Sri U.Ve. PerukkAranai Swamy's ThiruppAvai Commentary: Selected Excerpts: Part IV---> SvApadEsArthams

[Guest guest]

Sriamth Azhagiya Singar ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

 

Dear BhakthAs:

 

We will cover the SvApadEsam aspects of ThiruppAvai here.

 

SvApadesams and AnyApadesams

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ThiruppAvai is an AdhyAthmika Prabhandham (i-e)

it deals with the relationship between the Supreme Being

and the Jeevan. It took avathAram to celebrate the indestructible

and eternal relationship between the two ( sEsha-sEshi

bhavam : uRavu Ozhikka OzhiyAthu). Therefore , ThiruppAvai

is not just a story of the Vratham (nOnbhu) of

the Gopa Kannikais to gain the Lord as their husband.

Beyond this story , It takes on the form of Vedic

doctrines and those of UpabruhmaNams such as

IthihAsams and Saathvika PurANams.Hence , there are

abundant references to VedAnthic matters in a natural

form inside ThiruppAvai of ANDAL. These inner thoughts

dealing with VedAnthic doctrines and AdhyAthmika

Saasthrams are known as SvApadesams .

 

The SvApadEsam is closely connected to anyApadEsam ,

which refers to literary and superficial meanings

(mElezhuntha VaariyAna arthangaL). AnyApadEsam also is

a way of refering to some thing tangentially ,

while having some thing else in mind. For instance ,

some one will say in the middle of an assembly of

people : " The Sun has set" . Among those who hear this

statement , there will be many different intrepretations .

The Vaidhikar will think that the time has come to

perform Saayam Sandhya Vandhanam.The visitor will think:

"Oh ! it is getting late ; I must return home before

night fall ". The thief in the group will think :

" Sun has set ; darkness will come soon. Where can I

go to steal tonight ? " Thus there are many meanings

for " The Sun has set" staement based on one's life

experiences.These mulitple meanings are called

"vyngyArthams or Dhvanyarthams ".

 

The Person who made the statement ," The Sun has set"

is making anyApadesam .That person making the anyApadEsam

however had some thing else in mind ( svApadEsam /

inner meaning ). That SvApadesam is more like SvAdhyAyam

or " inner thoughts or recitation of VedAs" in the context

of ThiruppAvai . SvApadEsam is therefore more like Sva upadesam .

 

SvApadesam is not Sva+apadesam ( apdEsam=VyAjam or Saakku

in Tamil).SvApadesam is also not SvApa+dEsam

( a sleeping place associated perhaps with

the rigors of upanyAsam listening). SvApadesam really

means inner VedAnthic meanings behind anyApadesam

(literary meanings) .

 

Our PoorvAchAryALs have come up with brilliant

SvApadesams for each word and groups of words

of ThiruppAvai in their many commentaries. Therefore ,

it is important to understand the SvApadesams

besides the literary meanings ( padha arthams).

SvApadesams are therefore Visesha VedArthams.

ThiruppAvai is therefore saluted as " Vedam

anaithukkum vitthAhum "( Thiruppavai is the seed

for all VedAs ). ThiruppAvai is all about

the Sesha-Seshi-Bhaava-Roopa Sambhandham

(YeRRaikkum yEzhEzh piRavikkum unthannOdu

uRROmEyAvOm , unakkE naamAtccheyvOm).

 

We will study the three taniyans for ThiruppAvai

in the subsequent postings before the first day

of Maarghazhi Month ( Margazhi ThingaL Dinam ),

which is four days away.

 

" GodhA Tasyai Nama idhamidham BhUya yEvAsthu BhUya:"

 

Sarvam KrishNArpamamasthu

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri SatakOpan