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Re: Digest Number 793

From the Bhakti List Archives

Nandakumar • January 7, 2003 


Dear moderator:  I am posting below a note for Srimati Vathsala Srinivasan.
With kind regards, Prema Nandakumar


Dear Srimati Vathsala:
The Alwars who initiated the Bhakti Movement took several genres from
ancient  Tamil Sangham poetry and transformed what was essentially secular
into  sacred instruments.  The Thai Neeradal (or Amba Adal) you find in
Sangham texts like Paripadal becomes the Pavai Nonbu.  However, unlike the
ancient Tamil girls who prayed for a good husband, the cowherdesses pray for
Krishna's Grace (kainkarya).
Again, the Kama worship was familiar to the ancient Tamils.  For instance,
Jeevaka Chintamani has plenty to tell about a Kama temple and how a girl
went in to pray to Kama to grant her a good husband.
I guess Andal used this familiar idea but transformed the prayer into one
for gaining Krishna Himself.

With kind regards, Yours sincerely Prema Nandakumar
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