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THIRUPPAVAI 11 & 12

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Padmanabhan • December 27, 2002 


            PERFORMANCE AND NON-PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES

In the eleventh pAsuram of Thriuppavai 'kaRRuk kaRavai ' "kaRandhu" refers the fact that the cows are being milked and the duty of their clan is properly performed. This indicates that a person should not deviate from duties which are prescribed to him according to the clan-varNAsramam.

In the twelfth pAsuram of ThiruppAvai 'kaNaithiLam kARRerumai kanRukk irangi, ninaitha muali vazhiyE ninRu pAl sOra' refers to the fact that there is nobody to milk the cows and hence the milk come out flooding the muddy floors. Here, the non-performance of duty is indicated as nobody is milking the cows.

In the former pAsuram as the words "kuRRamondRillAdha'  indicates that  the performance of duties is  as a blemishless act. In the latter pAsuram ' nARchelvan thangAi' refers to the fact that the person is alongwith Lord KrishNa and hence he is a good wealthy person. This  implies that though he has not performed his duty to the cows, he is termed as a good wealthy person. 

Thus it may be observed that both performing the duty and non-performance of duty is appreciated by Andal. Is it not a paradox?

Our pUrvAchAryAs have responded to this in various grandham-s including AchArya Hridhayam. Normally one is expected to perform one's duties which is appreciated. Abdication of one's duties is not suggested but for any rule exceptions do exist. For this rule the exception is that when one is performing athAnich chEvagam ( most intimate service to the Lord) the regular duties or the duties which are peculiar to the varNAsramam withers off. It is pertinent to note that the duty is not abdicated by the person who is involved in the service of the Lord but these duties withers off like objects gradually falling from the hand of  a sleeping person ( vuRanguvAn kaippaNdam pOl athAnich chEvagathil nazhuvum)

Therefore, the essence of these two themes are- under general circumstances one is expected to perform duties but when performing service to the Lord the duties are relegated to the background..

vAnamAmalai padmanAbhan











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