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Re: Selected excerpts from MahA VidvAn Sri U.Ve. PerukkAraNai Swamy's ThiruppAvai Monograph: Part XXV-> Eighteenth day : Undhu MadhakaLiRRin Dinam

From the Bhakti List Archives

Sadagopan • Tue Jan 02 2001 - 19:49:49 PST 


Srimathyai GodhAyai Nama:
SrimathE RaamAnujAya Nama:

Dear BhakthAs: In this Paasuram , an esoteric doctrine of
Sri Vaishnavism is included. According to this doctrine ,
the Lord and Sri Devi are inseparable and they serve together 
as UpAyam (means) and UpEyam (Ultimate goal) .This fundamental
doctrine is known as "Yeka Seshithvam" . With this in mind,
ANDAL wakes up Goddess Nappinnai , the consort of the Lord now 
and appeals to Her.

Literal meaning of the Paasuram 
********************************
Oh daughter-in-law of King NandagOpA , who has the proud
gait of elephants  and who is known for His valiant 
shoulders with invincible strength ( that he would 
never leave a battle field without victory). 
Oh Nappinnai with enchanting fragrant black tresses ! 
Kindly unlock Your door. Hearken , the cocks have awakened
now everywhere and are making lound noises. Hearken, even 
the group of cuckoos , sitting on the bower of Maadhavi
(Kurukkatthi) flowers , have cooed gently many times. 
Oh Young Lady holding the sporting ball with Your fingers 
as BhOgOpakaraNam ! As we wish to sing about Your Lord's 
names , please come with joy and open the door with Your 
red lotus-like soft hands , which create a plesant sound 
(sunAdham)from the movement of Your bracelets adorning 
Your forearms .(This is the famous Paasuram associated 
with AchAryA RaamAnujA's swoon , when he identified 
AthtuzhAi , the daughter of his AchAryAn , with Nappinnai ,
when she(Atthuzhai) opened the door of her house with 
jangling bangles to offer Bikshai to RamanujA ). 

Inner meanings according to Abhinava Desikan
*********************************************
In our AarAdhanam , we awaken (invoke) AchAryan 
and Ananatha-Garuda-VishvaksEnar (nithyasooris) 
first and then awaken PirAtti. Here through 
the awakening of Nappinnai , all the three parties
are awakened .

In KrishNavathAram , unitl the time of the Lord's 
residence in Gokulam , Nappinai PirAtti was PradhAnam 
(chief wife)and enjoyed the andharangam of the Lord.
Nappinnai is the incarnation of NeeLA dEvi.Therefore , 
the Gopis approach Nappinnai seeking her intercession 
(PurushakAram).Without PurushakAram of PirAtti, Saasthrams 
say that one should not approach BhagavAn . Even PirAtti would 
not intervene unless that the chEthanam has sath sahavAsam
and SadAchArya sambhandham.Therefore as poorvAngam
(preliminaries ) , the Gopis related to the gate keepers,
and NandhagOpan . Nappinai's close relative is NandhagOpan .
Therefore , the Gopis address Napinnai cleverly as 
" NandhagOpAlan MarumahaLE "here.

NandhagOpan's Isvaryam is indicated with " Unthu mathakaLiRRin
OdAtha ThOlvaliyan" in this paasuram . Besides his wealth of 
cattle , NandagOpAlan is known for the herd of elephants 
befitting his role as the king of GopAs. His Bhuja bala
parakramam is also indicated by the reference to 
the elephants in rut , which NandhagOpan is able to
subjugate .

Inner Meanings by PerukkAraNai Swamy
*************************************
Here the PrAdhAnyam of PurushakAra BhUthai,Nappinnai
is saluted .

"vanthengum KOZHI azhaitthana KaaNN ": The reference to
kOzhi (Cock) is a reference to one of the Vaishnava LakshaNams.
VaishNavAs are said to be like "(1)Kokku(Crane) ,
(2)kOzhi ,(3) Uppu (salt) and(4) Oomai (dumb) . In the case of
kOzhi, it wakes up in the morning and wakes others up
by crowing three times. The reasons for crowing thrice 
are given as: (1) to remind us about thrikAla sandhyAvandhanam
(2)To remind us about the japam of three rahasyams: Thirumanthiram , 
Dhvayam and charama slOkam (3) to remind us thatWe need 
the three lakshaNams:BrAmanathvam ,VaishNavathvam and 
Prapannathvam.

kOzhi also stirs up the dirt and picks the essentials
and discards the rest(kuppai kiLaruthal).It is hence 
a Saara-grAhi.

Inner Meanings of Individual passages
**************************************

Unthu madha KaLLiRRIn    One who has got Ubhaya VibhUthi
                         and therefore does not pay heed to
                         others

OdAtha thOL valiyan      One with unobstructed sankalpam

NandhagOpAlan            Oh MahA Lakshmi ,who embraces
marumahaLE               that Lord of Ubhaya VibhUthi  
                         and unobstructed sankalpam !
 
ghandham kamazhum        Please banish the obstacles that 
Kuzhali kadai            stand in the way of attaining 
                         Kesavan (Your Lord of fragrant 
                         tresses).Please remove our sins 
                         and say "asthu tE dayaiva sarvam
                         sampathsyathe"

kOzhi vanthu             SaaragrAhis like us (like kOzhi)    
yengum azhaitthana       are going everywhere you are 
kANN                     and performing our prapatthi.
                         Please take note of this.

Maadhavi pandhal         Valmiki , Sukhar and other sages
mEl pal kaal kuyil       are sitting on the VedAntha SaakhAs
Koovina KaaNN            and are singing Your Lord's glories              

panthAr virali unn       For converting us , who are like 
maitthunar pEr paaDa     instruments of play (LeelOpakaranam)
                         for Him into bhOgOpakaraNam for Him

senthAmarai olippa       please  create sunAdhams (auspicious
                         dhvani) from the ornaments that You
                         are wearing

Vanthu thiRavAi          and remove the anger of Your Lord
                         at us!

ANDAL, Azhagiya Singar ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam
RaamAnuja Daasan, Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri SatakOpan



    

  


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