Nappinnai and ANdaaL

[Guest guest]

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