thirup pAvai - part 19 - "koor vEl kodum"

[Guest guest]

Sri ANDAL thiruvadikaLE saraNam

 

 

"koor vEl kodunthozhilan"

 

"koor" means that which is sharp. vEl means a spear. In those

days the popular weapon for house keepingand safe keepin was

"vEl". It is said that Sri Nandagopan and his men were keeping a

constant vigil on Sri Krishna that Kamsa's emissaries would not

harm Sri Krishna despite several failed attempts.

 

The vaibavam took place in aaypAdi. Lord Sri Krishna is

the "jagath rakshagan". ie., HE protects the entire universe.

Then Why would he need some one to protect HIM ? Isn't it

Sri ANDAL delivered these pAsurams after Sri Krishna avathAram ?

The reason is similar to periyAzwar singing pallANdu for the

eternal Lord. The simplest understanding is that Sri ANDAL took

the bhAvam of gOpiyar and took us all there as if the whole

avathAram is taking place now. When reading these veses there is

a sense of security felt within that we are in the company of the

Lord as an avathAram currently. This is one of the reason that

achAryAs interpret that these 30 verses of thirup pAvai itself is

an avathAram in kali.

 

Coming to the original line, the word "kodum thozhilan"

means, one who is doing this duty of vigilance as HIS profession.

Sri NadagOpan was the chief of the aayAr kulam and now after

Sri Krishnav vijayam his profession or occupation has changed

entirely such that he has devoted his entire time in keeping a

constant vigil on Lord Sri Krishna and beleived that he is

protecting HIM. The word "nandagOpan kumaran" here has been

discussed earlier to bring out the overall essence of this first

pAsuram.

 

The word "kumaran" means "Son". Why is that Lord is

addressed here as nandagOpan kumaran while during many other

citations in "Sri math bAgawatham", Lord is addressed as

"vAsudeva nandan". Sri Krishna avathAram has many purposes. Of

which the references to Sri Krishna as Sri Nandagopan and

Sri yasOdhAs son are meant for conveying the achArya thaththuvam

and mantra upadEsam. Vasudeva nandan is for referring to HIS

para thaththuvam.

 

The word "kumaran" also refers to the paruvam or the age

of the Lord. ie., bAlyam. The ripe age for accepting a bride

(jivAtma). When addressing some as some one's son in a Tamil

marriage inviatation it is referred as so and so's kumaran. When

someone is older and is addresed as someone else's son, in

presenting an accomplishment or anyother, such elderly person is

addressed as "thiruk kumArar". ie., kumaran becomes kumArar.

Such differences between the two words kumaran and kumAran shows

the different age or paruvam for the two addressed.

 

 

Sri ANDAL thiruvadikaLE saraNam

Sampath Rengarajan