A delightful explanation for the relationship between Viṣṇu and jīvātmā-s like humans comes from Svāmi Periyavāchchān Pillai’s vyākhyānam (commentary) on Periyāzhvār’s Thirupallāndu, particularly on the word அடியோமோடும் (adiyōmōdum = I, your foot, and all others who are . . .

servants for you). This word occurs in the second pāsuram of Thirupallāndu. Here, the question arises about why Periyāzhvār didn’t use the word ennōdum (with me). That’s because Periyāzhvār is very clear that his true nature is that of Dāsatvam or servitude to Viṣṇu. But . . .
then another question arises about why Āzhvār used adiyōmōdum (plural) instead of adiyēnōdum (singular)? One, Periyāzhvār wants mangalāsāsanam to Lord Viṣṇu to be done by a group (not just him). Second, he wants to emphasize all beings are servants of Nārāyaṇa (whether . . .
they recognize their nature of dāsatvam/servitude or not), so Periyāzhvār includes everyone in his gōshti (group) to offer mangalāsāsanam-s to Nārāyaṇa.

This universal servitude of all beings to Viṣṇu (whether acknowledged or not) is what Periyāzhvār wants us to take away.

More from All

You May Also Like

I’m torn on how to approach the idea of luck. I’m the first to admit that I am one of the luckiest people on the planet. To be born into a prosperous American family in 1960 with smart parents is to start life on third base. The odds against my very existence are astronomical.


I’ve always felt that the luckiest people I know had a talent for recognizing circumstances, not of their own making, that were conducive to a favorable outcome and their ability to quickly take advantage of them.

In other words, dumb luck was just that, it required no awareness on the person’s part, whereas “smart” luck involved awareness followed by action before the circumstances changed.

So, was I “lucky” to be born when I was—nothing I had any control over—and that I came of age just as huge databases and computers were advancing to the point where I could use those tools to write “What Works on Wall Street?” Absolutely.

Was I lucky to start my stock market investments near the peak of interest rates which allowed me to spend the majority of my adult life in a falling rate environment? Yup.