HOW FAR TO GOD

Nammalvar (literally ’our Alvar’) holds the first place among the Alvars. His “Tiruvaaymozhi” is hailed as the essence of the Vedas & Upanishads. There are 108 Vaishnava (devoted to Vishnu) shrines considered sacred places of pilgrimage. Nammalvar has sung about some of these. Most of these shrines are in the south of India, many in Kerala. According to tradition, God came from the various temples to give the Alvar darshan (vision).
tentiruppErai: The image in which God is represented in this temple is called makara neDumkuzhaik kaadar (one who wears long ear ornaments shaped like a fish.) It is in a sitting pose. Here God, being an apotheosis of beauty, revealed to the Alvar his entire beauty of form (saundaryam.) The Alvar lost to this beauty his visible senses such as eyes and ears. In its turn, the Alvar’s non-perceptible mind (originator or seat of thoughts) too became extinct at the Lord’s feet. This is described in the following poem:

izhanda emmaamai siRattuppOna en nenjinaarum angE ozhindaar (7-3-4)
Here, Garuda, Vishnu’s vehicle-bird, is not exactly opposite the sanctum; but in a slightly adjacent place. Following poem describes:

vEdha oliyum, vizhaa oliyum, piLLaik kuzhaa viLayaattoliyum aRaa (7-3-1)
According to the Alvar, the Lord, mounted on His vehicle Garuda, is on a grand procession in his mind. He has no regard for vaikuntam (heaven which is God’s final gift), or for the ocean of milk, nor even for the solar constellation. On the other hand, He takes up for His residence the minds of His greatest devotees. The Alvar wonders at His extreme grace – the Lord of all the worlds, for instance, living as the child Krishna among the simple cowherds of the jungle and allowing Himself to be tied to a wooden mortar for, of all things, stealing butter (3-1-1). In the Alvar’s own words,
veLLaich churi changoDu aazhi Endi,
taamaraik kaNNan en nenjinooDe
puLLaik kaDaakinRa aaRRaik kaaneer;
en chollich chollugEn,
annaimeergaaL?
(7-3-1)
Let us pray to Him to grant us at least a miniscule part of the Alvar’s devotion and his firm faith in God.



My lord
who lives in the city of names
came here today
said he’d never leave
entered me
filled my heart
(10-8-2) Translation: A.K. Ramanujan
“City of names” is tiruppErnagar. pEr could mean either “name(s)” or “great.” pErnagar could also be “great city.”

kiLar oLi iLamai keDuvadan munnam
vaLar oLi mayOn maruviya kOyil
vaLar iLam pozhilchUzh maalirunchOlai
taLarvu ilar aagil chaarvadu chadire
(2-10-1)

Youth is flashy and it lasts only for a short period. Before the youth stage gets past, it is prudent if one approaches Tirumaaliruncholai where the temple of Vishnu is located.

varagunamangai: varam means the highest (best). Vishnu’s consort in this shrine is known by the name: varagunamangai (one who has the best of qualities of grace and mercy towards devotees.) The statue of Vishnu in the sanctum sanctorum is in a sitting pose. This place has the reputation of conferring liberation (moksha) to one and all. Irrespective of his past deeds, if one approaches this shrine with a blemish-less mind, his last days will be fulfilled ones.

sreevaikuntam: The main statue in this place is called vaikuntapathi. It is in the same standing pose as the Master of Heaven (vaikuntam) Himself, with the thousand-headed serpent adiseshan serving as His umbrella. This figure also goes by the name, choranaathan.

tiruppulingudi: Where the small fish wriggle in the fields and cowries move under the coral spreads in the river. Vishnu in a reclining position is the main shrine. The specific name given to this image by the Alvar is kaai china vendan, meaning one who punished evil perpetrators.
The Alvar says that he is in a nearby town; If only God would give him a shout, will he (Alvar) not come running and join in serving the Lord along with his two consorts, Sree Devi (Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth) and Bhoo Devi (Goddess of Earth)? Among the three poses of the Lord, the reclining pose commends the highest respect. As the legend will have it, the temple priest’s (archaka) daughter reminded Sri Ramanuja (who established the visishtaadwaita system of philosophy) of this particular poem by the Alvar:
vaDiviNai illaa malar magaL –
maRRai nilamagaL pidikkum mellaDiyai
koDuvinaiyEnum piDikka nee oru naaL
koovudhal varudhal cheyyayE
(9-2-10)
The figures of God in the last three shrines taught the Alvar the quality of bhOgya paaka twarai (the keenness to know whether tasty food is ready to eat). As the preparation takes time, one changes from standing to sitting to reclining pose, as in these shrines! God is easy of approach to those whose mind is filled with intense devotion towards Him. For others, the King of Dwaraka will be far, far away. Let us fill our minds/hearts with full love for Him and try to be within audible distance to Him!
Note: Geography of these localities needs clarification.