mArgazhi thingal, 2002

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Respected Ramanuja Bhaktas,

 

January 16, 2002 is the first day of dhanurmAsa, or mArgazhi mAsam as it is

known in Tamil. The 30 days of this month are considered very auspicious for

followers of Ramanuja, as this is the month that is solely dedicated to the

recitation of ThiruppAvai, which is regarded above and beyond all of the other

4000 verses of the Divya Prabhandam (Sacred Collect) to contain the essence -

indeed, to be the very " seed " - of the Veda (Eternal Wisdom).

 

ThiruppAvai also stands unique as it is the composition of the only woman

among the 12 Tamil Mystical Saints, the AzhvArs, Andal, who is the very

incarnation of Pure Love. Her Unique Birth, Her upbringing in the home of her

foster father, another noble AzhvAr, Periya AzhvAr, and Her pure devotion to

the Lord is summarized in the following link:

 

http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/alvars/andal/

 

I am blessed to share the transliteration and translation of today's verse of

ThiruppAvai by Dr. K. Srinivasan of Toronto, along with a brief synopsis of

its inner meaning by the noted Sri E. S. Bhuvarahachariar Swamy:

 

maargazhi (th) thingal madhi niRaindha nannaaLaal

neeraada pOdhuveer pOdhuminO nErizhaiyeer

seer malgum aayppaadi (ch) chelva (ch) chiRumeergaaL

koorvEl kodundhozhilan nandhagOpan kumaran

Eraandha kaNNi yasodhai iLam singam

kaar mEni cengaN kadhir madhiyam pOl mugaththaan

naaraayaNanE namakkE paRai tharuvaan

paarOr pugazha (p) padindhElor empaavaay

 

 

oh bejewelled girls (nEr izhaiyeer ) ! Prosperous (chelva) young girls

(chirRumeer) of the rich city (seer malgum) of Tiruvoypadi (aaypaadi)! This is

the month (thingaL) of December/January (margazhi), an auspicious day (nan

naaL) with brilliant moon (madhi niRaindha). Those who want to go

(pOdhumeenO). The Lord (naaraayaNan), who was the son (kumaran) of NandagOpan,

who could give a lot of trouble (kodun thozhilan) to enemies using his sharp

spear give a lot of trouble (kodun thozhilan) to enemies using his sharp spear

(koor vEl); who was the little lion (iLam singam) of the beautiful (Eraandha)

eyed (kaNNi) YasOda; who is dark (kaar) skinned (mEni); who has beautiful

(sen) eyes (kaN); shines like the sun (kadhir); who has a face (mugaththaan)

like (pOl) the moon (madhiyam); will give (tharuvaan) us (namakkE) his

blessings (paRai). Hey (El)! Let us immerse in water (padindhu) do the penance

of 'paavai nOnbu' (Or embaavaai), a practice praised (pugazha) by the people

of the world (paarOr).

 

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

(12.16.02) 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.

 

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.