Every jivatma has to contend with three factors in life, hunger, thirst and desire. Of these desire alone is endless and cannot be quelled. The life of Vipranarayana who later becomes Tondaradipodi Azhwar exemplifies the strength of the power of desires and how the grace of the Lord alone can redeem one from its clutches, pointed out Akkarakani Srinidhi Swami in a lecture.
Devout by nature, Vipranarayana was known for rectitude and tended a flower garden in Srirangam to offer garlands of flower and Tulsi to the deity. But his pure bhakti had to pass through an ordeal because of his past karma.
A courtesan by name Devadevi happened to see him in the nandavanam and was surprised to learn that he lived the life of a devout renunciate. She challenged her friend that human beings cannot resist desire and worldly pleasures and accordingly enticed him so that he became a victim to her charms. It was the Lord's grace and mercy that brought him back to his life of devotion. The Lord personally intervened in his life of shame to chastise and redeem him.
The transformations in his life add a unique value to his experience and instil honesty and a sense of humility, qualities most essential in the spiritual path. The Azhwar is now fully sensitised to the transparent workings of the Divine Will, for the Lord who dwells within each one is fully aware of every thought wave that arises. Desires lie in hordes within the human experience and they are the root cause of samsara. Even those who are able to intellectually associate themselves with this unopposed truth succumb to desires. Prahlada prays to the Lord to grant him the desire to long for Him alone and destroy any trace of longing for any other object in life. Every jivatma has to pass the test of renunciation. The more the penance, the greater is the challenge from temptation. Even sages such as Kanva and Vishwamitra known for their austere penance fell for worldly attractions. Desire is a huge bottomless pit and one must learn not to hanker.
