A 'mArgazhi' diary: some reflections-2

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Dear friends on the bhakti-list,

 

Yesterday (19th december,1999, 'Vaikunta-ekAdasi')

adiyEn was also reminded of one other significant

thing by 'gOdA-pirAtti' and coincidentally it was

through the 'pAsuram' of the day, the 4th one

beginning with "aazhi-mazhaikannA onru nee kai-kara

vEl...".

 

In this verse the nubile "aayarpAdi" dames clearly

point out to us that one of the principal objects of

the 'mArgazhi-vratam' is that it is a Prayer for

plentiful rains...

 

Indeed, adiyen feels that on the strength of this 4th

verse alone the"tiruppAvai" clearly deserves to be

celebrated as the unique "rain-song" of the

Srivaishnavas.

 

Every people of every culture in the world have a

celebrated "rain-song". The African Mumbasi have one;

the Maoris of New Zealand have one; the many native

Indian tribes of North AMerica like the Cherokees and

the Apaches had 'rain-songs'; the ancient Incas of

South America had 'rain-songs'.

 

Now, why should people have had 'rain-songs' over the

ages? Why indeed? Why should we pray for rains?

 

Man can desalinate the oceans for water. He can dig

into the bowels of the earth for it. He can explore

the planet Mars for water sources. He can try and

"rain-seed" the clouds in the skies all he wants...

Yet, from the beginnings of Time till today, Man

condition of abject dependence on the rain-gods

("parjanya") for rains and water... that condition of

dependance remains unchanged.

 

You can invent 'alternate' sources of energy like

solar power and wind power. You can invent 'alternate'

food-sources like synthetic protein and starch. But

the ingenuity of Man has still never (and probably

will never) be able to come up with anything remotely

resembling "alternate water".

 

And there is nothing really too like "alternate rain"

in this world... or the other...So Man must pray and

will always have to pray ...for the rain.

 

Which is why the ancient Upanishads (PrasnOpanishad

2-10) in their wisdom long, long ago said:

 

"yadAtvam abivarshasi athemAh: prANatE prajAh:

Anandarupas tishthavti kAmAyAnnAm bhavishyatiti "

 

"When thou pourest down, O Rain, then these creatures

breathe and live in a state of bliss. And their bliss

springs from the hope their homes will for all times

abound in food according to their heart's desire."

 

The Upanishads speak the truth always, don't they?

Indeed, for if there is one single thing on earth that

keeps the world going, it is the hope that the future

of Mankind is safe because somehow there will be

plentiful food going around for all creatures on the

planet for all eternity! And how else but by plentiful

and timely rains can this great Hope of Mankind be

sustained?

 

Tiruvalluvar writing in his Kural went even further

than the Upanishads. He said that the rains are not

merely the source of food but of essential humanity

too. "No rains, no humanity", says Tiruvalluvar.

 

"dhAnam tavam-iranndUn thangA viyanUlagam vAnam

vazhangA thennin"... meaning,

"Neither charity nor tapas (self-discipline and

austerities) will abide on the wide earth if the

heavens should hold back their showers!".

 

In a land barren of rains where is the question of any

higher human pursuits like the quest for Truth, Beauty

and Transcendence? Where is the question of things

like "pAvai-nonbu" and "neerAtam" and "vratam"? Where

is place for human charity and goodwill in a land

where the earth is scorched and not a blade of grass

grows?

 

Our dear saintess AndAl-pirAtti, raises all these

wonderful but tacit questions through her 4th verse

which in adiyen's personal opinion is

"adhButham"...the most marvellous "pasuram" of all. It

not only dazzles in the literary sense but also makes

one sit up and think about even modern day

environmental concerns!

 

dAsan,

Sampathkumaran

 

 

 

 

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