The Hindu Article - Messages from the two Pavai hymns

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Date:04/01/2003 URL:

http://www.thehindu.com/2003/01/04/stories/2003010400270900.htm

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Miscellaneous - Religion

 

Messages from the two Pavai hymns

 

CHENNAI JAN. 4. Spiritual traditions and the methods of carrying out

the exercises like rites may vary among the schools of religious

thoughts but the goal is one for all — to get permanent relief from

the worldly bondage. One of the steps to seek the grace of God is to

get up early in the morning and proceed to rivers or ponds to cleanse

the body and then adopt the procedures to purify the mind and praise

God. In Saivism, importance was given to the obeisance to be shown to

the servants of God, whereas in Vaishnavism, devotees approached Him

and prayed for His protection (through His representatives). The two

paths have been portrayed in two hymns — in Thiruvempavai by Saint

Manickavasagar and in Thiruppavai by Andal — the former with 20

stanzas and the latter with 30.

 

The themes are alike — young women resorting to the spiritual

exercises but one adoring the Divine messengers and the other

pleading with God to bless them. Both adopted this tradition (one as

a vow and the other through songs) to be fulfilled during the Tamil

month of Margazhi because of the equable climate. The prayer in

general was to get married to good husbands and their plea included

the boon of copious rains ensuring bumper crops.

 

Comparing the two works, Prof. V. Rathinasabapathy, in a lecture,

said God-intoxicated persons do not feel hungry or thirsty when they

are immersed in the ocean of bliss beyond the reach of any words,

addressed to the Divine messengers. Manickavasagar refers in one

verse about the seven different types of praise showered on the

Divine bards and Lord Siva, incidentally showing how devotees

visualised the Almighty in Nature's beauty. "He is the sacred water

in which we bathe with ardour that the sorrow of shackling birth may

cease. He creates, protects and withdraws the Heaven, earth and

land."

 

In Andal's work one finds the efficacy of God's name "Govinda" and in

the Yadava community there was a tradition of conducting "Govinda's

coronation". In one of Her verses there is a reference to the Lord's

incarnation as "Narasimha". Both the hymns explain the paramount

relationship, which exists between the Creator and the created, which

cannot be snapped. Andal's verse also throws light on the

significance of devotional path when God who took the "Varaha

Avatara" delivered a message after rescuing Her from a demon's

clutch.

 

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