Nappinnai and ANdaaL
From the Bhakti List Archives
• May 31, 1995
There is nothing wrong in cherishing ANdaaL as an incarnation of Nappinnai. But the theory that the two are one and the same, and ANdaaL herself suggested this identity cannot be supported. For starters, the plot underlying Thiruppaavai makes this clear. According to the story line, cow-girls gather around NandhagOpan's palace and ask to be let in. Upon entering the palace, they ask Nappinnai to open the doors of the inner chamber (kadai thiRavvay) and allow them to sing her husband's praise. The actual phrase is "pandhaar viralee! un maiththunan pEr paada", note the "YOUR husband". (Aside: Viji, it is the phrase "pandhaar virali" of this paasuram that evoked ANdaal's image in Sri Raamaanujaa's mind when he saw Peria nambi's daughter, little Aththuzhaay, run towards him to pick up the ball she was playing with. It is interesting that he fell at the feet of Aththuzhaay in this instance, but on a different occassion Periya nambi fell at Ramaanujaa's feet, that is another story :-)) Next, they urge Nappinnai to awaken the Lord. They fear that Nappinnai would never let the Lord be awakened. The phrase here is, "nee un maNaaLanai," i.e., "YOU will not let YOUR husband be awakened. These clearly show that the identity of Nappinnai is distinct from that of the group of cow-girls to which presumably ANdaaL belongs. In any case the clincher is the fact that the name Pinnai in Thamizh literature precedes ANdaaL's time. PEyaazhvaar, who clearly precedes ANdaaL says, "pinnaikkaay muRRal muriyERRin mun ninRu." Aazhvaar is citing the thamizh legend of Kannan overpowering seven bulls for the sake of nappinnai's hand. Further, the name nappinnai is used in Chilappathikaaram and I understand even in some older texts like Paripaadal. Badri, here is the paasuram you cited: pooNith thozhuvinil pukkup puzhuthi yaLaindha ponmEni, kaaNap perithum ugappan aagilum kaNdaar pazhippar, naaN eththanaiym ilaadhaay, nappinnai kaaNil sirikkum, maaNikkamE, en maNiyE, mancanmaada nee vaaraay. -- periyaazhvaar thirumozhi 2.4.9 The imagery periyaazhvaar weaves is simply superb. -- Dileepan
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