MUKUNDAMALA

                                                                   

Azwars of south India are a host of mysics who enjoyed the presence and vision of God within themselves. Their devotion to god in incomparable! They totally surrendered themselves to Him. In every aspect of Nature they saw god and glorified His presence. They are the examples of pure , unalloyed  devotion and love for God!  They had no other intention other than seeing his form, describing His beauty and counseling others to devote themselves to God! Their love for God was totally unselfish and they did not pray for silly, material pleasures or objects. Their lofty ideals simply stun us and we are speechless at the extraordinary intimacy they maintained with the Supreme Being ! They lived in Love for God and sustained themselves with that Divine desire. They poured out their cravings for the Supreme Being in famous poems or ‘pasurams’ that we call today as ‘ Nalayira Divya Prabandham’ in Tamil Language. These Azwars were also scholars in Sanskrit and composed many poems or stotras glorifying their chosen deity.

        Sri Kulasekhara Azwar is one among the twelve great azwars.He was the last Chera king of Kerala. His MUKUNDAMALA is a classical illustration of the mind of the azwars of that period who doted on God  and unpacked their soul for His grace and salvation. Throughout the poem the azwar speaks of the futility of mortal existence and the toils and tribulations of family life or ‘samsara’ He describes the various Names of the Lord and implores HIM to show sympathy. “  I do not aspire for dharma or wealth or luxury, oh Lord! I know that things happen according to my past good or bad deeds.This my prayer to thee, that throughout the many births I may take, grant me imperturbable bhakti unto your lotus feet!” says The Azwar.  He is doubtful whether he will remember the Lord late in life.  As a precaution he has already placed his heart on Him. Says the Azwar, “Oh Krishna! I have already placed my  swanlike manas   at your lotus feet. During my terminal days, I fear wind, phlegm and bile and others may obstruct my throat and prevent me from uttering your name!”

          Every organ of this body granted by God has to do service to Him. He calls upon the tongue to sing His glory. Manas should worship Sridhara! Feet must worship at His temple; ears should hear his divine stories; eyes should enjoy His beautiful sight; Nose must smell the sweetness of the ’tulasi water and the head must bend in obeisance to Lord Krishna! What is this family life and its entanglements? He says it s a shoreless sea and unfathomable! It is impossible to cross this without the boat of devotion or bhakti! Wife is the moat where own children are the crocodiles that try to swallow us up!   “Oh Lord!  I am drowned in that sea! Save me by bestowing the boat of devotion to your lotus feet” craves the azwar rejecting the ordinary wordly life.

            Describing the qualities of Lord Krishna  the azwar says that he is like Garuda who destroys the snake like impediments! He is highly anticipated by the Gopikas like the chataka bird expects the water drops! He is the adornment on the chest of his spouse Rukmini He is the chief of all the gopalas—herdsmen! What is the power of his Name or mantra?  What is the effect of Krishna mantra? It demolishes all enemies; It is worshipped by all the Upanishads;  It releases human beings from the cycle of birth and death; it allows proper salvation;  it bestows all power, prestige and prosperity; It hits out against the snake like worries and saves men,  Kulasekhara Azwar calls upon the Tongue to repeat this Krishna mantram for the fulfillment of one’s janma or birth!

            The name of Lord Krishna is not only a divine mantra but a nutritious tonic and medicine for all the ills of human beings! This tonic shall remove all illusions from people; it brings in an attitude of detachment from material life; it terrorizes the demons; it is the elixir of life or Sanjivani for all the three worlds: It brings all good to the devotees; it erase all the fear of samsara or family life. Above all it leads us to eternal salvation or mukti  or ‘sreyas’ “Oh manas! Drink deep this Divine tonic of Krishna” concludes the poet. Finally he says that he bows down to the lotus feet of Narayana and worships the Lord always. He chants the pure name of Narayana and meditates on the idea or tatwa of Lord Narayana! Is not Kulasekhra Azwar an example for the sadhaka or an aspirant?