Thiruppavai Paasuram 1- Margazhi Thingal

[Guest guest]

Srirasthu

srimathyai godhayai nama:

Srimathe Ramanujaya nama:

 

Dear All,

 

Sri Madhusudanan Ramanujam is writing meanings of thiruppavai

paasurams and adiyen thought of sharing with you all.

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

Sri AndAL, as spoken by guruparamparA prabhAvams, is the incarnation

of Sri Bhoomi Devi, one among the many Divine consort of Sriman

Narayana. Her avathAram, as Svami Manvaala Maamunigal says,

" emmakkAgavandRO ingu AndAL avatharithAL " , was to teach the greatness

of saranAgathi and liberate us from the sufferings of this material

world. The sweet songs that she sang, numbering 30, more popularly

called as " ThiruppAvai " is believed to express the quintessence of Sri

Vaishnava Sampradaayam as a whole. She herself declares that those who

master these 30 with their meanings will be blessed with peace,

prosperity and more importantly the causeless mercy of Sriman Narayanan.

 

The most special aspect of this prabandham can be understood by the

way our poorvAchARyAs hailed it. They made it customary that all the

30 songs be chanted everyday at our homes and in temples. We might get

to think that AndAL is actually trying to perform a religious ritual

by conducting a vow to satisfy the Supreme Lord. But actually one

should understand that all that she did is to pray to be granted the

boon of " divine service, lasting to eternity " , as she says, " iRRaikkum

EzhEzh piRavikkum unthanIdu uRROmE yAvOm, unakkE nAm AtseivOm " , Divine

service at the lotus feet of Sriman Narayana, for all times to come,

is the sole goal of all SrivaishnavAs and showing us the way to

achieve that in short is what ThiruppAvai is all about.

 

SONG :1

 

The first song has been beautifully sung to mention about the core

issues that are to be elaborated in the following songs.

She first sings the greatness of the wonderful day that got her a

sambandham with EmperumAN. As AzhwAr sings, " anRu nAn piRandhilEn,

piRandhapin marandhilEn " " , its only after understanding the divine

relationship between us and emperumAn, we are considered born. This

divine relationship as expressed by Thirumanthram, is to be understood

and the day when this happens, is to be celebrated. AndAL understood

it on this very day and hence praises the day.

 

More next, she goes on to discuss what is that we are actually to do

here. She emphasizes the fact that this body is as such to serve him,

and the only prerequisite is that you have the interest to do it.

Nothing else is a barricade, just the little interest and intention is

what you need to qualify to serve Him. She sees this interest glowing

in the faces of Her friends as well and feels that the full bright

moon is not only in the sky but also in their faces.

 

She then moves on to praise the prosperity of " thiruvAipAdi " . The

place is immensely prosperous with the pranks of Sri Krishna. Or in

other words, the true wealth of vaishnavAs is the enjoyment that he

gets from being close to God and serving Him.

The amount of care and concern that NandagOpar has for Sri Krishna

amazes her so much that she sings about the sharp spear that he has to

ward of silly insects that come near Krishna. The mangalAsAsana

nishtai of NandagOpA, is similar to her own father Sri PeriyAzhwAr's.

More importantly she feels, yasOdhA dEvi's constant watch on Krishna

is responsible for His pranks.

 

Finally the most important idea to be learnt from this pAsuaram is

discussed. That is, what is the means to attain Him?

The answer is very simple, " He is the sole means to attain Him. "

 

Andal Thiruvadikale saranam

Azvar Emperumnar Jeeyar Thiruvadikale saranam