"nAdellAm mummAri peyydu, vAzha-ulaginil peyydhidaay tUyya perUneer!"

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Dear friends,

 

In the 3rd, 4th and 5th stanzas of the TirrupAvai there is a

strikingly common thread of thought running right through all of

them: Rain.

 

The manner in which AndAL introduces the subject of Rain into these 3

"pAsurams" possesses what is called in Tamil, a literary "svArasyam"

of its own. The Rain-theme is gradually developed in a particular

sequence, in a certain logical order which, for want of a better

word, can at best be described as 'Nature's own sequence'! This will

become clear as explained below:

 

In the 3rd stanza there is an expression AndAl uses: "teengginri

nAdellAm tinggal mUmmAri peyydu..". This phrase, in this particular

stanza, speaks of a land blessed by good seasonal showers. Although

there is a reference to Rain ("mUmmAri-peyydu") contained here, it is

rather incidental in nature. It is the lush surrounding landscape

("teengginri nAdu") AndAl is describing which is really heer main

point of poetic focus. The mention of "peyydu" in this stanza is more

in the nature of a suggestion of rain-to-come than a description of

rain itself. In the reader's mind, this expression of AndAl is

suggestive of today's showers indicating tomorrow's virulent

thunderstorm.

 

In the 4th stanza, the rain-showers stop and a mighty storm does

indeed break out as expected!

 

The "Azhi-mazhaik-annApAsuram" is a heart-felt prayer going out to

the Vedic Rain-god, "parjanya-dEvata", entreating him to be generous,

but never excessive, in raining his gifts upon the world; to usher

into the world prosperity, not deluge ("vAzha ulaginnil

pEyydhidaay"). This prayer of AndAl contains fantastic little Tamil

similes unleashed, one after the other, in a torrential downpour of

divine inspiration:

 

-- "Uzhi-mudalvan pOl meyy karuthhu",

-- "padmanabhan kaiyil Azhi pOl minni",

-- "valampuri pOl ninradIrndhu" and

-- "sArngam udaitha sara-mazhai pOl".

 

... "vAzha ulaganil peyythidAi!"

 

The expression "pOl" is the operative word to use in the Tamil

language when one wants to convey through poetic similes

(grammatically called "Uvamai") a comparison of the vivid likeness

between any two entities. And so, AndAl too, poetess par-excellence,

with the aid of this "pOl", makes a series of brilliant comparisons

between Rain, as it we see it occurring in this world, and God

Almighty, who is the real Rain-giver, as He appears in Vedic

scripture and mythology.

 

Firstly, she takes the dark, angry thunder-clouds and compares them

to the dark, smouldering complexion of God ("mEy-karutthu") described

in the mythology of "praLayam" when cosmic Dissolution and

re-Creation take place.

 

In the second comparison, flashing streaks of lightning filling the

skies are compared to the blinding resplendence of Vishnu's great

weapon, the irresistible "chakrAyudha" ("Azhi pOl minni")

 

Next comes the comparison about the terrifying clap of rolling

thunder. AndAL likens them to the roar of "pAnchajanya", the

Conch-bugle of Vishnu ("valampuri pOl ninradIrndhu").

 

Finally, the torrent of rain as it pours with unrelenting ferocity

upon the world, is compared to the barrage of arrows flying off

Vishnu's bow, the mighty arch called "sArnga".

 

The following day (in the 5th stanza of "mAyanai mannu vada-madurai

mainthanai") is the day when the storm of the previous stanza has

blown over! The rain has abated and a day of relative calm ensues.

Now, the rivers, rivulets and streams in the land are all swelling

and flowing out in swift, joyous currents. This picture of mighty

rain-fed rivers gushing across the landscape (as the Yamuna does even

today?)... it is this picture that ANdAl tries to evoke in our minds

through that extraordinarily beautiful expression, "tUya perU-neer

yamunai"...

 

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

 

In 3 stanzas of very rare beauty, ANdAl thus captures for us one of

the most glorious sights of Nature: the sight of RAIN! RAIN that is

Heaven's blessings upon earth! Rain as it exactly occurs in the

world, in the very same natural order in which it is known to make

its appearance and is in fact experienced by us viz.: first, as

showers; next, as mighty storm; and finally, as life-sustaining and

overflowing river-streams!

 

Thus, we see how there is, indeed, a neat and picturesque

natural-ness in the way in which AndAl introduces the subject of Rain

in the TiruppAvai -- progressing as she does from the rain-showers

("mUmmAri pEyydhu") of the 3rd stanza to the raging thunderstorm

("sara-mazhai") of the 4th stanza until finally, in the 5th

"pAsuram", she evokes in our minds the rich image of a vast,

prosperous land through which rivers, full of life-sustaining

rain-water ("tUya perU-neer") flow ... like the famed Yamuna once

upon a time flowed too -- once upon a time when, in a long bygone

era, Krishna, the "yamunait-turaivan", lived and frolicked upon her

banks...

 

(to be continued)

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

 

Regards,

 

dAsan,

Sudarshan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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