Thirukolur Penpillai Rahasyam - 13

AarAyndhu vittEnO thirumazhisaiyAr pOlaE

Thirumazhisai Azhvar was born to Bhargava maharishi and Kanakangi in Thirumazhisai, in 4203 BCE. Just because the foetus came out as a lifeless lump of flesh with no arms and legs, his parents were terribly depressed and with unwillingness, left him under a bamboo bush and continued their spiritual journey. Seeing the kid left alone in the bushes, Lord Sriman Narayan appeared along with his consort and graced the baby and turned it into a lively and healthy human baby.

He was picked up by a childless tribal couple Tiruvaalan and Pankajavalli, who are engaged in cutting canes. Due to the grace of Lord Jagannatha of Thirumazhisai, he grew up with great knowledge of the Sastras. He proclaimed that he did not belong to Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya & Shudra in one of his couplets as he was considered (Avarna) beyond caste bound person.

He began to join and analyse various religions like Buddhism, Jainism, Advaita and eventually became a staunch devotee of Siva (with a name “Siva Vaakya”) and settled in Shaivism. At that time, Peyazhvar met him and through debate, won him and initiated him into Vaishnava sampradhayam (Srivaishnava philosophies). He settled in the divyadesam of Thirukkudandhai, from where he attained the Lord's divine feet.

He describes his journey into various religions and eventually reaching Srivaishnavam in his own words:

sAkkiyam kaRROm samaN kaRROm sankaranAr
Akkkiya Agama nUl ArAyndhOm - bAkkiyaththAl
sengkatkariyAnaich sErndhOm yAm thIdhilamE
engkatkariyadhonRil

Implication: "After my futile efforts to know the supreme principle through Jainism, Buddhism and Saivic philosophy, I am blessed by Sriman Narayana to take refuge at the Lotus feet of Sri Devi and have escaped all problems and misfortunes since then."

Thirukkolur Ammal is asking "Did I explore other religions and gave them up as false like Thirumazhisai Piran?