THE HINDU articles on Thiruppaavai (part 4 of 5)

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Tiruppaavai-the spiritual ascent

 

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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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