18.UNDU MADAKALITRAN - by U.Ve.ESB Swamin

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18.UNDU MADAKALITRAN

 

This is a very important pasuram.Even after waking up

all from Nanda to Balarama,when Krishna does not open

His lips, they realise their folly in not waking up

first NAPPINNAI, the chief queen and Purushakara (recom-

mending authority) during His sojourn in this world

as Krishna.They do it in this verse.

 

Nappinnai is Sri NEELA DEVI, the other two being SRI

DEVI (Rukmini) and BHOO DEVI (Satyabhama). Nappinnai's

name is not found anywhere in the Puranas and in

Sanskrit poems except in SRI YADAVABHYUDAYAM of Sri

DESIKA, where she is referred to as Neela; and in the

stotras of Sri KURATTAZHWAN. See also the " Taniyan "

of Sri Andal - " NEELA TUNGA... " by Sri PARASARA BHATTAR.

 

As we are sinners and the Lord is known for His " Swaa-

tantrya " (acting according to His own will), it is

necessary to approach Him through somebody who is very

near and dear to Him and whose advice is infallible.

Hence Nappinnai's intervention is is essential.

 

She is addressed as Nanda's daughter-in-law, because she

thinks that that is what gives her prestige and status

in society. Sita, when asked by Hanuman said, " I'm the

daughter-in-law of Dasaratha first,and then only the

daughter of Janaka. " So to an Indian woman Andal's

exhortation is: " After marriage a girl should always

prefer herself to be referred to as the daughter-in-

law of her father-in-law; which means that the welfare

of her husband's family should weigh more with her

than that of the family of her origin.This attitude

would enhance her own prestige and bring immense joy

to her own family. "

 

This pasuram was the special favourite of our Acharya

Sri Ramanuja.He was in the habit reciting to himself

Tiruppavai stanzas while he went for his Maadhukara

Vritti (for collecting the alms the householders used

to give) .Once just as he reached the door of his Guru's

house he was meditating on this verse.While the last

line " SEERAAR VALAI OLIPPA etc " was on his lips the

door opened to the clinking of the bangles of the

daughter of his guru. Sri Ramanuja thought that it was

Nappinnai herself who opened the door and overwhelmed

with jubilation promptly prostrated himself before her.

The terrified girl ran to her father and narrated the

incident.The guru TIRUKKOTTIYUR NAMBI exclaimed,

" Jiya! were you reciting UNDU MADAKALIRU ? "

What an understanding between the Teacher and the

taught ! May that relationship save us all!.