கண்டார்உளர்
Through this set of verses, he gives us a ‘MISSED’ feeling of the Lord
The first decad of the fourth canto is a one of a kind decad in the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham. In the first half of the Periyazhvar Thirumozhi, Saint Poet Periyazhvar presented a unique composition referred to as ‘Pillai Tamil’, one that traces the growth of a unique child. The first two cantos were descriptive of celebrations around young child’s birth, the activities during infancy phase and the remarkable achievements much beyond his age. Each of the child’s activities was described- some making the mother happy and most making the neighbours complain. A large part of the third canto dealt with his greatness even during childhood phase.
In this first decad of the fourth Canto, Periyazhvar revels once again and reveals his poetic greatness by presenting an entire decad in Symbolic Revelation of the Lord. Periyazhvar in these verses has used a very interesting way to narrate the story. After describing the greatness of the Lord in the first part of the verse, he concludes each verse by disclosing to the devotees that there were those fortunate enough to have witnessed each of these great achievements of the Lord almost giving out a ‘I missed it’ feeling with these devotees.
Continuing on from where he left off in the 9th decad of the 3rdCanto with the Paadi Para verses
(http://prtraveller.blogspot.in/2015/09/krishna-rama-praising-their-achievements.html), Periyazhvar once again alternates between praising the greatness of Rama and Krishna and ends the decad with the Varaha Avatar.
Praising Two Avataras in two different poetic ways
Rama’s crown, says Periyazhvar, is studded with gems and its shine can be compared with the rays emanating from a thousand Suns.
கதிர்ஆயிரம்இரவிகலந்துஎறிந்தால்ஓத்தநீள்முடியன்
எதிரில்பெருமைஇராமனைஇருக்குமிடம்நாடுதிரேல்
He equates Rama with his previous Avatara and says that those interested in knowing his location, they could probably find it out from the many lucky ones who witnessed the Man-Lion tearing apart Asura Hiranya and had his hands in a stream of red blood.
அதிரும்கழற்பொருதோல்இரணியன்ஆகம்பிளந்துஅறியாய்
உதிரம்அளைந்தகையோடுஇருந்தானைஉள்ளவாகண்டார்உளர்
Thus in the first verse, he provides insights into two different Avataras- one directly by praising Rama and his radiant features. And the next by revealing his features symbolically by taking one back to the Narasimha Avatara.
In the next verse, he directly describes Lord Rama and his physical posture of one having multiple weapons in his armoury. Periyazhvar names each of his five weapons he holds - Nandaka (Sword), Panchajanya (Conch), Kaumodaki (Mace), Saaranga (Bow) and Thiru Chakra (Discus).
நாந்தகம்சங்குதண்டுநான்ஒளிச்சார்ங்கம்திருச்சக்கரம்
ஏந்துபெருமைராமனைஇருக்கும்இடம்நாடுதிரேல்
And he goes on to his symbolic revelation of the same Lord.
He says that if anyone is keen to know his abode, they could check out with those who were fortunate to have seen him in his magical act of breaking the ‘Rudra’ bow and thus winning the prized hand of Sita at Janaka’s Court in Mithila. Periyazhvar praises Sita’s hands as being soft and compares it with the bud of red Kantal flowers.
காந்தள்முகிழ்விரல்சீதைக்காகிக்கடுஞ்சிலைசென்றுஇருக்க
வேந்தர்தலைவன்சனகராசன்தனவேள்வியில்கண்டாருளர்
In a matter of minutes he sent a swift arrow that ran through 7 trees before killing the dreaded Rakshasas Kara and Dhushana. Those that are interested to meet him can check his greatness with those who have seen him seated alongside the sea shore, while an army of monkeys were helping him build the bridge across the ocean by carrying big boulders on their heads.
தலையால்குரக்கினம்தாங்கிச்சென்றுதடவரைகொண்டுஅடைப்ப
அலையார்கடற்கரைவீற்றிருந்தானை
அங்குத்தைகண்டார்உளர்
Periyazhvar offers a clue to locate him
If any of the devotees are keen to spot the Lord in the middle of a huge ocean, Periyazhvar says he has a clue to offer. As a child who seemed all innocent he had pierced seven bulls and killed an Asura who had troubled his girl friend Nappinnai. After his act, many found him standing there in perspiration.
In the next verse, he once gives a feeling of missing that great event by disclosing to the readers that those interested in seeing the Lord who Shiva with matter hair and Brahma with 4 heads sing praise of as the one with Lakshmi on his chest, can possibly find his whereabouts from the fortunate few who saw his valorous act of holding his beloved Rukmini by the hand staving off preventive efforts of her brother Rukmi and riding away in his chariot through the army of Rukmi.
Periyazhvar describes Dwaraka as a place where the waves strike the shore in a soft way. He describes the Lord as one who rules the place seated in his majestic through along with his many beautiful consorts. As seen earlier in the Periyazhvar Thirumozhi, it was he who sucked the poisonous breasts of Putana till she breathed her last. He says there were many who were privileged to see him ascend the throne at Dwaraka and taking care of the loving people.
Periyazhvar once again says that he has a clue on offer to those who are on the lookout for his abode. It was He who stood in front of Arjana’s Chariot that was drawn by white horses and had the distinct symbol of monkey on its flag and conducted the entire Mahabaratha war.
Describing the Dramatic Sunset Event
Periyazhvar stays on with Mahabaratha and says that there were many lucky to witness that dramatic event just around Sun set.
நாழிகைகூறிட்டுக்காத்துநின்றஅரசர்கள்தம்முகப்பே
நாழிகைபோகப்படைபொருதவன்தேவகிதனசிறுவன்
It was he, Devaki’s son, who in a fraction of a moment hid the sun thus deceiving Jayadratha who falsely believed that dusk had been reached and that he was now safe.
As Jayadratha basked in glory, the Lord brought back the hidden sun and Arjuna grabbed the opportunity to send out sharp arrows that took the head of Jayadratha.
ஆழிகொண்டுஅன்றுஇரவிமறைப்பச்சயத்திரதன்தலையை
பாழில்உருளப்படைபொருதவன்பக்கமேகண்டார்உளர்
Varaha Avatara
He ends the first decad of the fourth canto praising the Lord, once again in his poetic style disclosing the Lord through a symbolic revelation. He says that those interested in seeking him can ask those who had the rare opportunity of seeing as a Boar, in whose form he swirled through the ocean and brought back Goddess Earth and married her.