15, 16

Learn our Sampradayam the easy way?
Grade I- Lesson 15: AzhwArs(The Saints immersed in experiencing the Lord)
(Based on the original in Tamil ?sampradAya pADa thiTTam? by
Sri Seva Swamigal, Founder, maNi manDapam and Editor, Sri Desika Seva. (Translation by Anbil Ramaswamy).
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The word ?AzhwArs? means ?those immersed in the auspicious qualities (kalyANaguNas) of the Lord?. Born in Tamizh speaking areas (of the present day TamizhnADu) they were endowed with a divine vision with which they perceived the nature (Swaroopa), form (roopa), qualities (GuNa), greatness (vibhava) and Lordship (Aiswarya) of the Lord, they renounced completely all worldly pleasures.

Being particularly enticed by the iconic state of the Lord (ArchAvatAra)
as appearing in the various holy places (divya dEsams).they poured their hearts out in devotional and inspiring psalms on them.

The Lord Himself blessed them with the knowledge that was gained by the Rishis of yore by severe penance. (mayarvara mathi nalam aruLinan)
And what they knew they faithfully reflected in their works.

Out of unparalleled mercy and compassion for the redemption of humanity, they composed what is known as ?Divya Prabandham? or ?holy Collects?. The word ?Prabandham? means ?that which binds us inextricably with the Lord? (prakarshEna bhadhnAthi iti Prabandha:). So, these works if properly studied will take us close to the feet of the Lord.

There are 12 AzhwArs of which Madhurakavi and AaNDAl are a class apart from the rest. Swami Desikan has advised us that the traditional way shown by Madhurakavi is the best. ?Madhurakavi kATTum thol vazhiyE nalvazhi). Swami Desikan reckoned Tiruvarangattu AmudhanAr?s ?RAmAnuja NootranthAdhi? as part of the 4000 Divya Prabandham. Thus, we can say there are 13 AzhwArs as stated by Swami in his ?Prabandha Saaram?.

Based on ?KaTapayAdhi Sankhya?, (a mathematical formula of ancient times) our elders placed the period of AzhwArs at the close of DwAparayuga and the start of Kaliyuga. Modern researchers, however, do not agree. Swami Desika, ignoring the controversy, proceeds to record their names, Month / Nakshatram and place of birth as per the traditional calendar, their other names, their works, the meters thereof, the numerical count of their PAsurams (Verses) etc.

The works of AzhwArs are also known as ?AruLicheyals? ? ?Acts of grace? yes. They shared their experiences so we could benefit. Is this not an ?Act of grace??
SOME DETAILS ABOUT THE AZHWARS
Name, Month & Star of Birth, Place of Birth, Names of works and Number of Pasurams.
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1. Poigai AzhwAr ? Aippasi ? Sravanam -Kanchipuram ?
Mudal Tiruvantadi - 100
2. BoodathAzhwar ? Aippasi ? Avittam - Kadalmallai -
IrandamTiruvantadi 100
3. PeyAzhwAr - Aippasi ? Sadayam ? Mylai -
MoonramTiruvantadi 100
4. Tirumazhisai- Thai ? Magam - Tirumazhisai ?
Tiruchandaviruttam 120
NaanmuganTiruvantadi 96
5. NammAzhwAr - Vaikasi- Visakam - Tirukkurugur -
Tiruvoimozhi 1102
TiruvAsiriyam 7
Periya Tiruvantadi 87
Tiruviruttam 100
6. Madhurakavi Chitrai- Chitrai - Tirukkolur KaNNinuN SiruthAmbu
11
7. Kulasekar Maasi ? Punarvasu - Vanchikkalam
PerumAL Tirumozhi 105
8. PeriyAzhwAr Aani ? SwAti - Srivilliputtur
PeriyAzhwArTirumozhi 473
9. AaNDAL AaDi ? Pooram - Srivilliputtur
TiruppAvai
30
NachhiyAr Tirumozhi 143
10. ThonDaraDippoDi- Margazhi ? Kettai TirumanDankuDi
TiruppaLLi Ezhuchi 10
TirumAlai 45
11. TiruppANNAzhwAr- Kartigai ? Rohini Urandai
AmalanAdipirAn 10
12. Tirumangai AzhwAr- Kartigai/ Kartigai Tirukkuraiyalur
Periya Tirumozhi 1084
Tirukkurum ThANDakam 20 Tirunedum ThANDakam 30
TiruvEzhukkootrirukkai 1
Siriya TirumaDal
40
Periya TirumaDal 78
13. Tiruvarangattu AmudanAr- Panguni /hastham Srirangam
RamAnuja NootrantAdhi 108


Learn our Sampradayam the easy way
(Course for Kids) Grade 1 for Beginners
(Based on the originals in Tamil "sampradAya pADa thiTTam"
by Sri Seva Swamigal)
Lesson 16: AvatAras (Incarnations)
(Anbil Ramaswamy)
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The word "AvatAra" means "Descent". The Lord is said to have five
abodes.
1. SrivaikunTam. This is His "Para" abode and He is
called "ParavAsudEva".
2. Vyuham: This is the famed milky ocean (KsheerAbdi). The Lord is
seen here as Vyuha VAsudEva, SamkarshaNa, Pradhyumna and Aniruddha
forms.
3. Vibhavam: The Lord descends to earth in various forms and names
like fish, tortoise, boar, Lion-Man, Dwarf, ParasurAma, SriRAma,
BalarAma, KrishNa and Kalki to protect the virtuous, to destroy evil
and to reestablish Dharma. The Lord declared this in Bhagavad
Gita "ParitrANAya sAdhoonAm, vinAsAya cha DushkrithAm, Dharma
SamsthApanArthAya sambhavAmi yugE yugE"
4. Hardham: The Lord dwells in the hearts of all living beings
5. ArchA: his abode in the temples. Hearths and homes of His devotees.

We deal in this lesson with the Vibhavam incarnations. Though He has
taken several incarnations, the following 10 are considered the main
ones:
1. MATSYA AVATARAM: (Fish) when Madhu and KaiTaba (the twin Asuras)
stole the Vedas from Brahma (the creator), the Lord took the form of
a huge fish. Killed them, retrieved and restored the Vedas to Brahma.
2. KOORMA AVATARAM (Tortoise) Vanquished by asuras, the Devas
approached the Lord, who suggested to make a temporary truce with
asuras and engage in the churning of the milky ocean for bringing out
nectar that would give them protection against death and defeat. The
mountain Mantara was to be the churning rod and the snake VAsuki the
rope. When the mountain toppled, the Lord took the form of a huge
tortoise and held the mountain securely on His back. When the nectar
emerged, He had distributed to the Devas and saved them.
3. VARAHA AVATARAM ( Wild Boar- NOT Pig as popularly believed). When
HiranyAksha (lit. golden eyed) abducted Bhoodevi (mother Earth), the
Lord took the form of a wild boar killed the asura, and retrieved
mother earth. He is also known as Aadhi varAhan, SvEtha varAhan, KOla
varAhan and Yajna varAhan. It is in this AvatAram that He revealed to
Bhoodevi the easiest means for the inhabitants of earth to attain Him.
4. NARASIMHA AVATARAM: (half lion- Half Man) HiraNyakasipu was
another Asura who claimed to be God, having secured several boons of
invincibility. His own son, Prahlada was, however, an ardent devotee
of the Lord. The father tortured the son to reject Narayana and
acknowledge himself as God. But, when Prahlada insisted on his
conviction, the father asked the son to show him his God in a pillar
and kicked it. Out came the Lord a unique half-lion half-man form to
make the words of His devotee ring true, killed the asura by tearing
his chest with His bare fingernails and saved Prahlada.
5. VAMANA AVATARAM: (Dwarf) MahAbali, a grandson of Prahlada acquired
enormous powers, drove away Indra and annexed his kingdom. The Lord
appeared before him as a BrahmachAri dwarf begged MahAbali 3
footlength steps of earth by his own feet. When MahAbali plighted his
word to grant His request, the Lord grew so much in size that He
could measure the entire earth with one step, the whole wide heavens
with another. Aghast at this feat, MahAbali offered his own head. The
Lord sent him down to the nether world to rule over there. This
AvatAra is also known as "Trivikrama AvatAra"- an "AvatAra within an
AvatAra" as it were.
6. PARASURAMA AVATARAM: (Rama with the Axe). Born as the son of
Jamadagni, ParasurAma's weapon was the battle-axe. To avenge the
death of his father killed by a Kshatriya king, he went round the
world 21 times decimating all belonging to the Kshatriya clan.
7. SRIRAMA AVATARAM: (Rama, the Compassionate). RAvaNa, a RAkshasa,
like the earlier Asuras acquired enormous powers by severe penance
especially invincibility from all beings (except humans, whom he
regarded as despicable). The Lord was born as Rama, son of Dasaratha
of AyOdhya. RAvaNa abducted Sita, wife of Rama and held her hostage
in his capital Lanka beyond the seas. With the help of a monkey
battalion headed by Sugriva and HanumAn, RAma crossed the sea over to
Lanka and in a terrific fight killed RAvaNa and retrieved Sita. In
this AvatAram, the Lord revealed his compassion saying that if anyone
surrendered to Him, it was his vow to protect them, come what may.
Thus, He enunciated the efficacy of "SaraNAgathi"- Total and
unconditional surrender to the Lord
8. BALARAMA AVATARAM: (Rama with the plough) born, as the elder
brother of KrishNa, BalarAma was another incarnation of the Lord. His
weapon was the plough. He performed several exploits along with
KrishNa.
9. KRISHNA AVATARAM: This is considered to be a "PoorNa
AvatAram"(Complete incarnation). He was born to DEvaki and VasudEva
but was brought up by YasOda and NandagOpa, in the cowherd family. It
is in this AvatAram that the Lord revealed that He was indeed
BhagavAn and reassured humanity with the last verse (CharamaslOka of
the Bhagavad Gita- the Song Celestial) that He would grant Moksha to
anyone who surrendered to Him.
10. KALKI AVATAR: (The apocalyptic incarnation yet to be) The Lord is
expected to be born to a Brahmin by name Vishnuyasas in the village
SambaLam, at the close of Kaliyuga and riding on a horse with a sword
in His hand would reestablish the golden age (Kritayugam) once again.
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QUESTIONS
1. What is meant by the term "AvatAram"?
2. Bring out the purpose of the first 3 AvatAras?
3. What difference do you notice between Sri Rama AvatAram and Sri
KrishNa AvatAram?