Thiruppavai - 3rd verse- Sing (utter) divine name of PurushOtthaman-Trivikraman

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SrI:

SrimathE Gopaladesika mahadesikaya nama:

 

Dearest all

 

3rd verse for our enjoyment…

 

Ongi ulagaLandha uththaman pEr paadi *

naaNGkaL nam paavaikkuc caaRRi nIraadinaal *

thINGkinRi naadellaam thiNGkaL mummaari peythu *

ONGku peRuNY cen^n^el Utu kayal ukaLap *

pUNGkuvaLaip pOthil poRi vaNdhu kaNpatuppath *

thENGkaathE pukkirun^thu sIrththa mulai paRRi

vaaNGkak * kudam niRaikkum vaLLal perum pacukkaL *

nINGkaadha celvam niRain^thu ElOr empaavaay. 3.

 

In this verse Andal speaks about the results obtained after observing the act of

Saranagati. The fruits are basically twofold. The first one being the eternal

bliss of moksham. Attaining divine

communion with Kannan is a unique achievement for girls of Aayarpadi alone. The

other fruits experienced by all the folks of Aayarpadi are a good harvest due to

good rains and lots of food,

cattle and wealth.

 

Meaning of the Third ThiruppAvai Paasuram (Dr.V.K.S.N.Raghavan):

 

If we (who adhere to the Vratam-Paavai nOnbhu) sing in

praise of the holy names of the Utthaman, Lord Thrivikraman

(the most benovolent Lord), who grew to a cosmic form

and measured the three worlds in two strides and put His

third step on the head of Emperor MahABali, and then if we

take the bath (in sacred YamunA) in the name of our Vratham,

then there will be three timely showers (of rain)

throughout the country and there will be no harm at all

(i.e., no drought, nor any famine).The country will be

rich and plentiful (because of the copious rains); the fish

(kayal) will roam about amidst tall stalks of large red

paddy crops (drinking sufficient honey from fallen-pollen and

becoming dazed);the bees with spots (all over their bodies)

will fall asleep amidst the petals of KuvaLai-flower

(Blue Lotus/NeelOthpalam)and the great, profusely milk-giving,

generous cows will yield milk just while being touched on

their stout udder filling up a number of milk-cans

very quickly;because of plenty of milk, only skillful people

could undertake to milk these cows. Thus, the whole country

will be filled with undecaying wealth and prosperity

(Richness in fields, lands and villages is assured

if the good poeple take to righteous path and sing

the glory of Lord Thrivikrama).

 

1st verse- was focused on AshtAkshara manthram.

2nd verse focused on Dvaya manthra.

3rd verse- on Charama SlOkam of GeethAchAryan

 

AshtAksharam, Dhvayam and Charama SlOkam of GeethAchAryan, the subject of the

first three paasurams respectively, have been described asâ€Taarakam, BhOgyam

and POshakamâ€. Taarakam is like annam (Food); BhOgyam is like Milk and Ghee ;

Poshakam is like sandal paste and betel leaves (TaambhUlam). With these three,

we have every thing that we need for our spiritual nourishment and enjoyment of

the ananatha

kalyANa GuNams of the divine couple and gain Moksha siddhi.

 

Another view is that ANDAL invited every one through the first paasuram

(Maarghazhi ThingaL--)to come and join in the enjoyment of AchArya GuNa

anubhavam (the celebration of the glories of AchAryan).In the second Paasuram

(Vaiyatthu VaazhveerkAL),She stressed the importance of the participants to have

the qualifications to obey the dictates of ShAsthrAs (Saasthra-Vasya

Yoghyathai).

 

In the third paasuram (Ongi UlhaLantha--), She declared that AchArya Kula

Sambhandham (Connection and involvement with AchArya Kulam starting from Sriman

NaarAyaNA to the present AchArya in that lineage) will give the Mumukshus (Those

who desire the boon of MOksham) immense Shreyas (auspiciousness).

 

Why is Thiruvikraman addressed asâ€Utthaman " :

 

The salutation of the Lord as Utthaman deserves study. Utthaman is One who

stands at a height, where Paapams can not touch Him. ChAndhOgya Upanishad called

such a lofty personage asâ€UTH " . A Chethanan after SaraNAgathi and after

leading the prescribed life after SaraNAgathi /

Prapatthi can also become anâ€UTHâ€at Sri Vaikuntam. The eternally liberated

(Nithya Mutha Jeevans) like Garuda and VishvaksEna have a higher level

thanâ€UTHâ€and are revered asâ€Utthara " . Even beyond them is

theâ€Utthamanâ€or PurushOtthaman (Sriman Narayanan) celebrated in the

GitOpanishad of our Lord.

 

In ANDAL's visualization, Trivikraman appeared as thatâ€Utthamanâ€and She

addressed Him asâ€Ongi Ulahu- aLantha Utthamanâ€and She invited Her friends to

sing about the glory of that Utthaman's Naamam (Utthaman pEr Paadi) as an

important part of the Paavai Nonbhu sankalpam to attain the desired fruits

(Phalans)of the Vratham.

Thrivikraman isâ€PurushOtthamanâ€because His sacred feet touched devotees and

dhvEshis(enemies) all alike (Samastha Janthus) during this avathAram and blessed

them all with His anugraham.

 

ANDAL hints that the Lord's name is grander than Him and hence She

saysâ€Utthaman pEr Paadiâ€(Naama sankIrthanam of Utthama name).She invites Her

fellow-gOpis to sing about the Naama Mahimai of Thrivikraman and His deeds. She

recommended that they do this Naama sankIrthanam and observe the Vratham with

Sankalpam that it is for Bhagavath-Preethi (SaaRRI NeerAdinAL). Then she

describes what kind of fruits will result from such an observance.

 

Fruit I:â€TheenginRi NaadellAm TingaL MummAri Peythuâ€:

 

The Vratham observers will be free from the DhOsham of ananya Seshathvam

(Theenginri NaadellAm). MummAri or the three monthly rains in recognition of the

Vedic scholars, the righteous king and the pathivrathA women will fall. The

three rains are also linked to the water poured on the hand of Vaamanan by Bali

Chakravarthi as dhAnam, the Kamandalu Jalam of BrahmA, when He washed the

ascending feet of the Lord and the GangA jalam that flowed from the sacred feet

of Lord Thrivikraman. Those waters will make the lands fertile and samrutthi

(prosperity) will result (Ongu Perum Sennel/ tall crops of rice plant). Because

of this jala samrutthi and fertility of the land,

the fish in the paddy fields have grown to big sizes and jump hither and thither

with joy.

 

Fruit 2: MummAri or the tri-monthly rain:

 

In Raama Raajyam, there were 9 days of Sunshine and one day of abundant rain.

This cycle repeated itself every month. Thus, there were three periods of rain

each month. The land was fertile and there were no inauspiciousness caused by

water shortage. Such prosperity will arise from the proper observance of

ThiruppAvai Vratham.

 

Grantha NirmANam (writing about VedAnthic topics),instructing others about them

and performing MangaLAsAsanam at our Lord's Dhivya desams are also described as

the three benevolent monthly showers.

 

Fruit 3: Ongu perum Sennel--VaLLal perum PasukkaL:

 

Abundant crops of red rice from the plentiness of rain would result. Tall stalks

of rice waving their heads as if they are saluting the Thiruvadis of

Thrivikraman will be seen. In those paddy fields, there will be fat fish jumping

joyously about; and in the blue lotus flowers of that field, the well-fed honey

bees would be sleeping comfortably.

The cows that have grazed from the rich meadows would yield huge amounts of milk

from their udders on mere touch. Abundance and prosperity is seen everywhere

from the Vratham (Japam of the three Sri VaishNavite sacred manthrams and

singing of the glories of Sriman Thrivikrama NaarAyanan).

 

Inner meaning:

 

" SaaRRI NeerAdinAlâ€here refers to the UpadEsam of SaraNAgathi rahasyam by

SadAchAryAs and the observance of it by SadhsishyAs.

 

“MummAriâ€here refers to the benefits of attaining the fruits of the Vratham

(SaraNAgathi) through Upadesam, through study of AzhwAr's Prabhandhams and

enjoyment of the ArchA moorthis at their dhivya desams through pilgrimages.

 

" Ongu peru-sennalUdu Kayal ukaLaâ€refers to the tall stalks of PrapannAs

thriving in the land rich with AchAryAs; the strong fishes jumping with joy in

the paddy fields are the happy AchAryAs, who recognize that their efforts

through Ukthi and AchArya Nishtai

(to perform SaraNAgathi) have borne fruit.

 

“PoomkuvaLai pOthil PoRi VaNDu kaNN Paduppaâ€refers to Sriman NarAyaNa

sleeping without worry in our heart lotuses (Hrudhaya Kamalams) that His work

through His AchAryAs has been successful. He sleeps like a contented farmer, who

has realized abundant crops.

 

“TengAthE pukkirinthu seertha Mulai paRRi Vaangak kudamâ€refers to the

sishyAs, who have flocked to the AchAryan pulled closer by the affection

(vaathsalyam) of their AchAryans.

 

“VaLLal perum pasukkaLâ€refers to the most generous AchAryAs, who do not

expect any returns. They use the equivalent of the four fingers of the udders of

the abundant milk giving cows to impart knowledge about the three parama

rahasyams of Sri VaishNavam. The four fingers of the udder through which this

milk of Knowledge (Jn~ana milk) flows are : Vedam, Smruthi, Saathvika PurANams

and AzhwAr Paasurams.

 

" NeengAtha Selvam NiRainthuâ€refers to the undiminishing wealth of Jn~Anam at

all times during our stay on His Leela VibhUthi (Earth) and in His Transcendent

world of Sri Vaikuntam.

 

[Extracted from Sri Satakopan swami’s translation of exhaustive Tamil

commentary on Thiruppavai by Sri U Ve PerukaraNai Swami]

 

Andal Thiruvadigale saraNam

Regards

Namo narayana

dAsan