Andal Tirunakshatram

[Guest guest]

Sri:

 

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

 

Dear Bhaktas,

 

For the occassion of TiruvAdipooram, Adiyen wishes to remember our blessed

mother, Goda Piratti, and share a few thoughts about this wonderful Azhwar.

Srimans Sadagopan Swamin and Madhavakkannan Swamin

have already blessed us with their Anubhavams of the day.

 

First, the birth of this Azhwar was not through residence in a mother's

womb. Instead it was an Avirbhava as described by Swami Desikan. The fact

that she was located by Sri Periya Azhwar in his garden of flowers,

illustrates the salutation " PadmavanAlayAm "

and PadmavAsAm (as used by Swami Desikan in the Ranganatha Padhuka

Sahasram) for Sri Mahalakshmi Thayar. The glory of Srivilliputtur stems from

the fact that it is the birthplace of Andal and the residence of Lord

Govinda(Godai Piranda Oor Govindan Vazhumoor). Indeed such is the love of

our Lord for Goda Piratti that the

Moolavar at Srirangam is south-facing. This helps him keep his promise of

Nitya Darshanam to Vibhishana and Andal since both Srivilliputtur and Lanka

are to the south of Srirangam.

 

Andal is the embodiment of the BhuSooktam salutations " YattE

ManyuParOptasya PruthivI ManudadvashE. Adiyta VishvE taddeva

Vasavascha Samabharan. MedinI Devi VasundharAsyAd Vasudha Devi

VasavII "

 

Her outpourings in the thirty delectable Tiruppavai verses contain

the essence of all Vedas. If one is unable to undertake Nitya

Veda Parayanam, recitation of Andal's Sarrmurai verses paves the

way for salvation. The key salutations are " UnakkE NamazhchaivOm "

and " NamakkE ParadaruvAn " . These reflect the message from the Lord's

assurances " Yogakshemam VahAmyaham " , " Maamekam SharaNam Vraja " ,

" Sambhavami Yuge Yuge " and " MokshayishyAmi Ma Shucha " . The key

salutation, " UnakkE NamatchaivOm " , brilliantly summarizes the

Sama Vedam, which is exclusively in praise of Lord Narayana.

 

The act of granting SharaNagati is a Yajna performed by Lord Narayana.

The term patni is exclusively reserved for use in connection with

Yajna. Andal assists the Lord in the performance of this yajna as

VishNu Patni. This is extolled in the Bhu Sooktam Rk " ShrungE

ShrunGe YajnE YajnE VibhishaNII " and the Neela Sooktam Rk " Pruthivya

AsyEshAnA JagatO VishNu Patni " . The compassion of Bhumi Piratti for

a Prapanna manifests itself in her request to the Lord to forgive the

transgressions committed by the supplicant. By this act, Bhumi

Piratti renders the " Yaaga Shala " (for Prapanna Jana RakshaNam) fertile and

enables the benevolent Lord to shower his grace. This can be seen from Swami

Desikan's Daya Shatakam salutation " Divya Dampati

Daya Kallola Kolahala: " Swami Desikan explicitly refers to the Anubhavam of

Andal in the Daya Shatakam salutation " Sharnga

DhanvAnukampa " which is a reference to the Tiruppavai salutation

" Mazhai Pol "

 

The uniqueness of Andal lies in the fact that she was one of two

Azhwars who attained Parama Padam before the Lord Himself. In

accepting his consort, Lord Ranganatha brilliantly illustrates

the three meanings of the word Gauh, i.e., from the

earth, from the cow, from the Vedam. Let us see how this came about.

 

(1)Andal arose from the earth as the Amsam of Bhoomi Piratti and

was accepted by Lord Ranganatha as his consort. This illustrates

the meaning of Govinda as the Lord of the earth.

(2)In the thirty verses, Andal eulogized Govinda- the protector of the

cows. Accordingly the greatest cowherd heeded her prayers.

(3)The outpourings of Andal contain the essence of all Vedams. As

a result her wish for eternal union with Lord Govinda was granted

by the Veda Purushan.

(4) The term Govinda is also related to the PraNava Swaroopam of

the Lord. This can be gleaned from the salutation UnakkE

NamAzhchaivOm. This is refers to the Narayana Upanishad

salutations " Pratyagananadam Brahma Purusham PraNava Swaroopam "

and " BrahmaNyO DevakI PutrO BrahmaNyO MadhusudhanOm "

(5)The Govinda Naamam is extremely sweet like honey. Andal enjoys

this sweetness in the Koodarai Vellum sheer Govinda. This is reflective of

the MahanarayaNOpanishad Rk " MadhuvatA

rutAyatE Madhaksharanti Sindhava: MAdvIIrNasantoUshadi: Madhu naktamu

tOshasi Madhuna: Parthivam Vraja: MadhuDhyOrastuna: Pita MadhnumAnno

Vanaspati: Madhumanastu Soorya: MajIrGhavO Bhavantuna: " .

 

Another reason for Andal's uniqueness is that since she was a woman,

pining for her beloved and expressing her sorrow at separation from

her consort came to her naturally.

 

Her message of Trikala SmaraNam is beautifully portrayed in three

key verses of the Tiruppavai, i.e., remembering the Lord at three

important times.

 

(1) Upon waking up from sleep: Marghazhi Tingal.. is the relevant

Pasuram.

(2) While engaging in SnAnam: Ongi Ulahalanda Uttaman PEr Paadi...

is the Pasuram which illustrates this.

(3) While partaking of food: Koodarai Vellum Sheer Govinda...

This illustrates the Taittriya Upanishad salutation " Aham Annam

Aham Annam Aham Annam... " rendered in Saman. Again this points

to the Sama Vedam aspect associated with Govinda.

 

 

Andal TiruvadigalE SharaNam,

 

Namo Narayana,

 

SriMuralidhara Dasan

 

 

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