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thiruppavai day three song three

From the Bhakti List Archives

Ramani Naidu • December 17, 2002 


THIRUPPAVAI - DAY THREE – SONG THREE

Transliteration

Onki ulakaLantha uthaman pEr pAti
nAnkaL nam pAvaikkuc cArru nIratinAL
thInkinri nAtellAm tinkal mummAri peythu
Onku perum cennel Utu kayal ukaLa
pUnkuvalaip pOthil porivantu kanpatuppa
thEnkAthe pukkiruntu cIrtha mulai paRRi
vAnkak kutam niraikkum vaLLal perum pacukkaL
nInkAtha selvam niRainthElor empavay.

Translation

Sing do we the praise of the Unselfing
Manifesting Himself in all His magnitude
To measure the whole world in a single stride.
Resolved are we in our devotion
And bathe in pavai observance.
Thrice do the rains bless the whole nation.
Paddy grows to full length and fish swim in fertile fields.
Dapples gnats lie asleep in the petals of the kuvalai.
Munificent cows with udders brimming with milk
Fill pot after pot at the hands of the industrious herdsmen,
Adding inexhaustible wealth to the clan.

The first song of the Thiruppavai referred to Narayana, the transcendent
reality. The second song referred to His condescending manifestation on the
milky ocean. The third song refers to the deed of manifestation in the form
of Vamana. Mahabali was a mighty king of the asuras. He had won over all the
worlds including that of the gods and reduced them to servility. The
dethroned gods sought NarayanaÂ’s intervention. Narayana took the form of
Vamana, the dwarf brahmin.

 He obtained MahabaliÂ’s promise of the gift of lands measurable in three
strides of the dwarf. Once promised the gift, Narayana grew in magnitude and
in one stride measured the whole world. In another he measured the world of
gods. Having no place to measure further, He placed His foot on the head of
Mahabali and liquidated him. This act of helping the servile gods is
celebrated at the beginning of the song.
God is named Uttaman in the first line which is translated into the
Unselfing. It needs an explanation. People are of four types. Atamatman : he
who nourishes himself at the expense of the others. Ataman: the one who
lives and lets the others live. Matyaman – the one who works not only for
his living but also for the living of others. Uttaman – the one who makes
the others thrive even at his own expense. Narayana accepted the humiliation
of assuming the form of a dwarf for the sake of helping the gods in
servitude and therefore is called Uttaman.

Then follows a reiteration of the commitment to pavai observance declared in
the previous song. The benefits that accrue on the world consequent upon
their observance are mentioned next. Three spells of rains a month is a
blessing in that it ensures safety from disease, famine and other such
either because of continuos rain or because of drought.
The subsequent abundance is indicated in the reference to paddy that grows
full well. Abundance and perennial supply of water are indicated by the
reference to the fish that are to be found not only in ponds and other water
sources but in the fields as well. Naturally, the cows are well-fed and
easily yield quantities of milk. Milk is the source of wealth to the clan of
the herdsmen and therefore inexhaustible wealth is further added thereon.

Interpretation to the song by extension will be as follows:
Praise to God and experiencing the Divine will dispel the consciousness of
the physical which will otherwise remain a blemish of the world.

 The growth of ANANYARHASESHADHWAM (Oneness with God), ANANYASARANATHVAM
(total surrender that negates the feeling of separate identity) and
ANANYABOKYATHVAM (the experience of the divine instress in atma) will be
obtained. Souls will thrive happily in the universe then. The gnat of God
will enter the hearts of the devotees, the flower, and remain there. The
wealth indicated refers to the wealth of spiritual knowledge to be imparted
by the right kind of teachers (gurus). Thus the third song of Thiruppavai
speaks about the benefits that accrue to the devotee consequent upon
praising God and taking upon oneself the pavai observance.

Ramani


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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