Latest news with #Thirumaalai
The Hindu
a day ago
- General
- The Hindu
A garland of verses
The term Thirumaalai consists of two words. Usually, Thiru is used as a prefix to express respect and reverence. Maalai refers to a garland. With Bhakti as the thread, verses as flowers, and tears of joy as water to touch and ease the making, Thondaradippodi Azhwar strung together beautiful, melodious, and melting verses on Lord Ranganatha, and titled them Thirumaalai. The Azhwar is the incarnation of 'Vaijayanthi Mala', a garland that adorns the chest of Lord Vishnu. His actual name is Vipranarayanan. He wanted to be the dust in the feet of devotees and renamed himself as Thondaradippodi. Thirukkudandhai Dr. Venkatesh said in a discourse that the Azhwar composed exclusively about Lord Ranganatha. Thirumaalai is the translation of the Sanskrit text Vishnu Dharmam into pure Tamil. Nama Sankeerthanam, or chanting the divine names of God, is the essence of Vishnu dharmam. Thondaradippodi Azhwar taught us the importance of chanting the names of God through Thirumaalai. It is written in a clear and concise style, making it easy to understand. It contains 45 verses. The great Acharya Sri Periavachan Pillai has divided Thirumaalai into eight parts for his commentary. The Azhwar says the bliss of chanting is more than the bliss of Srivaikuntam. He wanted neither Bhuloka (the Earth) nor Srivaikuntam (the heaven), but wished to be in Srirangam (Bhuloka Vaikuntam), existing in Bhuloka and experiencing Vaikuntam. The Azhwar says chanting mechanically the names of the Lord, even without deep devotion, a serene mind or self-control will remove all our sins. Just as Vibhishana befriended Rama to conquer Ravana, the Azhwar befriended God's names to conquer Yama, the Lord of Death. Undertaking penance is the most important in the Krita Yuga. The performance of Yagnas is predominant in the Treta Yuga. Rendering Archanas is essential in the Dwapara yuga. Chanting the names of God is considered the most effective and easiest medium in the Kali Yuga to derive God's blessings.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
May 22, 2025
Sri Ramanujamji said in a discourse that a man becomes happy when a desire is fulfilled. Until that desire is achieved, his heart palpitates. The palpitation stops when the desire is fulfilled, and that moment is called happiness. But the real problem is that when one desire is fulfilled, another crops up, and equally, the palpitation also goes up. Why should people chase after desires that have no end? It is because the mind is going after them, and controlling the mind is an uphill task. How to subdue the mind? Thondaradippodi Azhwar says in the first poem of his composition 'Thirumaalai' that chanting the names of God can help a person control his mind. He says, 'I chant your name continually, and I have imprisoned my faculties through the chanting for which I had been a slave before. I have thrown the bundles of sins through chanting.' It is said that the Azhwar took the condensed essence of the Vishnu Dharma sastra from the scripture Hari Vamsam and composed 'Thirumaalai'. A person need not worry even if he cannot control his mind. Controlling the tongue is within his reach and easier, and if he starts chanting, God will take care of the rest. A person need not be afraid of being alone or who is there to care for him.. Chanting will establish a connection with God, and all our fears will be alleviated. Chanting God's names will remove depression, sorrow, anger, jealousy, and mental agitation and bring peace and happiness. It will transform a person and society into something good. The spiritual path flows from the Vedas and streams down to Azhwars and then to Acharyas and Gurus. With the help of a noble Guru, we can tread the path, chant God's names, and derive the ultimate true bliss.
