Search:
Bhakti List Archives

THIRUPPAVAI 19

From the Bhakti List Archives

Padmanabhan • January 3, 2003 


                        EQUATING PIRATTI WITH THE LORD-BLEMISH FOR HER?

In the pAsuram "kuthu vilakku" thiruppavai 19, the vyAkyAnam for "thathuvam anRu thagavEal" is very absorbing. Approaching thAyar in the eighteenth pAsuram as  a saviour-purushakAram-and seeking Lord KrishNa in the nineteenth, the gOpikAs observe that thAyar is not responding in this regard. Having expected Her to be a mediatrix , they were taken aback for keeping kaNNan closeted with her and keeping them at bay. At this juncture the words 'thathuvam anRu, thagavu anRu" are uttered. 

What is thathvam. Thathvam is principle. The principle is that pirAtti is there to save us, to argue for us with the Lord. When she keeps quiet without responding, the thatvam fails, the principle falls and hence the words thathvam anRu is uttered. "Hey pirAtti as per the principle you are mercy personified. However, it does not behove your characteristic to be indifferent to our woes. Hence, the principle itself fails. You were the person who had uttered the words" who has not committed sins" in favour of the rakshashIs who had tortured you. You were the person who had uttered the words "befriedn srE rAmA" to the demon king rAvanA-who was the reason behind all the troubles" All these precedents have gone in vain. You are indeed not up to your reputation. You are equal to the Lord.

Here the accusation is that pirAtti is not responding to their situation compassionately. How come then She is equated to the Lord. The Lord is the supreme most entity. When somebody is equated to Him. It is a compliment.It is an exaltation. On the contrary, here the accusation is thrown upon and she is equated with the Lord.
The ARAyirappadi vyAkyAnam is excellent in this regard. "ivaLukku kuRai sollugaiAvadhu, avanOdokkum ithanaiyiREA.nErmaiyil vinjinArai,nERmaiyAl kuRaindhavargalOdoppAraL ennumathanaiyiRE kuRRam. It can be clearly inferred from here that thAyAr is one step ahead when it comes to showering mercy on the souls. In this pAsuram she is not responding and hence she is equated to the Lord, who is one step below in THIS PARTICULAR CONTEXT.
That is the blemish. 

The vyAkyAnam further runs as follows " The term 'agila jagan mAdharam' does not suit this inaction. The name 'asaraNya saraNyAm' is not compatible in this regard. Only the name 'dhEva dhEva dhivya mahishIm' suits you aptly indicating the equality with the Lord insofar as mercy-nErmai is concerned. Hence, the blemish in spite of being equated with the Lord. 
swAmi azhagia maNavALap perumAL nAyanAr thiruvadigaLE charaNam.
vAnamAmalai padmanAbhan


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



--------------------------------------------------------------
           - SrImate rAmAnujAya namaH -
To Post a message, send it to:   bhakti-list@yahoogroups.com
Group Home: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bhakti-list
Archives: http://ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/
 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/