"vEnduvana-kEttiyEl".."yAm perum sammAnam"(1 of2)

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Dear friends,

 

In Stanza#26 of the "tiruppAvai", the "aayarpAdi"

girls asketh.... "vEnduvana-kettiyEl..."

 

And in Stanza#27, the Lord giveth..."yAm perum

sammAnam" !

 

Both stanzas are set against a wonderfully dramatic

backdrop and adiyen is sketching it below to the best

of his ability.

 

******* ****** ******

 

In Stanza#26, the girls beseech Krishna to provide

them with the wherewithal needed to complete their

sacrificial "vrata". They requisition 6 specific

pieces of equipment for the purpose:

 

"(1)"pOlvana sanghu" --- conches which they could blow

in order to herald their procession

(2) "sAlap-parai"--- drums to keep time and rhythm as

they sallied forth for their ritual bath

(3) "pallAndu-isaippArE" --- a band of benediction

chanteurs who would shower their blessings on us and

wish us success in our "vratam"

(4)"kOla-villakku" --- a tall vertical torch that

would glow and shed resplendent light along our

pathway

(5) "kOdi" --- a flag-post with our banner and

insignia emblazoned on it

(6) "vidAnamE" --- a canopy stretched above us to

shade us from the drenching mists of the morning."

 

The Lord patiently listens to the above demands and

then playfully asks the girls,"But tell me, my dear

girls, why are you all so keen to observe this

sacrificial "nOnbu"/"neerAtam" of yours?".

 

The girls answer in unison: "mArgazhi-neerAduvAn...

mElaiyAr seyyvanagal..!" i.e. "We must perform these

sacred "vrata-s" because our revered ancestors

("mElaiyAr") too observed them scrupulously since time

immemorial. These are "sishtAchArA-s"... the

conventions of life laid down by our elders... and we

must obey them as though they were Vedic

commandments."

(Here, "pirAtti" is stressing the importance of

faithfully adhering to our "dharmic" duties.)

 

The Lord is still in a mischievous mood and pulls

their leg once more, "But my dear girls, you ask me

for so many things to enable your "nOnbu"! What do you

think I am? A magician to conjure up all those things

for you? I am sorry I can't!".

 

To which the "aayarpadi" girls are very quick to

respond: "aalin-illaiyAy!"... and thus reduce Krishna

to shame-facedness. "O come on, Krishna!", they remind

Him, "Don't give us that humbug! You who could set

sail on a mere leaf-platter ("yillai-patram") on the

raging waters of the "Great Deluge" ("praLaya-kAla"),

you who accomplished a thing like that, surely, you

can gift us these little things?!".

 

The Lord does not relent and continues the playful

banter with them.

 

"Tell me, you girls, but what is the benefit you hope

to reap if you were to receive all the things you ask

for? What will you all gain by completing your

"nOnbu"?

 

The girls then cry out in succession and begin to

relate the numerous benefits they will reap: "We will

reap, O Lord, great and wonderful things if you grant

us our needs! We will have precious ornaments like

(1) "sudakamE" -- bracelets

(2) "tOlvaLayE"-- armlets

(3) "tOdE" -- ear-pendants

(4) "sevvipuvE"-- ear-studs

(5) "padagamE" -- anklets

and not to mention "adAi" (a fine wardrobe) and

"pAl-soru" ("milk-&-rice" porridge fit for a King's

banquet!)! We will receive all these as reward for our

efforts... "yAm perum sammAnam!".

 

The Lord patiently listens to all this talk in a mood

of high amusement and humour not because of the

seemingly ridiculous gift of baubles they ask of Him,

but the endearingly naive manner in which they do so!

He sees the girls have all completely lost their

hearts to Him in an effusion of great "bhakti"... and

He is immensely pleased!

 

**** ***** ******

 

The dramatic setting of the above 2 stanzas may apear

to be simple and idyllic. But their poetic symbolism

is very profound. The "gift of ridiculous baubles"

that the "aayarpAdi" girls ask of Krishna is no

ordinary gift.

 

If it is no ordinary gift then what is it?

 

In the accompanying post (2 of 2) adiyen will try and

frame the answer and also explain the poetic

symbolisms employed by our poetess of Villiputtur.

 

dAsan,

Sampathkumaran

 

 

 

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