29. STTAMSIRU KAALE- by U.Ve.ESB Swamin

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29.SITTAMSIRU KAALE

 

 

This stanza clearly tells us of the highest Purushaartha

(the end of human life),explaining the meaning of PARAI.

Asking for Parai is a pretext; as the cowherds proposed

this " nonbu' for getting rain and as it came in handy for

Gopis(Andal) to keep looking at the face of Lord Krishna

for as long as they liked,they accepted it.Their real

intention is to get KAINKARYA (eternal service)at the

lotus-feet of the Lord.The word NARAYANANE used in the

first stanza was explained in the previous verse;the

word PARAI is explained here.

 

Both " Means " and " End " are the same in Sri Vaishnava

Sampradaaya;it is Sriman Narayana himself.If those who

take Him as the " Means' have contact with other " Means "

like Karmayoga etc,it is akin to pollution due to contact

with a dead body(because Karma Yoga etc are by nature

inert and need His Presence to give Result).And if they

consider their act of Surrender to the Lord

(Prapatti) itself to be the " Means " , it is like accretion

of sin due to contact with a chandaala(because anything

which has the taint of the ego pollutes the purity of

the Prapanna).

 

Similarly regarding the " End " also there are two mistakes

which need to to be avoided: 1)Desiring other mundane

things from Him,which would be like desiring to eat poisoned

or contaminated food; and 2)serving the Lord for one's own

enjoyment rather than exclusively for His pleasure(Swaartha

Kainkarya),which would be like eating food left over from

another eater (Uchchishtha Bhojana).

 

Both these types of Purities (UPAAYA SUDDHI and UPEYA

SUDDHI) need to be strictly ensured by a Prapanna.The

previous verse (28) speaks of UPAAYA SUDDHI - " UNTANNAI..

..PUNNIYAM YAAM UDEYOM " - You ALONE are our Means.The

present verse enjoins UPEYA SUDDHI - " UNAKKE NAAM AAT_

SEYVOM " -We serve you for the sake of your happiness

ALONE,and we derive happiness on seeing your enjoyment.

 

Even the least trace of selfish enjoyment is to be

totally erased in the service of God.It is just as in

the case of sandal paste,cool breeze,flowers,ornaments

etc which give pleasure to man,without themselves feeling

any;the only difference being that man not being inert like

them feels happy looking at the pleasure of the Lord.

 

Krishna ordered His servants to bring the huge kettle-

drum (PARAI).Then Andal says, " O Wonder! you have not

understood us.We require only your everlasting,most

enjoyable service.We wish to be always born alongwith you,

and keep company with you always to serve you.(Like

Lakshmana who served Rama whether He was in Ayodhya

or in the forest.).Kindly guard us from evincing

interest in anything except you. "

 

Just as the body serves a man,the Soul,which is the

body of the Lord (Yasya aatma sareeram),should serve

Him.This is the natural law.This is the message of

Andal in this crowning verse.