Every word in Andal’s
Thiruppavai is full of meaning, and this has resulted in commentators
explaining each word in detail, said P.T. Seshadri in a discourse. In verse ten
of the Thiruppavai, Andal and Her friends are trying to wake up a girl who has
the jnana that liberation comes through the Lord’s grace and not through her
efforts. However, she does not let the Lord leave her chamber. Nor does she say
anything. And so, Andal wonders if she deserves to be called a leader of the
girls.
When Hanuman told Sita
about Rama, Sita listened mesmerised. Andal wants to know if this girl who does
not let Krishna leave, is mesmerised by Krishna, as Sita was by Rama. Andal is
perplexed why this girl refuses to utter a word. When Hanuman returns after
meeting Sita, an anxious Rama asks Hanuman to tell Him one word that Sita had
used with reference to Him. Andal’s request to the girl in this pasuram is for
at least one pleasing word, just as Rama wanted to hear one word of Sita’s.
The phrase mAtramum thArArO
in this verse could also be taken as Andal asking why the girl who keeps the
door shut, also keeps her mouth shut. Andal wants to know why the girl who has
decided to keep their eyes starved, should also leave their ears starved. Can
she not say something?
It could also be
interpreted as Andal saying, “You refuse to let Krishna go. At least, can’t you
show yourself to us?” It could also be that Andal is saying to the girl, “We
know you won’t invite us in. At least be angry with us and tell us to go away.”
Here we find an idea similar to one seen in Thiruvaimozhi, where Nammazhvar
says to the Lord, “At least call me a sinner.” He wants the Lord to say
something, even if what the Lord says is a scold.
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