author:....... brahmashrI RAmakRShNa dIkShitar, shrIMaTham vidvAn, Kanchipuram
compiler:..... T.S.KOthaNDarAma sarma
translator.... saidevo
source:....... MahA PeriyavAL - Darisana AnubhavangaL v03-p017-027
Publisher:.... VAnathi Padhippaham (Dec 2005 Edition)
type:......... book, Tamizh
Pages 17-20
A shloka in the Bhaja Govindam runs in these words:
यावत् पवनो निवस्ति देहे
तावत् पृच्छति कुशलं गेहे।
गतवति वायौ देहापाये
भार्या त्रस्यति (बिभ्यति) तस्मिन् काये ॥
yAvat pavano nivasti dehe
tAvat pRucChati kushalaM dehe|
gatavati vAyau dehApAye
bhAryA trasyati (bibhyati) tasmin kAye || (verse 6)
When I finished reciting this shlokam in susvaram, Sri PeriyavAL ordered me, "Come on, chant it once more?" I recited it again.
"What is it... You say trasyati? Only bibhyati is customarily recited there?"
"My father taught me only in this way."
"trasyati, bibhyati--what is the difference?"
Forthwith he sent word for some Maha Pandits in SriMaTham. Several printed books from the SriMaTham library were also called for. In all the publications only the term bibhyati was mentioned.
The Vidvans started analysing the dhAtu, root word and meaning of both those words. AcharyaaaL said at length:
"bibhyati means the fear that normally arises. But then, looking at the situation explained in the shloka, it seems that saying mere 'bhayam' might not have been AcharyaaL's abhiprAyam.
"ennannA (what it is is that)..., patni is one who is with (her pati) for a long time. One who is in close proximity, intimacy. She was not afraid of that sharIraM even when her bharta suffered from severe diseases.
"But then, now, after the life was gone, what happened?
"A feeling of loathing, asUya (displeasure) had taken possession of that (same) patni! trAsam is the fear mixed with hatred. It seems only this is right (here).
"What? Henceforth, when the Bhaja Govindam is printed, let the (word) bibhyati be marked with a star at its top, and at the footnote let the (word) trasyati be also mentioned--you take care of it."
The Vidvans returned with a fullness of heart.
*** *** ***
In Sivasthanam, the floor of the room PeriyavAL resided would be very cool. Unable to bear the heat outside, even nattuvAkkAlis (scorpions large as crabs) would be crawling in the room. But they never harmed PeriyavAL.
Perhaps even the poisonous creatures were aware of PeriyavAL's divinity. Only several men did not realize it, one is inclined to think.
*** *** ***
PeriyavAL was sitting in his palanquin. One Anbar from Bangalore had sent two baskets of fruits. We unpacked and kept them before PeriyavA.
Some monkeys came and started eating the fruits. At the same time some squirrels also came and started nibbling on the seemai ilantai (estate jujube) fruits. Also, some crows assembled, and were pecking at the sugar in a plate.
Looking at me, PeriyavAL asked, "You have heard of kurangu, aNil, muttam?"
There is a place named KurangaNiMuttam, six kilometers from Kanchipuram. There a kurangu, anil, muttam (monkey, squirrel, crow) worshipped Paramesvara. A siSya told this news.
"Look! Here kurangu, anil, muttam all the three are eating now; reminding us of the KurangaNiMuttam Ishvara!..."
Behind every occasion and animal, to witness the Bhagavan is PeriyavAL's speciality.
But then I had a different thought.
MahA PeriyavAL is sAkSAt Paramesvara's avatara. Therefore, in order to re-enact the incidence of Puranic times, it seemed that the kurangu, anil, muttam animals were acting out their part before our eyes.
To comply with the explanation 'purANam pura abhinava' and to inform that the Purana incident was not just eulogy, this new incident happened before our very eyes!
Endowed with fortune, were we; no, no, only those kurangu, anil, muttams!
*** *** ***
Note: The Bhaja Govindam shlokam no.6:
yAvat pavano nivasti dehe
tAvat pRucChati kushalaM dehe|
gatavati vAyau dehApAye
bhAryA trasyati (bibhyati) tasmin kAye ||
(yaavat.h = so long as; pavanaH = air / breath; nivasati = lives / dwells; dehe = in the body; taavat.h = till then; pR^ichchhati = asks / inquires; kushalaM = welfare; gehe = in the house; gatavati = while gone; vaayau = air (life-breath); dehaapaaye = when life departs the body; bhaaryaa = wife; bibhyati = is afraid; fears; tasminkaaye = tasmin.h + kaye, that body.)
"When one is alive, his family members enquire kindly about his welfare . When the soul departs and the body falls, even one’s wife is afraid of the corpse."
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