hindu article: devotional mysticism

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Devotional mysticism

 

 

CHENNAI, SEPT.7 . The Supreme Being has deigned to make Himself more

and more accessible to humanity with the passage of time to suit the

conditions of the different ages (Yuga). The Lord's incarnations in

the world were undertaken with this purpose also as His

transcendental form is beyond the reach of the majority of people.

The paradox of the Lord's nature of transcendence and of His easy

accessibility forms the subject of many hymns of the Azhvars like

Nammazhvar and Andal. Andal did not stop with elucidating the salient

features of the spiritual goal— man's true nature; the goal he has to

attain and the method to attain it— but also showed by example how to

practically follow them in life.

 

In his discourse, Srivilliputtur Sri Vasudeva Bhattachariar said

Manavalamamunigal had asserted that Andal manifested for the benefit

of mankind. From childhood She lived only for the sake of the

Almighty. In the Tiruppavai She describes how man must overcome all

the obstacles that stand in the way of his redemption and sums up

that eternal service to God must be the goal that he should strive

for and attain in this life. But the Lord did not respond at first to

Her prayer as evinced from the hagiographical account of Her life.

This was only to enhance Her devotion.

 

Devotion according to the philosophy of Visishtadvaita evolves

through three distinct stages till it consummates in the experience

of God. These progressive stages find expression in Her other hymn,

the Nacchiar Tirumozhi, which is considered as the paradigmatic

example of bridal mysticism in the genre of devotional mysticism.

Being a lady this sentiment came naturally to Her and She establishes

that the Lord is the Purushottama in relation to the souls.

Developing the theme of the Tiruppavai further in this hymn Andal

propitiates the god of love (Manmatha, Kama) imagining Herself to be

the bride of Lord Krishna.

 

One may wonder why Andal who was brought up by another mystic like

Periazhvar should have invoked Kama and describe the minutiae of the

marriage ceremony. In this context it is important to remember that

Andal was the incarnation of Bhudevi. It is the vacillating human

mind that She portrays here and the hymn is a metaphor for the

spiritual progress of the soul towards God and finally union with

Him. Devotion matures due to separation from God but there is no

uncertainty about the end to be attained in Her hymn— liberation.

 

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