Part 10: "There is Salvation in numbers"- The Theme of 'satsangh' in TiruppAvai

[Guest guest]

Dear friends,

 

Let us take up for study two phrases from two

different stanzas in the TiruppAvai each underlining

however the same aspect of 'satsangh':

 

(11) "suttratthu tOzhimAr ellArUm vandhu ...nin

muttram pUgUndhu mugil vannan pEr pAda…"

(12) "anaitthu illatthArUm arindhu…"

 

In the above verses there are wonderful expressions

that reveal the essentially familial character of

'satsangh'. They are:

 

"suttratthu tOzhimAr ellArUm vandhu" and

 

"anaitthu illatthArUm…"

 

Just as "Charity begins at home", so may it be said

that home and family serve as virtual nursery for the

growth and nourishment of a "satsangh".

 

The phrase "anaitthu illam" means "every household" or

"an entire family"; and "suttratthu" means "all

around". That 'satsangh' is a true one indeed, which,

goes "all around" as "one large extended family",

singing the sacred names of God ("mugilvannan pEr

pAda"). It comprises all the kith and kin of a

household ("anaitthu illam") and everyone near and

dear of every age in the family ("anaitthu

illatthArUm")…. Such is the meaning of the expression

"anaitthu illatthArUm…" and "suttratthu tOzhimAr

ellArUm vandhu…mugil vannan pEr pAda…"

 

The deeper message embedded in these expressions of

AndAL is a very profound one and so very relevant for

our times:

 

It is a belief quite common in societies of most

countries that the "family that eats together stays

together". In India it is customary for the head of a

family to insist upon every member of the household

promptly being home for dinner. Nothing binds a family

together more firmly than sharing meal time. It is a

nice sight indeed to see a happy family seated in a

large circle around a table (or on the floor as in

India with banana leaves spread before them) enjoying

both the warmth of a hot meal as well as that of

close-knit family ties.

 

In modern times, however, it is becoming virtually

impossible for families to sit and dine together

except on rare festive or formal occasions -- say,

"deepavali", a wedding or else some other family

"get-together". The reasons are many.

 

For one, the average family size has shrunk. "Nuclear"

families have proliferated to become the general rule

while "extended families" have become history.

 

Secondly, even in small families, the hectic pulls and

pressures of modern economic life have forced

household members to adopt life-styles and habits away

from each other even while living under the same roof.

The father holds a 9-to-5 job; the brother works the

night-shift at a factory; the son attends

evening-college; the daughter is off for private

dancing lessons in the evening just when it is usual

dinner time; and the wife, above all, must watch

prime-time serials on cable TV…. No family can ever

dine together, let alone bond effectively under such

turbulent circumstances. (In fact, in many families

members dread dinner table meetings since that's when,

for some strange reason, household tempers easily

flare and family conflicts lying dormant suddenly

surface and erupt!).

 

Under such hectic living conditions as we face today,

it is AndAl's expression ("anaitthu illatthArUm…"

"suttratthu tOzhimAr ellArUm vandhu…"mugil vannan pEr

pAda…") that indeed holds out hope for the family.

 

A family or household might not be able to dine

together to stay together, but then perhaps, it can

still bond together if only it tries to 'satsangh'

together? If all members of a family resolve to spend

time together ("anaitth-illatthArUm vandu") in happy

"satsangh" -- say, an hour at least each week --

collective worship might really succeed where "eating

together", alas, no more works.

 

It is family 'satsangh', indeed, more than family

dinner, that can help homes meld and regain the warm

sense of cementing kinship that certainly appears lost

in the life-styles of modern living today.

 

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

(to be continued)

 

Regards,

 

dAsan,

Sudarshan

 

 

 

 

 

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