Sri U.Ve. PerukkAranai Swamy's ThiruppAvai Commentary: Selected Excerpts: Part IV--- SvApadEsArthams

[Guest guest]

Sriamth Azhagiya Singar ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

 

Dear BhakthAs:

 

We will cover the SvApadEsam aspects of ThiruppAvai here.

 

SvApadesams and AnyApadesams

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ThiruppAvai is an AdhyAthmika Prabhandham (i-e)

it deals with the relationship between the Supreme Being

and the Jeevan. It took avathAram to celebrate the indestructible

and eternal relationship between the two ( sEsha-sEshi

bhavam : uRavu Ozhikka OzhiyAthu). Therefore , ThiruppAvai

is not just a story of the Vratham (nOnbhu) of

the Gopa Kannikais to gain the Lord as their husband.

Beyond this story , It takes on the form of Vedic

doctrines and those of UpabruhmaNams such as

IthihAsams and Saathvika PurANams.Hence , there are

abundant references to VedAnthic matters in a natural

form inside ThiruppAvai of ANDAL. These inner thoughts

dealing with VedAnthic doctrines and AdhyAthmika

Saasthrams are known as SvApadesams .

 

The SvApadEsam is closely connected to anyApadEsam ,

which refers to literary and superficial meanings

(mElezhuntha VaariyAna arthangaL). AnyApadEsam also is

a way of refering to some thing tangentially ,

while having some thing else in mind. For instance ,

some one will say in the middle of an assembly of

people : " The Sun has set " . Among those who hear this

statement , there will be many different intrepretations .

The Vaidhikar will think that the time has come to

perform Saayam Sandhya Vandhanam.The visitor will think:

" Oh ! it is getting late ; I must return home before

night fall " . The thief in the group will think :

" Sun has set ; darkness will come soon. Where can I

go to steal tonight ? " Thus there are many meanings

for " The Sun has set " staement based on one's life

experiences.These mulitple meanings are called

" vyngyArthams or Dhvanyarthams " .

 

The Person who made the statement , " The Sun has set "

is making anyApadesam .That person making the anyApadEsam

however had some thing else in mind ( svApadEsam /

inner meaning ). That SvApadesam is more like SvAdhyAyam

or " inner thoughts or recitation of VedAs " in the context

of ThiruppAvai . SvApadEsam is therefore more like Sva upadesam .

 

SvApadesam is not Sva+apadesam ( apdEsam=VyAjam or Saakku

in Tamil).SvApadesam is also not SvApa+dEsam

( a sleeping place associated perhaps with

the rigors of upanyAsam listening). SvApadesam really

means inner VedAnthic meanings behind anyApadesam

(literary meanings) .

 

Our PoorvAchAryALs have come up with brilliant

SvApadesams for each word and groups of words

of ThiruppAvai in their many commentaries. Therefore ,

it is important to understand the SvApadesams

besides the literary meanings ( padha arthams).

SvApadesams are therefore Visesha VedArthams.

ThiruppAvai is therefore saluted as " Vedam

anaithukkum vitthAhum " ( Thiruppavai is the seed

for all VedAs ). ThiruppAvai is all about

the Sesha-Seshi-Bhaava-Roopa Sambhandham

(YeRRaikkum yEzhEzh piRavikkum unthannOdu

uRROmEyAvOm , unakkE naamAtccheyvOm).

 

We will study the three taniyans for ThiruppAvai

in the subsequent postings before the first day

of Maarghazhi Month ( Margazhi ThingaL Dinam ),

which is four days away.

 

" GodhA Tasyai Nama idhamidham BhUya yEvAsthu BhUya: "

 

Sarvam KrishNArpamamasthu

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri SatakOpan