Bakthi learning from Monkey ! "புகல் ஒன்று இல்லா அடியேன்' !!

 

Monkeys – we see them very rarely in Triplicane – they used roam so much in Thirumala, not any longer, though found on the hills as one climbs by foot.  At  Sholinghur they are aplenty ! here is a photo of a Monkey carrying its kid [the small one too appears to be big !]

Not many may like Monkeys !!  -   some do keep them as pets (no reference to vagabonds here but the rich !]             Monkeys depict a rich mix of playfulness, curiosity, intelligence, and social bonding—and they teach us about the roots of human behavior, the value of community, and how to stay adaptable and creative in the face of problems.  Their tool use, memory, and social learning give clues about the evolution of human intelligence and problem solving.  Monkeys show empathy, reconciliation after conflict, and complex communication, reminding us that emotions and relationships are deeply rooted in our biology. Their ability to thrive in varied environments underscores the survival value of flexibility, curiosity, and learning from others.

Sri Vaishnava devotional concept , about different ways through which a devotee approaches Perumal is presented through nyayas – methods or theories –the two most often cited are markata  and marjara.   The concepts of Markaṭa Nyāya (Monkey Principle) and Mārjāra Nyāya (Cat Principle) are among the most beautiful analogies in the Sri Vaishnava tradition to explain the relationship between human effort (prayatna) and divine grace (śaraṇāgati / prapatti).

Markada nyayam  means the monkey-infant principle,   how a soul receives divine grace. In this view, salvation requires active effort from the devotee—just like a baby monkey must tightly cling to its mother's belly for safety while she moves. The seeker must hold on to God through personal discipline, prayer, and action.  If the baby monkey loses its grip and lets go, it falls. Grace is attained by those who actively seek and strive for it.  

The one contradicting this is -  Marjara Nyaya (The Cat Principle): represents total, passive surrender. Like a mother cat that picks up her passive kitten by the scruff of the neck, God takes complete and sole responsibility for the devotee's safety without any active effort from the seeker.  ‘marjara-nyaya refers to the behaviour of kittens, who are likely to wander. The mother cat picks them up by the scruff of the neck and carries them wherever she wants them to be. The kitten is passive; she makes no effort but arrives safely by surrendering to the mother’s protective grasp.’ It is up to the devotee, then, to choose: to keep making an effort to cling for succour to his deity, or to leave everything to the deity, trusting him and surrendering to him completely. No recommendation is made, no preference indicated.

The Thennacharya sampradhaya  is often associated with Mārjāra Nyāya.   This concept emphasizes :  God's grace is unconditional; the  soul cannot save itself.  The Lord Himself becomes both:  the means (upāya), and the goal (upeya).  The devotee merely performs sincere surrender (prapatti).

Our Great Acaryar Swami  Pillai Lokacharya drew extensively on Nammāḻvār while developing the theology of śaraṇāgati in works such as the Śrīvacana Bhūṣaṇam. He emphasized that: the soul is utterly incapable (ākiñcanya), the Lord is the sole means (upāya),  the Lord's grace alone saves.   

One of the verses of Swami Nammalvar’s Thiruvaimozhi  most often quoted in discussions of surrender is:

"புகல் ஒன்று இல்லா அடியேன் உன் அடிக்கீழ் அமர்ந்து புகுந்தேனே."

"I, Your servant, who has no other refuge, have come and taken shelter beneath Your feet."

adiyen Srinivasa dhasan

Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasa dhasan

4.8.2026

PS: forgive me for any conceptual errors, if something is amiss, please do message me on WA or respond here.