thirup pAvai - part 25 - "singam"

[Guest guest]

Dear bAgawathAs, mArgazhi, Day 15

 

When an alliance is sought one will also seek for bridegroom

with the best qualifications. The best qualifications for a

"shathriyA" are several. The Aaychiyars are seeking Lord krishna as

their bridegroom and the shathriya lakshnam are addressed here by

the tamil word "singam" or lion. For Aaychiyars during that time,

it was also required to seek an alliance in which the bridegroom

may possess all the aspects of a shathriya.

 

In tamil "singam" means lion, "iLam simgam" means Lion cub.

Here the word singam is also used to seprately to denote certain

aspects of the Lord. The word "Singam" is used to address soemone's

"valimai" or strength. HE is already strong enough to defeat the

"mallars" or wrestlers. (Didn't HE defeat the "mallars" in the

wrestling later?). The word "Singam" is used to also address the

veeram or "bravery". (did He not win over the mighty kAmsa even

when HE was very young and everyone were worried about HIS safety

when HE was invited to visit the King KamsA?). The tamil word

"Singam" also represents "heroism". HE was the leader for the

gOpiyars. The tamil word singam is also used to address the "power"

or "sakthi" one may possess.

 

HE was indeed the most powerful as HE did destroy so many

asurAs within this young age itself, and no other vaibavam displays

this "power" of the Lord at this age. Lord Rama destroyed thAdakA

and her pack of asurAs at an young age as well. However, some may

say that HE was present with lakshmana and Sage viswAmira at that

moment, and that HE did destroy them as the Sage ViswAmitra

requested HIM to protect the yAgam by destroying the frequently

offending asurAs. In Lord Sri KrishnA's episode HE was all alone

most of the situations excepting for a few, when Lord BalarAma also

joined HIM.

 

It is a normal desire for anyone to seek an alliance in which

the bridegroom is well to do and is capable of taking care of their

daughter. ie whether the bridegroom is wealthy enough or does he

have the potential for making a living? There are some words

presented in "thirup pAvai" that will also indicate this capacity

of the bridegroom for this holy alliance. However, the current word

in search "singam" also conveys some of this aspects. It conveys

HIS superiority (the status or the position as superior over many)

over the entire clan of "Aychiars". HE is the chief for them and

Lion is the King or the empire of the jungle kingdom. And there is

enormous wealth available for Sri Krishna who is the son of the

chief of the gOkulam, (ie lion's cub or "iLam singam") Sri

NadagOpan's family as well.

 

As a paramAtma He is also aware of our plight and will rush

to accept us atonce when we have performed this saranAgathi nOnbu.

A metaphor to HIS (Lion as Sriman nArAyana or Sri NarsimhA)

unique capacity is awareness. We as jivAtmAs may not hesitate even

a moment to fall at His holy feet and do sarnAgathi nOnbu.

 

Sri ANDAL thiruvadikaLE saraNam

Sri Boomi dEvi thAyAr samEtha Sri Oppiliappan thiruvadikaLE

saraNam

Sampath Rengarajan

 

 

 

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