ముకుందమాల అనేది చాల అందమయిన పద్యాల మాల in సంస్కృతము language adoring శ్రీమన్నారాయణ . శ్రీ కులశేఖర ఆళ్వార్ రాజు మాత్రమే కాదు (12th century) but one of the twelve always whose compositions expressing their ecstatic divine experiences form the Divya Prabandam in తమిళ language. The term “Alwar” means one who is immersed in divine consciousness and also one who has won the grace of Sriman Narayana through total surrender to Him.
In the worship of Lord, it is a common experience that a joyous experience occurs to a devotee when he or she sees a beautiful garland of flowers adoring the Lord. The special role of garland of flowers in the life of Andal is well-known. In Mukandamala, Sri Kulasekhara Alwar has outpoured his divine experiences through a garland (mala) of poems to the Lord Mukunda. Etymologically, “Mukunda” means “the Lord Who gives Mukti (Liberation) or Moksha”. In about 40 poems , Sri Kulasekhara has emphasized uncompromising devotion to the Lord and how to achieve that state of devotion. He has given several simple methods for the yearning devotees and also convinced the intellectuals that devotion to the Lord is the sure way to obtain the grace of Lord Mukunda.
The first verse says that the devotee need to make a plea to the Lord Mukunda that Lord should make the devotee to utter the glorious names of the Lord such as Vallabha, Varada etc. This indicates the devotee should surrender to the lord such that Lord blesses the devotee by making devotee sing the glorious names of the Lord. The 5th verse says that the devotee should seek unswerving, devotion at the feet of the Lord independent of state of life of the devotee. In verse 7, an important question is asked for those who postpone the remembrance of the Lord till the end of the life as at that time the person will be affected by various diseases and how remembrance of Lord can come? In verse 16, it is given that how the whole body, senses and mind should be involved in devotion to the Lord. In Verse 17, the most benevolent advice is given as to drink the divine elixir of భక్తి (to the Lord) as that is the only ఔషధము to the common diseases of life namely birth and death. This మందు has been tested and recommended by great sages such as Sage Yajnavalkya etc. In verse 20, the ecstatic state of the భక్తుని fully immersed in divine consciousness with blissful tears at the feet of Lord is given. This state of experience is to be desired by all భక్తులు . In పద్యము 33, the relationship between the devotee, universe and Lord is given. The Lord encompasses everything and everything dwells in the Lord. The devotee becomes totally dependent on the Lord. In పద్యము , a very important question is asked that in spite of the ease of repetition of names of the Lord such as అనంత , వైకుంట , etc, why people are not repeating the names of the Lord but rather immersed in worldly worries all the time. In పద్యము 38, the description is given of those devotees achieving the state of a Vaishnava (perceiving the Lord everywhere) that has resulted from their constant meditation of the all-encompassing Lord.
ముకుందమాల is a పూలదండ with భక్తి to the Lord Mukunda as the దారము holding the various glorious attributes of Lord as పూలు . It is very melodious to recite, easy to follow its meaning and is a sure path to lead to the Bliss of భక్తి to the Lord Mukunda,, who graces Moksha. May Sri Kulasekhara Alwar and Lord Mukunda bless us all.
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