ThiruppAvai, Day 6

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Pa:suram 6

 

pullum silambina ka:n, pullarayin koyilil

vellai velisangin pe:raravam ke:ttilayo:

pilla:y yezhundira:y, pe:y mulai nanjundu

kallachchagadam kalakkazhiyak ka:lochchi

 

 

vellaththaravil thuyulamaranda viththinai

ullaththukkondu munivargalum yo:gigalum

mellavezhundu ariyenra pe:raravam

ullam pugundu kulirinde:elo:remba:va:i ||

 

HH Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamy’s Translation:

 

In this Pasuram A:nda:l is awakening one of her friends. See... the birds

have woke up, running here and there busily chirping and greeting each other.

Haven't you heard the great sound of the White Conches blown in the temples of

the lord Narayana who is the Lord of the king of birds( ie., Garuda), that

which is calling the serving devotees to become alert in their duties ?

Having newly entered into the service of Lord, O' little girl, who is yet to

know that serving the servants of Lord is the ultimate ! Wake up and join us.

He who drank the breast poison like milk, from demon Puthana who came

camouflaged as His mother, He who broke the chariot into pieces, that was

the deceiving form of a demon Sakatasura, by just extending His cute legs and

simply touching them to the chariot, He who is laying down on a soft serpant

in the Milky ocean, whom the Munis and Yogis always try to constantly remember

in their hearts by slowly waking up yelling the holy name " Hari " " Hari "

have all entered into our hearts and calmed it down to the coldest, that which

is making us shiver and tremble. How are you still sleeping, wake up and come

!

 

Explanation by Sri E. S. Bhuvarahachariar Swamy:

 

SECTION II

 

INTRODUCTION: The first five pasurams of Tiruppavai form one section, and

pa:surams 6-15 the second section. These 10 stanzas describe the sleeping

girls being woken up by those who are already up. These two groups represent

KAINKARYA NISHTHA (those impatient to serve God) and GUNA NISHTHA (those who

are content to meditate on the glorious qualities of God). Nammazhvar speaks

of their presence even in the Lord’s Supreme Abode - VAIKUNTATTU AMARARUM

(service minded) MUNIVARUM (enjoying His Virtues). Poison acts on different

people in different ways - some faint and some run here and there; so do the

attributes of Sri Krishna. Hence the sleeping girls are not a bit inferior in

their longing for Krishna to those who wake them. Though one could go to

Krishna on one's own, it is not advisable " VEDAM VALLARGALAI KKONDU,VINNOR

PERUMAN TIRUPPADAM PANINDU " says Nammazhwar. We should always approach Him

through some godly person; because we have sinned against Him and being a

SWATANTRA (free to act as He pleases), He may punish us. Hence a Recommending

Authority is very much needed.Moreover His virtues are like a huge river in

spate during rains, and so if a man wants to cross it, surely he needs the

help of others. Further unlike in the case of carnal company, enjoyment of

His company will be sweeter in the company of other devotees. Those gopis who

are vigilant are goaded on by their haste (twara) to get Kainkarya,while

those that are asleep have firm faith (adhyavasaya)in the Lord as

Upaya (The Means for Realizing Him). Hence pa:surams 6-15 give room for

interpreting the sleeping girls as referring to Azhvars (mystics) and Acharyas

(Teachers).

 

The girls approach the mansion of a gopi and wake her up by indicating signs

of early dawn, " even the birds are up and chirping. Get up. " The sleeping girl

rejects this reason, " oh girls, you never allow the birds in your town to

sleep, with your chanting of His names and making them chant too. This is no

sign of dawn! " Then they mention a noteworthy sign, " PULLARAYAN KOIL etc. The

blowing conch in the temple of Vishnu for early morning worship, is inviting

us all for His service. Get up. "

 

Here the phrase PULLARAYAN KOIL brings out an excellent quality of the Lord:

PUL is bird, here Garuda (the Great Eagle, the vehicle of the Lord); ARAYAN

king ; KOYIL temple. The temple of Vishnu. But why this circumlocution? In

Ramayana while narrating to Hanuman her abduction by Ravana, Sita says, " On

that fateful day I was lured by that demon disguised as a deer,and was

separated from Rama's

younger brother and Lakshmana's elder brother (RAMANUJAM LAKSMANA POORVAJAM

CHA). " Such phraseology is used for a purpose. The Lord feels happy when His

name is coupled with His devotees, and so does the devotee when he is

referred to as being subservient to the Lord. The message of Sita (Sri Devi)

and Andal (Bhu Devi) to us is that when a Sri Vaishnava names his child he

should follow this principle.

 

 

ULLATHU KKONDU etc in this verse is noteworthy. The munis and yogins get up in

the morning very slowly from their beds so that the Lord, taking eternal abode

in their hearts may not be disturbed. Prahlada was pushed down from the top of

a huge mountain, and while falling he held fast his bosom with great concern

for the Lord in His Heart, not bothering about what was happening to himself.

But the Lord

waited for him at the bottom of the mountain and received him in his spread

arms. Parasara Bhattar used to embellish his body with silken robe,

ornaments, sandal paste etc, and when asked about its propriety in respect of

the despicable body, he said in his view it was not despicable but adorable

being the sanctum sanctorum of the Almighty. Andal also leaves this lesson in

this verse: When you get up in the morning chant the name of Hari (HARIR HARIR

HARIRITI VYAHARET VAISHNAVAH PUMAN). Let us do so.