[sri ramanuja] TRIBUTE TO SRI ANDAL ON TIRUVADI POORAM - By U.Ve Sri ESBV Swami

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SRIMATHE RAMANUJAYA NAMAH

SRIMATYAI GODAYAI NAMAH

SRIMATHE BALADHANVI MAHAGURAVE NAMAH

SRIMAD VARA VARA MUNAYE NAMAH

 

TRIBUTE TO SRI ANDAL ON TIRUVADI POORAM (Friday, 28-07-2006)

 

Sri Andal's greatness is unparallel and beyond the ken of speech and

writing. Of the three divine consorts namely Sridevi, Bhudevi and

Neeladevi, she is the incarnation of Bhudevi and excels the other

two due to following reasons. They are worth remembering on this

happy day of her birth festival. That is the proper way of paying

our tributes to her.

Sridevi and Neeladevi are not born in this world without the company

of Sriman Narayana. But SriBhudevi incarnated in this world leaving

the company of her Lord at Srivaikunta. She was born at

Srivilliputtur as the dearest daughter of Sri Vishnuchita or

Periyalwar.

2. As she was the incarnation of Bhudevi , she was worried about her

children who are lying on her lap, i.e., in this mortal world. So

when she was retrieved from the deluge by her Lord Sriman Narayana

in the form of an wild boar, she requested Him to tell Her the

easiest means of salvation by having recourse to which all Her

children could reach Srivaikuntam. The Lord told her "if a man sings

songs of devotion and offers garland to Me, I will be pleased to

entertain Him to my world". Sri Bhudevi replied "o my dear! My

children (mortals) are steeped in the ocean of ignorance. Therefore

I go down to the mortal world and sing devotional songs (pamalai)

and offer You flowers of garland (poomalai) on their behalf. If they

recite these songs and offer garlands to you must certainly bless

them with your service, putting an end to their cycle of birth and

death, the root cause of all their sufferings. The lord became

speechless on observing the mother's affection. He gladly consented

to do so and bade farewell to her. So she came down to this world as

Periyalwar's daughter. This kind of motherly affection is not to be

seen in the case of the other two spouses namely Sridevi and

Neeladevi.

3. This behavior of SriBhudevi (Sri Andal) is reminding us of a

mother's benevolent attitude. When her child is afflicted by a

severe malady the mother takes a strong dose of medicine. That

medicine cures the child when it drinks the mother's milk. All the

mortals are suffering from the disease called Samsara (birth and

death) for their sake Sri Andal took the medicine namely birth in

this world. This proves her unlimited affection for her children.

She offered garlands and sang two divine poems Tiruppavai and

Nacchiyar Tirumozhi for our sake. The moment we sing these songs or

offer flowers to Him. He thinks of His promise to SriBhudevi and

keeps up His promise by granting salvation to all of us.

In Tiruppavai She made it very clear to us that taking refuge unto

the lotus like feet of Narayana is the sole means of salvation. But

Acharya Abhimana is much easier and safest means of salvation. She

declared in Nacchiyar Tirumozhi. Whenever a man takes refuge unto

the lotus like feet of the lord, he is not cocksure of reaching the

abode of the lord. It is because the lord is free to act according

to His wimps and fancies i.e., He is Swatantra. He may look at our

sins and may push us down to this world or He may grant us salvation

by showering His grace on us out of pity. Thus He may act in either

way. But an Acharya is full of the milk of human kindness and will

never allow us to be born in this world. He is sure to get us a

berth at Srivaikunta by his strong recommendation to lord. So

Acharya Abhimana i.e., the Acharaya's unbounded affection alone is

the surest and safest means of salvation. This cardinal and very

secret principle of our sampradayam which was closely guarded by our

Acharayas later on was first of all brought to light by Sri Andal,

which none other had done. Thus we can go on sketching the unique

and distinctive features of Sri Andal. Now our duty is to sing her

divine songs in front of Andal and Rangamannar by way of service to

them

I congratulate you all on this happy and memorable occasion for the

recital of both the Prabhandams. I thank you all for this golden

opportunity to speak to you about the glory of Sri Andal.

With Blessings

 

Sri U Ve., Elayavilli Srinivasa Bhuvarahachariar Swami, Bangalore