THIRUKOLUR PEN PILLAI RAGASIYAM-73

“Udambai Verutheno Thirunareyuraraipolae “

We are going to learn about someone deeply involved with Perumal.

Near Srirangam, towards the west, lay a small village called ‘Thirunarayanapuram’. The presiding deity was ‘Arulnarayanan’ Perumal, who is lying on the ten-headed Adisheshan (Snake). Under his head are the 4 Vedas. Closer to his feet is a 3-year-old boy, ‘Prahaladhan’. This Thirunarayanapuram is also known as ‘Thottiyam’, and the Perumal is of unbelievable beauty.

Now we are going to go to ‘Thirunaraiyur,’ one among ‘Divyadesam,’ Moolavar being ‘Thirunaraiyur Nambi Srinivasan’ along with ‘Vanjulavalli’ Thaayar, renowned as Nachiyar Temple. ‘Nareyur’ meant the place filled with the fragrance of flowers.

There was a bhakta who was very proud and fond of Perumal and the place, so he added the place name along with his name as ‘Pillai Thirunaraiyur Araiyar’.

His bhakti towards Perumal was limitless. One day, ‘Pillai Thirunaraiyur Araiyar’, along with his family, went to ‘Thottiyam’ to pray to ‘Vedanarayanan’. While he was there, ‘Ponruddharanai Sevai’ was going on. As the temple was busy with work, there were straws spread across the ground. Suddenly, people were running out of the temple. ‘Pillai Thirunaraiyur Araiyar’ asked, “Why are you leaving Perumal and running away?” They answered, “The temple is set on fire, so you too save yourself.”

Araiyar got worried on seeing this and thought if this fire goes wild it will reach Perumal’s vasthram and his soft skin will get hurt. He ran towards Perumal. As soon as he reached the ‘Garbhagraha - where Perumal resides’, Perumal was shining bright under that wild fire. Araiyar called his family and made them pray to Perumal as they were the only ones there.

The kids were scared of the heat and smoke and told their father that they couldn't bear it. Araiyar told, “Patience, patience, we are going to get the best fruit.” The kids asked, “How do we do that?” Araiyar said, “Our Perumal has left Vaikundam and is lying down here just for us. Isn't saving him our duty?” The kids answered, “Yes.” Such devotion filled the kids. On seeing this, filled with happy tears, Araiyar asked his family to hug Perumal and become his kavacha, a protective vest. First, Araiyar hugged Perumal, and then his family hugged him. The fire engulfed them, but Perumal was safe because of this family, and because of this family, we still get to see Perumal.

Thirukolur penn says, “Just like Araiyar who didn’t consider his body important, I don’t have his bhakti. Why should I live here?”

Ramanuja says, “On this earth, the Araiyar family, who came to pray to Perumal but lost their bodies, have attained their seva in Vaikuntam. The first Araiyar’s wife and children attained Moksha because they saved a bhakta (Araiyar). Despite saving Perumal, Araiyar attained Moksha after them.

Perumal not only loves His bhaktas but also people who respect His bhaktas, so that’s why the family attained Moksha first and then Araiyar. The whole family saved Perumal. Now, who are you going to tell me about?”

“Enneipol endreno uparicharanai polae”