Thiruppavai Paasuram 3- Ongi Ulaglanatha

[Guest guest]

srirasthu

srimathe Ramanujaya nama:

 

Ongi Ulagalantha

 

The vow that AndAL started was for the welfare and prosperity of this

world, which is His property. In this pAsuram, She wishes that there

be rain thrice a month. An excellent character of a Srivaishnava,

wishing for the welfare of the whole world is shown here for us to

practice. Only SrivaishnavAs till date pray, " kaDal sOzhndha

maNNulagam vAzha " , let the world surrounded by the oceans live long.

No wonder our poorvAchAryAs made it customary that we pray so everyday.

 

Now a question arises, why is AndAL interested in material well being?

Yet another important quality of a vaishnava that She addresses here

is the answer for the above question. A Srivaishnavite, must aspire

for the well being of the worlds riches considering them as the Lord's

own and at the same time keep self detached from them.

 

AndAL asks Her friend to recite the name of the Lord who measured the

entire universe with his three steps and conducts the vow, cause of

which the whole world becomes prosperous. She speaks about the

greatness of His names, which will help us more handy than Himself.

Best example that can be quoted here is that of Draupadi. When she was

disrobed in the court hall, before her own husbands, she shouted out

" gOvindha, puntareekAksha " and immediately she was attended. Its the

supreme power of the God's name that saved her modesty when even Lord

Himself failed. SwAmi PiLLailOkAchAryar points this out in

MumookshupaDi and writes, " avan doorasthanAnAlum idhu kitti ninRu

udhavum " (Even if the Lord is far off, His names will be close enough

to help us) and " Draupadikku AbathilE puDavai surandhadhu

thirunAmamEyirE " (It were His names that helped Draupadi in her

emergency).

 

But we as prapannAs surrender and seek salvation ONLY through Him. His

names, more importantly the ashtAkshari is for us to understand the

five fold genius, namely: the true nature of the soul, the Lord, our

relationship which is mutual, the path to achieve our goal (which is

nothing but the Lords lotus feet) and finally that which is stopping

us from achieve our goal.

 

Finally She speaks about " neengAdha selvam " . Certainly she does not

speak about the material wealth,which is never everlasting, but about

the eternal service at the lotus feet of the almighty, which according

to Srivaishnavam is the true wealth that a soul can accumulate.

" neengAdha selvam niRaindhu "

 

Andal Thiruvadikale saranam

Azvar Emperunamar Jeeyar thiruvadikale saranam

 

adiyen Ramanuja Dasan,

Madhusudanan Ramanujam