The Conqueror

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Srimate SrivanSatakopa Sri Vedanta

Desika Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

 

The Conqueror

 

What is the hallmark of a devotee? You may come up with any number of

answers-- like constant adoration of the Lord and Master, singing His

praises, performing all sorts of service to Him prompted by

overwhelming love and affection, etc. All these are no doubt

important elements of devotion, but there is one more, which Bhaktas

normally resort to, to remind them constantly of their

Lord—viz., adopting His name as their own. They prefer to be

called by any one of the innumerable holy names of the Lord, so that

it reminds them of Him and His glory, every time others call them by

name. Just as pots and pans in a household are often branded with the

owner’s name to indicate whom they belong to, we too are named

after the Lord, to proclaim the inalienable and eternal relationship

we have with Him, of Master and Slave, of Seshi and Sesha. It is thus

that we have a Ramanuja, a Venkatanatha, an Azhagia Manavaala Perumaal

Naayanaar, et al.

 

In sharp contrast to this haloed practice, one devotee (and no

ordinary one at that) has been named the “Conqueror”.

Going by the depth of dedication, attachment, love and immeasurable

affection this devotee has exhibited for the Lord, one would expect

this person to have adopted a name signifying undying devotion to the

Supreme Being Sriman Narayana. However, belying our expectations, we

find this devotee being called, rather surprisingly, as a

“Conqueror”.

 

The haloed name of Sri Andal is on everyone’s lips, at least

during the month of Margazhi. Temples and homes resound with the

sweet strains of Her Tiruppavai, discourses galore are delivered on

the apparent and esoteric purports of this incredibly sweet

composition, competitions are conducted for children in reciting the

thirty verses and so on. So much importance is attached to

Andal’s outpourings, that one worthy goes to the extent of

saying that those who know not these verses are but a mere drag on

this planet—“Kodai tamizh iyyaindum iyndum ariyaada

maanidarai vaiyyam sumappadum vambu”.

 

We come across the strange phenomenon of a lady holding court in the

elite male club of Azhwars. What is stranger is that while the others

are “Azhwars” (meaning those immersed in divine

experience), this Lady is “Andal” (one who conquered or

ruled). What a contrast—a subjugator rubbing shoulders with

those who have been thoroughly vanquished by the Lord! Azhwars admit

to being comprehensively won over by Emperuman-

“Tottrom mada nenjam Emperuman Naaranarkku” says Sri

Nammazhwar, admitting to defeat at the hands of the Supreme Being.

“Jitante Pundareekaaksha!” exclaim the Maharshis of the

Sveta Dveepam, describing how they have been won over by the

lotus-eyed Lord. Amidst all these accounts of abject defeat at the

hands of the Lord, we have too an “Andal”, whose very

name indicates a Victor, a Ruler, a Conqueror beyond compare. What

could be the reason for this rather unsuitable name for a devotee who

immersed Herself more in Krishnaanubhavam than perhaps any of the

other Azhwars? Let’s see how meaningful this sobriquet is.

 

1. Sri Kodai Naacchiyaar is indeed “Andal”, because

She comprehensively won over the Lord Himself. The uncontrollably

independent Supreme Being loses all His sovereignty before Goda Devi,

asserts Swami Desikan in Goda Stuti. And such loss of independence is

caused not by any strenuous effort by Andal, but through a mere flick

of Her eyebrows. The Lord, whose duty it is to award appropriate

punishment to mortals for their innumerable errors of commission and

omission, loses the will to do so, quelled by a mere glance of Goda

Devi, who intercedes on our behalf and saves us from certain Hell.

Here is the beautiful slokam from Goda Stuti, for your

enjoyment—

 

“Gode! gunai: apanayan pranata aparaadhaan

bhrookshepa eva tava bhoga rasa anukoola:

karma anubandhi phala daana ratasya bhartu:

svaatantrya durvyasana marma bhidaa nidhaanam”

 

Swami Desikan goes to the extent of saying that Sri Periazhwar was

able to obtain the Poorna anugraham of the Lord, only after he

started adorning Him with garlands made more fragrant by association

with Sri Andal’s hair.

 

2. Andal triumphs over not only the Supreme Lord, but over

ignorant mortals like us too. She wins over even our stony hearts,

through Her simple but nectarine outpourings, which appeal to the

scholar and student alike. She wins us over by the irresistible charm

of Tiruppavai, which sits sweet on our lips, whether sung or recited,

with or without devotion. Incredibly hard indeed would be the heart,

which can remain unmoved by these poignant pastoral verses!

 

3. Andal’s mastery and control extends over Nature

too—She attained rare mental maturity at an extremely early

age, deeming the Lord to be Her all—“unnum soru, parugum

neer, tinnum vettrilai ellaam Kannan Emperuman”. When many of

us still find it difficult to spare even a concentrated glance for

the Lord even at the mature age of fifty or sixty, we find this young

Lady conquering human nature comprehensively and devoting Herself to

the Lord, even before entering Her teens. ‘Pinjaai

pazhutthaal” is how Sri Mamunigal describes this lady,

indicating the incredible maturity She attained at an age when

children would still be playing with dolls.

 

4. In an endearing display of extreme affection and

love, Andal reverses the role of Master and Slave subsisting between

ourselves and the Lord. Normally, it is we who consider it our good

fortune to be favoured with garlands and cloth worn by the Lord and

wear them with pleasure. “Udutthu kalainda nin peetaka aadai,

uduttu kalattha tundu, toduttha tuzhaai malar soodi kalaindana soodum

it tondargalom” says Sri Periyazhwar, pointing out the

devotee’s delight in wearing flowers and clothes cast off by

the Lord. However, in the case of Sri Andal, it was Emperuman who

sought out the garlands and upper cloth worn by Goda Devi and wore

them with much relish. In fact, Sri Vatapatrasaayee of SriVilliputtur

refused to wear garlands, unless they were made fragrant by

association with Andal, bestowing on Her the sobriquet, “Choodi

koduttha Sudar Kodi”.

 

Sri Ranganatha accepts the flowers already worn by Andal, with a bowed

head, considering it a singular honour to be favoured thus, says Swami

Desikan—“dhatte natena shirasaa tava mouli maalaam”.

 

 

5. Andal ruled over the lands and hearts of the residents of

Malli Naadu, according to another Acharya—“Malli naadu

aanda mada mayil”

 

Considering all these, is it any wonder that Sri Kodai Nachiyar goes

by the sobriquet “Andal”? Having demonstrated Her

indisputable control over mere mortals, Acharyas and over the Lord

Himself, could there be a better name for this Divine Bride, than

that of “Conqueror”?

 

Srimate Sri LakshmINrisimha divya paduka sevaka SrivanSatakopa Sri

Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

dasan, sadagopan