Tiruppavai Introduction - By U.Ve.E.S.Bhuvarahachariar Swamy

[Guest guest]

Respected Ramanuja Bhaktas,

 

Sunday, December 16, marked the first day of mArgazhi mAsam and month

long celebration in honor of Thiruppavai, a set of 30 verses that

forms part of the Sacred 4000 mystical outpourings of the Alwars, the

twelve Tamil mystics that form the heart of the devotional experience

of SriVaishnavism.

 

Thiruppavai was composed by Andal, the only woman among these

mystical saints, who is also recognized by the worshippers of Vishnu

to be an incarnation of the Compassionate Mother, Sri or Lakshmi.

Andal's devotional composition vividly describes her identification

of Herself as a gopika, cowherd girl, of Gokula, and her gathering of

friends and family together to go and seek the blessings of Krishna

for a special vratam, or penance, they will be doing to the Goddess

for the blessings of a good husband. Suffice it to say, the penance

itself serves in a completely different way for Andal, as it provides

her and her gopika friends to go to Krishna's home and meet the

Handsome Lord whom Andal has chosen as the only One whom she will

marry. While it is a romantic and sometimes fun-loving poem, a

deeper study of Thiruppavai shows it deeper meaning. For Andal's

love poetry is recognized to be the Seed of the Veda, as it reveals

to us our True Nature and the Eternal Loving Connection that we share

with Sriman Narayana.

 

It is known that Thiruppavai is one of Ramanuja's favorite pAsurams

(set of verses) among the sacred verses. So much so, that Ramanuja

also has the title of Thiruppavai Jeeyar, and in recognition of his

service to Andal, is known as the older brother to the Lady of

SriVilliputhur Herself.

 

I am blessed and honored to share with all of you the English summary

of the esoteric meaning of the work, as presented by the noted

scholar, U. Ve. Sri E. S. Bhuvarahacharya Swamy. The Introduction

and first verse, mArgazhi tingal, are presented below.

 

In addition, I would like to remind everyone that we are all blessed

and honored this year to be able to hear live discourses on

Thiruppavai by HH Sri Tridandi Sriman Narayana Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamy,

which is taking place every evening at 10:30 PM EST every day from

December 16 through January 14.

 

With Sri Ramanuja's Grace, we begin Sri ESB Swamy's postings

Thiruppavai.

 

Andal thiruvadigalE saranam

 

adiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan

Mohan

 

Thiruppavai, an explanation in English by U. Ve. Sri E. S.

Bhuvaracharya Swamy:

 

 

INTRODUCTION: Sri ANDAL is the Quintescence incarnation

of Sri BHUMI DEVI the Divine Consort of SRIMAN NARAYANA,

who took birth on this earth to liberate suffering human

beings from worldly bondage.She sang thirty sweet songs

containing the cardinal principles ofSriVaishnava Dharma

during the month of MARGAZHI.Singing these songs,with

understanding of their inner meaning, will bring to us

peace, prosperity and above all Divine Grace.

 

ANDAL, though a Brahmin girl, assumes the guise of a

cowherdess and yearns for Everlasting Happiness and

Service of the Lord.It is the age-old practice of

Sri Vaishnavas to sing these stanzas every day of the

year in the presence of the Lord in the temple as

well as in their homes.This practice assumes special

significance during MARGAZHI so much so that each day

of this month gets its name from a pasuram,like for

example the first day (12.16.01) is called MARGAZHI-

TTINGAL.

 

It may appear in the beginning that Andal is intending

to perform a particular religious vow to marry the Lord

and thereby obtain His Everlasting Company,and that she

is inviting all her girl friends to join her.It is only

towards the end of TIRUPPAVAI that we learn that she

did not actually go to any pond or river or perform

a religious rite; SHE IS ACTUALLY PRAYING TO BE GRANTED

THE SERVICE OF THE LORD FOR ALL ETERNITY.It is the

Soul's inner craving to redeem itself and to reach

His Divine Nearness in order to serve him ( " Attaani-

cchevagam " as her father PERIYAZHWAR calls it) which

forms the real purport of this poem.

 

MARGAZHI TTINGAL

 

The first stanza which states the central premise to be

elaborated in the rest of the poem contains the

following ideas:

1.Andal praises the day (NANNAL)that has appeared of

its own accord for the observance of the vow.What it

means is that for a soul,that day is the Good Day when

he understands all about himself and God and their

mutual relationship of Lord and Servant which is stated

in the Tirumantram.

2.The fruit in getting one's body is for serving the

Lord here and hereafter (NEERADA PODUVIR)

3.All those who have a longing for the service of the

Lord are qualified to join her.(PODUVIR PODUMINO)

4.She speaks of the radiance that attended on the face

of her companions on hearing her requisition.(MADI

NIRAINDA ;the moon is not in the sky alone!)

5.The prosperity of Gokula consists of Sri Krishna's

amiable pranks in stealing butter and girls; i.e.,the

wealth of a Sri Vaishnava consists of his intoxicating

love for and enjoyment of Lord's company.

6.Nandagopa's vigilance in guarding Krishna with his

very sharp spear in hand symbolises the " ASTHANE

BHAYA-SANKA " and " MANGALASASANA-PARATA " which

characterises a SriVaishnava.

7.Yasoda's over-indulgence of Krishna is responsible

for all his pranks and misbehaviour towards the young

gopis.

8.SrimanNarayana is the SOLE MEANS of attaining His Feet.

This strikes the keynote of the Song Divine-TIRUPPAVAI.

NARAYANANE (Upaya Swarupam) NAMAKKE (Adhikari Swarupam)

PARAI (Phala Swarupam) TARUVAN.The safest means of securing

Him is not Karma yoga etc but His Grace only.

That is the sum and substance of this verse.