O Mother of Vithuvakodu!

 வாளால் அறுத்துச் சுடினும் மருத்துவன்பால்

மாளாத காதல் நோயாளன் போல் மாயத்தால்

மீளாத் துயர் தரினும் வித்துவக்கோட்டு அம்மா நீ

ஆளா உனது அருளே பார்ப்பன் அடியேனே!

Vālāl arutthuch chudinum marutthuvan pāl

Mālādha kādhal noyālan pol māyatthāl 

mīlāth thuyar tharinum Vithuvakottammā nee

ālā unadharuley pārppan Adiyene!

The Doctor cuts, burns and removes the wounds of his patient to cure him. Despite the pain caused, the patient knows that the Doctor had done this to redeem him from his injury and remains affectionate towards the physician. Similarly, O Mother of Thiruvithuvakodu! Even when you make me suffer endlessly through your Līlās, this servant of yours will always remain focused on your glories and seek your blessings!

Says Kulashekara Āzhwār.

Life is like mountaineering, filled with hurdles and challenges. Life's a coin, for it has two sides known as happiness and sadness. Joy can be experienced only by of sorrow and sadness makes us realize the sweetness of joy. Our journey becomes bland without any difficulties and obstacles. Too much of victory and success can make us vain, indulgent and slothful. At the same time, a life filled with only grief and gloom can never be healthy for us. Our joy is our sorrow unmasked. The cup which holds wine is heated and burnt in the potter's oven. The lute which comforts us is nothing but a log of wood carved by knives. When we look deep into our heart, we realize that the one which gives us sorrow is the source of joy and what delights us is the one we weep for in sadness. Some may say sorrow is greater, while some opine that joy is greater. However, both of them go hand in hand and are always inseparable. We are verily suspended like scales between joy and sorrow.

Looking at life in this perspective will make us understand Kulashekara Āzhwār's song better. Kulashekara Āzhwār in a way acknowledges how both joy and sorrow are a part of one's life just like how pain is experienced while getting treated by the Doctor and happiness while being cured. After knowing the inevitability of melancholy in our lives, we have to realize that all kinds of happiness and sadness are the mere play of Nārāyana, who is Sat-chid-Ānanda. He is the Universal Father who takes care of us like a Mother. He is non-different from His Consort Srī who is the Mother of the Universe. That's why Āzhwār addresses Uyyavandha Perumāl enshrined in Thiruvithuvakodu as 'Vithuvakodu Ammā!' (Ammā means 'Mother').

All the comforts as well as the trials and tribulations we face in our lives are just the pastimes enacted by Bhagavān to enlighten us. Lord Vishnu wants us to put our full efforts and dedication in any activity performed and introspect ourselves. He wants us to understand our devotion and stay strong and trust Him under any circumstances. He desires to see us become a good human being and a dedicated devotee. So, He often tests and rewards us. Everything goes by His plan so there's no use in cribbing and complaining about our lives, blaming oneself or others, etc.

This is why Āzhwār says that he always seeks the blessings of Perumāl even when the Lord gives him sorrow as a part of His Līlās. Knowing this, we should have strong faith and surrender ourselves to Srīman Nārāyana, put dedicated efforts, face and battle the challenges in our lives and achieve our goal. We should never forget that our divine eternal Parents are always with us, assisting us in many ways. Hari's thoughts are always concerned about us, who are His dear children! The ocean of compassion Mahālakshmī loves us immensely and ensures that the Lord cares for us and doesn't leave us alone!

Let's not lose hope easily during difficulties. Whenever we are in trouble, let's remember that our beloved Rāma and Ramā are always for us, even when we don't think much about Them! A tiny remembrance of Them will give us the strength to fight the biggest of the problems!

A very happy New Year to everyone! Our past cannot be changed. Let all the unpleasant things, problems and difficulties experienced in the previous year go away. Let's focus on the present and make our future brighter! Let's set the ball rolling, tackle everything and reach the zenith!

Hari! Hari!

(Do read Khalil Gibran's poem titled 'Joy and Sorrow'. It inspired me to create this post!)

Yours,

Hari Priye