Part 4- "There is Salvation in numbers":The Theme of "satsangh" in TiruppAvai

[Guest guest]

Dear friends,

 

To the discerning reader of the TiruppAvai, whose

appreciation of the Tamil language is no less than his

grasp of Vedantic fundamentals, all of the song will

present itself as truly a wonderful allegory on Bhakti

rooted as it is in the principle of "bOdhayanta:

parasparam". He will observe that in every single

verse, through a certain phrase here and a particular

expression there, AndAL makes reference, subtly at

times and explicitly at others, to the precept and

practice of "parasparam" in 'satsangh'.

 

As we read the TiruppAvai, we cannot fail to be struck

by the fact that in all the 30 stanzas there is rarely

any use of the Tamil first-person-singular -- "nAn" or

"ennudaiyathu" -- "I", "me" or "mine". It is a

deliberate and significant choice of the poetess and

we should pause and ask ourselves why?

 

Within a true 'satsangh' there is really no place for

the sense of individual ego -- of "I", "Me" or "Mine".

A true "satsangh" is entirely ego-less because

everyone within it abides by the selfless rule of

"parasparam" -- the "all-for-each" and "each-for-all"

attitude in life. Evidently AndAL wanted to make the

point overwhelmingly clear in her song. To that end

she ensured that even poetic grammar in the TiruppAvai

was appropriate and abundantly reflected the fact. She

studiously avoided using the Tamil first person

singular.

 

In verse after verse of the song, we see AndAl however

stressing, emphasizing and reiterating -- again and

yet again -- the element of 'collectivity' (while

avoiding individuality or personal ego) through

profuse, even plethoric, employment of the Tamil

first-person-plural --i.e. "nAnggal", "nAm",

"nammudaya", "namakkE", "enggaL""ellArUm", "yAm" i.e.

"we", "ours", "us", "our own", "we alone",

"altogether"… Anyone who carefully examines the 30

stanzas of the TiruppAvai will not miss noticing this

grammatical but purposeful over-use of the Tamil first

person plural.

 

AndAL resorted to another method too, in order to

effectively evoke, maintain and underscore the

predominant mood of joyous 'satsangh' right throughout

the TiruppAvai. It was through the use of Tamil

metaphor and imagery that is at once apt and

sparkling.

 

If we carefully study the 30 verses of the TiruppAvai,

one by one, we can surely appreciate how AndAl's

grammar and metaphor both combine with and alternate

each other to conjure up for us a grand vision of the

true nature of 'satsangh' and the 'collectivism' that

is at its very core -- the core of "bOdhayanta:

parasparam".

 

Let us now proceed with the study, stanza by stanza.

 

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

(to be continued)

 

Regards,

 

dAsan,

Sudarshan

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Respected U.Ve Swami Sudarshan:

 

I am, nay the whole Srivaishnava Community is grateful

to you for your masterly exposition on the efficacy of

Satsangh. I have heard so many kaleshepams from

various learned pandits on Tiruppavai and I don't

remember any swamy ever brought out this usuage of

first person plural in these pasurams.

 

If anybody wants to break their head and try to

comprehend the Paramatman in a solitary place thro

Gnanya yoga (and try to remove avidya to realize} let

them do so. Let us enjoy "Koodi Irundu Kulirtheylor

embavai" of your exposition.

 

Not only you are enlightening thro your writings but

you and Sriman IVK chary have assembled the satsang to

enjoy (may be anubhavam is the write word} in the

strange area where it may difficult to practice and

follow our tradition. We in USA want to congratulate

the srivaishnava community in Middle East. You are

role model for other communities through out the world

to follow.

 

Adiyaen

Nerur S. Rajagopalam