A Revolutionary lady - Sri Anbil Ramaswamy's brilliant write up - Part 4 (concluding part)

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SrI:

SrImathE Gopaladesika Mahadesikaya nama:

 

Dearest all,

 

The concluding part on the most auspicious bhogi day-

AndAL ThirukkalyANam

Regards

Namo narayana

dAsanu dAsam

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

 

18. Let us savor some of the other observations of

Swami Desika in his “Godha Sthuthi”

(1) Who wrote Ramayanam?

Do you know who wrote Srimad Ramayanam? You will say

that it is Sage Valmiki. Swami Desika however says

that it was Godha who wrote it. How? Godha, as you now

know, was the incarnation of Bhoodevi, Mother Earth.

The Vedas describe the anthill forming on earth as the

“Ear of Earth”. Since Valmiki emerged from an anthill,

figuratively Desika says that Ramayanam composed by

him arose from the ear of Godha. And asks “If what

came out of the ear could be so sweet, how much more

sweet would be those that emanated from the mouth.

(meaning her granthams) (Sloka 7)

 

 

(2) Creating ChakkaLathis (Competitors)

No woman will share her husbandwith another woman.

Sometimes a lady may have to share her husband with

other women as in the case of polygamy and we find

this in Andal's case in her calling her peer Gopis for

(“kooDi irundu kuLirndu”).

 

Is it not strange to find a lady transforming even men

folk to become her “ChakkaLathis”!

 

It is Andal who not only accomplished this impossible

eventuality but also relished in doing so.

What type of “gamy” can we call this?

Is she promoting the “gay culture”, if culture it is?

 

• Swami Desika hints in SlOka 8 of Godha Sthuthi that

Andal’s father and Nammaazhwar as also Tirumangai

Azhwar were longing for the love towards the Lord but

because they were men, they could at best only

simulate “Naayaki Bhaava”. It was after Andal caming

on the scene exhibiting her bridal love to its fullest

extent because she was a woman herself to whom such

“anubhavam” came in naturally, that they took a leaf

from her life to learn the ”art of love”.

• Swami Desika seems to have a dig at her father,

Periyaazhwar saying how strange that a father-in-law

should be attempting to become a competitor

(ChakkaLathi) for his own daughter by trying to share

with her the love of the Lord that was exclusively

her’s. See how he starts the SlOkam with “Tava

priyatamam” (your sweetheart) and switches to exclaim

“Bhavateeva GodhE” - exclusively your very own!

• Not satisfied with only this, Periyaazhwar proceeds

to give a clarion call to all and sundry (also men

like himself) to engage in similar exercise of

becoming ChakkaLathis to his daugtherl See how he says

“Vandu MaNNUm MaNamum koLmin”. Swami seems to wonder

“What kind of father is he?” Swami seems to say: “If

others were Azhwaars, your father indeed is “Periya

Aazhwaar”!

• He probably justified this strange behavior on the

part of Periyaazhwar remembering “SarvE itaraa: sthree

svabhaavaa: (That except for the PurushOTtama, the

Lord - all else are effeminate in relation to him) and

in this light, there was nothing wrong in his

endeavor, as did the Sages in Srimad Ramayana who

longed for similar experience but were offered such a

chance to become Gopis in KrishNa Avataara. SLOKAM 8:

Andal was a Maargadarsi in this sense also.

 

(3) How did VishNuchittar acquire the sobriquet

“Periya Azhwar”?

Though several explanations are offered by scholars,

Swami Desika says the Lord did not confer the title on

him even though he established Lord’s supremacy in an

open debate, not when he wrote hundreds of Stanzas

eulogizing the Lord, not when he spent his entire life

doing “Pushpa kainkaryam”(flower service) to the

Lord. It was only when he presented the flower

garlands used up by Andal that he became so happy and

conferred the title on him and also made the Azhwar

his father-in-law! (Slokam 10)

Andla’s wedding did the trick that other

qualifications could not procure for him (anavaapta

poorvam)

 

(4) Godha becomes Mother and Sister at the same time.

How?

Swami Desika says that Andal was at once mother of

Mahaalakshmi as also her sister. How? Sri Sita, the

incarnation of Mahalakshmi was born in the field when

King Janaka put his plough to earth. Thus, she becomes

the daughter of Mother Earth.

 

When the milky ocean was churned, there arose besides

other valuable objects - Mahalakshmi and the Moon. So,

they were siblings. Vedas proclaim that the Moon arose

from the mind (Chandramaa manasO jaata of the Lord.

Andal arose from “VishNu chitta (meaning the mind of

VishNu).So all of them became siblings! (Slokam 9)

A wonderful explanation, this!

 

(5) Godha’s wedding attended by three generations of

her family!

Swami Desika attests to another of her extraordinary

feats. Have you ever heard of a bride becoming a

Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother all at once

right at the very instance of her wedding? This

impossible feat was performed by Godha. How?

BhoodEvi’s (alias Godha’s) color is green like the

Doorva (bent grass); the color of Sridevi is golden

yellow (gOrOchana); the color of the Lord is sky blue.

When the two consorts sit on either side, the color of

the two consorts coalesce with that of the Lord and

the Lord looks like the multicolored peacock neck.

(Slokam 22 Godha Sthuthi)

Technicolor technology would seem to have started from

this!

 

Seva Swami humorously remarks” If the mother of the

groom were to see this transfusion of colors, she will

be taken aback and would wonder how her son had

changed color on getting married!

 

Sri Anbil Gopalachariar Swami remarks that Doorva

grass would remind one of Lord GanEsa who is fond of

it and peacock would remind of Lord Subrahmanya, whose

vehicle it is. Brahma is Lord’s son having sprung from

the navel of the Lord; Brahma’s son is Siva; Thus,

Siva is Lord’s Grandson. GanEsa and Subrahmanya being

sons of Siva become Great grandsons of Bhagavaan and

Bhagavati. Thus, both of them - being great

grandchildren of the Lord along with their parents

(Siva and Paarvati) and grand parents (Brahma and

Saraswati) would have gathered to witness the divine

wedding. (Slokam 22)

What a family reunion!

 

(6) Change of directions!

Andal was born in Srivilliputtur, a southern city. On

account of her birth, says Swami Desika, that the

South acquired northerliness (“Uttara” in Sanskrit

means both North and Superior ). That is why, Lord

Ranganatha who is having his “Yoga Nidra” at the

northern city of Srirangam constantly bestows his

gracious glance and never takes his eyes off the

Southern direction, because it is Andal’s birthplace,

thus giving a two-fold sanctity to the place. (SlOkam

11)

Andal could alter even the directions!

 

{Seva Swami was once giving a religious discourse in

North India .

Someone asked him why all the Avataras of the Lord

took place in North India and none in the South. Seva

Swami quoted Bhagavad Gita slOka

yadaa yadaa hi dharmasya gLaanir bhavati Bhaarata!

Abhyuththaanam adharmasya tadaa Aatmaanam srujami

aham” (BG 4.7) “Whenever (and wherever) there is a

decline of Dharma and rise of a-dharma, Oh! Bhaarata

(Arjuna), then I create myself”

He answered “Obviously, such a contingency has arisen

only in the North and not in the South!”}

 

(7) How Godavari River became famous as a purifier?

In Valmiki Ramayanam, Sri Rama on his search for Sri

Sita is depicted as enquiring every tree, stone and

shrub and the running waters on his way whether anyone

of them had seen Sri Sita. Godavari River out of fear

of Ravana did not answer and thus committed an

apachaaram (disservice) to the Lord and was

languishing under a shadow of guilt. It was after the

birth of Godha that she attained such purifying powers

since the River had Godha’s name in her own name “

Godavari ”. The other Rivers like even Ganges are said

to take bath in Pushkarams once in 12 years in the

waters of Godavari to purify themselves. (Slokam 12)

Andal has proved what miracle she can do by her mere

name!

 

(8) Vaijayanti maala downgraded!

Vaijayanti is, no doubt, fragrant, colorful, soft

petalled and therefore dear to the Lord. The Lord

wears it on his chest. But the used up garland

presented by Andal after wearing it, occupies the

Lord’s crown. Thus, the Vanamala (Vaijayanti) seems

downgraded compared to Andal’s garland! Says Swami

Desika (Slokam 15)

The glory of a garland cannot get any better!

 

(9) Lord accepts Andal’s garland with utmost respect

The Lord has in his navel, the lotus – with fragrant

pollen – from which all the worlds were created. On

his chest he wears the fragrant sandal paste smeared

on Maha Lakshmi’s breast. His feet carry the Vedic

fragrance since all Vedas praise his feet (nigama

parimaLam). But, over and above these, he cherishes

most the essence of sweet fragrance from the head

garland of Andal for decorating his own crown. When a

donor offers a gift, the recipient has to bow the head

(nathEna) to receive the munificence. Swami Desika

figures this out as a respectful acceptance of Andal’s

garland. (Slokam17)

A case of utmost respect of a husband to his wife!

 

19. Practical wisdom of our Religion

Some people gleefully criticize ours as a religion of

abnegation, of escapism, a negative religion of the

recluse which always emphasized on the 'Other

worldly', with scant regard for what we need 'Right

here and now in this world”. They fancy that ours is a

religion of rigor, regret, remorse, repentance and

renunciation that takes away all the joy out of life

rendering it a saga of “sack cloth and ashes”- all the

way. We would advise them to read Andal's Tiruppavai.

Tiruppavai shows how ours is the first and foremost

religion, which has the practical wisdom and

pragmatism to recognize the purpose of life both “Here

and the Hereafter”.

Tiruppavai laid down the principles and practices to

make life on earth enjoyable, meaningful and

worthwhile - while unfolding the “After-life” scenario

in equally vivid expressions.

Let us see some of her positive expressions-

• Selva Sirumeergaal: Dear darling prosperous girls;

• Vaiyathu Vaazhveerkaal: You who have come to live

and prosper in this world;

• Neengaatha Selvam Niraindhu: Securing bliss that

does not diminish;

• Vaazha Ulaginil Peithidaai: Rains that pour life

into us;

• POya Pizhaiyum Pugu Tharuvaan Ninranavum Theeyinil

Thoosu Aagum: The Sanchita and PrArabda Karmas

extinguished like dirt burnt by fire;

• Ullam Pugundhu Kulirndu: Entering the mind to make

it cool and pleasant;

• Naayakap Penn PillAi: Oh! Leader among womenfolk;

• Tesam UDaiyaai: Oh! Shining one;

• Tiral UDaiyaai: Oh! One who is capable;

• KOdhukalam Udaiya Paavaai: Lady full of hope and

enthusiasm;

• Selvap Pendaatti: Dearest spouse;

• Nar Chelvan Nangaai: Daughter of the prosperous one;

 

• POdharik KaNNinaai: Oh! You who have eyes like the

honeybees lying on flowers;

• Elle! ILam KiLiye: Oh! Parrot like beauty!

• TiruThakka Selvamum Sevakamum Yaam Paadi Varuthmum

Theerndu Magizhndu:

By praying for un-diminishing wealth and eternal

service, we can get rid of our grief and enjoy

happiness;

• KooDaarai Vellum Seer GOvinda!: GOvinda who can win

over even dissidents;

• Unthannodu UravEl Namakku Ingu Ozhikka Ozhiyaadu:

Our relationship with you here and hereafter can never

be severed;

• Enraikkum Ezhezh Piravikkum Unthannodu UtrOme AavOm

: We will be with you ever and anon through any number

of lifetimes;

• Engum Thiru Varul Petru Inburuvar: You will obtain

the grace of Mother Goddess Mahalakshmi and enjoy life

forever.

We see other Azhwars strike a melancholy note and self

deprecation for example:

“VaaDinEn VaaDi varundinEn manathaal” of Kaliyan

“aavi thigaikka aivar kumaikkum sitrinbam paaviyEnai

pala nee kaaTTip paDupaayO?” and “poi ninra

jnaanamum, pollaa ozhukkum azhukku uDambum…”

(Nammazhwar)

“piNI pasi mooppu thunbam aadalaal piravi vEnDEn”

(ThoNdar aDippoDi Azhwar)

What a fresh breeze of sanguine approach to life here

and hereafter by our Andal!

 

20. Purpose of Avataras.

For the frequently asked question “Why the lord takes

descents (Avataras)” the routine answer would be a

quote from Bhagavad Gita. For the protection of the

virtuous, for the vanquishing the vicious and for

establishing Dharma”

“ParitraaNaaya Saadoonaam, Vinaasaaya cha Dushkritaam,

 

Dharma Samsthaapanaarthaaya Sambhavaami yugE yugE”

Do you know that the Lord had one other reason for his

Avataras?

 

He wanted to be a teacher – a world teacher at that.

“KrishNam vandE jagat gurum”

 

We all know that the mother is ranked first, then only

comes the father and only after him - the teacher vide

the saying- " mAtru dEvO bhava, pitru dEvO bhava,

AachArya dEvO bhava " etc.

 

Thus, " GOdhAmrutham " takes the pride of place

relegating the role of the teacher to a distant third

place!

 

Does this not make a difference?

 

dAsoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

 

 

 

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