Is it necessary to give up all worldly ties in order to ultimately attain moksha? There are many verses in the works of the Azhvars, which give such an impression, elaborated M.A. Venkatakrishnan, in a discourse.
Nammazhvar writes that if you are wealthy, your relatives will praise you. But if you lose your wealth, then no one will even notice you. Periazhvar says that as you lie on your deathbed, there will be many relatives around you. Do not talk to them, he warns. They are not interested in you. All they are interested is in knowing about your wealth and how it is going to be distributed among them. “Tell us,” they will keep nagging you. But ignore them, says Periazhvar.
Pillai Thirunaraiyur Araiyar narrates a story of a rich, generous man. He gave gladly to those who asked him for help. There was a man who had once been very poor, but he had repeatedly sought help from the rich man. In course of time, because the rich man kept giving away all that he owned, he became poor. The poor man who kept taking from him became rich. So there was a complete transfer of wealth. The poor man who had become wealthy completely ignored his benefactor, for he was afraid that he would be asked for help.
Such is the ingratitude of the world. So, all of this would suggest that one must shun one’s relatives. But that is not how these stories and warnings should be interpreted. One must keep good relatives by one’s side. Those who are opposed to our bhakti must be shunned. Nammazhvar says that those who read his verses will live happily with their wives and children. If it were wrong to be with one’s family, would he have said that?
