Guest guest Posted January 11, 1996 Report Share Posted January 11, 1996 ---------- Tiruppaavai-songs of devotional ecstasy ---------- 17-12-1995 :: Pg: 38 :: Col: a Cl: Religion The Paavai Nonbu (the rites performed by young maidens during the month of Maargazhi, corresponding to December-January) is a unique cultural tradition in Tamil Nadu, going back to the ninth century. The personal aspiration of young maidens to secure worthy spouses was very much behind the religious austerities. Even more important in the rituals was the pragmatic social concern for timely onset of rains and for good harvests and plentiful supply of milk. AndaalUs devotional outpourings in the form of thirty hymns, collectively called Tiruppaavai are an incredible synthesis of literary brilliance, lyrical elegance, philosophical intuition and anecdotal richness. Hymns 7-12 which are covered in this part are evocative of idyllic pastoral scenes of rare charm. Birds shrieking at dawn, women doing the morning chore of churning curds, buffaloes in their leisurely moves towards the dew-covered meadows and the front passages of houses filled with slush and slime with young buffaloes rushing to feed their calves P all these are vividly brought to mind through phrases which are the very grammar of compressed verse. Girls calling their friends to awake from their sleep and join the procession to the river for the Paavai Nonbu, use a variety of verbal tactics. Friendly persuasion, cajoling, admonition, sarcasm and remonstration are all part of their mission. HYMN 7 Keechu keechu enru engum aanaichaathan kalandhu Pesina Pecharavam kettilayo peyppennay! Kaasum pirappum kalakalappa-k-kai perthu Vaasanarumkuzhal aaichiar maththinaal Osaipadutha thayir aravam kettilayo? Nayaka-p-penn pillai! Naarayanan moorthy Kesavanai-p-paadavum nee kette kidaththiyo! Thesamudayai! Thiravel or empaavai! You, deluded girl! Don't you hear the screeching chatter of the king-crows? And the sound of the cowherd women wearing fragrant flowers in their locks of hair churning the curd in the urns, using both their hands, with their bracelets and other ornaments clashing against one another and producing that jingling sound? Oh, prominent damsel! How can you keep on sleeping even after you have heard our singing of our Lord Naarayana (who is also called Kesava for having slain the demon Kesi in his incarnation as Sri Krishna)? Dear girl of radiant p73 presence! Come on, open the door! HYMN 8 Keezh vaanam vellendru! erumai siru veedu Meyvaan paranthana kaan! mikkulla pillaikalum Poovan pokinraarai-p-pokaamal kaathu unnai-k Koovuvaan vandhu ninrom! kothu kalamudaya Paavaai! ezhunthiraai! paadi-p-parai kondu Maavai-p-pilanthaanai, mallarai maatiya Devaathi dhevanai chenrunaam sevithal Aa Aaa enru aaraindhu arul-el-or empaavaai. Wake up, you vivacious young girl! The Eastern sky has already brightened. The buffaloes have already set out to feed themselves on the dewy grass. We have even kept the other girls from moving ahead, for your sake and here we are, at your doorstep. Come, let us march singing the praise of our Lord of Lords who killed the demon Kesi who came in the guise of a horse by cleaving his mouth and who slew the wrestlers sent by Kamsaa. Our Lord will surely bestow His grace on us after due consideration for our devotion. HYMN 9 Thoomani maadathu sutrum vilakkeriya Dhoopam kamazha thuyil anai mel kann balarum Maamaan magale! mani-k-kadavam thaalthiravaai! Maameer! Avalai ezhuppeero! Un magal thaan Oomayo? anri-ch-chevido? ananthalo? Ema-p-perum thuyil manthira-p-pattalo? Maa maayan, Maadhavan, Vaikuntan, enrenru Naamam palavum navinru el or empaavaai. Dear maternal cousin! How long are you going to be asleep on your luxurious bed in the gem-studded mansion, surrounded by lights all around and bathed in the fragrance of incense? Open the lever lock of that ornamental door (After a pause). Aunty! Won't you wake her up, please? What is wrong with her? Is she gone dumb or deaf or is she just exhausted? Or has she fallen into a deep trance as a result of some magical incantation? Shall we chant the thousand and odd names of our Lord-God of the great mystic power, the spouse of Goddess Mahalakshmi, the supreme Lord of Vaikunda and so on and on and get her to wake up? HYMN 10 Notru Suvargam pugugima ammanai! Maatramum thaaraaro vaasal thiravaadaar Naatrathuzhaai mudi Naraayanan; nammaal Potra-p-parai tharum punniyanaal pandorunaal Kootrathin Vaai veezhnda Kumbakarananum Thotrum unakke perum thuyilthan thandehaano Aatra ananthal udayaai! arumkalame Thetramaai vandhu thira el or empaavai p73 Oh dear! You? Striving to enter heaven through practising austerities? If you can't open the door, can't you at least respond to our call? Have you, by any chance, taken on the habit of Kumbakarna, of virtually interminable slumber, the Raakshasa who was felled by Naarayanaa (in the incarnation of Sri Rama), our Lord, the protector and the benefactor of all living beings, who is bedecked with fragrant tulasi leaves on His head? Come on, our precious gem! Shake off your inertia and come with a clear head! Do open the door! HYMN 11 Katru-k-karavai kanangal pala karandhu Setrar thiral azhiya-ch-chenru seru-ch-cheyyum Kutram onrilladha kovalar tham porkodiye! Putraravu algul punamayile! podharaai! Sutrathu thozhimaar ellarum vandu nin Mutram pugundhu mugil vannan perpaada Sitraadhe pesaade selva-p-pendaatti nee Etrukku urangum porul? el or empaavai. Oh, beautiful damsel, the pride of the guileless cowherd community! Our menfolk are justly famed for their energy for milking ever so many milch cows at a stretch and for their valour in going all out to destroy powerful foes. You, charming peacock- like darling with your waist resembling the hood of the snake! Is it proper for you to lie motionless and without response to so many of us, your relations and friends who have gathered in the court-yard of your house, when we sing the praise of our Lord Naaraayana in chorus? HYMN 12 Kanaithu ilam katrerumai kanrukku irangi Ninaithu mulai vazhiye ninru paal sora Nanaithu illam seraakkum narchelvan thangaai! Paniththalai veezha nin vaasal kadai-patri Sinathinaal then Ilangai-k-komaanai-ch-chetra Manaththukkiniyaanai paadavum nee vaaithiravaai! Iniththaan ezhundiraai, eethenna perurakkam! Anaithu illaththaarum arindhu el or empaavaai. Oh, younger sister of the prosperous cowherd! The mansion is filled with mud and slush with the buffaloes pouring forth milk from their udder in their yearning to suckle their young calves. Here we are at your threshold unmindful of dew falling on our head, singing the glory of our beloved Lord (Rama), who destroyed, out of righteous indignation the King of Lanka, in the South. What about you? Not a word in response to our call! All the residents are awake and about. What is all this deep slumber? At least now, get up and get going! Correction p73 In the first part of the series on TIRUPPAVAI which was published on December 10, the transliteration of Hymn 3, was inadvertently left incomplete. The last line "Neengada selvam niraindu el or empaavai" was left out. In Hymn 2, in the transliteration, it should have read Rmalar ittu naam mudiyomS and not as published. In the English translation of Hymn 4, the reference is to the conch called Panchajanya and not as published. The transliteration of the hymn 4 should have read "ninru adhirndu" in the fifth line. The word "empaavai" at the end was omitted by mistake. ---------- Go to : |Weekly edition |THE HINDU Main Menu| ---------- Copyright ) 1995 THE HINDU & PARALOGIC CORPORATION. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.