transliteration of name kOtai (Godha)

[Guest guest]

Dear Members,

 

We are aware that differences exist in transliterating Shri Andal’s

name Kodhai from Tamil to English. Many use the word Godha, some use

Godhai and others, Kodhai. In this connection, I would like to bring

to the attention of Members the following information for a

discussion:

 

The first is an article by Shri Embar Rangachari Swami which appears

in the Quarterly Vedics Magazine “Ramanuja Darshanam” (Volume 1,

Issue 3 Jul-Sep 2003)

http://www.vedics.net/magazine/RD_0103_online_vers.pdf

 

THE SOOTHING WORDS OF THE CONSORT

Embar Rangachari Swami

(Extract)

……. The Upanishads bring forth that ladies can also be as wise as

gentlemen. YagnavAlkyA’s wife is an example. ItihAsas (history) and

puraNAs (epics) also make the same projections. For instance, Sabari

is termed as dharmanipuNa (an expert in the means; means, in this

case refers to the way to salvation). The equally ancient Tamil

tradition too highlights the wisdom in ladies. Avvai is one such

renowned name amongst wise ladies. KOdhai(another name for Andal)

whose works are included in the sacred Naalaayira Divyaprabhandham,

is, however treated in Vaishnavite lore as a lady of both wisdom and

emotion, in Her longing for union with the Supreme Lord Krishna. She

is described as the one who first decorated Herself with the

garlands of flowers intended for the Lord before they were offered

to Him. Sri ParASara Bhattar describes this phenomenon as

“SvOchishTAyAm sraji nigaLitam yA balAtkritya bhunkte”, (i.e. as

Kodhai catching the Lord within the garland discarded by her and

enjoying Him by force). It is on this account that she got the name

Andal or the governess of the Lord. In Tamil, Kodhai means garland

and the very same word was sanskritized into “gOda” by Swami

Parasara Bhattar and later Acharyas (as distinguished from “gOdha”

meaning a fighting ring)…………….

 

The second item is the meaning given to the word kOtai in the online

Cologne Tamil Lexicon, (http://www.uni-koeln.de/) The following are

the meanings given which seems to agree with Swami’s statement:

1. women's hair; 2. a Vaishnava female saint.; 3. garland of

flowers, worn by women; 4. garland of pearls; 5. order, regularity,

row, series; 6. woman, beautiful as a garland

 

Dasan,

Krishnaswamy M.K.