to music and sung them.
I bow to the ocean of Tamil Vedas, the Vak os sri Satakopan which gives us all. It is manna for the devotees, pleasing to everyone, and deep as the Upanishads of a thousand threads. --Invocation to the Thiruvaymoli of Nammalvar.
to be continued.
Tiruvalutinatar.
Arantankiyar'
Cakrapaniyar.
Acyutar.
Centamaraikkannan.
Cenkannan.
Pokariyar.
Kariyar.
Maran or Nammalvar.
Nammalvar was a mystic. He had abiding faith in God and his grace. He was born at Kurukur, on the banks of the river Tamarapani. Bahudhanya was the year, Vaisakha month, Karakataka lagna, Purnima, Friday and vishaka star. He was born to Kariyar, eighth in line of very devout vishnu worshipers, and Utayan Nankaiyar (a woman having all accomplishments)
Maran the child did not cry, nor drink mother's milk and did not open the eyes; but there was no sign of emaciation. The parents were deeply disappointed but after a while reconciled to the situation, that god's will always prevails. The child was taken to the shrine of Sri Adinatha on the 12th day since its birth and was named Maran. There the child crawled towards the tamarind tree and sat beneath it and remained motionless, without displaying any sign of hunger or any want. For nearly 16 years. and then an incident occured when he opened his eyes. -------
Earlier another child was born in a brahmin family in a nearby town of Tirukkolur. He is said to be an incarnation of Vainateya, or Kumuda Ganesa, who serves Vishnu under Visvaksena. He was given the name Madhurakavi, because of his poetic abilities. He decided to go on a pilgrimage to the holy shrines in the north of India. In the course of his travels when he was on his way to Ayodhya from badarikashrama, he saw one night a strange light illumining the southern direction. at first he ignored it. But night after night went by and he would wake up and see the same strange light. It was as if the light was beckoning him, he decided to find out the source of the light and began making enquiries and following the light. he used to walk by night and rest by day to follow the light. he was travelling south, till he found himself before Maran beneath the tamarind tree.
through his enquiries he had herd of Maran the 16 year old child and the strange circumstances under which he was growing up under the tamarind tree. he was now sure that the light was emanating from this strange being under the tamarind tree. but this Maran had not spoken or opened his eyes in all of 16 years. he had to test and find out more. he picked a stone and threw it before Maran, strangely enough Maran was disturbed in his Meditation and he opened his eyes. Madurakavi was to investigate some more so he asked Maran. If in the womb of what is dead, a subtle thing is born, what doth it eat and where doth it abide? namallavar spoke then for the first time, answering It eateth that; it abideth there. This was indeed a strange answer, But to Madhurakavi they were words which opened the doors of his heaven. He understood the answer as. the soul which is atomic in size is born in a body made of the non sentient matter. It will experience the results of his past deeds and be there in that body. By birth, the contact of the self with the body is meant, this goes on till the results of the past deeds get exhausted. the full import of the answer given became evident to the scholar Madurakavi. Maran's reply was unpremeditated. He was not a scholar of the ordinary kind. he found a saint in Maran, completely free from the weakness which afflict people of the world. Though Madurakavi was senior in age to maran he surrendered himself to Maran and became his disciple. The teacher too found a fit pupil in Madurakavi. He taught him the nature of reality, means of attaining it and the nature of Moksha. These are painstakingly noted down by the kavi and are available in four works Thruviruttam, Tiruvasiriyam, Periya Tiruvantadi and Tiryvaimolhi.
Lord Vishnu with his consort sri, appeared to Nammalvar seated on the Garuda. This vision became a catalyst, and verse after verse of ecstatic devotion poured forth from Nammalvar, Madurakavi the great scholar noted these verses and set them to music and sung them.
I bow to the ocean of Tamil Vedas, the Vak os sri Satakopan which gives us all. It is manna for the devotees, pleasing to everyone, and deep as the Upanishads of a thousand threads. --Invocation to the Thiruvaymoli of Nammalvar.
to be continued.
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