Episode 1

Next
sarva tantra svatantrar

One time many scholars gathered into a crowd and challenged Bhattar to a philosophical
debate. Bhattar agreed, took them on and defeated them. Even then they wanted to test
his knowledge.

So, they put a snake in a vessel, closed its mouth and asked Bhattar "Please identify
what's in this vessel".

Bhattar replied "The white umbrella of the Lord is in it".

The scholars laughed and opening the vessel showed Bhattar the snake as it left the
vessel. They then asked him "Is this the umbrella of the Lord?"

Bhattar replied "Is it not? Did not Azhvar say senRAl kudaiyAm?"

(Poygai Azhvar's description of Adisesha the snake in Muthal ThiruvandhAdhi pasuram

53 is

senRAl kudaiyAm irunthAl singkAsanamAm

ninRAl maravadiyAm nILkadaluL - enRum
puNaiyAm maNiviLakkAm pUmpattAm pulgum
aNaiyAm thirumARk aravu

That is, he is an umbrella when the Lord walks about, a seat when He wants to sit down,
footwear when he stands, and so on).

The scholars greatly wondering at Bhattar's knowledge praised him and left.

Episode 2 Next

One time Nanjeeyar attempted to carry the palanquin in which Bhattar was sitting.

Bhattar stopped him saying "This is inappropriate for one who is a sanyasi".

Nanjeeyar replied "I took on sanyasam because I thought it would allow me to perform
uninterrupted service (free of the duties of a grhasta). However if that makes it
impossible for me to do this service to you, then I will remove this saffron dress and put
on a white dress again".
That is, any dharma (including varNAshrama) which does not fit in with service to the
acharya is to be given up.

Episode 3 Next

One day Nanjeeyar asked Bhattar "What is the meaning behind the Lord lying in
Srirangam in the banks of Chandra Pushkarani?"

Bhattar replied "He came to the bank (where Gajendra was caught in the mouth of the
crocodile) only after His devotee cried for His help. He has come to the banks of Cauvery
to save me even before I can ask for help. He is lying here beforehand knowing that I will
be near this river. You did not ask for this meaning out of your own volition. Through
you, He reminded me of this".

Episode 4 Next

At one time Bhattar was living with his family in a town called Koorakulottamam. Here
Nanjeeyar was maintaining a garden and doing flower service to the Lord.

Once, some of Nanjeeyar's disciples complained that Bhattar and his family's presence in
the garden was disturbing their work.

When Nanjeeyar heard about this, he called them over and angrily told them "Am I doing
this garden and flower service because I think that the Lord's hair smells poor? I am
doing this as a service because it is liked by Bhattar and his family."

That is, a disciple does service even to the Lord only as service to his acharya.

Episode 5 Next

One time Bhattar went out with Nanjeeyar and stopped in a village. There he stayed at a
hunter's home. The hunter made a cot and gave it to Bhattar so he could take some rest.

Sitting on it, Bhattar wondered "He did this not because he knows about us; not because
he is filled with knowledge; and not because he got anything from us. He did this because
of his affection for the fact that we entered his house. If that is the case with this hunter,
then how much is the Lord considering those that have seeked Him?"

Episode 6 Next

After stopping at the hunter's home in a village, Bhattar enquired about him.
The hunter said "I went into the forest for hunting. There I caught a young rabbit. On the
way back, the mother rabbit come to my path and started praying. Therefore, I felt mercy
in my heart and left the young with its mother".

Bhattar then told Nanjeeyar "No one taught sharanagati to the rabbit. No one taught the
hunter to protect one who surrenders to him. Yet, sharanagati has worked here. Here is
another example that it works."

Episode 7 Next

ammaNiyAzhvan walked a long distance to reach Bhattar and fell at his feet and asked
him "Please teach adiyEn something in which to take refuge in".

Bhattar taught him the meaning of Azhvar's "nedumArkkadimai" pasurams and told him
"Knowing the Lord is only knowing Him in half. It is by knowing His devotees that one
knows Him in full".

ammaNiyAzhvan said "Learning many things is no good. I will forget them all. This
much is sufficient", and followed Bhattar's advice from that day forward

Episode 8 Next

Veerasigamani Pallavarayan asked Bhattar "As I am involved in the matters of the

kingdom, I don't get the opportunity to listen about the Lord. Therefore, please teach me
something in which I can take refuge in".

Bhattar told him "Think about the beach".

Pallavarayan did not follow what Bhattar was saying and stood looking confused.

Bhattar then explained "Sri Rama reached the salty ocean and stood in its beach like an
ocean of nectar. A huge army of monkeys was waiting under His command, while
Ravana was on the other side. The army being of this world became tired after work and
fell asleep. At which time, Rama and Lakshmana walked around with their bows and
arrows protecting the entire sleeping army all night, like a bird protecting its egg under its
wings, as if they were walking walls. Therefore, take your refuge in that Lord's hand and
in the bow that He carries".

That is, if He protects us while we sleep, then where is the need for us to ask Him to look
at us?

Episode 9 Next
Thribhuvana Veeradevarayan seing Bhattar's greatness asked him to come by his palace
and meet him.

Bhattar declined saying "Even if His divine hands that remove all fear decline to protect
us, do we have any other refuge?"

That is, when He has taken a vow to protect us, we cannot seek another being who is also
dependent on Him.

Episode 10 Next

A person asked Bhattar "Why don't Srivaishnavas worship other devatas?"

Bhattar replied "Doubts in this should happen only if we see something different in the
sastras; since we don't, there is no need for such doubts."

He then added "Those who are with sattva gunas should be seeked by those under rajas
and tamas gunas; not the other way around."

That is, because of their guNas and doshas, other devatas are not qualified to be seeked
by His devotees.

Episode 11 Next

During Bhattar's upanyasams in Srirangam, an elderly Srivaishnava who was not a

scholarly person would come by and Bhattar would ask his disciples to treat him with
great respect. A scholar would also come by to Bhattar's upanyasams and Bhattar would
ask his disciples to give him some sambhavana and send him on his way.

The disciples puzzled by this asked Bhattar for the reason behind his actions. Bhattar told
them to wait till the next day.

Next day when the scholar came by, Bhattar met him and seated him. He then asked the
scholar "Please explain to us the principle (tattva)". The scholar replied "This is not easily
determined. The Vedas and Upansihads can be interpreted in many ways such as dvaita,
advaita, etc."

Bhattar then asked him "Please explain the means (hita)". The scholar replied "Here too
things are not clear, as there were many means such as bhakti, njAna, prapatti, etc."

Bhattar finally asked him "Please explain the goal (prApya)." The scholar again was
unsure saying "There are many goals such as aisvaryam, kaivalyam, bhagavat
kainkaryam, and so on."

Bhattar then thanked the scholar and sent him on his way.
Next the elderly Srivaishnava came and Bhattar asked him also about tattva, hita and
purusharttha. The elderly person slapped his palm against his forehead and exclaimed
"adiyEn thought that in Bhattar's ghosti everyone would have conviction in these things.
Sriman Narayana is the tattvam, His divine feet are the hitam and bhagavat kainkaryam is
the purusharttham. If people here are not even sure of this much, then adiyEn will not
come to this kAlakshepam any more".

Bhattar smiled and told his disciples "Now you know why I treated these two
differently".

That is, no matter how well read or well recognized a person is, if they don't have the
right convictions, then there is no purpose in their life. Only with conviction in the
sampradhayam can one lead a true life.

Episode 12 Next

Nanjeeyar once asked Bhattar "All the Azhvars are always concerned/worried about
Krishna. What is the reason behind this?"

Bhattar replied "In the Rama avatar, all the children of Dasaratha were strong. Dasaratha
himself was powerful. His minister was the sage Vasishta. The city itself was Ayodhya
and the time was Treta yuga. Therefore, there was no fear about that avatar.

Krishna on the other hand was born in Kamsa's jail. Kamsa sent many asuras to try to kill
Krishna. Krishna's father was a mere cowherd. He Himself grew in the cowherd colony.
The time was the end of Dvapara yuga, just before Kali yuga. Seeing all of this, Azhvars
were concerned about the Krishna avatar."

Bhattar added "In addition, a loss that happened a long time ago in the past is easy to
bear. But that which happened in recent times is hard to take. The other avataras of the
Lord happened way in the past. But Krishna avatar happened just before the advent of the
Azhvars. This is like food that is taken to the mouth but is missed as it hits the teeth and
falls out. Therefore, Azhvars are more aware of this avatar".

Episode 13 Next

One day Bhattar was worshipping the Lord by doing fan service to Him in a mandapam.
As it was getting to be sunset time, his disciples reminded him that the time for
sandhyavandanam was slipping.

Bhattar replied "For those who are in His service, sins for missing sandhyavandanam and
other rituals do not apply".

That is, for Srivaishnavas, doing the daily rituals and karmas while missing His service is
not in their nature.
 Episode 14 Next

Veera Sundara Brahmarayan, who was Kooratthazhvan's disciple decided to build a wall
for the Srirangam temple. In the process, he decided to break down the house of Pillai
Pilliyazhvan which was in the way.

Bhattar asked him not to do that stating "Your wall is not the protection for Namperumal.
It is Pillai Pillaiyazhvan's praises to the Lord that are His protection. Therefore, just as
Thirumangai Azhvar avoided Thondaradippodi Azhvar's garden and built a wall around
it, so too should you build a wall around Pillai Pillaiyazhvan's house."

Veera Sundaran ignored Bhattar's advice and built the wall after destructing the house.
Further, he also began to cause problems for Bhattar. So, Bhattar left Srirangam and
moved to Thirukkottiyur.

After a while, Veera Sundara Brahmarayan died and Bhattar's disciples, excited by the
news, went to Bhattar's mother Andal and told her "Bhattar's enemy has passed away and
our acharya can return to Srirangam now". They then began celebrating.

Upon hearing the news, Andal went inside her house and started crying in a high voice.
The disciples asked Andal "Whay are you crying? Should you not be happy that Bhattar's
enemy is dead and that he and his close disciples can come back?"

Andal replied "You do not understand. Veera Sundaran was Kooratthazhvan's disciple
and yet caused suffering to his acharya's son Bhattar. And he died neither after seeking
Bhattar's pardon nor after feeling sorrowful for doing this deed. Therefore, he has
guaranteed himself that he would not attain moksha. But, at least till now he was living in
Srirangam and able to see Namperumal. Now he has lost that enjoyment also. How could
someone who is Kooratthazhvan's disciple suffer like this? This is why I am crying".

That is, it is left only to Kooratthazvan and his family to feel compassion and look for the
upliftment of even those who cause them harm.

Episode 15 Next

One time Bhattar walked in to see Namperumal and Thayar who were behind a curtain.
Namperumal asked Bhattar to leave as He wanted to be alone with Thayar. Bhattar
immediately left.

Later Namperumal asked Bhattar to come back and he promptly did.

Namperumal then asked Bhattar what his thoughts were about Him and Thayar when he
was asked to leave and when he was asked to come back.
Bhattar replied "When you asked me to leave, I thought of you as the King and Queen of
the devas. When you asked me to come in, I thought of you as Kooratthazhvan and
Andal".

Namperumal then told Bhattar "Think of us as the latter only from this time onward".

Episode 16 Next

Once Bhattar gave an upanyasam on "vairAgyam" or aversion to worldy things. After

hearing this, his disciples gave up many things such as showering, wearing good clothes,
etc the next day. When they were at the temple the next day in front of Periya Perumal,
they were surprised to see Bhattar dressed up in beautiful clothes, clean shaven, wearing
flowers, etc.

They asked Bhattar "Swamin! Did you not give us an extensive lecture on aversion to
things of this world yesterday? Hence we are following your advice and not taking care
of our body or its external decorations. Then, how come you are well dressed and
decorated? Is this the extent of your vairAgyam?"

Bhattar replied "Do you think I have decorated myself for my sake? I have only done this
for Sri Ranganathar".

Bhattar added "Do we not decorate the mandapams and pandals when Namperumal
comes out in a procession? Is that done for the sake of those structures? No. It is done to
please Namperumal. That is why I look like this".

Episode 17 Next

One time Bhattar told Namperumal "Don't think that you and I have a direct relationship.
You can think of me as the wealth that you got along with Thayar. And I think of you
only as my mother's husband".

Later Namperumal put on mOhini alankAram and gave darshanam as Thayar. He then
asked Bhattar what he thought about His alankAram.

Bhattar replied "O Lord! Everything is perfect. You indeed look exactly like Thayar in all
respects ... except one".

Namperumal asked him what was missing and Bhattar replied "You do not have the same
merciful look in your eyes as Thayar."

Episode 18 Next

Once, one of Bhattar's disciples due to association with the wrong people became angry
with Bhattar and told him "O Bhattar! There is no further association between us".
Bhattar replied "That may be your thought. But, even if you think that way, we will not
let go of you".

The disciple did not listen and decided to move away from Bhattar.

But, Bhattar chased him down forcibly and by teaching, advising and other means
corrected him and took him back as his disciple.

That is, the nature of an acharya is to correct every one including those who leave them
due to ignorance.

Episode 19 Next

Bhattar's attachment to Srirangam and Namperumal was legendary. For everything in the
sampradhayam, he would see it in Srirangam itself.

One time Bhattar was discoursing and mentioned that in Srirangam all positions of the
Lord can be seen: Lying down, Standing and Sitting.

Not following him, his disciples asked him to explain.

Bhattar replied "Periya Perumal is lying down; Namperumal is standing and Thayar is
sitting down".

His disciples replied "That's not right. Azhvar refers only to the Lord when he talks about
his different poses. Thayar cannot be included in that".

Bhattar then replied "The Lord in Srirangam does have the sitting pose also. When He
puts on mOhini alankAram, He gets into that pose".

Episode 20 Next

As a young boy, Bhattar was once playing in the sands of the Cauvery river. At that time,
a palanquin was being carried nearby with a vidwan named Sarvagnya Bhattan in it and
his disciples were shouting out his fame and titles in front of it.

As this procession was heading toward Srirangam, Bhattar became worried that such a
thing was about to happen at the place where Ramanujar and Kooratthazhvan were living.

So, he stopped the procession and challenged Bhattan saying "O Scholar! Only if you can
answer my question can you go into Srirangam like this. If you are defeated by my
question, then you should go humbly in there".

Bhattan responded "Dear lad! What's your question?"

Bhattar answered by taking some sand in his hand and asked "Tell me how much sand do
I have in my hand?"

Bhattan thinking that this was a childish question replied "O child! No one can count the
sand particles or be able to give a figure by looking at it".

Bhattar replied "If I can tell you the answer, then do you accept your defeat?".

Bhattan agreed.

Bhattar then said "The sand I have in my hand is one fistful of sand. How can you, who
cannot even answer this simple question, go into Srirangam in such a procession".

It is said that Bhattan picked up the child and hugged him and said "paRappadhan kutti
thavazhumO"? That is, will the offspring of that which flies just crawl?

He then carried the child inside Srirangam and giving him to Andal, his mother, told her
to ward the evil eye off such a child.

Episode 21 Next

A Srivaishnava once asked Bhattar to teach him thiru- ArAdhana-k-kramam. Bhattar then
taught him the kramam as done by Ramanujar. The Srivaishnava followed that for a long
time.

At one time he was staying with Bhattar and was watching Bhattar do thiruvArAdhana-k-
kramam. He noticed that Bhattar was not following anything that he had taught him.

What Bhattar was doing was this: He would take a bath, wear clothes, wear thirumaN
kAppu, go to where he normally ate, ask his disciples to bring his personal perumAL,
present the food and water to that perumAL and then himself eat.

The Srivaishnava then fell in Bhattar's feet and told him "adiyEn has a question, but I am
afraid to ask".

Bhattar said "Have no fear. Ask your question".

He said "You taught me the thiruvArAdhana-k-kramam in one way, but you are doing
something totally different. Why is that?"

Bhattar replied "Looking at all sastras, I did not find anything different to teach you.
Looking at the same sastras, I did not see anything different for myself to do".

That is, an acharya will teach his disciples many things in order to correct them, help
control their senses and turn them toward the Lord. But the acts of the same acharya
toward the Lord is beyond the understanding of the disciples.
 Episode 22 Next

Once Bhattar was explaining a Thiruvaymozhi pasuram and made the following
observation: "The Lord is easily worshipped. He will accept anything from His devotees.
Even if they were to burn some dry twigs and offer Him the smoke, He will accept it.
Even if they offered Him the kaNdakArika flower, He would wear it gladly".

Nanjeeyar who was listening immediately asked Bhattar "Do not the sastras say that one
should not offer the kaNdakArika flowers to the Lord (na kaNdakArikA pushpam
devAya vinivedayet)?"

Bhattar replied "It is true that the sastras say that the kaNdakArika flowers should not be
offered to the Lord. But that's not because they are unacceptable to Him. The
kaNdakArika flowers have thorns around them. If the devotees go to pluck these flowers,
the thorns would prick their hands and hurt them. This is why the Lord has declared that
they should not be offered to Him. Therefore, there is nothing that a devotee can offer to
the Lord that is truly unacceptable to Him".

Episode 23 Next

Bhattar was famous for his devotion to Lord Rama, to the extent he would even ignore
Lord Krishna.

One time, some devotees asked Bhattar to deliver a upanyasam titled "Krishna
Vaibhavam" and Bhattar agreed.

Once the upanyasam started Bhattar talked about nothing but Sri Rama vaibhavam. At
the tail end of the upanyasam, one of the devotees interrupted Bhattar and reminded him
that the discourse was supposed to be on Sri Krishna.

Bhattar replied "Everything I have said thus far applies to Lord Krishna as well" and
concluded the upanyasam.

Episode 24 Next

A devotee once challenged Bhattar saying "Swamin! You show great devotion to Sri
Rama but not to Sri Krishna. However, Lord Krishna is greater in one respect than Lord
Rama and even you cannot deny that".

Bhattar asked him "What is that?"

The devotee replied "Lord Krishna went as a messenger for the Pandavas to the
Kauravas. Lord Rama never did such an act. Therefore, you have to accept that Krishna is
the more accesible form of the Lord".

Bhattar replied "You are saying this without reading Azhvar's pasuram on thiru-evvuL.
Thirumangai Azhvar says,

munnOr thUthu vAnaraththin vAyil mozhindhu, arakkan

mannOr thannai vALiyinAl mALA munindhu, avanE
pinnOr thUthu AdhimannarkkAgip peru nilaththAr
innAr thuthanena ninRAn evvuL kidanthAnE

That is, it is the same Rama who sent a message through Hanuman who later walked as a
messenger Himself for the Pandavas. Therefore, you cannot say that Sri Rama did not go
as a messenger.

However, even if you make such a claim, it is not that Rama could not be a messenger.
He was born as a king and therefore no one asked Him to be one. Krishna was born in the
yadava clan and therefore it was easy for the Pandavas to ask him to be their messenger.
Had someone asked Rama to be a messenger, He would have gladly become one".

Episode 25 Next

One time Bhattar was waiting for Perumal's puRappAdu. A long time passed, but
Nameperumal did not come on the streets. Puzzled by this, Bhattar asked a passer-by
what had happened.

He replied "A dog had entered the temple earlier in the day. So, they are now waiting to
do a purification ceremony before Namperumal can leave".

Bhattar then went to the temple and standing before Namperumal cried to Him "O Lord!
If you have to go through a purification ceremony because a dog entered the temple, how
many great purification ceremonies do you have to go through because adiyEn, who is
lower than a dog, am entering the temple many times each day".

Episode 26 Next

Nanjeeyar asked Bhattar "A srivaishnava must recite the divine namas of the Lord and
gain salvation. But is there no qualification required to say His names? Should one who is
lowly in qualities be able to say His names?"

Bhattar replied "One who is qualified can just recite the divine namas. However, it is not
required that one is lowly in qualities has to gain qualification to do the same.

For one who believes that saying the divine namas would create goodness, would not the
namas themselves remove the sins that he had done before reciting them?

If one wishes to take a bath in the Ganga river to get rid of their sins, is it required that
they have to take a bath in another pond first?
Therefore, it is not required that one has to get rid of the sins before saying His names.
The divine names themselves will remove his sins and provide him with all the
qualifications".

Episode 27 Next

Once some people said some bad things about Bhattar and upon hearing this his disciples
started arguing with them.

Bhattar stopped his disciples and told them "We are supposed to do two things all the
time. One is to praise the Lord's divine qualities; the other is to remember our lowly
qualities and mistakes. When we start praising the Lord, we are unable to stop as there is
no end to His good qualities. Therefore, we fail in our task of remembering our
drawbacks. Hence, when others remind us of our errors, we should be thankful to them,
as they are helping us fulfill our duties".

(Note: Also see "Who is a Srivaishnava")

Who is a Srivaishnava?
Translation of an article by Sri PB Annangaracharyar Swami

In the divine work Sri Vacana Bhushanam by Swami Pillai Lokacharyar, there are many
wonderful sutras. Amongst which is a beautiful one that goes "kuRRam seythavaragaL
pakkal poRaiyum, krupaiyum, sirippum, ugappum, upakAra- Smruthiyum nadakka
vENum".

As Manavala Mamunigal says in his work Upadesa Ratthinamalai "Ar

vacanabUdaNaththin AzhporuL ellAm aRivAr? Ar athusol nEril anuttipAr?", there is not
one in this world that can match their acts to this good word. However, even if we are not
able to follow it, it would be good to at least understand it. Its meaning is as follows: If
someone were to commit a sin or a crime against us, we should be patient with them; we
should give them our grace; we should smile at them; we should appreciate them; and, we
should be thankful to them.

1. We should neither pay them back with a wrong act nor detest them in our mind
for their act. This is being patient with them.
2. When a person commits a crime against a devotee (bhAgavata apachAram), it is
guaranteed that the Lord will punish them. Therefore, we should remain very
concerned about them that even if we are patient the Lord is bound to punish
them. This is giving them grace.
3. What does it mean when someone commits a wrong against us? It is abusing us
by stating that we have many poor qualities or that we have committed wrongful
thingss. We should think about what bad things are likely to hapen to us due to
this abuse. There are two kinds of bad things: one that happens in this world and
one that happens in the other world. It is very clear that they cannot create a bad
 thing for us in the other world. But they can make a bad thing happen to us in this
world. For example, they can prevent someone from giving us some wealth. Were
that to happen, we should take delight that we lost something that was not worth
keeping and not feel bad. Being that the case, we should feel that these people are
silly thinking that we will be worried by the bad things created by their abuse, and
smile at them.
4. When someone does a bad thing to us, they can insult our body but not our soul.
This body is actually an enemy to us. Therefore we should be pleased with them
for insulting our enemy. Also, as these worldy things are not needed for us, we
should appreciate them for preventing us from obtaining these things.
5. We should always be aware of our wrongdoings, but we are not. Beign that the
situation, we should thank them greatly for their help in reminding us of them.

If even one of these five qualities were to happen within us, it is equivalent to winning
the three worlds.

Were that to happen, there is no higher qualification to being a Srivaishnava.

Episode 28 Next

Knowing that Bhattar would not allow this to happen, his mother Andal would secretly
ask for the divine water from Bhattar's feet and accept it.

A Srivaishnava seeing this asked Andal "Being his mother, how could you do this - is this
not wrong?"

Andal replied "Why is that? Should I accept the water only from the idol that others
worship - why can't I accept the water from the idol that I created myself?"

The Srivaishnava asked her "What is the basis for this?".

Andal replied "Did not Thirumangai Azhvar say "kaNapuram kaithozhum piLLaiyai
piLLai enReNNap peRuvarE"?

That is, knowledge-filled great devotees, even if they are one's disciples or children,
should be sought and respected.

Episode 29 Next

Bhattar once told a srivaishnava "Go to Anandazhvan, pray at his feet and find out from
him what the true characteristics of a Srivaishnava are".

The srivaishnava immediately left for Thirumalai and went to Anandazhvan's home.
When he reached there, he found many srivaishnavas were in the middle of eating. Since
there was no place for him to sit with them, he stood by one side and was waiting.
When Anandazhvan saw him, he said "It is long past the hour for eating - and you have
not yet eaten! You look so tired!". So, he quickly had the food kept for himself and his
wife along with the srivaishnava.

Then, he queried him "From where are you coming?".

The srivaishnava replied "Bhattar asked adiyEn to come to devareer and find out the
characteristics of a srivaishnava".

Anandazhvan replied "A srivaishnava would be like a crane, like a hen, like salt and like
you".

That is, a srivaishnava is one who does not push himself forward in a crowd of
bhAgavatas for personal recognition and instead stays behind and looks to only serving
other bhAgavatas.

(Notes on Anandazhvan's reply:

1. Just as a crane stays near water, a srivaishnava too would stay in the divyadesas which
have divine waters. A crane is white - so too a srivaishnava would be white inside and
out; that is, having only good qualities. A crane would ignore the little fish and wait for
the large fish. A srivaishnava would ignore the simple goals and wait for the supreme
goal of service to the Lord.

2. A hen would peck around in the dirt looking only for the food particles and eat them. It
would then give the same to its chicks. A srivaishnava too would search through the
Vedas and other works and look only for the meanings that are in line with what the
Azhvars and Acharyas have said and set them in his mind. In turn, he would also give
them out to others like him.

3. When salt is added in the right amount, it gives good flavor to the food. If the salt is
missing, that food item becomes inedible. The salt once added to an item, melts itself and
provides taste to that food. So, even though it is responsible for the food's good taste, it is
never mentioned when the food is praised. Similarly, a srivaishnava would melt himself
in a bhAgavata crowd and by doing service would bring greatness to that crowd while
himself staying hidden. Just as the salt will be blamed if added in excess or added too
little, so too a srivaishnava will be blamed if he does not follow exactly what is
prescribed for him.

4. Anandazhvan said that a srivaishnava would be like the bhAgavata who visited him
because the bhAgavata waited patiently without complaining when the food was being
served to everyone except him. That is the correct behaviour for one bhAgavata in
another's home.)

Episode 30 Next
One time Bhattar while having his food asked Nanjeeyar to recite Azhvar's pasurams.
Nanjeeyar was then reciting the Kangulum Pagalum pasurams. When he recited the line
"en thirumagal sEr mArvanE ennum ennudai AviyE ennum", Bhattar cried out "Ranga"
and fainted.

Until that day this phrase had been broken up as "en thirumagaL sEr mArvanE ennum"
and "ennudai AviyE ennum" - that is, the mother is repeating the two phrases said by
Parankusa Nayaki calling out to the Lord as "Oh my Lord! with Sri Mahalakshmi in Your
chest" and "Oh my soul!". However, as Nanjeeyar had recited them closely together,
Bhattar heard it as Parankusa Nayaki saying "Oh soul of mine which calls out, oh my
Lord with Sri Mahalakshmi in Your chest".

It is said that Bhattar was in such a trance at this time that Najeeyar became greatly
concerned that the time had come for Bhattar to leave for His abode.

Episode 31 Next

When Bhattar was twenty eight years old, on Kaisika Dvadasi day, he was talking about
Kaisika Purana in front of the Lord. Unlike previous times, he started giving out a great
number of meanings for each phrase in the purana. Seeing this, the Lord gaining great
happiness offered Bhattar His garland, His clothes, His jewels, His throne, etc and not
being satisfied with that offered Him paramapadam. And Bhattar gratefully accepted it.

Later Bhattar would say "If I don't see the following, namely, the divine feet pressed on
the lotus flower, the divine hand that removes fear, the divine crown, the divine smile, the
fair, beautiful and divine face, and the kasturi thilakam on the forehead in Paramapadam
(as seen in Namperumal), then I will rip a hole in a corner of paramapadam, jump down
and come back (to Srirangam)".

Episode 32 Next

One time Nanjeeyar asked Bhattar "A chetana performs surrender to the Lord and the
Lord gives the reward to the chetana. Why does the chetana need to seek Sri
Mahalakshmi for mediation?"

Bhattar replied "Have you not seen Azhvar's pasuram 'nALum nam thiruvudaiyadigaL
tham nalangkazhal vaNangi" (Thiruvaymozhi 1-3-8)? When a chetana surrenders to the
Lord, He might still get angry with him due to his many sins. Ignoring his sins and
protecting him in Her shadow, it is thAyAr who brings him in front of the Lord at the
appropriate time, then mediates on his behalf to the Lord and helps him gain salvation.
This is why, She has to be seeked first".

Episode 33 Next

Periya Thirumozhi 7-1-1 pasuram:

kaRavA madanAgu than kanRuLLinAl pOl
maRavAthadiyEn unnaiyE azhaikkinREn
naRavAr pozhil sUzh naRaiyUr ninRa nambi
piRavAmai enaippaNi enthai pirAnE

Amudhanar tried to explain the first phrase in the pasuram "kaRavA madanAgu than
kanRu uLLinAl" as, a cow that has not been milked yet (kaRavA madanAgu), thinking
about its calf (than kanRu uLLinAl). However, this did not fit the meaning of the rest of
the pasuram, as Azhvar uses this comparison to say that he is crying to the Lord in the
same fashion.

Bhattar then interpreted the phrase as, the calf whose mother has not been milked yet
(kaRavA madanAgu than kanRu), thinking about its mother (uLLinAl). This, fit the rest
of the pasuram correctly.

Episode 34 Next

Bhattar was once discoursing on Thirumangai Azhvar's Siriya Thirumadal. In the

pasurams, there is a description of Sri Krishna's act of stealing butter while Yasoda is
gone and then being caught by her.

One of the lines goes "thArAr thadanthOLkaL uLLaLavum kai neeti", describing Krishna
as putting his hands up to his shoulders into the pot with butter.

Nanjeeyar asked Bhattar "Yasoda would have figured out that Krishna stole the butter;
but how did she know that He had put his hands up to his shoulders into the pot?"

Bhattar replied "Yasoda knew it because she saw the turmeric from Sri Krishna's
shoulders and body that had rubbed off on the edges of the pot".

Episode 35 Next

One time Amudhanar told Bhattar through another person "Bhattar is releated to
Kuraththazhvan only through the body (being his son). I am related to him through
knowledge (being his disciple)".

Bhattar replied "The words are right, but Amudhanar has said them himself".

That is, it is inapproriate to the nature of a srivaishnava to boast about one's close
relationship with an acharya.

Episode 36 Next

At one time Bhattar and a large crowd of Srivaishnavas were enjoying the Lord's divine
auspicious qualities. At that time, one of the Srivaishnavas said "It is due to our good
deeds that this is happening".
Immediately siRiyAcchAn stood up and said "We always held that He is our protector.
Apparently we now have a Lord who looks for good deeds."

That is, when He is there as our sole protector, it is destructive to the true nature of the
self to consider that good deeds are the basis for good events

Episode 37 Next

Bhattar was once talking about Azhvars pasurams that describe the greatness of the
Vamana avataram.

Nanjeeyar then asked Bhattar "Where did Lord Trivikrama place his third step after
measuring the two worlds with the first two steps?"

Bhattar replied "Why do you ask me? Go ask the Vedas for the answer. The Vedas, in
which all answers can be found, have themselves declared that they do not know the
answer to this question and that those who wish to know the answer should ask He
Himself who took the first two steps, where he placed the third step".

Episode 38 Next

After Bhattar attained paramapadam and the last rights were performed by his brother Sri
Ramappillai, Nanjeeyar covered his head with a cloth and left Bhattar's household
through the back door for his mutt.

When his disciples asked him why, he said "Will a woman who has just become a widow
leave through the front door?"

That is, the relationship of a true disciple to his acharya is the same as that of a wife to
her husband.

Episode 39 Next

After Bhattar attained His divine abode, his brother Sriramappillai came home and seeing
the empty home fell down crying and was greatly distressed.

Seeing that, his mother Andal said "You are not qualified to be born to Sri
Kooratthazhvan. Are you not happy for the great thing (His lotus feet) that Bhattar has
gained? If you keep doing this, then I will leave from here".

Sriramappillai then fell at Andal's feet and asked for her forgiveness.

Then he went to worship Periya Perumal. Sri Ranagantha told him "It is We who lost
Bhattar. But We are here for you. So do not worry".

Sriramapillai then continued to lead the sampradhayam.

 Episode 40 Next

One time Bhattar had walked a long way during the day and stopped in a wayside in the
evening. There, being tired, he rested his head in Nanjeeyar's lap and fell asleep. All night
long Nanjeeyar sat without moving his body or moving Bhattar's head.

That is, a disciple realizes his true nature only when performing selfless and complete
service to his acharya.

Episode 41 Next

One time Bhattar was giving a discourse during which he mentioned that Lord Sriman
Narayana does suffer in the matters of his devotees.

After the discourse was over, two scholars who were in the audience were walking in the
streets of Srirangam talking about the upanyasam.

They were saying "Bhattar said today in his upanyasam that the Lord has suffering. Yet
the Upanishads say that He is 'Anandamaya:' - that is, He knows nothing but joy. Bhattar
is a great scholar and no doubt has full knowledge of all sastras. So, why would he say
that? Is what he said correct?".

One of Bhattar's disciples known as Panditha who had been listening to Bhattar's
upanyasams for many years overheard this conversation. He was greatly saddened by it
and went and told Bhattar about it.

Bhattar asked him "O Panditha! You have listened to me for many years. Why do you
come and tell me this? Could you not have clarified their doubts there itself?"

Panditha replied "O Bhattar! I could have explained to them what you said based on your
discourses. However, they were scholars and would not be satisfied by explanations
alone. They would expect proof. As I could not remember any pramANas, I did not say
anything".

Bhattar then told him "When Dasaratha decided to crown Sri Rama as the king of
Ayodhya, he first asked his courtiers about it. They unanimously said that they wanted to
see it done right away. So much so, they asked Dasaratha to run away and get the
coronation done immediately.

Dasaratha told them that he was happy to see their interest in Sri Rama's coronation, but
why did they ask him to run away. Was not his rule governed by dharma, did he not treat
his subjects well?

The courtiers replied that while Dasaratha had ruled properly, they were pushed to say
what they had by Sri Rama's divine and auspcious qualities.
Dasaratha then asked them what noble qualities they had seen in Sri Rama. They went on
to describe Sri Rama's many wonderful qualities at the end of which they mentioned one
thing - if any subject of Ayodhya were to suffer for any reason, then Sri Rama would
suffer even greater than that person."

Bhattar then asked "O Panditha! Why did you not ask the two scholars whether Sri
Rama's suffering was an auspicious quality or if it was a lowly quality?"

Bhattar then said "If they want proof from the sastras and not just the itihasas, do not the
Vedantas say that He is alone and that He is not happy ('na rameti'). How can He, who is
surrounded by shrI, bhU and nILa devIs, by nityasUris and by muktAtmas, be alone. And
how is He unhappy.

We find in this world that if we get attached to someone through marriage or other
reasons, then we suffer for them when they are hurting. If this is the case for a
relationship that came in the middle, how could He, who is related to all the jIvas since
time immemorial and who is the father of all these souls, not be worried when they are
suffering in this world? He feels lonely because not all of His children are with Him in
His abode and enjoying Him and He is unhappy for them."

Episode 42 Next

In siRiya thirumadal, Thirumangai Azhvar describes the killing of Kara by Sri Rama in
the following manner:
"vennaragam sErA vagaiyE silai kuniththAn"

That is, Sri Rama bent the bow against Kara in such a way that he did not have to see
hell.

Sri Nanjeeyar, in his time before meeting Parasara Bhattar, was discussing this with some
people.

Some said "The meaning here is that, having been defeated by Rama in battle, Kara
would go to the heaven reserved for warriors. Therefore, he would not see hell."

Others objected saying "This does not fit into the context of the pasuram, seeing the lines
before and after this line. These lines show the bad things that happened to those who
have no love for Him. Therefore, this interpretation cannot be right".

Nanjeeyar then asked one othe people present who was a disciple of Bhattar, "How
would Bhattar interpret this line?"

He replied "Bhattar would say thus: 'Seeing Sri Rama with the bent bow and ready to
make war, Kara felt that there was no need to go further and experience hell and suffered
all those experiences there itself'".
Hearing this, Nanjeeyar replied "I have to see this Bhattar who has made such a lovely
interpretation" and was then waiting for the time to meet him.

Episode 43 Next

Once Bhattar was explaining the meanings of the 94th pasuram of Nammazhvar's
Thiruviruththam, that starts with "maippadi mEniyum". At that time, he said "His divine
body is such that it will make darkness fall on the minds of those who see Him. That is,
they will be driven crazy by His beauty".

Later Nanjeeyar heard about this explanation from some of the people who had listened
to Bhattar. Upon which, he said "This is the same as 'innArenRaRiyEn'".

That is, even though He carried the conch and the discus, His beauty is so great that it
drove Thirumangai Azhvar so crazy that he could not recognize Him. Azhvar says that in
his pasuram "Azhiyodum ponnAr sArngamudaiya adigaLai innAr enRaRiyEn".

When Bhattar heard this correct reference to his explanation for the Thiruviruththam
pasuram, he was greatly pleased and asked who had made this connection. Pillai
Vizhupparaiyar and Appan Thiruvazhundur Araiyar told him that it was Nanjeeyar who
said that. Upon which Bhattar remarked "Having born so far away (in Karnataka),
Nanjeeyar yet has come here and given us this connection" and praised his disciple.

Episode 44 Next

One day Bhattar's eldest daughter came to Nanjeeyar's mutt and asked him if he had any
dry twigs for fire. Nanjeeyar looked around and said that he did not have any. Later he
found that he did have some twigs in another area in the mutt. Immediately he gathered
them and took them to Bhattar's home.

Seeing this, Bhattar asked Nanjeeyar "Did you have to come yourself? Could you not
have sent this with someone else?"

Nanjeeyar replied "Since it was I who sinned by saying that I did not have these with me,
I should get rid of that sin myself".

Episode 45 Next

In Srirangam, inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple are present two pillars called
"maNath thooN".

Kulasekhara Azhvar sings that one has to hold on to these pillars and worship the Lord
("mAyOnai maNath thooNE paRRi ninRu en vAyAra enRu kolO vAzhththu nALE").

A disciple asked Bhattar "Why do we have to hold on to the pillar when worshipping Sri
Ranganathar?"
Bhattar replied "When a person sees Him, he will be overwhelmed and will begin to melt.
Therefore, he would need something to hold on to, while worshipping him".

The disciple replied "Swamin! That may be the case for His true devotees. But it does not
apply to people like me. If anything, we become even more solid after we worhsip Him.
So, adiyEn does not see how that would apply to us".

Bhattar replied "It applies to everyone. When we, who have stayed away from Him for so
long, enter His sannidhi, He becomes so delighted to see His long lost child finally
coming back to Him, that His mercy starts flowing like a river from His eyes. It flows in
such a torrent that even one who is not moved by seeing Him, has to hold on to
something in order not to be swept away by it".

Episode 46 Next

When Kooratthazhvan was in Srirangam at the feet of Ramanuja, his family needs were
taken care of by what he collected as biksha daily. One day due to heavy rains, he was
unable to go to the streets and as such he and his wife, Andal, had to go without food that
day.

That night, thinking of Thiruvaymozhi as his food, Kooratthazhvan went to bed. At that
time, the sound of the aravaNai prasAdam being presented to Lord Ranganatha inside the
temple was heard. Hearing it, Andal thought to herself "O Lord! While your devotee, Sri
Kooratthazhvan, is going without food, is it appropriate that You enjoy the same?"

Immediately, Lord Ranganatha ordered Utthama Nambi to take the aravaNai prasAdam
to Kooratthazhvan's home.

Kooratthazhvan was shocked to see Utthama Nambi come to his home late in the night
with the prasAdam. When he enquired about it, Utthama Nambi informed him that it was
brought upon the command of the Lord Himself.

Accepting the prasadam from the Lord, Kooratthazhvan gave one part to his wife and
took one for himself.

Just as Dasaratha gained his children from the prasAdam of the putrakAmEshti yAga, so
too from the prasAdam of the Lord, Kooratthazhvan and Andal had twins - Parasara
Bhattar and Veda Vyasa Bhattar - on Vaikashi Anusham, the day after Nammazhvar's
thirunakshatram.

Episode 47 Next

After the Bhattar twins were born, Kooratthazhvan, waiting on his acharya Ramanuja, did
not do anything for them such as naming them.
On the 11th day, Ramanuja, delighted that his dear disciple had children due to the
blessing of Lord Ranganatha, came to Koortthazhvan's home with his disciples.

Once there, he asked Embar to bring the children to him. As Embar brought the babies to
Ramanuja, he kept blessing them by reciting the Dvaya mahA mantra in their ears.

As Ramanuja received the babies in his divine hands, he saw with surprise that they were
shining with divinity and asked Embar "I see the fragrance of Dvayam with these babies.
How is that?" Embar replied "I was reciting the Dvaya mantra in their ears as protection
for them as I brought them to you".

Ramanuja then said to Embar "Since you recited the great mantra in their ears for their
protection, you will be their acharya".

Then Ramanuja named the children "Parasara Bhattar" for Parasara Bhagavan and "Veda
Vyasa Bhattar" for Veda Vyasa. This completed one of his vows made to Alavandar.

Episode 48 Next

At a very young age, one day Bhattar heard Kooratthazhvan recite Thiruvaymozhi. As
Azhvan recited the pasuram "uRumO pAviyEnukku" (8-10-3), Bhattar heard the phrase
"siRu mA manisar". He immediately asked his father "The words siRu (small) and mA
(big) are opposite qualities. So, how could both be used together to refer to a person
(manisar)"?

Azhvan replied "O Lad! That's a good question. However, as you have not yet had the
thread ceremony, I cannot explain this to you with the help of Vedas. Nevertheless, let
me answer you by using an example that you can see. See acharyas such as Siriyacchan
and Arulalap Perumal Emberumanar. They have a short physical stature, yet their
knowledge is vast. So, it is appropriate to call them siRumAmanisar. Also, great souls
such as Mudaliyandan and Embar mix with this world, but similar to the nityasuris are
close to the Lord. Therefore, they too can be called siRumAmanisar. Thus, Azhvar had
refered to such people as siRumAmanisar".

Episode 49 Next

One time Bhattar was walking in the streets of Srirangam with his disciples, when he
came upon a group of children playing with gay abandon.

Bhattar remarked to the children "O Lads! You play without any concern as if you were
born in the Thirumantra".

That is, for those who are born in Thirumantra (receive it from an acharya), there is no
fear left in this world and they live their remaining life without any worries.

Episode 50 Next
One time Ramanuja took a young Bhattar to Lord Ranganatha and in His presence asked
Bhattar to recite a sholka from one of Alavandar's works. Bhattar recited it beautifully
and began to explain its meanings.

Hearing the wonderful meanings that Bhattar was bringing forth for the shloka,
Ramanuja remarked to his close disciples "Treat Bhattar just as you would treat me".

Episode 51 Next

When Bhattar and his brother turned seven years of age, Kooratthazhvan performed
upanayanam for them and took them to a pAtashAla to learn the Vedas.

On the second day, when the teacher asked the students to recite the same verses that he
had taught them on the first day, Bhattar left the class and started playing outside.

Seeing that, Azhvan came to him and asked "O lad! Why are you alone playing outside
while all other children are learning inside?"

Bhattar replied "They are reciting again what we learned yesterday. Therefore, I left the
class".

Azhvan said "In that case, repeat to me what you learned yesterday".

Bhattar then recited the verses he learnt the day before, without missing a word or a letter
and with the right intonations.

Seeing that Azhvan decided that it was not appropriate to have the young Bhattar learn
anywhere else and started teaching the Vedas to Bhattar himself.

Episode 52 Next

Nanjeeyar asked Bhattar once "Due to Kaliya's poison, the pond was ruined and all plants
and animals around it were killed. So, how is it that the tree near it did not wither away
and was still alive such that Lord Krishna could climb it?"

Bhattar replied "It is true that the tree had withered away. But, before climbing the tree,
Lord Krishna looked at it once. As soon as His divine grace fell on it, the dead tree came
alive and became green".

Episode 53 Next

Nanjeeyar asked Bhattar once "Why approach the Lord through the mediation of
pirAtti?"

Bhattar replied "Due to Her presence with the Lord, kAkAsura who was a great sinner
was pardoned. Whereas, due to Her absence, Ravana who committed the lesser sin was
killed. Lakshmana was asked by Rama to stay in Ayodhya. Yet, through Her presence,
Lakshaman was able to change even His word. Others such as Vibeeshana and Guha also
got what they wanted only in Her presence."

Episode 54 Next

Bhattar explained the meanings of the second part of the Dvaya mantra to Nanjeeyar and
told him the following:

"The complete understanding of the second part of the Dvayam happens only at His
divine feet in paramapadam. However, great souls such as Azhvars and Acharyas
understand that in this world itself due to His causeless grace. Therefore, they are called
jIvanmuktAs".

Episode 55 Next

After Kooratthazhvan attained paramapadam, Ramanuja held Bhattar by his hands and
took him in front of Lord Sri Ranganatha.

Lord Ranganatha told Bhattar "Do not worry that you have lost Azhvan. From now on,
you can think of Me as Azhvan".

Episode 56 Next

Once a Srivaishnava asked Bhattar "Who is a mumukshu (one who seeks liberation)?"

Bhattar replied "One who considers the unseen as the seen and the seen as the unseen is a
mumukshu".

That is, a mumukshu is one who, due to faith in acharyas, considers His eternal abode
and the service there which are not visible in this world, as seen. And, discards all things
of this world, which are visible to the eyes, as non-existent.

Episode 57 Next

Pillai Thirunaraiyur Araiyar asked Bhattar "Please give me a word in which I can take
refuge".

Bhattar replied "If one were to go often to divyadeshams, even if only with a false desire,
it would still gain that person liberation at the time of his death".

Episode 58 Next

Once when Bhattar was explaing the Thiruvaymozhi pasuram "ANallan peNNallan allA
aliyumallan" (2-5-10), a scholar interjected asking "If the Lord is neither a man, nor a
woman, nor a napumsaka, then does that not mean that He is devoid of qualities?"
Bhattar replied "Do you not know grammar? Does the pasuram say 'ANalla peNNalla
allA aliyum alla'? Only then can you say that He is devoid of qualities. Since it uses the
word "allan" every time, it means that He is not a male or female or napumsaka of this
world. It clearly shows that He is different from everything and that He is
purushOttama".

Episode 59 Next

Once Bhattar was talking about the section in Valmiki Ramayana where Sri Rama offers
protection to Vibeeshana.

A person who was listening asked Bhattar "What is the gathered meaning of this abhaya
pradhAna prakaraNa?"

Bhattar replied "Sugreeva protested against offering protection to Vibeeshana stating that
'those who have committed sins are unacceptable'. Sri Rama showed the philosophy that
'Sins and good deeds are not worth appreciating. All souls can surrender from whatever
state they are in at that time'."

Episode 60 Next

When Veera Sundara Brahmarayan caused great disturbance to Bhattar, Bhattar left
Srirangam and moved to Thirukkoottiyur. On the way, he became very tired due to
hunger and thirst and thought of Nanjeeyar and called out for him.

Nanjeeyar, who had heard of Bhattar's departure had packed water and food and was
quickly following him.

Just as Bhattar called out for him, Nanjeeyar arrived at that place and immediately gave
him the water and the food.

Seeing that, Bhattar was greatly pleased with his acharya bhakti and blessed him.

Episode 61 Next

Pillai Thirunaraiyur Araiyar and Thiruvazhudhi Valanadu Dasar asked Bhattar the
following.

"As the neem leaf ages, it becomes more and more bitter. Similarly, the soul too becomes
more and more involved in matters of this world with time. So, how is it possible for
them to reach the Lord?"

Bhattar replied "At the time the soul leaves the body, the Lord will remove its attachment
to the body and to the things that it enjoys through the body. Just as He showed His
divine beauty to Sri Malakara (as Lord Krishna) who seeked Him, He shows His beauty
periodically to the chetana through the archa avatars and slowly reduces his attachment to
things of this world. Therefore, there is no obstacle to the chetana to reaching Him. The
pramAna for this is "na khalu bhAgavatA yama vishayam gacchanti" (the devotees of the
Lord do not go to the land of Yama).

Episode 62 Next

In Thirunedunthandagam verse 13, Thirumangai Azhvar says "kalleduththuk kal mAri

kAththAy". This is a description of Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhana mountain. Lord
Krishna told the yadavas to stop their annual prayer to Indra and instead pray to the
Govardhana mountain, as it was the mountain that was protecting them with its rain,
streams and forests. Angered at this, Indra made it rain stones. Lord Krishna then picked
up the mountain to protect the yadavas and their cattle.

Bhattar when explaining this verse remarked "Because Indra made it rain stones, He
picked up a larger stone (mountain) and protected the yadavas. Had Indra made it rain
with water, then He would have picked up the ocean to protect them".

Episode 63 Next

Appillaippillai asked Bhattar "What is the meaning of the posture of Periya Perumal in
Srirangam?"

Bhattar replied "The two divine hands of Lord Ranganatha as He lies in Srirangam
provide refuge to the chetanas. One of his hands points to His crown and states that 'Am I
not wearing this for your protection?' - thereby removing the Vaishnava's fear of the
weight of the ageless karmas. The other hand points to His divine feet and shows them
where to take refuge - similar to a mother feeding her breast into the mouth of her child".

Episode 64 Next

Bhattar had a disciple who was swayed by the lure of money. Bhattar decided to correct
him. He put a packet of money near a package of the Lord's prasadam. Then he asked the
disciple to go get the prasadam package.

The disciple reached the spot and upon seeing both packages began to suffer from
temptation to take the money packet. So, he stood there for a while unable to make up his
mind.

Seeing his long absence, Bhattar came over there and told the disciple "Just as good
deeds and bad deeds torture a chetana, it appears that these two packages are torturing
you".

The disciple became ashamed and lost his lust for for money from that day onward.

Episode 65 Next
Kolariyazhvan came to Bhattar and asked him to teach him something beneficial.

Bhattar looked at him and the Lord and prayed for him in his mind to the Lord.

He then told Kolariyazhvan the following: "You have wasted countless births thus far.
Amongst these countless births, at least in this birth, consider the Lord to be both the
means and the goal and be steady that only He is the true means ('vruthaiva bhavatO
yAtA bhUyasI janma santati: | tasyAmanyatamam janma sanjcintya sharaNam vraja ||')".

Episode 66 Next

Periyazhvar describes the Lord in His divine abode as "vAn iLavarasu" (Periyazhvar
Thirumozhi 3-6-2) - that is, the prince of the eternal abode.

Bhattar explained this as "The Lord has handed over the administration of all worlds to
Vishvaksena. Therefore, He is relaxed like a prince who is surrounded by elderly
ministers and other kings who bring him up. He rests comfortably in the lap of Adisesha,
in the cool shadow of Garuda's wings and under the staff of Vishvaksena".

Episode 67 Next

There was a devotee called viLai nagar-p-piLLai who used to invite many Srivaishnavas
to his household everyday and provide them with food. Upon hearing that, Bhattar
decided to visit him. As it was near lunch time, piLLai invited Bhattar to have food at his
home.

In order to learn the reason behind this activity, Bhattar asked him "piLLai! What do you
think when you provide amudhu to the Srivaishnavas?"

piLLai replied "When each set of Srivaishnavas eat, I would think that they should eat so
well such that the pots in the kitchen are emptied. And this should keep getting repeated
with each set. This is what I look for as my purpose."

Bhattar realized that piLLai was doing the tadIya ArAdhanam for gaining fame for
himself. So he told his disciples "If he provided food to the Lord's devotees for that
purpose itself and not to gain fame, then it will lead to the upliftment of his soul".

Episode 68 Next

Nanjeeyar asked Bhattar the following: "Lord Krishna was born to Vasudeva and Devaki
in Mathura. He eventually returned there. In between, for just a few years, He grew in
Ayppadi due to fear of Kamsa. In spite of that case, some people without enough
knowledge may state that He is a yadava, that He is the son of Yasoda, that He drank the
breast milk of Yasoda, etc. Why would azhvars ('oruththi maganAy piRandhu Oriravil
oruththi maganAy oLiththu vaLara', 'thandhai manamunthu thuyar nandha
iruLvandhaviRal nandhanmathalai') and acharyas state the same?"
Bhattar replied: "It is not we alone who state that. Even great rishis prior to His avatara
said the same thing. Parasara Maharishi says "ayam sa kathyatE prAnjai:" in Sri Vishnu
Purana. Upon seeing Lord Krishna, milk flowed from Yasoda's breast. And He cried to
drink that milk. In this, what is the need for you to do research?"

Episode 69 Next

When Bhattar was living in Thirukkottiyur, his brother Seeramappillai asked him the
following question: "Azhvar did not seek to enjoy the Lord in paramapadam and suffer
because it can be only enjoyed at another place at another time. He did not seek to enjoy
the Lord in His vibhava avataras such as Rama and Krishna and suffer because his time is
much after the avatara times. He is seeking to enjoy Him in the divyadesas and that too in
Thirumalirunjsolai. Yet, instead of fully enjoying Azhagar, he is suffering
(Thiruvaymozhi 3-1). How is that?"

Bhattar replied "The Lord is the same whether He is in paramapadam, in vyUham, in

vibhavam or in archa form. He is complete in all forms. If one appears to be less to some
people, it is because of their own drawbacks.

A person may go to the beach to enjoy the ocean fully, but can enjoy it only up to the
capacity of his eyes. Similarly, Azhvar wishes to enjoy the pUrNa archa form and all the
auspicious qualities of Azhagar completely, but he is suffering because he is not able to
do that".

Episode 70 Next

Bhattar wanted to bring out the true characteristic of a prapanna. So, he asked a great
bhAgavata "Everyone says you are a true prapanna. Please explain the lakshaNa of a
prapanna".

The bhAgavata replied "Imagine a person walking all alone in the middle of a night in a
lonely path in a forest. There are lots of wild animals surrounding him. The night is so
dark he cannot see anything ahead of him. A heavy rain mixed with thunder is occuring
and lightning is blinding his eyes. Even in that status, if the person does not even recite
the Lord's name for protection, that is the lakshaNam of a prapanna".

Episode 71 Next

A wealthy person called Appan lived in a village near Srirangam. In order to surrender at
Kooratthazhvan's divine feet, he left his village and came to Srirangam. But, by the time
he reached there, Kooratthazhvan had attained paramapadam.

Dejected, he asked Bhattar "I did not have the opportunity to seek shelter with Azhvan.
Please tell me something that will be beneficial to me".
Bhattar replied "The moment you took a step toward Srirangam in order to seek Azhvan,
after leaving your village and your comfortable life there, you have done everything you
need to do for yourself. What is the need for me to tell you anything more?"

That is, as soon as the thought occurs that one has to surrender to a sadAcharya, one has
done everything that is needed to be done. Everything else after that is only for spending
the remaining time in this world.

Episode 72 Next

In the Periya Thirumozhi pasuram on Badarikashram, Thirumangai Azhvar sings thus (1-
3-5):

paNdu kAmar AnavARum pAvaiyar vAyamudham

uNdavArum vAzhndhavArum okkavuraitthirumi
thaNdu kAlA oonRi oonRith thaLLi nadavA mun
vaNdu pAdum thaNthuzhAyAn vadhari vaNangudhumE

Here Azhvar, when describing an old man using a stick to stand himself up, uses the
word 'oonRi' twice (oonRi oonRi). Azhvar is asking the people of this world to go to
Badri before becoming an old man who needs a stick to stand and walk.

Pillai Azhagiya Manavala Araiyar showed Bhattar's explanation for the use of the word
'oonRi' twice instead of just once.

As a person gets really old, he loses the strength to even lean on the stick and stand
steady. Therefore, he will keep lifting the stick up and plant it in the ground many times.
This is why Azhvar repeats the word 'oonRi', explained Bhattar.

Episode 73 Next

In Nacchiyar Thirumozhi (13-1), Andal sings

kaNNan ennum karum dheyvam kAtchi pazhagik kidappEnai

puNNil puLippeythARpOlap puRaninRazhagu pESAdhE
peNNin varuththam aRiyAdha perumAn araiyil pIthaga
vaNNa Adai koNdu ennai vAttam thaNiya vIsIrE

and asks that her folks should bring the cloth that Lord Krishna wore around His waist
and fan her with it, to reduce her misery.

Nanjeeyar ased Bhattar "Why does it have to be the cloth around His waist? Will not the
cloth around his shoulders do?"

Bhattar replied "Andal is looking for the smell of Lord Krishna's sweat in His dress, to
reduce Her misery. This smell will be limited on the cloth around His shoulders.
Whereas, the cloth around His waist would have captured it greatly. This is why she is
singing 'araiyil pIthaga vaNNa Adai koNdu'."

Episode 74 Next

In Thiruviruththam pasuram 34, Nammazhvar sings thus:

sidhaikkinRathAzhi enRu Azhiyaic sIRi than sIRadiyAl

udhaikkinRa nAyaganthannodu mAlE unadhu thaNthAr
thadhaikkinRa thaNNanthuzhAyaNivAn adhuvE manamAyp
padhaikkinRa mAdhin thiRaththu aRiyEn seyaRpAladhuvE

Here, the friend of Parankusa Nayaki explains her condition to the Lord. In the
description, Nayaki is standing in sand and in Her anger with the Lord kicks the sand.

When Bhattar was explaining this verse, Pillai Vizhupparaiyar asked "As soon as She
kicks the sand, would not the Lord, seeking contact with Her feet, enter the sand
immediately?"

Bhattar replied "Does He have to enter the sand? The sand that comes in contact with Her
feet automatically gains paratatvam and becomes the Lord".

Episode 75 Next

Nanjeeyar asked Bhattar once "Is prapatti a matter of knowledge or is it a matter of

action?"

Bhattar replied "It is a matter of the object".

Nanjeeyar's question was whether prapatti is the knowledge that the Lord is the means or
if it is the act of presenting one's burden at the Lord's feet.

Bhattar's reply was that neither of those is the means and it is the Lord Himself who is the
means. That is, if the word prapatti is used in the sense of being the means, then the Lord
itself becomes its meaning.

Episode 76 Next

Thiruppavai pasuram 1: "mathi niRaintha"

This phrase refers to the full moon. Prior to this, the gOpikas were seeking the darkness -
for lovers and thieves, it is darkness that is needed. It is thus Andal had sung
"naLLirutkaN ennai uyththidumin" in Nacchiyar Thirumozhi. There Andal had
mentioned Sri Nandagopar's doorstep ("nandagOpan kadaiththalai").
Bhattar recalls that here and explains what is happening in Sri Nandagopar's doorstep:
"bhishakkukkaL vAsal Arththar kattaNamAyk kidakkumApOlE, srinandagOpar vAsal
krushNanAlE puNpatta peNgaL kattaNamAyk kidakkumAyk koLLIr".

That is, just as people who are badly hurt physically are brought in stretchers and placed
at the doorstep of the doctor's office, so too gOpikas whose hearts are affected by Sri
Krishna are brought in stretchers and placed at the doorstep of Sri Nandagopar (and a
whole lot of these girls are thus lying at the doorstep).

Episode 77 Next

Thiruppavai Pasuram 1: 'nIrAda'

Why did Andal use the respectful word 'nIrAda' to call her friends for taking a bath? The
reason is that even though they are friends, because they are devotees of the Lord, respect
has to be given to them. Even if a person is born to one's self, if they are devotees of the
Lord, they have to be treated respectfully.

To show this, an event from Bhattar's life is shown. "bhattar srIpAdhaththaik kazhuvith
thIrththam koLLum ANdAL".

Even though Bhattar was born to her, his mother Andal used to accept the divine water
from Bhattar's feet.

(See http://www.acharya.org/articles/aditlooa/aditlooa028.html for the full event)

Episode 78 Next

Thiruppavai pasuram 1: 'AyppAdi'

As opposed to Ayodhya which is run by Vasishta and other sages, in Ayppadi (Gokulam)
all sastric rules are broken.

One time, Bhattar was doing a discourse on Thiruppavai. At that time, a Srivaishnava
bhAgavata of the fourth varNa came there and stood hesitating to come in. Seeing him
Bhattar said "kUsAdhE uLLE puguvIr, ivvidam thiruvAyppAdiyAyk kANum
sellugiRathu".

Bhattar is saying that as they were enjoying Thiruppavai, the place has become Ayppadi,
where there are no differences amongst devotees and all may participate freely in the
divine experience.

Episode 79 Next

Thiruppavai pasuram 1: 'yasOdhai iLam singam'

Seeing this phrase, Bhattar would say 'singak kurugu'. kurugu means offspring (singak
kururgu - lion's cub).

Bhattar said that 1) He is a lion because He would act like a fearless and pride filled lion
in front of His mother Yasoda as she would shower on Him nothing but love (as opposed
to Sri Nandagopar who is the father and as such Krishna would act with modesty in front
of him - 'nandagOpan kumaran' versus 'yasOdhai iLam singam'). 2) He is a cub to match
the youth of the girls coming to see Him ('siRumiyar').

Episode 80 Next

Thiruppavai Pasuram 2 - 'vaiyaththu vAzhvIrkAL'

Here Andal describes the gOpikas as those who live in this world. Being in SriVaikuntam
when the Lord is in Gokulam is like being in prison. This is similar to being in Ayodhya
when Rama went to the forest; or being in Mathura when Krishna is in Ayppadi. Thus, it
is the gOpikas in Ayppadi who are with Krishna that truly 'live'.

In describing this, it is shown that Dasaratha's position is that of love to Rama, as he died
unable to handle separation from Him.

Nanjeeyar asked Bhattar "Why did Dasaratha who loved Rama so much, that he died
unable to tolerate separation from Him, attain only svarga and not gain liberation
(mOksha)?"

Bhattar replied "ivanukkuLLadhu naragamE; perumAL AnrushamsyaththAlE

svargasthan AnAn". That is, "He (Dasaratha) should have actually gone to naraga,
because he chose the ordinary dharma of speaking truth and let go of the para dharma
who is Rama ("rAmO vigrahavAn dharma:"). Only because of the Lord's grace he even
ended in svarga."

Episode 81 Next

Thiruppavai pasuram 3 - "Ongi uLagaLandha"

Here the vyakhyanam explains that the Lord who slept in the milky ocean (prior pasuram
- 'pARkadaluL paiyath thuyinRa paraman') did so to help His devotees. Listening to Indra
and other devas, He took the Vamana ("Ongi") avataram and grew. The decrease and
growth of samasaris are due to their karmas and their nature, and are therefore dOshas.
Whereas His acts are due to His grace and are for others, and are therefore guNas.

Here, an incident in Bhattar's life is recalled.

Bhattar said "srivaikuNtaththilirukkum pOthu samsArikaL- udaiya izhavukkuth

thiruvuLLam nonthirukkum". That is, "In SriVaikuntam, the Lord's divine heart is sad
thinking about the samsaris".
Upon hearing this, some people commented that how could the Lord who had no wishes
that are unsatisfied and who is always filled with joy, be sad.

Bhattar replied "'vyasanEshu manushyANAm' engiRathu guNa prakaraNamO dOsha

prakaraNamo". That is "When the Ayodhya people said that Lord Rama feels sad when
He sees any of them being sad, is that quality one of dOsha or one of guNa?"

Episode 82 Next

Bhattar asked his disciple Devappillai to go to another place for helping Srivaishnavas
there. Unable to bear separation from his acharya, Devappillai stood hesitating.

Bhattar told him "Even if you are leaving me, you are going for the benefit of others in
this world. Therefore, do not hesitate".

This event is also described at another place as follows:

Devappillai cried out saying "To see who else am I going there, when you are my true
relative?"

Bhattar replied "For Sri Rama, who took even the smallest of beings along with Him to
Srivaikuntam, it was not difficult to take His children as well. Yet, He left them behind,
for the protection of this world. There are no such people to do service where you are
going. Therefore, go there without worrying."

Episode 83 Next

A devotee asked Bhattar "Why does Andal use the word 'yamunaith thuRaivan' to refer to
Krishna in the fifth pasuram of Thiruppavai, instead of using His name?"

Bhattar replied "Due to the fear that Kamsa would cause harm to Krishna if His name is
said out loud, Andal is covering up His name, like one would do with someone in
hiding".

Episode 84 Next

One time Bhattar went to a place called Sridevimangalam with his disciples. There, some
disciples of Nanjeeyar received them and provided them with food and hospitality. As
Bhattar had covered his head with a cloth, they had not recognized him.

Pleased by their service, Bhattar said "They are doing this even without realizing who we
are. Therefore, this hospitality is not due to our greatness. The devotion that they have
toward our disciple Nanjeeyar has carried over all the way to us."

That is, any greatness for a Srivaishnava, happens due to their association with the Lord's
devotees.
 Episode 85 Next

Some Srivaishnavas came to Bhattar and told him that "thondanUr nambi thiruvadich
sArndhAr" - that is, Thoondanur Nambi had reached the Lord's divine feet.

Bhattar replied "Thondaur Nambi had great devotion to bhAgavatas and performed all
kinds of services to Srivaishnavas. Respecting that, we should be saying 'thirunAttukku
nadandhAr' - that is, he has reached the Lord's divine abode".

Here, Bhattar is emphasizing that the Lord's divine abode is great because that is where
all His devotees are present. And, that it is appropriate to say that, one who spent his
lifetime in the service of bhAgavatas went to the place which is filled with His devotees.

A similar incident is recorded at another place.

Some devotees told Bhattar "nambi ERu thiruvudaiyAn dAsar thirunAttuku nadandhAr".

Bhattar replied "Nambi performed great service to Srivaishnavas. To respect that, we

should be saying 'thirunAttukku ezhundharuLinAr'".

That is, when talking about the Lord's devotees, the most respectful terms should be used.

Episode 86 Next

Periyazhvar and Thirumangai Azhvar have given us pasurams in which they take the role
of two different girls at the same time (Periyazhvar Thirumozhi 3-9 and Periya
Thirumozhi 11-5).

Nanjeeyar asked Bhattar "How can a person attain the state of two different people at the
same time?"

Bhattar replied "Is it not said that in His divine abode, an Atma can take many roles at the
same time and perform different services to Him? How is that possible? It is said that it is
due to His grace that it can be done. Similarly if His grace were to fall on Azhvar, he can
surely take on two roles at the same time".

Episode 87 Next

The following story is mentioned by Nampillai.

When Nambi Thiruvazhuthi Valanadu Dasar was close to leaving this world, a
Srivaishnava paid him respect and then started crying on seeing his condition.

Dasar then told him "I am the one who is going to leave this world. Why are you, who is
going to continue to listen to Parasara Bhattar, crying?"
That is, being with acharya is greater than even being in His abode.

Episode 88 Next

Nanjeeyar asked the following to Bhattar: "Thinking of the Lord, both Azhvar's body
('udal urugi' - Periyazhvar Thirumozhi 5-4-4) and mind ('ninai thoRum sollum thoRum
nenjchu idindhugum' - Thiruvaymozhi 9-6-2) melt completely. And the soul is atomic in
size. Then how did Periyazhvar manage to gather the Lord in his mind ('maduththunnai
niRaiththuk koNdEn' - Periyazhvar Thirumozhi 5-4-4)?"

Bhattar replied "Periyazhvar has said 'vittuchiththan manaththE kOvil koNda kOvalanai'
(Periyazhvar Thirumozhi 5-4-10). Therefore, everywhere that the nectar that is the Lord
is present, Periyazhvar's heart will also be present there (as the holder of that nectar)".

Episode 89 Next

Nanjeeyar told the following to Nampillai.

"I followed Pillai Thirunaraiyur Araiyar and Bhattar as they went around the divine
temple of Srirangam. While others would walk in a great hurry to finish their
pradakshinams, these two would go very slowly, drinking in with their eyes and enjoying
the divine gopurams and structures of the temple.

While they are similar to other people of this world in their actions such as eating,
sleeping, etc., I wondered at this difference between them and the rest."

Episode 90 Next

Bhattar said the following to Nanjeeyar: "Be that the Lord is your refuge. Having said
that, be that I too am your refuge".

That is, one should seek the refuge the Lord only through an acharya. If one goes
directly, seeing his countless sins, the Lord might become angry with him. If one goes
through an acharya, the Lord will pardon everything for the sake of the acharya.

Episode 91 Next

Nanjeeyar asked Bhattar the following question.

"In Bhagavad Gita, when teaching about the Bhakti yoga, Krishna first warns Arjuna that
He is going to tell him something very secret and then tells him about it ('idam tu tE
guhyatamam pravakshyAmi'). But when He teaches him the prapatti yoga, He first tells
him about it and later warns him not to reveal to one who is not worthy ('idam tE
nAtapaskAya'). Why did He not warn Arjuna first about the prapatti yoga before
revealing it, like He did for bhakti yoga?"
Bhattar replied "Draupadi, who was dear to Him, had spread her hair and made a vow.
So, Krishna, without knowing what to do, put Arjuna in the front - like putting the broom
in the middle of the house from its spot in the corner - and started the war. When Arjuna
hesitated, He revealed the most important secret which is prapatti yoga. After He did that,
realizing the greatness of its meaning and the fact that He had distributed a great thing in
front of one and all, He told Arjuna to guard it".

Episode 92 Next

Bhattar was asked the following about the Thiruppavai verse 'thingkaLum
Adhiththiyanum ezhundAR pOl angkaN iraNdum': "How can the Lord show heat in one
eye (the sun) and coolness in the other eye (the moon) at the same time?"

Bhattar replied "As a lioness fights with an elephant, it will still be feeding milk to its
cub. Similarly, while the Lord is showing anger at His enemies, He will also be
showering grace on His devotees."

Episode 93 Next

One time Bhattar was doing Thiruppavai upanyasam at Srirangam. When he was
discussing the meaning of the phrase "yAm peRu sammAnam" in the 27th pasuram, the
prasAdam for Lord Sri Ranganatha was brought around. Seeing that, Bhattar exclaimed
"Here comes our prize ('yAm peRu sammAnam vandhadhu')".

Episode 94 Next

Once Bhattar was explaining the meaning of the phrase "mUda ney peydhu muzhangai
vazhi vAra" from the 27th pasuram of Thiruppavai.

Bhattar explained that because the milk rice was fully covered in ghee it was running
from the hands of the gOpikas up to their elbows.

Nambi Thiruvazhudhivalanadu Dhasar asked Bhattar "Why would the ghee run down
their hands? Would it not stay in their mouths?"

Bhattar answered "When the gOpikas looked at Lord Krishna, they forgot everything else
including the food in their hands. So, they did not put it into their mouth. If they had done
so, the ghee might have stayed in there. But, staring at Krishna, they kept the food in their
hands and the ghee ran to their elbows."

Episode 95 Next

One time, Andal, the mother of Bhattar, spent Vaikunta Ekadasi day by fasting the whole
day. The next day, to complete the fast, she asked Bhattar to give her the Lord's divine
water.
Bhattar replied "How did you manage to pick out the Ekadasi day from inside the great
divine event (periya thirunAL)?"

That is, Bhattar is wondering how in the great event of Adhyayana Utsavam, that occurs
over twenty days, and is meant to be spent entirely in bhagavad anubhavam, someone
found the time to perform ekAdasi vratham. Bhattar's thought is that either one should
not have even been aware that such a day was occuring or one should not have worried
about following the ritual. That is, nothing should come between the devotees and
bhagavad anubhavam during that time.

Episode 96 Next

When explaining Thiruppavai, Bhattar said the following:

"When a fake calf, covered in the original calf's skin, is placed in front of the mother
cow, it will still provide milk.

Similarly, if we were to recite Thiruppavai, even though we don't have the love that
Andal had for the Lord, He would still give us the fruit of saying it".

Episode 97 Next

Once, Bhattar was explaining the 30th pasuram of Thiruppavai. When he came to words
"mAdhavanai kEsavanai" in the pasuram, he did the following. He showed his mouth
when explaining the word "mAdhavanai" and acted as if he was going to spit when he
was explaining the word "kEsavanai".

Bhattar explained the Lord's thirunamas thus. As the Lord churned the milky ocean, a
number of things came out and He distributed to them to different people. When the
poison came out, He gave it to Shiva. When the nectar came out, He distributed that to
the Devas. When Sri Mahalakshmi came out, He kept Her for Himself. When Bhattar
explained this, he said "The true nectar that came out was Thayar. The Lord kept Her for
Himself and gave the remainder (amrut), which is what is left after the essence has been
taken out, to the Devas ('kaNNudhal nanjchuNNak kaNdavanE, viNNavar amudhuNa
amudhil varum peNNamudhuNda emperumAnE' - Periya Thirumozhi 6-1-2)".

The name "mAdhava" shows that He is the consort of Thayar. The name "kEshava"
shows that He is the Lord of the Devas. Therefore, Bhattar showed his mouth when
explaining the name 'mAdhavanai' ('aNNikum amudhURum'), and acted as if to spit
when explaining the name "kEsavanai" ('like we would do with the remainder after the
essence is extracted').

Episode 98 Next

Bhattar mentioned the following about the greatness of Thiruppavai. "Srivaishnavas

should wake up early in the morning every day and recite all thirty pasurams."
Someone wondered if there was enough time each day to recite all thirty. To which,
Bhattar replied "If that is not possible, they should recite at least the 29th 'pasuram -
siRRam siRu kAlE."

Presumably, there was a person who thought he did not have time even for that (perhaps
representing us). Bhattar answered that "For those whom even that is not possible, they
should at least remember the state of those people (such as Bhattar himself), who are
deeply immersed in Thiruppavai."

Episode 99 Next

In the work Vishnu Dharmam, it is said that as the Lord walked in the form of Vamana to
the yaga being performed by Mahabali, the Earth trembled.

Some people asked some scholars the meaning behind this. The scholars replied "Since
He is the Lord of everything, as He walked, the Earth trembled in fear".

Nanjeeyar asked Bhattar if this interpretation was correct.

Bhattar replied "That's not right. The Lord had never before asked anyone for anything.
This was the first time He was going to do that. Because of that, He was anxious and as
such He walked so hard that the Earth shook".

Episode 100 Next

One time Bhattar had a large wound in his back and was suffering a lot. When He went to
see the Lord, He asked Bhattar "Are you afraid that you have to go to my divine abode
soon?"

Bhattar replied "There is no thing that You have not provided me. You have given me
such grace that if I were to give someone a small note saying that he be given
paramapadam and send him to you, then You will do so. However, if I were to leave here
(Srirangam) and go there (paramapadam), then will I not lose Your divine cool face, the
divine thirunamam on Your forehead and Your divine smile? That's why I am worried."

This episode is also repeated in a slightly different setting. Once Bhattar went to the
Thirumanajanam of the Lord and He asked Bhattar "Do you need anything from Us?"

Bhattar asked Him to slightly uncover His dress and show him the divine beauty of His
body. The Lord did so and Bhattar was able to see Him fully. It is said that whoever thus
sees Him will attain His divine feet soon.

The rest of the conversation between the Lord and Bhattar follows as from above.

Episode 101 Next

In Nacchiyar Thirumozhi 12-5, Andal talks about the dance that Lord Krishna did on the
head of the snake Kaliya.

Arkkum en nOy idhaRiyalAgAdhu ammanaimIr thuzhadhippadAdhE kArkkadal vaNNan

enbAn oruvan kaikaNda yOgam thadavath thIrum nIrk karai ninRa kadambai ERik
kALiyan uchchiyil nattam pAyndhu pOrkkaLamAga niruththam seydha poygaik
karaikku ennai uyththidumin

The simle meaning for the phrase "pOrkkaLamAga niruththam seydha poygaik karai"
would be that Lord Krishna, as He danced, made the banks of the pond where Kaliya
was, a battlefield.

Nampillai records that Bhattar offered the following meaning for this phrase.

"As soon as the people in Thiryvayppadi heard that Krishna had jumped into the pond
where Kaliya was, they fainted. They did not even have the strength to come up to the
banks of the pond and fainted wherever they were when they heard the news. It looked
like the entire town had become a battlefield and all the people had been felled in a war.

Therefore, it is not that Andal is saying that the banks of the pond became the battlefield.
She is actually saying that the Lord's dance made the whole Thiruvayppadi a battlefield."

Episode 102 Next

One time Bhattar asked Ramanuja: "Could we not use another pramANa, other than
Dvaya mantra, to understand the meanings expressed by it?"

Ramanuja replied: "If there is another pramANa that brings out the full meanings shown
by Dvaya, it can be used. However, there is no such thing. That is why, Azhvars and
Acharyas used Dvayam itself to express these meanings".

Episode 103 Next

One time Bhattar took his bath (in Kaveri river) and was walking back when a Shaivite
came opposite to him. Some of the ashes he was wearing fell on Bhattar. Bhattar returned
to the river and took a bath again and went home. But he did not enter. Instead he called
his mother Andal and asked her "What is the rectification for this?"

Andal was taken aback and thought for a while about it. Then she said "Accept the holy
water from the feet of a bhAgavata to purify yourself".

Bhattar asked "Will a bhAgavata allow me to take his srIpAda thIrththam?"

Andal replied "When something happens that can destroy one's life, should you not even
be ready to give your life and try to protect it?"
Bhattar said "If that is the determination in your divine heart, then I will follow it".

At that time, a parama bhAgavata who carried the palanquin of Azhvar Thiruvarangap
Perumal Araiyar came that way. Seeing him, Andal said "Here comes the thIrththam
(holy water)".

Bhattar then worried "Will I be able to get it".

Andal said "To get milk for one's child, one has to even feed the cow fully and get it. So,
you have to get the divine water from him somehow".

Bhattar then seeked that bhAgavata and obtained the divine water from his feet and
purified himself.

Episode 104 Next

In Nachchiyar Thirumozhi 13-6, Andal refers to the Lord as "kodiya kadiya thirumAl".
Nammazhvar too refers to Him as "aruLAdha thirumAlArkku" in Thiruvaymozhi 1-4-7.

The earlier acharyas had explained this as "Nammazhvar is refering to Thayar ('thiru
mAl') as he is thinking of Him, as She is the one who mediates on behalf of the chetanas
to the Lord."

Nanjeeyar had a doubt about this and asked Pillan the following question: "We need Her
mediation to obtain His grace. However, here Azhvar is refering to the fact that He is not
giving him His grace. So, why refer to Her at this juncture?"

Pillan replied "He learned how to ignore Azhvar and torture him, from Her. Therefore, it
is alright to refer to Her along with Him at this time".

Nanjeeyar then checked with Bhattar about this explanation.

Bhattar replied "Azhvar's state is that, to reach the Lord, one has to go through Her.
Since, She is responsible for attaining the Lord, it is ok to say that Azhvar is angry with
Her when He is unattainable".

Episode 105 Next

Pillai Azhagiya Manavala Araiyar recalled that he had heard Bhattar giving the following
explanation.

Bhattar was asked "Which place is Andal refering to, that the Lord will take rest, when
she says 'paLLi koLLum idaththu' in Nachchiyar Thirumozhi 4-1?"

Bhattar replied "The place that the Lord of Thirumalirunjsolai takes rest at, is Kovil - that
is, Srirangam".
It is Bhattar's thought that the Lords of all divyadesams come to rest at Srirangam when
their doors are closed each night

Episode 106 Next

Kulasekhara Azhvar states in his Perumal Thirumozhi 4-10, that he would want to be
born as anything on the divine mountain of Thirumalai ("emperumAn pon malai mEl
EdhEnum AvEnE").

Anandazhvan made the following comment about it: "Azhvar's desire is to reside forever
on Thiruvengada mountain. If that can be achieved only by becoming the Lord of the
Hills Himself, then Azhvar would be ready even for that".

The true nature of the soul is servitude to the Lord. To abandon that and wish to become
the Lord Himself is contrary to the nature of the soul. Anandazhvan said that Azhvar is
ready even for that, as true living is only being on Thirumalai.

Bhattar interpreted the phrase "EdhEnum AvEnE" differently. He said "Azhvar is saying
that 'Let's not be aware as to what we are on Thirumalai; Let Him also not be aware of
who we are on the Hills; Let no one praise us for being on the divine mountain or wishing
to be on it; Let us just be something on Thirumalai. All we want is that we somehow
reside on Thirumalai'."

Episode 107 Next

When Mahabali, the grandson of Prahlada, used abusive words against Sriman Narayana,
Prahlada said the following: "Instead of abusing the Lord in front of me, if you were to
cut my head off, that would be the great benefit you can do for me." Then, he cursed
Mahabali that he would lose his kingdom.

Nanjeeyar had a doubt about this that he asked Bhattar the following question. "For those
who have no attachment to things of this world, worldly wealth is nothing. Prahlada is
such a person. Then, why would he consider the kingdom as something important and
curse Mahabali that he would lose it?"

Bhattar replied "To punish a dog, one would not remove something lofty away from it.
Instead one would prevent it from eating the lowly thing that it likes. Similarly to punish
Mahabali, Prahlada cursed that he would lose the kingdom that he loved so much".