ThiruppallANDu: As the procession was winding its way, the Lord appeared in the sky on the GaruDa mount with His consort Mahalakshmi to bless VishNucittar. VishNucittar was very much pleased to have the darshan of the Lord in dazzling splendor. VishNucittar was concerned for the safety of the Lord out of his extraordinary love and affection for Him. He thought the Lord would be harmed by evil glances just as a mother would feel that harm would fall on her beautiful child. Just as a mother would attempt some redemption (dhrushTi removal) he resorted to singing a benediction to the Lord spontaneously using the bells of the elephant for rhythm. VarAha PurANam declares:
वॆङ्कटाद्रि समं स्थानं ब्रह्माण्डॆ नास्ति किञ्चन वॆङ्कटेस समो
देवो न भूतो न भविश्यति
VenkaTAdri samam sthAnam
brahmANDe nAsti kincana
VenkaTEsa samO dEvO na bhUtO na bhaviSyati
Meaning: There is no other place in the macrocosm (universe) that is on par with VenkaTAdri (Tirumala, VenkaTAcalam). There is no other god that is equal to VenkaTEsa nor will there ever be one.
Besides recognizing Lord Vishnu as the Supreme Being, VishNucittar went one step further and with immense concern delivered a benediction for the Lord. Normally human beings want to be blessed by the Lord and only elders would bless youngsters. But VishNucittar’s blessing of the Lord by singing what is now known as ThiruppallANDu is unique. He was thus recognized for such a large-hearted gesture by being placed first among all AzhwArs and given the title “PeriyAzhwAr”. This benediction constitutes the first part of PeriyAzhwAr’s pAsurams (verses). There are 12 verses of PallANDu. Let us look at a couple of them here. The very first verse goes as:
பல்லாண்டு பல்லாண்டு பல்லாயிரத்தாண்டு பலகோடி நூறாயிரம்
மல்லாண்ட திண்தோள் மணிவண்ணா! உன் செவ்வடி செவ்வி திருக்காப்பு
PallANdu pallANDu pallAyiraththANDu palakODinURAyiram
MallANDa thiNthOL maNivaNNA! un sevvaDisevvi thirukkAppu
Meaning: Oh, Lord possessing strong shoulders and sporting the hue of blue gem! One who conquered the wrestlers (of Kamsa), may your glorious feet prevail and preserve for many thousands and thousands of years and forever.
The second verse follows as:
அடியோமோடும் நின்னோடும் பிரிவின்றி ஆயிரம் பல்லாண்டு
வடிவாய் நின்வல மார்பினில் வாழ்கின்ற மங்கையும் பல்லாண்டு வடிவார்
சோதி வலத்துறையும் சுடராழியும் பல்லாண்டு படையோர் புக்கு
முழங்கும் அப்பாஞ்ச சன்னியமும் பல்லாண்டே
aDiyOmODum ninnODum pirivinRi Ayiram pallANDu vaDivAy
ninvala mArbinil vAzhginRa mangaiyum pallANDu vaDivAr sOdhi
valattuRaiyum suDarAzhiyum pallANDu paDaiyOr pukku muzhangum
Meaning: The relationship between you and me should last for thousands of years. The beautiful damsel (Lakshmi) who resides in your right chest shall also live for thousands of years. The bright and shapely cakra (Sudharsanam) shall also last for thousands of years. Likewise the conch (PAnchajanyam) which sounds at the start of all your battles shall also last for thousands of years.
PeriyAzhwAr does not stop with blessing the Lord and His consort alone. He goes on to bless the Lord’s divya Ayudhams (the conch and the discus) and wants His devotees too to wish long life for the Lord. In the next 10 verses he exhorts the devotees to shun wealth and embrace His lotus feet. Then he sings pallANDu to Krishna who killed BANAsuran with the discus. He declares that he will do mangaLAsAsanam by singing “namO nArAyaNa” and those who recite the pallANDu will attain the state of being close to the Lord and reside with Him forever. To this day ThiruppallANDu is recited in all VaishNavaite shrines as an integral element of ceremonial worship. appAnja canniyamum pallANDE
( To be contd.)
Sethuraman Subramanian
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