Thursday, January 13, 2011

Lord Srinivasa of Tirupati with the Flute

How long can someone NOT look at Him if He is this handsome???
It will take a really idiotic heart not to be swayed by His beauty.
Look at Him, standing so handsome and picture-perfect!
i just wanna kiss Him, His cheeks are so perfect and inviting! :))

[செடியாய வல்வினைகள் தீர்க்கும் திருமாலே
நெடியோனே வேங்கடவா நின் கோயிலின் வாசல்
அடியாரும் வானவரும் அரம்பையரும் கிடந்து இயங்கும்
படியாய்க் கிடந்து, உன் பவழ வாய் காண்பேனே!]

"O Lord of Lakshmi who lashes out problems lasting,
O Lord forever at Your devotees service, so majestically standing!
At Your doorstep, as a comfort for Your  devotees aplenty,
Lying as a "step", i shall feast at Your lips' beauty!"

-Kulasekara Alwar
(A very rough, perhaps, not complete translation) 

Just imagine the pure devotion of Alwar here!
He says it's enough if He is a little step on the way to Tirumala.
That way, He will keep looking at Perumal's beautiful's face! 
Such is the greatness of the devotion of His purest devotees.


Pic Courtesy: www.kannansongs.blogspot.com

8 comments:

  1. Something unusual is going on!!
    I think Krishna wants me to read Alwar. Yesterday when I went for my Bhagavad Gita class, we where studying Chapter 8 Text 1 and 2. In the purport of Text 2, Kulashekhar is mentioned. So my teacher said that just the previous day he was conversing with someone about Kulashekhar and he was praising the Alwar, saying it was a mindblowing book.
    And now here you are, way less than 24 hours later, quoting the very same book!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Drainpiper, please do read Alwar.
    Please do come and see these gems of work.
    i will try to find u and tanvee good translations.
    These 4000 verses by Alwars are the richest of riches, and the very gems, and basis of Sri Vaishnava tradition.
    But, since they are in Tamil, they have been appreciated infinite number of times, but more within the Sri Vaishnava community than outside it. (Sri Vaishnavas mostly tend to be South in origin).

    ReplyDelete
  3. Drainpiper, Today is the Sitrum Sirukaalai day of Margazhi.
    (i told u abt the song, remember?)
    i'll try to post it tomorrow (sry Aandal, am late, but i am reading some splendid articles on the verse today)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yes I remember the song. My teacher mentioned yesterday that there is a translation/commentary by Srila Prabhupada. Here's the link so you can have a look: http://www.scribd.com/doc/13056760/Srila-Prabhpada-on-Kulasekara-Alwars-Mukundamala

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yes, DP, but the mukunda mala is in Sanskrit.
    The verse i quoted is from the Prabandham, in Tamil.
    Thaks for the link, btw :))

    ReplyDelete
  6. :)

    //i just wanna kiss Him, His cheeks are so perfect and inviting//

    :)))

    Hi DP - Greetings to you!
    //Yes, DP, but the mukunda mala is in Sanskrit.
    The verse i quoted is from the Prabandham, in Tamil//

    செடியாய வல்வினைகள் தீர்க்கும் திருமாலே
    நெடியோனே வேங்கடவா நின் கோயிலின் வாசல்
    அடியாரும் வானவரும் அரம்பையரும் கிடந்து இயங்கும்
    படியாய்க் கிடந்து, உன் பவழ வாய் காண்பேனே!
    ----------

    தேனார் பூஞ்சோலை திருவேங்கடச் சுனையில்
    மீனாய்ப் பிறக்கும் விதியுடையேன் ஆவேனே!
    In the honey filled flower tank on the vEnkatam hill
    As a fish, I am born, Let my fate so fill!

    கோனேரி வாழும் குருகாய்ப் பிறப்பேனே!
    Lemme be born as a stark by that pond

    செண்பகமாய் நிற்கும் திருவுடையேன் ஆவேனே!
    Lemme be the fragrant sheNbaga flower on his hills! - for his pleasure

    தம்பகமாய் நிற்கும் தவம் உடையேன் ஆவேனே!
    Lemme be atleast a thorny shrub on those hills! - for his protection

    செம்பவள வாயான் திருவேங்கடம் என்னும்
    எம்பெருமான் பொன்மலை மேல் ஏதேனும் ஆவேனே!

    Sweet coral lips of the Lord on whose hill
    I will be anything, anything for his will!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. @KRS: i like "ponvattil pidithu pugalperven aavene!"
    Kulasekara Alwar (correct me if i am wrong) was a King, but you see his great devotion here, when he says he will attain highest pleasure, when he be able to hold the golden bowl in which he'll humbly accept the Lord's food remains from His beautiful mouth.
    Perhaps his position as a king once (as an afterthought) led him into more animated imaginations of how to serve Perumal.

    ReplyDelete
  8. @DP and tanvee:
    'Perumal' is tamil for "Supreme Personality of Godhead".

    ReplyDelete