Legend has it that Sri Andal and her father Periyalwar belonged to Srivilliputhoor in the Pandya Kingdom during the 9th century. Andal was the foster child of Vishnuchitta or perialwar who found her as a child beneath a tulsi (Basil) plant in his garden. The father bought up the girl with great care and love. His own overwhelming devotion to Lord Vishnu known in the shrine of Srivilliputhoor as Vatapathrasayee led to perialwars encouragement of Andal in her participation in the worship of the lord. Andal thus grew up in a religious ambience and soon began to show a rapturous devotion to Lord Krishna. She decided that only Lord Narayana was good enough for her as husband. She liked to see her reflection in a well, to see if she was pretty enough for the Lord. She would always wear the garland her father had prepared to adorn the Lord in the temple. The garland was always put back and her unsuspecting father would take it to the temple. One day he did discover this and was filled with remorse and decided not to offer the garland to god. God Vatapatrasayee appeared in Perialwars dream that night and told him that he would be delighted to wear the garland that andal had worn. Perialwar was thrilled that the lord himself had attested to the great devotion of Andal.
In course of time Andals bhakti knew no bounds and she took to pavai nombu austerities to have none other that Lord Krishna as her husband. It is said that Lord Ranganatha of Sri Rangam appeared in a dream and asked perialwar to bring andal to his abode. It was there that Andal the saint poetess merged with the divine form of Lord Ranganatha.
There is no better means to describe Andals life than understanding her two most outstanding works Thirupaavai and Nachiyar Thirumozhi.
Thirupavai is a lyrical poetry of thirty stanzas of exquisite beauty and devotional excastacy. The hymn which constitutes the thirupavai are as imaginative in the literary sense as they are vivid portrails of the life style of the aayarpadi, members of the cowheard community.
Thirupavai can be classified into six groups. Hymn 1 – 5 provides the overview, it refers to the five essential requisites by way of knowledge for jeevan mukti, Nature of the Paramatma, of Jiva the individual soul, mukti sadhana or means of redemption of which bhakti is the most accessible means. The god of attainment and the obstacles to redemption. Thirupaavai is also equaled to the Vedas. So much has been written of the thirupavai that it seems no other work has got so many people giving their views and explanation as understood by them. One more such attempt is made here.
1. The festive month Margazhis full moon is here. Lovely young ornamented maidens of the cowherds colony which is flourishing in wealth! Don’t you want to bathe in the Yamuna? Please come along! Take part in the festival (Paavai Nombu) Naarayana the son of King Nandagopa who is a terror of his enemies, what with his sharp spear. Naarayana the young lion cub of Yashoda, of charming eyes. Lord Naarayana with his dark cloud like complexion and eyes of crimson lotus hue, with his lustrous face shining like the sun and cool like the full moon. He will surely grant us all our desires. Come let us bathe and celebrate the festival for which the world will praise us.
2. People of this earth listen to the austerities we shall follow during the Paavai Nombu. We shall sing the praise of Naarayana who sleeps gently on the milky ocean. We shall abstain from ghee and milk. We shall bathe before day break. We shall not indulge in gossip nor perform actions which are taboo of alms and gifts. We shall give liberally. We shall follow the path to a life of contentment and happiness.
3. When we sing the glory of the Lord Trivikrama who took his cosmic form and measured the three worlds in two gigantic strides and put his foot for the third stride on the head of the arrogant emperor mahabali. When we perform the Paavai nombu the whole country will be rid of all evils. It will then rain three times every month. Fishes will gleam and leap amidst the rich paddy plants. Spotted bees will fall asleep among the water lilies. Cows milked tirelessly will yield copious bounties enough to fill pots and pots. Prosperity will thus pervade the land.
4. Oh Lord Varuna god of rain. Please do not hold back your gift of rains for the sake of prosperity of the world and for our sake, so that we can gleefully bathe in the river during this sacred month. Plunge into the sea gather as much water as there is make thunder and rise into the sky in the form of a cloud mass which would resemble in its black colour the body of our primordial Lord Vishnu. May you then pour down your bountifull showers. You will then become resplendent with lightening like the discuss held by Lord Padamanabha. Your thunderous roar will reverberate like the conch called panchajanya held by our lord.in his left hand. May you bring forth rain in abundance without a pause in the manner of the flow of arrows from the bow of Sri Rama called Sarangam.
5. Our mysteries Lord born at north Mathura who sports in the pure deep waters of the great river Yamuna, and who is the variatable jewel light of the race of cowherds. Glories his mother Devaki of being born of her and transported hi9s foster mother Yasodha into the world of joy by showing her his little belly with the imprint of the tiny ropes, with which she had bound him to put out of mischief. If only we approach him with a pure mind and body and worship him with fragrant flowers, singing his praise and meditating on him we can be certain that our sins of the past births and that which ensued without our intentions will be extinguished, the way cotton is reduced to ashes in a fire.
6. Young girls don’t you hear the chirp of the early birds, the beconing sounds of the white conch from the temple of Vishnu, who rides on the king of birds Garuda. Wake up innocent girl the sages and ascetics with their mind ever focused on the great Lord who sleeps on the serpant couch in the ocean of milk have risen. These sages have started chanting the name of Hari over and over again in a rising crescendo. While they chant his name they are re enacting in their own minds the deeds of the child god, who sucked the poison from the breast of the demoness putana and who kicked to death with his little toe the demon who came to destroy him in the guise of a cart. Don’t you hear all the loud chanting which enters our hearts and makes them rejoice.
7. You deluded girl, don’t you hear the screeching chatter of the king crows, and the sounds of the cowheard women wearing fragrant flowers in their locks of hair churning the curd in their urns, using both their hands with their bracelets and other ornaments clashing against each other. Oh prominent how can you keep on sleeping even after you have heard our singing of our lord Narayana ( Who is also called Kesava for having killed the demon kesi in his incarnation of Sri Krishna) Dear girl of radiant presence come on open the door. Girls calling their friends to awake from their sleep to join the procession for the pavai nombu use a variety of verbal tactics friendly persuation, cajoling, admonition, sarcasam and remonstration all as a part of their mission.)
8. Wake up you vivacious young girl the eastern sky has already brightened. The buffaloes have already set out to feed themselves on the dewy grass. We have even kept the other girls from moving ahead for your sake and here we are at your door step. Come let us march singing the praise of our Lord of lords who killed the demon kesi who came in the quise of a horse by cleaving his mouth and who slew the wrestlers sent by Kamsa. Our lord will surely bestow his grace on us after due consideration for our devotion.
9. Dear meternal cousin how long are you going to sleep in your luxurious bed in the gem studed mansion, surrounded by lights all round and bathed in the fragrance of incence. Open the lever lock of that ornamental door. Aunty wont you wake her up, please, what is wrong with her. Is she gone dumb or deaf, or is she just exhausted, or has she fallen into a deep trance as a result of some magical incantation. Shall we chant the thousand and odd names of our lord, god of the great mystic power, the spouse of goddess Mahalakshmi, the supreme lord of Vaikunta and so on and on and get her to wake up.
10. Oh dear you striving to enter heaven through practicing austerities. If you cant open the door, cant you atleast respond to our call? Have you by any chance taken the habit of Kumbakarna of virtually interminable slumber, the rakshasa who was felled by Narayana in the incarnation of Sri Rama. Our lord the protector and benefactor of all living beings who is bedecked with fragrant tulsi leaves on his head. Come on our precious gem shake off your inertia and come with a clear head. Do open the door.
11. Oh beautiful damsel the pride of the guiless cowheard community our men folk are justly famed for their energy for milking ever so many milch cows at a stretch and for the valour in going all out to destroy powerful foes. You charming peacock like darling with your waist resembling the hood of a snake, is it proper for you to lie motionless and without response to so many of us your relations and friends who have gathered in the courtyard of your house where we sing the praise of our Lord Narayana in chorus.
12. Oh younger sister of the prosperous cowherd. The mansion is filled with mud and slush with the buffaloes poring forth milk from their udder in their yearning to suckle their young calves. Here we are at your door step unmindful of the due falling on our heads singing the glory of our beloved lord Rama, who destroyed out of righteous indignation the king of lanka in the south. What about you not a word in response to our call. All the residents are awake and about. What is all this deep slumber. At least now get up and get going.
13. You dainty girl with those red lotus like eyes. Don’t you see. All the girls have arrived at the river bed for the worship singing the glory of our lord who killed the demon bakasura in disguise as a bird. By breaking up the mouth, and who just plucked away the ten heads of the wicked Ravana and slew him. It is time you got up. Venus has risen Jupiter has gone to sleep. Cant you hear the chirping of the birds in flight. Don’t you pretend to be asleep. Come join us get to the river for a refreshing bath on this auspicious day.
14. You boastful chatter box you promised to wake us all up. All talk talk get up fast Already if you care to look at the pond in your back garden the red lotus has blossomed and the night lilies have closed up. Ascetics in ochre robes with their sparkling teeth are striding towards the temple to blow the conch. Are you not ashamed . Get up come let us sing in the praise of our lord the lotus eyed Kannan who holds the conch called panchajanya and the discuss called sudarshana in his broad powerful hands.
15. The group:- What are you still sleeping you beautiful girl. The girl:- Don’t you scream my good friend I shall come presently. Group:- Yes indeed, don’t we know you full of eloquent promises. Girl:-Oh yes I agree you are the ones gifted with eloquence. Or let it be myself if you insist. Group:- enough of all this banter, come along don’t you be thinking of this and that. Girl:- have all the girls come. Group:- sure you can come count them if you choose. Girl:- pardon me what is the programme. Group;- as we move down to the river we shall keep on singing the glories of our mysterious lord sri Krishna who killed the mighty elephant Kyvalya peetham sent by Kamsa abd who vanquished many other foes as well.
16. You the sentry guarding the temple of our lord Nandagopa , and you sentinel at the inner gate ornamented with flags and festoons. Please open the latch of the gem studded door, for us the cowherd girls. Our mysterious and radiant lord Krishna promised yesterday itself to give us the heralding drum. We have all come here with a pure mind to wake him up with songs. Please therefore open the heavy doors and let us in.
17. Our lord King Nandagopa. You who are reputed for your magnanimity in presenting clothes water and food to the needy. Kindly wake up Oh. Queen Yashoda the foremost among noble men, the beacon light of our race. Do wake up. Our Lord Krishna You who pierced the sky with your full stature visvaroopa and measured the entire universe with your feet. The Lord of Lord. May you please wake up. Oh the strong and powerful balrama may your brother and you please do wake up.
18. Your fingers so dexterous with the ball. Red lotus hands with jingling bangles. Let them joyously open the door. That we may hymn your cousins praise. Oh Nappinnai. The daughter in law of Nandagopalan who has the strength of a furious elephant and who will never run away from the battle. You Nappinnai in your fragrant tresses Kindly open the door. The shrill clarion of the cocks fills the air, cuckoos perched on the bower of jasmine plant have been singing away with their shrill notes, you young lady kindly unlock the door. The jingling sound of your bangles we will hear and rejoice.
19. Oh Lord resting as you are on a couch supported by elephant tusks on a bed which is soft cool, white beautiful and fragrant with bright lit lamps all around with your broad chest on the bosom of your consort, Nappinnai wearing bunches of flowers fragrant on her tresses, please open your mouth and speak to us. You Nappinnai with your eyes darkened with collirium. You never would let your lord get up. You can’t bear the separation from him even for a minute. Oh this is hardly in tune with your nature and temperament, preventing him from granting us his grace.
20. Oh Lord you who always rushes to the aid of all the thirty three crores of gods. Do wake up. You the perfect union of thought word and deed. You who have the matchless valour to subjugate your foes. Blemisheless Lord, you make life miserable for those who challenge your might. Please get up. Oh the incarnate of goddesses lakshmi. You with your exquisite beauty soft and lovely breasts, coral lips and slender waist. Please wake up and give us the fan and the mirror which we need for the rites. And get our lord to join us. Help us to get bathed at once.
21. Awake the son of Nandagopala who has reared those large cows, which yield plentiful milk which overflows the receptacles. Your zeal towards your devotee is so well renowed. Your glory defies comprehension. You are the great light of the universe. It is time you got up. Just as your enemies with their valour and pride exhausted in battle surrender to you at your door steps. We have come to you singing your praise and unburdening our ego.
22. Oh lord we have sort refuge at your feet in just the same way as rulers from all over the world shorn of their pride gather under your throne seeking your patronage. Wont you favour us with just a glance with your gentle eyes resembling partially opened lotus buds like kinkini (bells that adorn the dancers feet) If only you cast a glance at us with your eyes shining like the sun and the moon, all our sins will be washed / wiped out.
23. Our lord of eternal enchanting bluish hue, the colour of the kaayambu flowers. Just as like the lion wakes up from its winter hibernation in the mountain cave, opening its fiery flashy eyes shaking all the limbs vigorously ruffling its mane in the action – standing up right and stepping out with a mighty roar. You may please proceed from your bed chamber to your lofty ornamental throne. Won’t you please grant us your gracious audience and pray listen to our entieaties.
24. Time was when you measured the three worlds with your two feet. Glory to you oh lord. You strode into Lanka and killed the evil rakshasha Ravana. Glory to you oh lord. As child Krishna you kicked the cart with your tender feet and destroyed the deamon Sakatsaaura (indisguise) Glory to you oh Lord. Did you not use the deamon Vatsaasura who came as a calf, as a missile to destroy deamon Kapithathsura as well who had taken the form of a wood apple tree. Glory to you the matchless lord. Who can forget your great deed of lifting the govardhana hill and holding it as an umberalla for saving the cowheards from the deluge caused by the irate Indra. Hail to you oh Lord.For your compassion glory to the spear in your hand which works the destruction of your foes. We are at your service at all times bless our nombu, shower your grace on us.
25. Oh lord of the three worlds. Born of the matchless queen devaki, you were taken on the same night in concealment to Gokulam to be bought up by another peerless noble woman Yashoda. The evil king kamsa who would not bear the thought of your growing up tried many strategies to harm you, but you foiled all his wily schemes, virtually tormenting him like fire in his stomach. We have come to beseech you for favours. If only you could condescend to give us the drum. We would sing extolling your great prosperity befitting your consort Mahalakshmi and your valorous deeds, and then we will rejoice with all our pinning coming to an end.
26. God you are the embodiment of pure love for your devotees. Oh lord with the fascinating blue colour of sapphire please listen to us as we prepare ourselves for the sacred river bath in the serene month of marghzali. Keeping with the tradition set up by our great forbearers. We require for our austerities conches similar to your panchajanya, shining white like milk and which produces sound that threatens to shatter the entire universe. Also big drums, a group of musicians who would sing your glory, decorating lamps flags and canopies. Lord the light of the race of cowheards. You who recline on the banyan leaf as a child at the time of the great deluge. Please grant our request.
27. Oh lord the protector of cows. You overwhelm your enemies with your valour and virtues. The rewards we get by singing your praise and getting the drum for spreading your word are no less than thosewhich the whole country commends us for. Now thast our austerities have born fruit. We shll bedeck ourselves with sparkling jewellery , bangles, armlets, ancklets and earrings. We shall dress ourselves in lovely robes. And then with nappinai and yourself we shall sit down for a gorgeous meal of rice cooked in milk and suffused with ghee. That will be our bliss.
28. Oh blemishless lord. What a great blessing for us that you are one with us. After all we are the unlettered clan of cowheards, who tend cattle, sing carelessly and eat food in the open. The bond between you and us can never be dissolved. If ever in our ignorance and out of our love for you have caused you hurt by calling you by names which belittle your unbounded magnificence, please do not take offence. Oh caompassionate lord grant us the drum and eternal devotion to you.
29. Oh lord govinda we have come so early at dawn to worship you and adore your lotus feet. You have taken birth in our cowheard community and you live amidst us who tend cattle for a living. It is only proper that you permit us to render our humble service to you. It is not only today that we seek your grace but in all our births to come. You and you alone we shall be committed to in servitude. Every thing else is on no concern to us.
30. This garland of thirty verses in classical chaste tamil celebrating the devotional favour of the beautiful cowherd women who worshipped Narayana variously, incarnating himself as madhava and Keshava has been strung together by gothai the daughter of Periaalwar who belongs to the lovely place called Srivilliputthur. All those who recite these hymns with passion and sincerity are bound to receive the favour of Narayana, the lord of the four mighty arms, and resplendent face with crimson eyes. Theirs will be joy eternal and bliss boundless.
Sri Aandals devotional outpourings in the form of thirty hymns are an incredible synthesis of literary brilliance, lyrical elegance, philosophical intuition and anecdotal richness.
They are evocative of idyllic pastoral scenes of rare charm, eg. Birds shriek at dawn, women doing the morning chore of churning curds, buffaloes leisurely moves towards the dew covered meadows and the front passages of houses filled with slush and slime, with young buffaloes rushing to feed their calves, all these are vividly brought to mind through phrases which are very grammar of compressed verse.
At one level sri andal depicts the paavai nombu. Tis ceremonial features and the manner in which the aayar padis seek the blessings of lord Krishna. At another spiritual level Sri aandal is invoking the grace of the eternal god for her own liberation or mukti, that the jeevathma should minister to the paramathma and not drift in the voyage of life is the inner meaning of the beautiful hymns composed by sri aandal.
Bhakti devotion pure and noble involves the subordination of the ego of immersion of self in the exhilaration of singing the infinite glory of the god.
The lord and his consort are inseparable and for the true devotee there is no salvation except through the grace of sridevi which is the real key to mukti.
Tirupavai is an exemplification of visistaadvaita which holds that the devotee and the lord are the same cosmic spiritual unity and the best means of god realization is intense obedience and devotion.
Naachiyar tirumozhi is yet another work of Sri aandal which also throws light on her upbringing and devotion. The brief headings can be given to the sets of verses of the works as under.
1. The god of love invoked (10)
2. Don’t rain our sand castles (10)
3. Give us our clothes (10)
4. Reveal my luck (11)
5. O Koel coo him to me (11)
6. A dream wedding (11)
7. Tell me white conch (10)
8. The cloud message (10)
9. The lord of Tirumalas groove (10)
10. The shamelessness of love (10)
11. The heart lost to Srirangams lord (10)
12. Take me away (10)
13. Bring me his things (10)
14. In the woods of Brindavan (10)
Total 143 verses.
Pure devotion and love for the lord can be seen as exemplified from the works and a simple lifestyle deep in devotion and surrender at the Lotus feet of the lord has been brought about. That too through an acharya like Vishnuchitta.
Whatever is said of the works of aandal is and cannot be justified as this is it. As there is so much more to understand. Every time we read or render it new and beautiful meanings are understood. Its like depicting life itself on the universe.
May I offer my obeisance again and again to goddess Aandal.
No comments:
Post a Comment