Kulasekara Alwar treated the trials and tribulations of Lord Rama as his own. That’s the reason, Kulasekara Alwar is also referred to as Kulasekara Perumal.
Practice empathy.
Perumal Thirumozhi – The Seventh set of Ten
708. (Devaki says) ‘My baby sweet as sugar cane, hush! My baby colored blue like the deep blue sea, hush! My baby who frolics like an elephant cub, hush! My baby with fragrant tresses, hush’ – I am unable to sing lullabies like this. I am an unlucky mother! (Though Devaki is Krishna’s birth mother, Yashoda is his foster mother and Krishna grows up with Yashoda!)
709. With kohl lined on your beautiful eyes, you gaze at some object in the ceiling reclined like a baby elephant. Unlucky mother I am, for not having the good fortune to see this with my very own eyes!
710. High born ladies cradle you on their laps and sing your praise – “The redeemer of our clan! You are a bull who enchants us with your beauty!” When they ask you to point out your father, it is to Nandagopan that you point your slender fingers! My husband Vasudeva is not fortunate! (Both Vasudeva and Devaki – Krishna’s birth parents play only a peripheral role in the story of Krishna. It is remarkable that Kulasekara Alwar empathizes with the emotions of Devaki who is separated from her child)
711. Kanna! I imagine you with a face verily like the full moon, with a blessed chest, powerful shoulders, thick dark hair that curls all over your neck and with a lotus bud like eyes. Even before you could realize that I was your mother, I lost you! I am an unfortunate woman!
712. Instead of me, the divine lady – Yashoda enjoys looking at the curly locks of hair falling over your forehead, you putting your fingers in your mouth, you frowning in anger and your lisping speech. I am an unfortunate woman!
713. Kanna – the one with beautiful lotus like eyes! I miss the joy of watching you take faltering steps, swirling the dust from the floor while you play and you embracing me when you see me! I have surely sinned. With your slender fingers you would have stuffed the half-chewed food that you eat into my mouth! I miss that. Why did my mother give birth to an unfortunate person like me?
714. Oh beautiful child! My peerless son! Govinda! I miss the sight of you suckling milk while smiling radiantly at me. I am unfortunate indeed.
715. Yashoda experiences the boundless joy of watching your hands plunge into the pots of curd, beating you with a cane stick when you become mischievous, watching your fearful expressions when you are caught with your hand in the pot of curd and when you beg her forgiveness.
716. I am not present in person to see you lift the Govardhana Mountain or to see you clasp the hands of girls when you dance with them or to see you kill the demon calf or to see you when you danced with your dainty feet on the hood of the Kaliya snake. If God wills, perhaps I can see it in person very soon!
717. You separated Putana’s life from her mortal body by suckling her poisonous milk. You are the dark colored Lord who felled Kansa. I am an unfortunate mother as my milk goes un-suckled by you. I have no other refuge other than you. I am alive only in the hope that I will see you someday. (I am glad that) you have a good mother in Yashoda.
718. The rule of Kolli – Kulasekaran has composed these garland of Tamil verses depicting how Devaki laments being separated from the Lord who dispatched Kansa of Mathura to the heaven above. Those who recite these verses will find refuge in the feet of Narayana.
Who do you miss in your life? 🙂