Thiruppavai - 12th verse- kanaitthiLan kaRRerumai kanRukku irangi... manatthukku iniyaan

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SrI:

SrImathE Gopaladesika mahadesikaya nama:

 

Dearest all,

 

Let us continue to enjoy the wonderful commentary of His Holiness Srimath

Paravakkottai Andavan of Sri Poundarikapuram Swami ashramam, Srirangam –

translated into English by Sri CG Balaji Swami. Now is the 12th verse...

 

kanaiththu iLaNG kaRRerumai kanRukku iraNGki *

ninaiththu mulai vazhiyE ninRu paal cOra *

nanaiththu illam cERaakkum naR celvan thaNGkaay *

panith thalai vIzha nin vaacaR katai paRRic *

cinaththinaal thennilaNGkaik kOmaanaic ceRRa *

manaththukku iniyaanaip paatavum nI vaay thiRavaay *

iniththaan ezhun^thiraay Ithenna pEruRakkam *

anaiththu illaththaarum aRin^thu ElOr empaavaay. 12.

 

Andal goes to the house of one by name Sudama, in

order to see her friend who had not yet joined them in spite of

repeated invitations. Sudama is to Kannan as Lakshmana is to Sri

Rama. They are never to be separated and Sudama considers it his

greatest fortune to be always with Kannan in his servitude. Kannan

blessed him with immense opulence. The cattle of Ayirpadi had

equal numbers of cows and buffaloes as well. He had immense

number of buffaloes under his roof. Having none to milk them, the

buffaloes were left to think of their calves, and in no time their milk

started flowing out similar to a big shower of rain. The floors were

drenched with milk and it soon assumed the looks of slush. Just as

how Lakshmana followed Sri Rama to the forests, to be in his

servitude, similarly Sudama considered, being in the servitude of

Kannan as his biggest fortune and kept following him neglecting his

household completely. Andal along with her mates goes to the

house of Sudama, to wake his sister up. The doorstep is drowned in

a slush flow of milk while the misty dew makes its way from the

skies. Amidst the floods of milk below and the dew on top, the

damsels with the flood of love for Kannan in their hearts, Andal and

her friends call their friend out by holding firmly to the door grip.

They say aloud “Oh gracious sister of the wealthy Sudama, come

out at once and participate with us in observing this nombu in

order to behold our beloved Kannanâ€.

 

To this, the maid from the house replies, “To behold Kannan?

Oh I would never come. He knows not the lament of a lady’s heart.

He tries more with his mischief. Shukacharya and the Azhwars

have elucidated Kannan to have incarnated in thirty-six ways. He is

one who came as a tortoise, fish and lion. But has he ever taken

the guise of a damsel once? No. How would he know of the lament

of a lady’s heart? A few quote his incarnation as Mohini, the

celestial beauty. But he deceived everyone only by his attire and not

by taking an incarnation.†Thus she was adamant in not joining

them for the spiritual observances.

 

To this the maids said that Kannan and Sri Rama were the

incarnations of the same supreme Lord and said that they were

indeed praying to avail an epiphany of Sri Rama and not Kannan.

They continued saying that Sri Rama had vowed to monogamy and

had struggled his ways through the dense forests in search of his

wife and finally with the assistance of the king of monkeys was able

to lay siege to the beautiful city of Lanka and unfettered his queen

from the evil Ravana’s clutches. He even liberated Ahalya into a

beautiful woman, who, lay earlier as a stone. Having listened to all

these renditions, the maid from inside finally gave her approval to

join the ensemble. Andal had equal love for Sri Rama too and hence

addressed him as her beloved and endearing to her heart, “ manatthukku

iniyaanâ€.

 

Sri Rama and his legend are indeed great sources of solace for the mind. Kannan

and his deeds are likewise to the eyes. The thievery of curd, clothes

and the like only denote the purport that Kannan steals all the sins

from those who surrender unto him completely. The incarnations of

Sri Rama and Krishna are indeed of remarkable importance. Many

a hermits have lost their hearts to the beauty of Sri Rama and have

lamented for not being born as women. It is said that these hermits

assumed their next births as the womenfolk of Ayarpadi when Sri

Rama descended as Kannan. “Dispose off your sleep and join us to

sing of the beloved Sri Rama†said they all inviting their friend to

join them.

 

Preceptors out of their compassion impart the milk of

knowledge to deserving disciples and effect their upliftment. Such

an Acharya is therefore more beloved to a disciple when compared

to Paraman Himself. As Swamy Madhurakavi says “naNNith thenkuruhoor nambhi

enRakkaal aNNikkum amudhooRum en naavukkE…

 

Andal ThiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

Regards

Namo narayana

dAsan