Nammalvar is the primary theologian and philosopher of Vaishnava sect and a theistic mystic.. He was born in a Sudra Vallala family in Alvar Tirunagiri in South India, formerly known as Kuruhur. He was found meditating under a tree by a learned man by name Madhurakavi. The latter was so impressed by his spirituality and knowledge of the sacred texts, that he became his pupil. The following presentation is a translation of his work in Tamil, Periya Tiruvandaadi. It expresses his love for Narayana / Vishnu. All Alvars put together have four thousand verses to their credit. Periya Tiruvandaadi are 87 verses and are numbered as follows.  The translation from Tamil appears first.   The author's presentation and the commentary follow if any.

01-2585: O my mind, you bore the burden, you tried, you rose  and you surged forward.  Join me in  this creation /  composition (of this poem) woven with  sweet and affectionate words praising  the Lord who is of the color of the Kaya flower.. 2885-01

 (O my mind, you are enthused, invigorated, and surging forward.  Join me in composing a poem strung with sweet and affectionate words praising the Lord who is of the purple color of the kaya flowers.) 

02-2586: O Our Lord! O lord with Lotus-red eyes.  We may praise or  scorn,  we may extol or blame, we may slight or revere, we may respect or despise.  You may get angry (with us).  We do not  have any evil intent. O our Lord,  You have seen all these (before). 2586-02

03-2587:  These are good;  those are evil.  Even though I may know what is what, I will not be able to keep or remove them.   O my Lord, What is it  that I can do? 2587-03

04-2588:  Who is more famous than me? Come to think (of it) there is no one more famous than me. My mind is ruled by the pristine great radiance of dark effulgent Kannan (Krishna) residing in the ocean. 2588-04

05-2589:  You are the begetting mother, You are the life-giving causal father. You are all that others talked about. O Mayin, You killed the deceitful ogress by drinking from her (poisoned) breast (as an infant Krishna). O Mother! You showed me the way. 2589-05

Your are my mother and father.  you are everything for me, that all others talked about.  You are the destroyer of  evil.  Show me the way. 2589-05

Comments: Lord Krishna was born the nephew of king Kamsa. The fate had it that Kamsa would be killed by Lord Krishna.  Kamsa sent an ogress by name Putana to kill all the children. Putana, being an ogress, could metamorphose into any form. She assumed the form of a beautiful woman and nursed infant Krishna with intent to kill Him with poisoned milk.   Krishna being the Lord knew Putana's intentions and killed her. By mere contact with the Lord at the moment of nursing, the ogress disappeared in a puff of fragrant smoke. Even enemies and evil persons , upon contact with the Lord become purified and ascend to heaven.2589-05

06-2590:  Would you leave me, after showing me the right path? Or will you show us Your dark beautiful sprout-like body? What lies ahead of us in the coming days, we do not know. What do You think You are going to do, Kanna (Krishna)? Pray tell us as to what you will be doing. whatever you do will affect us. 2590-06

Since we do not know as to what you intend to do and what lies ahead of us in the coming days and whatever you do affects us, please tell us as to what you will be doing, O Kanna ( Krishna).   Would you leave me, after showing me the right path? Or will you show us Your dark beautiful sprout-like body?2590-06

07-2591:  We the great sinners are so far away (from you). And yet my mind in its nearness to you is merged and lost in you. O Lord, you straddled this earth,  and let the Lady of the red lotus flower merge into your chest. I attained your feet. 2591-07

O Straddler of this universe, though we the great sinners are so far away from You, my mind in its nearness to You is merged and lost in You and has attained your feet. You, who straddled this earth, let the Lady of the Lotus flower merge and become part of Your chest. 2591-07  The Lady of the Lotus flower is Sri, the consort of Lord Vishnu.  

08-2592:  We neither know nor understand the way to attain You.  Our love (for You) surges.  Why is that so?  Pray tell.  (You are as sweet as) the Ambrosia that we want to drink.  You possess auspicious attributes.  You straddled this earth.  You are too fine and subtle for us to see with our eyes .  08-2592

O sweet Ambrosia, O Straddler of this universe.  You are of the most auspicious attributes.  We neither know  nor understand the way to reach You.  You are too fine and subtle for us to see  with our eyes.   Our love for You surges and heaves.  Why is that so?  Pray tell.  08-2592

09-2593:  What is the use of agonizing and telling again and again "we are Your slaves"?  Even the best devotees of Thirumal, who think that He is their refuge, do not even know (that He is not paying any attention).  Look here, does it really  matter what happens to us?  O Mind, just keep thinking about Him and His opulences --09-2593

10-2594: Two foursomes, One over two fives, eight over one four, one twosome and in all thirty three celestial beings are worthy of worshipping the Lord / Thirumal. Who are we? Is our worship / Obeisance worthy? My sin!. O Pure Mind, are we that much at fault? 10-2594

Commentary:

Two foursomes: Eight Vasus. One over Two fives: Eleven Rudras. Eight over one four: Twelve Adityas. one twosome: Two Aswins Total of Thirty three celestial beings.

Two foursomes : Vasus: Eight in all. Bountiful, wealthy gods. In vedic times they were highly regarded. They offer material gains to their worshippers.

One over Two fives: Rudras. Eleven in all. Rudras are the ten breaths and the mind. The ten breaths are the sensory and motor organs. When Rudras leave the body, they makes us weep and so are named Rudras.

Eight over one four: Twelve Adityas: The sons of Aditi. Represent the twelve months.

One twosome : Asvins: They are twin gods. Their name is derived from Asva meaning horse. They were also associated with herbs and therefore were regarded as physicians of gods and humans.

11-2595: It was Your immense strength that took the sweet life of the powerful Raksasa whose pride drew him into battle with You. You are the earth, the sky, the wind, and the water. You are really You. 11-2595  

12-2596: O Mind, You made a move to push me into the ocean of grief. What is the purpose of talking about it? Go away. You never accepted the mature advice dispensed to you. It is the custom and duty to praise Kannan (Krishna).  12-2596

13-2597: There is no breach of custom. O Lord, do you perceive any (personal) loss in the desire of the devotees. Is there really any loss (at all)? Though you have taken control of us, we beseech that, for our eyes to see, you show the brilliance (and beauty) of your form. 13-2597

14-2598: Knowingly the ogress put the dark-colored One on to her breasts. O Mind, Who art thou! You continue to experience the sense objects, knowing fully well that it is evil which is like putting the hand into the mouth of the snake. 14-2598

15-2599: As the ocean waves roll, slap and caress His body and feet, the (lotus-colored) Lord closes His eyes (as the petals of a flower). Why don't you remove yourself from the ocean of sorrow and praise the Lord? Is there a better testament than this? 15-2599

16-2600: Instead of being praised " Born beautiful, grew elegant", you were born a dwarf (Vamanan). You embraced the world by Your chest, swallowed it (for safe-keeping during dissolution), and spit it out (during creation). Your endeavor and grace are rare indeed. Explain in order for us to understand and elucidate this Truth. 16-2600

17-2601: When devotees gather and plead, he may not appear before them, but gives them sustenance and yet will not utter any thing. The Lord surrounded the Raksasa like a range of mountains and wielded the bow in such manner that the demon's heads were falling off  /  rolling off like boulders .

The Raksasa referred to here is Ravana, who abducted Rama's wife Sita.  Ravana had ten heads.  Indira loaned a chariot and a charioteer by name Matali to Rama  in the final battle with Ravana.    Matali drove the chariot in circles around Ravana as he was closing the circle.  Agastya Muni descended from the heavens and gave Rama instructions on the use of a prayer "the Aditya Hridya".  It literally means  the heart of the sun.  This prayer draws power from the heart of the sun, Lord Vishnu Himself and all the gods.  The celestial horses were galloping  around the demon in circles and configurations to confuse, confound and baffle Ravana.  Rama shot thousands and thousands of arrows, which severed the heads of Ravana, but they miraculously grew back.  Vibhishana, the brother of Ravana let it be known to Rama that Ravana had stashed the celestial nectar in his heart and that ambrosia was responsible for the regrowth of the heads.  Rama at once chanted the prayer and shot the Brahmastra arrow in to the heart of  Ravana.  The arrow pierced his heart, exited and entered the earth.  Ravana was dead at last.

Nammalvar describes the scene very graphically, when he says that Lord Rama was all around  the ten-headed demon like a mountain range riding on the celestial chariot and severing the heads with His arrows.  The heads were rolling off the demon like the boulders were rolling off the mountainside, as we saw in the movie "Sexy Beast" directed by  Jonathan Glazer.  That was one boulder in the movie, but in the battlefield, Ravana's ten heads were rolling off like ten boulders at  different levels of descent,  augmented  many times over and over again by Ramah's arrows, because his heads grew back the instant they were severed, thanks to the Ambrosia, the demon held in the heart.  On the advice of Vibhishana,  Lord Rama shot an arrow, pierced the heart and depleted the heart of its ambrosia resulting in  instant death and of course multiply-decapitated body.

18-2602: Though the weal that developed from being tied down with a rope softened , but was replaced by another weal by being tied by a snake from which you experienced suffering, you were not deterred (shook off the laziness / sloth), O the (the primal) seed, and expanded yourself into various forms. Who would know your ancient (universal) form?  Pray tell me. 18-2602

Comment: Yasoda, the adoptive mother of Lord Krishna, was nursing Baby Krishna and when she saw the milk in the pot over the fire was boiling over, she put Him down to attend to the milk pot. Krishna in a fit of anger (read LILA = divine Play , pastimes) broke a pot of yogurt and went ahead feeding the monkeys food. Krishna took off upon seeing the stick held by approaching Yasoda. But he was eventually caught and Yasoda tried to tie Him down to the mortar. The problem was that yasoda could not get the two ends of the rope to a knot even after adding more and more of the ropes. Such was the lila of Lord Krishna.

There was an asura by name Aghasura. To avenge the death of his brother and sister in the hands of Lord Krishna, he assumed the shape of a huge snake and opened his mouth eight miles high. The cowherd boys entered the mouth of the snake in a show of defiance and fun waiting for Krishna to follow. Eventually Krishna entered the mouth and was swallowed by the snake along with the cowherd boys. The Lord expanded Himself in the throat of the snake to such proportions that the snake was burst asunder, thereby letting all the victims escape from the snake.

The Universal Form:  Read Bhagavad Gita Chapter eleven for more details on the Universal Form.

 Many mouths and eyes, many visions  of wonder and (marvel), many divine ornaments, many divine weapons held up high  BG11.10  Wearing Divine garlands and garments, smeared with Divine perfumes,  all uncommonly wonderful,  resplendent, unlimited God with all-sided face. BG11.11  If  a thousand suns shine forth all at once in the sky, that might be the splendor of  the Great  / Exalted Being. BG11.12 I see You  in your infinite form on all sides with  many arms, many stomachs, many mouths, and many eyes. I could see no end,  no middle, and again  no beginning, in Your universal form O Lord (Controller) of the Universe - Visvesvara. BG11.16

19-2603: O innocent mind, there is no dearth for words ( if you want to sing His glory). Irrespective of night and day, the Lord protected the five (Pandavas) always from the hostilities (of their enemies). You too can see Him. 19-2603

 20-2604: O Pure  heart and mind, thou art endowed with intelligence (and insight). Is that not a point of shame that we talk about the auspicious Lord who in the form of a dwarf accepted the earth as an offering,  and  (we) touch  his holy body?  20-2604

21-2605: Then and there before, the earth and the winding ocean lay covered and hidden in the dark-colored Lord who extended His legs which today here and now are ensconced in my heart and mind safeguarding me  against entering the hot hell. 21-2605

22-2606: Thirumal took up residence in my heart and mind displacing the evil deeds which stayed here so far to this day in all their haughtiness, now moreover have grown weary from lack of a place to stay and have been shouting and crying from out of aching feet  while wandering. 22-2606

23-2607: O heart and mind, Let me say this: You may become weary, when the yama's minions will set the dogs upon you. But Thirumal will bestow His grace and come to your rescue, since he is the mother and father of all lives.- 23-2607

Note:  Yama is the deity in charge of portfolio of death and punishment for the sinners.

24-2608: He is self-created (by His own maya). There is no one to match or measure up to Him. He is the cause of other beings' birth. If He slackens or grows weary, this world will be upside down. But he will again make it right. Who is there in this world who could measure up to Him? 24-2608

25-2609:  Let whoever do whatever they want. Is it at all possible to explore, research and rectify this wide world? I, for myself, by the grace of Kannan (Lord Krishna) the head of all the heavenly celestials changed the severe sorrow of my noble heart and mind.25-2609

Gist: 26-2609 Let any man do what he will. Is it possible to change this wide world? My considered opinion is that with the grace of God of gods Kannan (Krishna), I was able to remove my mental anguish. 26-2609

26-2610: My mind and I came to an agreement that we will beat  my evil deeds and drive them to the hills and jungles with the help of a club named Grace, given by my God with a dark great form. 26-2610

26-2610: The author's version:  My mind and I came to an agreement that we will beat the daylights out of my evil deeds and drive them to the hills and jungles with the help of a club named Grace, given by my God with a dark great beautiful and effulgent form. 26-2610

27-2611: Are You the beauty that straddled the earth with your foot? If it is not that, are you the beauty who measured the firmament with your head? O the Tall One. That was the day when you straddled all this universe by stretching your feet adorned with the anklets. Who or what am I to know? 27-2611

Notes:   Pearl = beauty.  Here the "beauty" has taken the shape, the luster and denotation of a "Pearl" in the mind of  Nammalvar.  So Nammalvar says it as follows:  Are You the "Pearl" that straddled the earth?

28-2612: It is only today that the Lord's - the Lord of the ocean- dark form can not be seen with our eyes. Having said that, that form that could not be seen by the external eyes, could be seen by the internal eyes of the mind upon realization.

Aaziyaan: Vishnu, who contains the ocean in Him.

29-2613: Is it easy for one to come to know directly and access my Father who wears the garland of flowers and sacred basil leaves? To the extent of the measure of one's humbleness to realize Him, to that measure my Peruman is easy of access to me here and now. 29-2613

Peruman- Perumal = Person of great eminence. Vishnu's name.   The term "Peruman" can be applied to a man and God.  But Perumal and Thirumal can be applied only to God.   Thirumal: Thiru:  eminence, distinction, sacredness,  beauty.  Nammalvar addresses the Lord as his Father.

30-2614: It is no good (for Karma) to sit here majestically from antiquity, for my heart is too small to hold the grace of red-eyed Thirumal. Therefore, would it not be a gracious act on the part of Karma to cease standing around and stooping, and step out (of my mind and heart) in a haste. 30-2614

(My heart is too small to accommodate both the auspicious Lord and karma. It is better that the karma, sitting majestically from antiquity and sometimes lounging around, to step out of my heart and mind in a hurry for ever and thereby show some grace.)

Karma is described here as val-vinaiyaar, meaning wicked deeds.

31-2615: Now that we know His grace and beauty, He will eradicate (remove) all our karma (wicked deeds), and we became his shadow and foot print. He, who dwells in the deep ocean, danced around and whirled, having the pots on His head. 31-2615

32-2616: Lord Damodara desired (willingly accepted) servitude for Himself (when He was tied down to the mortar by Yasoda). Upon asking "O Mind, Be servile to the Lord", it will not do it. But the mind, saying that this is for myself, becomes servile and submissive to the evil deeds of oneself. What is it that we can do in this place? 32-2616

34-2618: O Ocean-Blue radiance, O the first Causal Lord , You are the destroyer of karma and dispenser of justice. We heard about your beauty as you reside in the milk ocean. We came along with your devotees. My feet shake; my mind is confused (destroyed); my eyes are rolling. 34-2618

35-2619: He stands, sits, sleeps, and walks around, but never rests or leaves my heart and mind. One day, He by His (bare) hands smashed the mouth and gored the chest of the golden Daitya Hiranya but yet is kind (to His devotees). 35-2619

Commentary:

Hiranya means golden. He is a daitya or an asura and a giant or a titan. The daityas are demons opposed to gods. Suras are gods and Asuras are demons. According to the Mahabharata, Arjuna was married to King Vasuki's sister and Bhima was married to Hidimba. (This marriage is separate from their marriage to Princess Draupadi.) Both brides were daityas. There is always a rivalry between the Suras and Asuras. From the Suras, the Asuras stole the ambrosia ( Amrta) prepared by churning the ocean. Lord Vishnu assumed the form of Mohini and distracted daityas long enough for the gods to repossess  the ambrosia. In this verse, it is depicted that Hiranya was opposed to Lord Vishnu, while his son, prahlaada was a devotee of Vishnu. Prahalaada was persecuted by his father for his devotion to, beliefs and love of Vishnu. Later Hiranya repented and all was forgiven. But when Prahalaada met his father once, the latter derided his son and Vishnu and demanded to know whether Lord Vishnu was in the pillars in his palace. (Remember Vishnu is all-pervasive and omnipresent). Lo and behold, the nearest pillar split open and out emerged a man-lion - Narasimha - who smashed his mouth and ripped him apart. Narasimha is one of the Avatars or incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Previously Hiranya had a boon from Brahma, that he would not be killed by a man, an animal or any created being. So the Lord had to take the form of Man-lion to kill Him. Such a Lord who can kill a demon is tender and merciful to his devotees.   End commentary 35-2619

36-2620: It is Him over there; it is Him over here; it is Him yonder; it is Him up in the sky. Do not take Him for granted. Know that He is what He is and remove all your doubts for Kannan (Krishna) is who He is, and  (take refuge in Him)  we belong to Him absolutely.

37-2621: O good Mind, Is it not rare to become a man of wisdom in matters of righteousness? we have that. Let us praise Thirumal who wears the garland of cool sacred basil leaves and flowers swarming with the bees and show our abiding love. 37-2621

38-2622: O Mind! is there enough time to research. Without wasting a wink of time, you can insult the Mayan wearing a garland of holy basil leaves about His mix-up -dawdling, diddling and dalliance - with the cowherd maids. If you do not talk about Him, it is your fault.

Comment

Nammalvar says that every wink of time should be spent in thinking of the Lord, even if the thoughts rest on insults and innuendoes on Lord’s contacts with the cowherd maids. Nammalvar characterizes these activities as mix-up with the cowherd maids. In ordinary terms, it means dawdling, diddling and dalliance. The benefit of thinking and talking about the Lord all the time, even if they take the form of insults, innuendoes, derision and hatred, will bring forth the grace of the Lord. All  His enemies and the evil raksasas that he killed attained liberation. Such is His Grace. This mix-up with the maids is not what apparently it appears to be. Krishna is the super soul and the maids and the rest of humanity are the lesser souls. This apparent dalliance is the urge to merge with the Greater Soul felt by the lesser souls and is maya or illusion.

Krishna is called Mayan here. Maya is the rite of passage for the soul, before it attains Brahman. That is Maya and the creator of Maya is Mayan. Maya veils Brahman. Maya reveals our Avidya - ignorance. Maya is enamored by and fixed on relative reality of the world. Maya projects the illusion of the phenomenal world. Maya is the cataract between you and the Real, that is Brahman. Maya is a hurdle for the attainment of Brahman. It definitely throws a monkey wrench into the jivatma's onward journey towards Brahman. To say it differently:  Maya is the driving force behind the projection of this universe. Avidya maya is the principle behind the projection of this universe and beings from His own prakriti. Yogamaya and atmamaya are divine processes by which He self-creates Himself to be born in this world. In the latter two instances karma and avidya are not operative, because He is Brahman, and Supreme and He is above avidya and karma.  End commentary on 38-2622.  

39-2623: We tried to obtain salvation. O Mind, talk to me. Just once we called on the Tulasi-garlanded Lord and did not offer oblation, when we had the opportunity to praise His laurels and offer oblation to Him. 39-2623

40-2624: There is no opportunity equal to this. Come, Mind. Do not push me into the hot hell. There is strength in praising the Lord, who took the life of the ogress who tried to kill the Lord by poisoning the milk. 40-2624.

41-2625: Those wrestlers who thought themselves to be strong and opposed the Lord, had their heads cuffed, banged, and broken by the strong, brilliant, and beautiful discus-bearing arm. (By that act of yours) this world, for many years can stand without being busted. 41-2625

42-2626: He swallowed the earth; He regurgitated the earth; He raised the earth; He measured the earth; it is said that He created this earth and the sky previously. Since He Himself is the earth and the sky, who else could give us the refuge? That these belong to some others is not worthy of declaration (consideration). 42-2626

43-2627: He will make the sorrows (blemish) tremble for the gods who come thinking that He is their refuge. For those who do not hold in the highest regard in their minds and worship Him, is there any way that they can destroy the sorrows of their minds. 43-2627

Literal translation is followed by purport, explanation and commentary.

44-2628: Even if the good mind is of pristine nature, the tongue in the mouth is endowed (with good speech), and are very much bound together (connected) Those who do not study deeply and worship Thirumal are for the future just accumulating karma. 44-2628

44-2628: Even if a person is endowed with a good mind and speech, but is not engaged in the knowledge and worship of Thirumal, will be accumulating karma for the future. 44-2628

44-2628: Commentary: The mind and speech in a person are the products of prakriti, fulfill their physiologic functions and are coordinated well. But if that mind does not possess Self-knowledge - knowledge of Brahman / Vishnu / Thirumal and the speech is not engaged in the praise and worship of the Lord, that mind and that speech are mere instruments and will only help accumulate  praarabda karma.

There are three basic karmas: 1: Praarabda Karma 2: Aagami Karma 3: Sanchita karma.  In English 1: Sprouting Seed karma 2: Dormant or sprouting or stored seed Karma 3: Storehouse seed karma - the silos.  

Good news folks:  The Sanchita or the storehouse seeds (karma) can be roasted, fried, burnt down or depleted or resolved by Grace of God, if He chooses to do that, or by performing Kundalini yoga under the benign expert guidance of a Guru. It can also be destroyed by knowledge of Brahman. 

Praarabda karma: is not under our control. Praarabda Karma is in the process of being resolved. It is in motion. It cannot be stopped. It is like the potter's wheel. It spins even after the external force is stopped. It stops once the momentum is spent. It is like the discharged arrow from the bow. It is too late to stop the arrow in mid flight. The archer has no control over it once the arrow leaves the bow. it can not be stopped until the momentum is spent. It cannot be destroyed by knowledge of Brahman. It determines our " heredity, ancestry and environment".  It is congenital. There is no prevention or cure for this. It has to be resolved or lived through.  But we do have control over Aagami Karma. If one's thoughts, words and deeds are sattvic, there won't be any accumulation of "seeds" for later sprouting either in this life or in the next life.  See Chapter 3 verse 28 Comments on Inflows.

Author's own views on karma: Karma is thought, speech and deed. A perfect karma is a no-load karma. A perfect karma is a zero sum entity. A loaded karma is like a loaded gun and means trouble. Praarabda karma is like a loaded gun being discharged. The gunman can not stop the bullet until the momentum is spent. Karma is the one and the only equalizer of all living things. You wish you were holding an empty bag of karma. The fried karmic seeds taste better than any other seeds or nuts. The very fact you are reading this means that your karma is loaded for discharge or resolution, roasting, or accumulation. Karma is something you don't wish for your friend or enemy, because it can boomerang on you when least expected in this birth or future births.  You never know . Unit for unit thought is one karmic unit. speech is ten karmic units and deed is 10 to the power 2 and more. This karmic unit can be meritorious or demeritorious or in other words positive or negative or punyam or papam. One's aim is Zero karmic unit, because getting moksa is zero sum game. Only in karma, zero karmic unit is better than positive or negative units, because anything other than zero karmic units guarantees birth and accumulation of Praarabda Karma. Isoelectric status or line in this instance is better than amplitudes either way. End Commentary 44-2628

46-2630: This is what say in my declaration everyday. He is of the form and color of deep blue sea. He is the lotus-eyed Thirumal. He is the great refuge, who never abandons me. He is the refuge, who protects, and prevents me from entering the harsh hell. O Mind, think about it.

47-2631: You need not think that people who think of You and pay obeisance to You, come to you begging (for favors). How many are there who think of You directly and pay obeisance to You? Where (What place) are they from? O Thirumal, how much of that quality do I have, (tell me)? 47-2631

O Thirumal, I am not a person, who comes seeking favors from you. Do not lump me together with men of that low quality. I think of You all the time and pay reverence to You. I am your true devotee.

48-2632: You killed seven fierce horned bulls instantaneously for reasons of (winning the hands of ) beautiful, slender-armed Nappinai. I hold you in my mind. We had (in our sight) the abode higher than the heavens. Is it not the proper path? 48-2632

Comment: There was a kingdom by name Kosala, ruled by Nagnajit / Kumbha. His daughter, Satya, was to be married by anyone who could subdue the seven ferocious bulls of the king. Lord Krishna heard about it and traveled to Kosala, presently in the neighborhood of Ayodya. Krishna easily subdued the seven bulls by expanding  / multiplying  Himself into seven Krishnas. And thus He was married to Satya with great pomp and ceremony. In the South Indian version Satya is the Nappinnai, also known as Neela. Vishnu's three consorts are: Sri, Bhu and Neela. Another version states that Kumbha, the brother of Yasoda had two daughters and Neela or Nappinnai was one of them. Nappinnai means : "Beautiful tress". It can also mean  "the Lady who came after" Sri and Bhu.

49-2633: Clouds, large mountains, deep ocean, dark nights, Kaya flower swarming with bees, and anything that has the appearance of darkness make my mind separate from me and run off saying that this is  the form (and image) of dark-colored Kannan. 49-2633

My heart and mind leap (for joy) and run off saying that this is the form (and image) of dark-colored Kannan, when I see dark clouds, large mountains, deep dark-blue ocean, Kaya flower swarming with bees and anything that has the appearance of darkness.  End 49-2633

50-2634: My mind has taken leave of me and wanders behind the Lord, who not even once showed an understanding, has taken notice of me, said, "Oh Oh!" and took pity on me. Alas! His mind must be hard for He had ripped the mouth of a horse apart. 50-2634:

51-2635: The Five senses, ruling this mind, are cruel mischief mongers. By destroying their anger and assembling them in one place (in a sattvic state), it gives honor to the devotee and helps attain the feet of the Lord who wears the bee-swarming cool Tulasi garland. 51-2635

The five motor senses - Speech, hands, feet, rectum and genitals  - rule our mind and behavior. They are prone to mischief. They must be controlled and channeled in such ways that bring honor to the devotee and bring him close to feet of the Lord who wears the cool Tulasi garland.  End 51-2635

Speech, hands, feet, rectum and genitals are the motor organs as depicted here.

52-2636: The Lord begged for land in the days of yore. The Lord's form, when He ate poisoned food from the ogress was one of many. To behold Him with my eyes is my desire. I have no desire to see anything else. My mouth will rather speak His glories than to eat. 52-2636

In the days of yore, the Lord came to this world in the form of Vamana begging for land, straddled the sky, the earth and the heavens in three strides and destroyed the King Bali. Infant Lord Krishna nursed and killed the ogress, Putana who came with an intent to kill the Lord with poison applied to her breasts. To behold the Lord with my eyes is my desire. I would rather use my mouth to chant His glories than to eat. End 52-2636

Vamana was one of the Avatars of Lord Vishnu. In the days of yore, King Bali, an Asura, antithetical to Sura or god conquered the three worlds. The gods complained to Lord Vishnu. Vamana, the dwarfish brahmana went to the king Bali and begged him for a piece of land equal to the length and breadth of his three strides. King Bali, very much against the advice of the priest-in-chief, Sukracharya, agreed to part with the paltry piece of land to the dwarfish brahmana. The Lord at once stood up and expanded Himself to an immense size. He covered the heaven and earth in two strides and asked the king where he could place His third step. The king offered his head as the place for the third step, upon which the Lord pushed him down to the nether land. For the king’s generosity, the Lord made him the ruler of the nether lands.

53-2637: O Red-eyed Thirumal, there is one thing that I want to say. As to what You can do to Your devotees is your (primary) abiding interest. For the devotees, to dwell on your glories in their mind is much sweeter than the grace you offer by way of Vaikuntha. 53-2637

54-2638: All my cruel sorrows dropped out of sight and disappeared. Where did they go? Into the sky or the sea or the wind or the fire or the jungle? We worship the Lord at His feet who flung a demon coming  in the form of a calf (born of a cow)  high on to the wood apple tree and thereby shook down the fruits. 54-2638

tree: Feronia elephantum (Vilampazham) wood apple elephant apple, VILAMARAM

55-2639: The Lord sleeps on the bed of a jeweled snake, buffeted by the ocean waves. He is hard to come to. But for us, we could see Him to a full extent at all times. He relieves us of our mental worries. 55-2639

The Lord sleeps on the bed of a jeweled snake, buffeted by the ocean waves. He is hard to come to, but when he comes, he brings us relief from mental sorrows and we could see him fully at all times.

He is the Mayin showing us the way. The Cowherd Lord by changing His form and conduct prevents us from entering paths leading to samsara - cycle of birth and rebirth. He brought justice on this earth by straddling this universe. Isn't this life sweet

The Lord is described here as Mayin. Mayin is the creator of maya. Maya, according to Dr. Radhakrishnan is the principle which accounts for the apparent conditioning of the unconditioned Absolute. Thus this world is a maya. Brahman is the constant and maya power of Brahman is the variable. The degree of expression of maya is entirely controlled by Brahman. The world is not real if not for Brahman, but is real as it relates to Brahman. The power that Brahman holds is called aksara, aakaasa, avyakta, maya and avidya. (See supplement section for definitions and details). Aksara is the imperishable AUM. Aakaasa is the ether that is all-pervasive. Avyakta is the unmanifested. Maya is a potential unmanifest, and unborn. Maya is not real, not unreal and not either of them.  Sankaracharya says Brahman is the constant and unmoving, but yet he moves the universe. It is like the fixed magnet which moves the iron particles without moving itself. As per S, the manifested world is the power and expression of maya.  Maya is intrinsic to the nature of Brahman. According to Ramanuja, Brahman cannot be the repository of maya. To him the relationship to the universe is a soul-body organic connection.

57-2641: O Mind, Will He not change the karma that stands on the way (of the soul which wants to attain the sacred feet of the Lord)? Thirumal clasped the Asura Hiranya in a /an (deathly) embrace, held him on His lap, fought him, ripped his chest apart, caused the blood and flesh to flow in floods and let his life subside. 57-2641

Read commentary on 35-2619 for details on demon Hiranya.  The message is that the Lord fights and destroys the evil and rescues the devotee.  The gory details are part of the Krishna's lore in  destroying the evil everywhere, upholding the righteousness and rescuing the devotees.

58-2642:O Thirumal! O Radiant Form! Please don't change anymore. My body got lost in Your grace in its likeness to milk. Moreover, I do not seek freedom from rebirth and to serve at Your feet. What I want is that I do not forget You. 58-2642

O Thirumal! O Radiant Form. - Please do not remove Your Radiant Form from my heart and mind. I got lost in the milk-ocean of Your auspicious qualities. I would rather not forget the memory of your radiant form than to seek freedom from rebirth and service at Your sacred feet.

59-2643: As we keep thinking of Him, the karmas leave, but never go away to the forest or elsewhere. The renowned Lord has taken abode in the ocean buffeted by waves. 59-2643

60-2644: O Mind, always keep thinking of the Lord who wears the fresh sweet Tulasi garland. Do not lose sight of that, stand  / fall behind (and change your focus). It is up to you whether you want take that stance or not. There is no other God who can give protection against entry into the troublesome great hot hell.

O Mind, keep thinking of the Lord who wears the sweat Tulasi garland. Do not lose sight of that fact, fall behind and change your focus. It is up to you whether you want to take that stance or not. There is no other God who protects you from falling into the hot hell. End 60-2644

61-2645: That day when the Lord took a measure of this earth (straddled) with His lotus-red foot, the gods in heaven assembled according to the Vedas and Upanishads , worshipped the Lord and strew pollen-laden flowers which resembled the glittering stars in the sky. 61-2645

62-2646: The Lord, measuring the earth, is the jeweled central rod of the umbrella.   The sky is the canopy. The stars are the ribs. The silver globular handle is the moon. He is the medicine (and the cure) for all our ills. 62-2646

63-2647: The water-laden clouds, chased by the winds from behind,  lost (their load),  were  made to vanish by the east wind and came to rest in the ocean. The discus-wielding Lord in order to do good deeds cut off the nose and the large ears of the evil ogress and came to rest and retire in the ocean. 63-2647

Commentary:

85-2669: The Lord is in sweet slumber in the cool ocean buffeted by the bubbling waves. The clouds acquired the dark color of my Kannan (Krishna), by darting into the expanse of the sky with restless persistence. By going every which way they can (and attaining that color), what penance have they -the clouds- done? 85-2669

86-2670: The dark-hued Lord Krishna wields the discus, sleeps on the snake and as the strong-stomached swallowed the universe (for safe-keeping following dissolution). If you think of virtuous and glorifying words and recite them, all your deep sorrows of the enveloping karma will be removed by Him just now.

87-2671: O Mind, the Lord who never lets go of His discus removes all our karmas. Praise His feet. I tell this now, a little later, and at all times. End 87-2671

End of  Periya Tiruvandâdi  By Nammalvar