THE HINDU articles on Thiruppaavai (part 4 of 5)
From the Bhakti List Archives
• January 11, 1996
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Tiruppaavai-the spiritual ascent
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Date: 31-12-1995 :: Pg: 39 :: Col: a
Cl: Religion
Saint Sri Aandaal's thirty hymns (called Paasurams) in
celebration of Lord Naarayanaa's multi-faceted glory, constitute
a treasure-house of Bhakti, of devotion unsullied by personal
covetousness. Tiruppaavai is a confluence of poetic elegance,
religious ardour and philosophical sublimity. Although the whole
poetic outpouring is placed in the context of the Paavai nonbu
(the austerities of young maidens in quest of worthy partners in
life), Tiruppaavai is very much more than a literary magnum opus.
To say that it is a depiction of the cultural mores of
the cowherd community of a bygone age would be to overlook the
fact that the practice of singing Tiruppaavai during the month of
Maargazhi continues to this day in Tamil Nadu. Nor can it be
forgotten that Sri Aandaal and her legendary devotion to the Lord
have transcended the confines of Tamil as a language. Her fame
and the legacy of single-minded devotion to Sri Krishna have
become an integral part of the Bakthi movement all over the
country.
The hymns in Tiruppaavai fall broadly into two groups.
First, the hymns 1-15 constitute both the preface and the
'awakening' part. Maiden after maiden is awakened from sleep with
the intention of helping them to participate in the austerities.
It could well be that this is all an allegory suggesting that
people are at different levels of spiritual dormancy and so there
can be no one method of waking them up to higher levels of
consciousness of the divine intervention in human affairs.
The second group of hymns (16-30) relates to the
'experience', the rites and the rewards. Herein, literary
meanings apart, the hymns contain a wealth of spiritual insights.
Bhakti, devotion pure and noble, involves the subordination of
the ego of the devotee and the complete immersion of the self in
the exhilaration of singing the infinite glory of God.
Hymns 19-24 included in this part, cover the most
important sequence in the allegorical representation of the
participants in the Paavai Nonbu invoking the blessings of
Nappinnai and Sri Krishna, the divine couple. The Lord and His
consort are inseparable and for the true devotee there is no
salvation except through the grace of Sridevi which is the real
key to mukti.
HYMN 19
Kuthuvilakkeriya-k-kottukkaal kattil mel
Methenra pancha sayanathin meleri
Koththalar Poonkuzhal Nappinnai kongaiymel
Viththu kidantha malar maarbha! vaai thiravaai! p73
Maiththadam kanninnaai, nee un manaalanai
Eththanai podhum thuyilezha vottaai kaan
Eththanai elum pirivaatrakillaaiyaal
Taththuvamanru thagavel or empaavaai
Oh Lord! Resting as you are on a couch supported by
elephant tusks, on a bed which is soft, cool, white, beautiful
and fragrant, with bright-lit lamps all around, with your broad
chest on the bosom of your consort, Nappinnai wearing bunches of
fragrant flowers on her tresses, please open your mouth and speak
to us!
You Nappinnai! With your eyes darkened with collirium!
You never would let your Lord get up? You can't bear the
separation from Him even for a minute, ah? This is hardly in tune
with your nature and temperament (preventing Him from granting us
His grace).
HYMN 20
Muppaththu moovar amarar-ku-munsenru
Kappam thavirkkum kaliye! Thuyilezhaai!
Seppamudayaai! Thiraludayaai! Settraarku
Veppam kodukkum vimalaa! Thuyilezhaai!
Seppanna mennulai-ch-chevvaai-ch-chirumarungul
Nappinnai nangaai! Thiruvey! Thuyilezhaai!
Ukkamum thattoliyum thanthun manaalanai
Ippothe emmai neer attelor em paavaai.
Oh Lord, You who always rushes to the aid of all the
thirty three crores of Gods! Do wake up! You, the perfect union
of thought, word and deed! You who have the matchless valour to
subjugate your foes! Blemishless Lord, you make life miserable
for those who challenge your might. Please get up!
(To Nappinnai): Oh, the incarnate of Goddess Lakshmi! You
with your exquisite beauty, soft and lovely breasts, coral lips
and slender waist! Please wake up and give us the fan and the
mirror which we need for the rites! And get our Lord to join us!
Help us to get bathed at once!
HYMN 21
Yetra kalangal ethir pongi meethalippa
Maatraadhe paal soriyum vallal perum pasukkal
Aatra-p-padaithaan magane! arivuraai!
Uuttramudayaai! Periyaai! Ulaginil
Thotramaai ninra sudare! thuzhilezhaai!
Maatraar unakku valitholaindhu un vaasarkann
Aatraathu vandhu unnadi paniyumaa poley
Pottriyaam vandhom pugazhndu el or empaavaaai.
Awake, the son of Nandagopala who has reared those large
cows which yield plentiful milk which overflows the receptacles!
Your zeal towards your devotees is so well renowned. Your glory p73
defies our comprehension. You are the great Light of the
universe. It is time you got up. Just as your enemies, with their
valour and pride exhausted in battle, surrender to you at your
doorsteps, we have come to you singing your praise and
unburdening our ego.
HYMN 22
Anganmaa gnaalaththarasar abhimaana
Bangamaai vandhu nin palli-k-kattil keezhay
Sangam iruppaar pol vandhu thalaip-peydhom
Kinkini vaai seidha thaamarai poo-p-poley
Sengansiru-E-chiridhey emmel vizhiyaavo!
Thingalum aadhityanum ezhundaar pol
Angan irandum kondu engal mel nokkudhiyel
Engal mel saabham izhindu el or empaavai.
Oh Lord! We have sought refuge at your feet in just the
same way as rulers from all over the world, shorn of their pride,
gather under your throne, seeking your patronage. Won't you
favour us with just a glance with your gentle eyes resembling
partially opened lotus buds like kinkinis (bells which adorn the
dancer's feet)? If only you cast a glance at us, with your eyes
shining like the sun and the moon, all our sins will be wiped
out.
HYMN 23
Maarimalai muzhainjil manni-k-kidandhurangum
Seeriya Singam arivuttru-th-thee vizhiththu
Verimayirponga eppaadum perndhuthari
Moori nimirndhu muzhangi-p-purappattu
Podharuma poley nee poovai-p-poovanna! Un
Koil ninru ingane pondharuli koppudaya
Seeriya singaadhanath-thirundhu yam vandha kaariyam
Aaraindhu arul el or empaavaai.
Our Lord, of eternal enchanting bluish hue, the colour of
the Kaayambu flower! Just as the Lion wakes up from its winter
hibernation in the mountain cave, opening its fiery flashy eyes,
shaking all its limbs vigorously, ruffling its mane in the
action, standing upright and stepping out with a mighty roar, may
you please proceed from your bed-chamber to your lofty ornamented
throne! Won't you please grant us your gracious audience and
pray, listen to our entreaties?
HYMN 24
Anru ivvulagam alandhaai adi potri!
Senru angu then ilangai settrai! thiral potri!
Ponra-ch-chakatam udhaiththaai pugazh potri!
Kanru kunilaai erindhaai! kazhal potri!
Kunru kudayaai eduththaai! gunam potri!
Venru pagai kedukkum nin kaiyil vel potri!
Enrenru un sevakame eththi-p-parai kolvaan p73
Inru yaam vandhom irangu el or empaavaai!
Time was when you measured the three worlds with your two
feet! Glory to you, Oh Lord! You strode into Lanka in the south
and destroyed the evil Raakshasa, Raavana! Glory to your valour,
Oh Lord!
As child Krishna, you kicked the cart with your tender
feet and destroyed the demon Sakataasura (in disguise)! Glory to
you, Oh Lord! Did you not use the demon Vatsaasura who came in
the guise of a calf, as a missile, to destroy demon
Kapiththaasura as well, who had taken the form of a wood-apple
tree? Glory to you, the matchless Lord!
Who can forget your great deed of lifting the Govardhana
hill and holding it as an umbrella for saving the cowherds from
the deluge caused by the irate Indira? Hail to you, Oh Lord! For
your compassion! Glory to the spear in your Hands which works the
destruction of your foes! We are at your service at all times.
Bless our Nonbu! Shower your grace on us!
$$]4
S.SWAMINATHAN
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