Salt and Srivaishnavan(m)
Swami Paraasara Bhattar's words were '"Kokkai pol irupaan, kozhiyai pol irupaan, uppai pol irupaan, ummai pol irupaan". He says that a srivaishnavan should be like a crane, hen, salt and a parama bhaagvatha like the person who asked Bhattar as to how a srivaishnavan should be. We will see what are the commonalities between salt and a srivaishnavan.
1) Salt has to be in correct quantity. If it is more, it is like a srivaishnavan in a goshti talking haughtily of onself. 2) On the contrary, if it is low it is as if he is too much naichyanusandham that he does not even mingle with the goshti. So quantity should be just right.3) Just like salt, a srivaishnava should wear himself out to give parimalam to group like how salt dissolves in water and becomes invisible.For other ingredients like milagu, milagaai etc we cannot find this quality.They would not dissolve in the first place.4) Salt mixes with food items in a subtle manner and makes the food delicious. Also, absence of salt is easily noticeable. Similarly, srivaishnavas should subdue subdue their egos and bring happiness into other srivaishnavas lives due to their presence. And they should conduct themselves that in their absence every one is thinking about the good deeds of them.5) Salt can be added at anytime in the food even after the whole food preparation is done. But if we had missed to add puli, kaaram etc, we cannot add it later on once the food is prepared. Similarly, a srivaishnava should be able to do kainkaryam at anytime and any order to give parimalam to goshti.6) Sometimes, only when the whole food is done, salt is added. Similarly, a srivaishnava should take care of himself after others have taken care of themselves. taking care may be seating, eating, etc.7) Salt is called as "Common" salt as it is easily available. It shows how easy it is to get salt (saulabhyam).Similarly,srivaishnava bhagavathas, they find us wherever we are and they can come anytime to grace us. We don’t even need to go to find them with lot of efforts. Instead they come to us, just like how salt was sold in those days where there used to be a guy bringing huge amounts of salt to each home and they buy it easily, as opposed to other ingredients where they have to put some basic efforts (atleat like going to a shop) to procure it. 8) Salt is the cheapest in terms of price. Similarly, a bhaagavatha should regard himself as the lowest of all and should say "I am the lowest, neesanen nirai ondrum illen, adiyen siriya gyaanathan etc".9) Salt cannot be added in all foods like akkara adisil, sweets, etc. So if srivaishnava 1 says to a srivaishnava 2, “hi. please stay out of this kainkarayam”, We (srivaishnava2) should gladly obey it and not fight for it. Srivaishnva 2 should think that Srivaishnava 1 had told us with some good reason. If we try to over power or disobey his order, it will be like how good it will be if we put salt in akkara adisil. If other srivaishnavas tell us to stay away from soemthing, we should not disobey their orders. We should be like salt (parathanthriyam) and not fight in a group. 10) Other qualities of salt - you have to "vadikattify" from sea thus removing all impurities and what is left is clean and white (meaning pure) salt. Also very little goes a long way; meaning even the tiniest kainkaryam you do goes a very long way. You don't have to do lavish and exhaustive things to show your devotion; a tiny bit is all that is required and God accepts it.