SRI #VADIRAJA VIRACHITA “#TEERTHA #PRABANDHA” ಶ್ರೀ ವಾದಿರಾಜ ವಿರಚಿತ “#ತೀರ್ಥ #ಪ್ರಬಂಧ”

SRI  #VADIRAJA VIRACHITA “#TEERTHA #PRABANDHA”

ಶ್ರೀ ವಾದಿರಾಜ ವಿರಚಿತ “#ತೀರ್ಥ #ಪ್ರಬಂಧ”

Tamraparni River/ತಾಮ್ರಪರ್ಣೀ ನದಿ

ತಾಮ್ರಪರ್ಣೀಸರಿತ್ತೋಯಂ ಸೇವನೀಯಂ ಮುಮುಕ್ಷುಭಿಃ|

ಮುಕ್ತೀಕರೋತಿ ಯತ್ರತ್ಯಾ ಶುಕ್ತಿಶ್ಚಪತಿತಂ ಜಲಮ್||30||

TAmraparNeesarittOyam sEvaneeyam mumukShuBhihi|

MukteekarOti yatratyA shuktishchapatitam jalam||30||

ताम्रपर्णीसरित्तॊयं सॆवनीयं मुमुक्षुभिः।

मुक्तीकरॊति यत्रत्या शुक्तिश्चपतितं जलम्॥३०॥

SUMMARY: The water in Tamraparni River should be drunk even by those seeking salvation or Moksha (Mumukshu) since even the pearl shell in this river grants salvation to persons bereft of knowledge falling on it.

Sri Vadirajaru is stating here that the touch of a pearl shell lying in Tamraparni River paves the path to salvation. People desirous of attaining salvation should compulsorily drink the Tamraparni waters.

The word “Patita” has several meanings. Basically, it means one who has fallen down; secondly, it means one who has surrendered; one who has lost everything in life; a destitute; downtrodden; one who has fallen to the ground from heaven or hell.

Literally, the word “Shukti” means pearl shell. Symbolically, shukti represents immobility or static or that which does not move around, does not progress. In philosophical interpretation, Shukti means one who has no spiritual knowledge.

In his exclusive work titled “Sri Tamraparni MahAtmyam”, Sri Vedavyasaru describes Tamraparni:

SmaraNAt darshanAt DhyanAt snAnAt pAnAdapi Dhruvam|

KarmavichChEdini sarvajantUnAm mOkShadAyinee||

Tamarparni River destroys sins and Karmas of those who remember her (SmaraNAt), who see her (DarshanAt), who meditates (DhyAnAt), who take bath in her and those who drink the waters (PAnAt). She bestows salvation too.

TAmra means Copper and Parni means shining. Therefore, The word TAmraparni is a derivative of Tamil word “Tamiraparani”, which means a maiden shining like Copper.  

According to a legend, Goddess Adi Parashakti presents a garland to Goddess Parvati during the marriage of the latter with Lord Shiva. Later, Lord Shiva gave this garland to Sage Agastya. Immediately after coming in contact with Sage Agastya, the garland transformed into a charming young maiden, who was shining like Copper. The deities called the maiden as Tamiraparani.

Lord Shiva instructed Sage Agastya to travel southwards. Sage Agastya, his wife Lopamudra, along with Tamiraparani, reached Mount Malaya, where the presiding deity Malayeshwara happily adopted Tamiraparani/Tamraparni as his daughter. Adi Parashakti got Tamraparni married with Samudra Raja or the King of Oceans. Adi Parashakti then directed Tamraparni to become mighty and she obeyed.

Tamraparni divides into three tributaries or rivulets at the place of confluence with the Sea and these three rivulets are likened by Sri Vedavyasa to Rig Veda, Yajur Veda and Sama Veda. Sri Vedavyasa consecrated an idol of Tamraparni and also Lord Subrahmanya to protect her.  

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