THE HINDU articles on Thiruppaavai (part 3 of 4)

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Tiruppaavai-the acme of bhakti

 

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24-12-1995 :: Pg: 39 :: Col: a

 

Cl: Religion

 

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The hymns of Tiruppaavai are not just devotional songs but also

contain flashes of nature's morning glory. The third in

S.SWAMINATHAN's five part series on Aandaal's hymns.

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The hymns (Paasurams) of Tiruppaavai constitute a

combination of the temporal and the eternal yearning of the human

spirit for identification with the divine. At one level, Sri

Andal depicts the Paavai Nonbu, its ceremonial features and the

manner in which the cowherd women (Aayarpaadis) seek the

blessings of Lord Krishna.

 

At another, spiritual or esoteric level, Sri Andal is

invoking the grace of the eternal God for her own liberation or

mukthi. That the Jeevathma should minister to the Paramaathma and

not merely drift in the voyage of life is the quintessence of the

inner meaning of the beautiful hymns composed by Sri Andaal.

 

Included in this part are hymns 13-18. There are quite a

few picturesque flashes of nature's morning glory. The red roses

opening their petals, Venus rising with Jupiter fading out, birds

chirping on their way to their prey, cocks crowing with their

stubborn regularity, cuckoos filling the air with their music

all these evoke unforgettable impressions in one's mind.

 

The rich puranic lore in these hymns the Lord felling

the Raakshasa emperor Raavana, the incarnation of God for

humbling Mahabali, the ruler of arrogance beyond compare, the

killing of Bakasura and the destruction of the wild elephant sent

by Kamsa is almost a common feature in all the Paasurams, the

glory of God being recapitulated by the gopis who are incredibly

aware of all the miracles of God.

 

HYMN 13

 

Pullinvaai keendaanai-p-polla arakkanai

Killikkalain thaanai-k-keerthimai paadi-p-poi

Pillaikal ellaarum paavai-k-kalam pukkaar

Velli ezhundhu viyazham urangitru

Pullum silambina kaan podhari-k-kanninaai!

Kullak-k-kulira-k-kudaindhu neeraadaathe

Palli-k-kidathiyo! Paavaai! Nee nannaalaal

Kallam thavirndhu kalandhu el or empaavaai

 

You, dainty girl with those red lotus-like eyes! Don't

you see? All the girls have arrived at the river bed for the

worship (Paavai Nonbu), singing the glory of our Lord who killed

the demon Bakaasura in disguise as a bird, by breaking up the p73

mouth (in the incarnation of Krishna) and who just plucked away

the ten heads of the wicked Raavana and slew him (in His avatar

as Raama). It is time you got up. Venus has risen. Jupiter has

gone to sleep. Can't you hear the chirping of the birds in

flight? Don't you pretend to be asleep! Come, join us, get to the

river for a refreshing bath on this auspicious day.

 

HYMN 14

 

Ungal puzhai-k-kadai-th-thottathu vaaviyul

Sengazhuneer vaai negizhndhu aambal vaai koombina kaan

Sengal podi-k-koorai vennpal thavathavar

Thangal thirukkoil sangiduvaan poginraar

Engalai munnam ezhuppuvaan vaai pesum

Nangaai! Ezhundiraai! Naanaadhai! Naavudayai!

Sangodu chakkaram endhum thadakkaiyan

Pangaya-k-kannanai-p-paadu el or empaavai.

 

You boastful chatter box! You promised to wake us all up.

All tall-talk!Get up fast! Already, if you care to look at the

pond in your back-garden, the red lotus has blossomed and the

night lilies have closed up. Ascetics in ochre-robes, with their

sparkling teeth are striding towards the temple to blow the

conch. Are you not ashamed? Get up! Come, let us sing in praise

of our Lord, the lotus-eyed Kannan (Krishna) who holds the conch

(called Paanchajanyam) and the discus (called Sudarsanam) in his

broad, powerful hands.

 

HYMN 15

 

Ellay! Ilam kiliye! Innam urungudhiyo!

Chill enru azhayen min Nangaimeer! Podharukinren

Vallai un katturaikal pande un vaai arithum

Valleergal neengale! Naanethan aayiduga!

Ollai nee podaai, unakkenna verudayai

Ellaarum pondhaaro? Pondhaar pondhu ennikkol.

Vallaanai-k-konraanai, matraarai matrazhikka

Vallanai Mayanai-p-paadu el or empaavai.

The group: What? Are you still sleeping, you beautiful girl!

 

The girl: Don't you scream! My good friends! I shall come

presently.

 

Group: Yes indeed! Don't we know you, full of eloquent

promises!

 

Girl: Oh yes, I agree, you are the ones gifted with

eloquence. Or let it be myself, if you insist.

 

Group: (Enough of all this banter!) Come along. Don't you

be thinking of this and that.

 

Girl: Have all the girls come?

 

Group: Sure, you can count them, if you so choose. p73

 

Girl: Pardon me, what is the programme?

 

Group: As we move down to the river, we shall keep on

singing the glories of our mysterious Lord, Sri Krishna who

killed the mighty elephant, Kuvalaya peetam, sent by Kamsa and

who vanquished many other foes as well.

 

HYMN 16

 

Naayaganai ninra Nandagopanudaya

Koil Kaappaane! Kodi thonrum thorana

Vaayil kappaane! Mani-k-kadavam thal thiravaai

Aayar sirumiyaromukku arai parai

Maayan Manivannan, nennale vaai nerndhaan!

Thooyomaai vandhom, thuyil ezha-p-paaduvaan

Vaayal munnam munnam maatraadhe amma! Nee

Neyamilai-k-kadhavam neekku, el or empaavai.

 

You, the sentry guarding the temple of our Lord

Nandagopa! And you sentinel at the inner gate ornamented with

flags and festoons! Please open the latch of the gem-studded

door! For us the cowherd girls, our mysterious and radiant Lord

Krishna promised yesterday itself to give us the heralding drum.

We have all come here, with a pure mind, to wake him up with

songs. Please therefore, open the heavy doors and let us in.

 

HYMN 17

 

Ambaramay, thanneeray, soray aram seyyum

Emperumaan! Nandagopaala! Ezhundhiraai!

Kombanaar-k-kellaam kozhunday kulavilakkay

Emperumaatti! Yasodhaai! Arivuraai!

Ambaran oodaruththu ongi ulagalandha

Umberkomaane! Urangaadhu ezhundhiraai!

Sembork-kazhaladi-ch-chelvaa! Baladeva!

Umbiyum neeyum urangel or empaavaai.

 

Our Lord, King Nandagopa! You who are reputed for your

magnanimity in presenting clothes, water and food to the needy!

Kindly wake up! O, Queen Yasodha, the foremost among noble women,

the beacon-light of our race, do wake up!

 

Our Lord Krishna! You who pierced the sky with your full

stature (Viswaroopa) and measured the entire universe with your

feet, the Lord of Lords, may you please wake up. Oh, the strong

and powerful Balarama! May your brother and you please do wake

up!

 

HYMN 18

 

Undhu madhakalitran, Odaadha thol valiyan

Nandagopalan marumagale! Nappinnai!

Gandham kamazhum kuzhalee! Kadai thiravaar?

Vandhengum kozhi azhaithana kaann! Maadhavi-p- p73

Pandalmel palkaal kuyilinangal koovina kaan

Pandhaar virali! Un maiththunan per paada-ch-

Chenthaamarai-k-kaiyaal seeraar valai olippa

Vandhu thiravaai magizhndhu el or empaavaai.

 

Oh, Nappinnai, the daughter-in-law of Nandagopalan who

has the strength of a furious elephant and who will never run

away from a battle, you Nappinnai in your fragrant tresses.

Kindly open the door.

 

The shrill clarion of the cocks fills the air. Cuckoos

perched on the bower of the jasmine plant have been singing away

with their shrill notes. You young Lady, kindly unlock the door.

The jingling sound of your bangles we will hear and rejoice.

 

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