Glorious Garlands

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Srimate SrivanSatakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yatindra Mahadesikaya Nama:

 

 

 

Glorious Garlands

 

 

 

 

 

I was marking attendance at a marriage. The next item on the agenda was for the

Bride and Groom to exchange garlands- " Maalai Maattral " . I sat up in my seat and

began to take notice, as this is the part of the marriage festivities that I

like the most. It is very obviously a throwback to ancient times when girls used

to garland the man they fancied the most, in a Swayamvaram. And it is so

beautifully symbolic, don't you think, of the bride choosing the man as her life

mate. What better way to show your affections, than with flowers, and that too

with garlands?

 

(Some harried husbands would, in retrospect, compare the wedding garland to a

noose put around their unwitting neck, similar to the one around the sacrificial

goat's-- but let us ignore them, as we are talking here of happy marriages).

Coming back to the exchange of garlands between the bride and the groom, quite a

few years back, the maternal uncles of the bride and the groom used to officiate

over this part of the marriage, each carrying his ward on his shoulders and

running back and forth. This is usually a hilarious scene, with the uncles vying

with each other in demonstrating their respective skills, making it difficult

for the other party to put the garland around the neck of the bride or the

groom. This carrying on shoulders was possible and easy, when marriages used to

take place between children, or at best adolescents. However, with the current

practice of marriages between full-grown adults in their late twenties, the

uncles have to grunt and groan while carrying their charges, if at all they

venture to undertake the rather risky business. I know of an uncle who, after

carrying the rather bulky bride on his shoulders during the garland-exchange,

was hospitalized for six months with a prolapsed disc.

 

 

 

However, this piece is not about uncles or prolapsed discs. It is about

Garlands. You may think, " What is there to write on garlands! They are after all

put together to be worn a few hours and thrown off once they wilt. " I too was

under the same impression, till I did some research on the subject and found a

wealth of information, which would make us look at them in a new light

altogether.

 

 

 

As a ten-year-old, I remember being taken shopping for Sri Jayanti by my father.

When he bought a small garland of Shenbaka flowers (with which Sri Periazhwar

sought to adorn Sri Krishna) and entrusted it to me for carrying, I could not

resist smelling the same, since the scent was extremely heady. When he happened

to watch me at this, my father instantly threw away the garland, telling me that

flowers meant for the Lord should not be smelt or used by us in any other way,

before being submitted to Him. Though we bought a different garland, the

incident stuck to my memory. Sometime later, when my father was recounting to me

the glorious tale of Sri Andal and came to the portion about Her having adorned

Herself with the garlands meant for the Lord, painstakingly put together by Her

father Sri Vishnuchitta, I promptly queried my father as to how Sri Andal could

have done something which I had been prohibited from doing. And later too, when

I was taught Sri Periazhwar's pasuram describing the devotees' delight in

adorning themselves with garlands and clothes cast off by Emperuman, it rankled

in my mind as to how the Lord could have made an exception in the case of Sri

Andal and accepted garlands She had worn first. My father gently explained to

me the ocean of difference between my humble self and Sri Andal, pointing out

the intense and pure love that She had for Emperuman, which made the Lord not

only accept the used garlands with unalloyed pleasure, but refuse to wear any

others.

 

 

 

Normally, once you wear them, flowers lose their fragrance and wilt away

gradually due to the wearer's body heat. However, the garland worn by Sri Goda

acquired a unique fragrance due to Her association, which the flowers did not

originally possess. And when He wore the garlands of Goda, Sri Ranagnatha too

smelled sweeter than ever, we are told by Swami Desikan. In fact, the Lord is

touted to be the repository of all fragrance- " Sarva Gandha: " . However, the scent

of the garlands which originally adorned Sri Andal was such as to suppress and

overwhelm all other sources of fragrance Emperuman sported, be it the sacred

scent of the Shruti, that of the Vijayanti Vanamala constantly adorning the

Lord's chest or the sweet-smelling sandalwood paste smeared on His chest. Sri

Kodai's hair, on which the garlands originally resided, was so beautiful and so

fragrant, that Sri Ranganatha, once He was used to such garlands, spurned any

other which had not been worn first by Kodai. She is hence said to have

captivated and captured the affections of Rangaraja through Her

garlands- " Sragbhi: aakrishta naathaa " . We have heard of marriages resulting in

garlands being exchanged. Andal's, however, must be the first instance of

garlands having been instrumental for Her divine marriage with the Ultimate. And

Andal's association with garlands doesn't come as a surprise to us, considering

that the word " Kodai " refers to a garland, in chaste Tamizh.

 

 

 

Everyone would agree that bees are the best judges of the quality of fragrance,

flitting all their lives from flower to flower. Finding the Vanamaala adorning

the Lord's chest to be the most fragrant in the world, bees used to throng the

garland. However, once the Lord started wearing the garlands passed on by Sri

Andal, bees, the connoisseurs that they are, immediately deserted the Vanamaala

and besieged the Andal maalai, finding the latter infinitely more fragrant than

the former. All this and more we learn from the Goda Stuti of Swami Desikan, who

waxes eloquent in the description of the garlands Kodai Nacchiar tried on before

submission to Her Lord with love. If even bees with limited faculties were able

to discern the difference between Andal's maalai and others, is it any wonder

that the omniscient Lord appreciated the same?

 

 

 

However, Sri Andal's is not the first instance of someone mesmerizing and

binding Emperuman head to foot with garlands. Sri Mythily too bound the Prince

of Ayodhya with a garland of jasmine flowers, we are told by Sri Periazhwar.

Though Valmiki omits to narrate the episode, we are told that the Divine Couple

were playing chess (Chaturangam) and as a romantic punishment for Sri Rama who

lost the game, Vaidehi playfully tied Him up with garlands of sweet-smelling

jasmine. This intimate event is narrated by Sri Maruti to Sri Sita at

Asokavanam, to establish his bona fides as Rama's emissary. Here is Azhwar's

beautiful paasuram describing a divine romance-

 

 

 

" Alli am poo malar kodaai! Adi paninden vinnappam

 

sollugen kettarulaai tunai malar kan mada maane!

 

Elli am podu inidu iruttal irundador ida vagaiyil

 

Mallikai maalai kondu angu aarttadum or adayaalam "

 

 

 

We saw Swami Desikan speak of the Vanamaala being put to shame by the fragrance

of garlands worn by Soodik koduttha Sudarkkodi. What then is this Vanamaala?

 

 

 

Named Vaijayanti, the Vanamala is a garland of unfading flowers worn with élan

by Emperuman. It adorns His broad chest constantly and is as much an indication

of His supremacy as the other signs, such as Sri Mahalakshmi. It is one of the

items that identifies Emperuman as the Supreme Lord of the universe-a so-called

" Swaroopa Niroopaka Dharmam " . It is extremely soft, red and close to the Lord's

heart, physically and otherwise. It is the finest of garlands and fit in all

respects to be worn by the Paramapurusha. All these we come to know from Swami

Desikan's beautiful words, " Aamodavatyapi sadaa hridayangamaapi raagaanvitaapi

lalitaapi gunottaraapi " . The Vanamaala's fragrance is beyond measure, which

attracts bees in droves. According to Sri Parasara Bhattar, the leaves and

petals of this Vaijayanti maala come into contact with the holy feet of Sri

Mahalakshmi, who too adorns the Lord's chest. And due to the association, the

Vaijayanti is made fresher, cooler, more fragrant and lustrous.

 

 

 

The Lord is so enamoured of the Vanamaala that He continues to sport it even

during His avataras. It adorns Sri Krishna's dark chest, we are told by Swami

Desikan- " Jayanti Sambhavam dhaama Vaijayanti vibhooshanam " . The Uddhava Gita too

speaks of the Lord sporting this Vanamaala during the Krishnavataram-

 

 

 

Shankha Chakra Gadaa Padma Vanamala vibhooshitam

 

Noopurai: vilasat paadam Koustubha prabhayaa yutam "

 

 

 

It is natural and appropriate for men and women to wear garlands. Have you ever

heard of a Fish sporting a garland? Before you ridicule me for such an

impossible suggestion, let me quote Sri Bhattar, who avers that even during the

Matsyaavataaram, the Lord did not forsake the Vaijayanti, which continued to

adorn His fishy neck. " Srak " in Sanskrit means a garland and the Lord is known

as " Sragvee " (Vishnu Sahasranamam) because He constantly wears the Vaijayanti

around His neck, irrespective of the form He assumes. Here is the relative quote

from Sri Bhattar's commentary- " Tiryaktvepi paratva soochinee Vaijayanti srak

asya nitya yoginee iti Sragvee " . He is also known as " Vanamaalee " due to His

constant wearing of this priceless garland.

 

 

 

There are several versions as to the actual composition of the Vaiyjayati.

According to some, it is composed of Tulasi, Mallika, Mandara, Paarijaatam and

Lotus and extends from the Lord's neck to His holy feet. Some others say that

this necklace is composed of the five principal gems-Pearls, Rubies, Emeralds,

Sapphires and Diamonds. Whatever the Vaijayanti may consist of, it symbolizes

the five basic elements of nature-Fire, Water, Air, Atmosphere and Wind. The

Lord wears these five elements and the five Tanmaatraas in their subtlest form

around His neck in a floral form, says the Vishnu Puranam-

 

 

 

" Pancha roopaa yaa maala Vaijayanti gadaa bhrita:

 

Saa bhoota hetu sangaataa bhoota maalaa cha vai dvija! "

 

 

 

According to the Bhaagavata Puraanam, the Vanamala is symbolic of the Lord's

Maayaa and is comprised of the multifarious gunas-- " Sva maayaam Vanamaalaakhyaam

naanaa guna mayeem dadhat "

 

 

 

This Vaijayanti is no mere adornment, it multiplies manifold the strength and

valour of the wearer, we are told by Mahabharata, which also informs us that the

Lord lent this unique garland to Subrahmanya, to aid him in his battle against

asuras--

 

 

 

" Vishnu: dadou Vaijayanteem maalaam bala vivardhineem

 

Uma dadou cha arajasee vaasasee soorya sama prabhe "

 

 

 

When Bhagadatta, ranged against Arjuna in the battle between Pandavas and

Kauravas, unleashes the Vaishnavaastram, a deadly weapon capable of destroying

not only the Paandava but the entire world, Sri Krishna steps in and takes the

missile on His broad chest. However, when it encounters the divine tirumeni, the

potent astram turns into a garland and adorns the dark chest of Krishna,

becoming the Vaijayanti maala, says the Mahabharata-- " Vaijayanti abhavan maalaa

tat astram Kesava urasi "

 

 

 

The Mahabhrata speaks about a different Vaijayanti maala too, one gifted by

Indra to Maharaja Uparichara. While gifting the same, Indra tells the Raja that

the garland was unique and would save him from any and all of opponents'

weapons, during war-

 

 

 

" Dadaami te Vaijayanti maalaam amlaana pankajaam

 

Dhaarayishyati sangraame yaa tvaam shastrai: avikshatam " .

 

 

 

Such, then, is the glory of the Vaijayanti Vanamala. Sri Tondaradippodi Azhwar

was born on this earth, as an " amsam " of this Vanamala, according to

Guruparampara.

 

 

 

In the Nrisimhaavatara too, the Lord wore a garland--but this particular garland

was entirely different from any He had sported earlier. Unable to tolerate the

torture meted out to His devotee Prahlada, the leonine Lord put Hiranyakasipu on

His lap, dug out his entrails with His nails and wore the asura's intestines

around His neck, as a gory garland. This is the form in which we can stil see

Him at the heights of Ahobilam, as Jwaalaa Nrsimhan. We might wonder why the

Lord should not have stopped with merely killing Hiranyakasipu, without

demonstrating excessive anger, leading Him to devise a new and unique garland

for Himself: however, the Lord's apparently extreme anger stemmed from His

intolerance to His devotees being insulted or injured. He could readily forgive

offence aimed at Himself, but not that to His sincere Bhaktas. The episode

demonstrates the gravity of Bhaagavata apachaaram, against which all Prapannaas

are advised by the Acharya at the time of Saranagati.

 

 

 

Garlands are basically a feminine adornment. We are hence hardly surprised to

learn from the Lakshmi Ashtottarasatanaama Stotram that Sridevi too wears a

garland of beautiful lotus blooms-- " Padma maalaa dharaam Deveem, Padmineem Padma

gandhineem " . And when Ravana reaches Rama's aashramam in the garb of an ascetic

on the unholy mission of kidnapping Vaidehi, he finds Her sporting a similar

lotus garland-

 

 

 

" Kaa tvam kaanchana varnaabhe peeta kouseya vaasinee

 

kamalaanaam subhaam maalaam Padmineem iva bibhratee "

 

 

 

Garlands, especially of gold and pearls, made ideal gifts too. We often hear of

kings and queens instantly rewarding couriers (with good news) with chains and

necklaces from their necks. We thus see Kaikeyee assuring a reward of a golden

garland to the scheming hunchback Manthara, for her diabolic idea for Bharata's

coronation and Rama's banishment to the forests for fourteen long years-

 

 

 

" Atra te pratimokshyaami maalaam kubje! Hiranmayem

 

Abhishikte cha Bharate Raghave cha vanam gate "

 

 

 

As a humble offering from Indra, Vaayu Bhagawan presents Raghava with a

beautiful golden garland on the occasion of His coronation. Sri Rama and His

Consort too bestow gifts upon all those who attended the function. It is no

coincidence that all the principal Vaanara Veeras are gifted with garlands of

gold and precious gems. Sri Sita takes off a golden necklace (haaram) from Her

neck and looks at those assembled contemplatively, as if wondering whom to give

it to. Sri Rama, reading Her mind, tells Her to give it to the person She likes

most, to one endowed with unmatched valour and wisdom. Immediately, Vaidehi

gifts the golden garland to Maaruti--

 

 

 

" Avamuchya aatmana: kantthaat haaram Janaka Nandini

 

dadou saa Vaayu Putraaya tam haaram asitekshanaa " .

 

 

 

It would be no exaggeration to ascribe the death of the apparently invincible

Vali to a garland. Sugriva engages Vali in combat, spurred on by Rama's promise

that He would kill Vali. However, the battling brothers are so alike that Rama

knows not who is who and as a result, Sugriva just manages to escape with a

sound thrashing. To avoid the confusion, Rama tells Lakshmana to adorn Sugriva

with a garland made of Gajapushpi flowers, so that positive identification can

be made of Vali, who would not be wearing such a garland. And ultimately, when

Sugriva fights again with a confident Vali, the latter is felled with a single

Rama baanam. A slightly different version is available in the story of Sri Rama

narrated in Mahabharata, with Hanuman, and not Rama, coming up with the idea of

Sugriva wearing a distinctive garland for purposes of identification--

 

 

 

" Na visesha: tayo: yuddhe tadaa kaschana drisyate

 

Sugreevasya tadaa maalaam Hanooman kantta aasajat "

 

 

 

Vali, though not wearing a garland of flowers, was nevertheless adorned by a

golden garland-- " Vaalinam hema maalinam " . Legend has it that this was no

ordinary garland and was gifted to Vali by his august father Indra. When Vali

went into combat wearing this garland, it sucked away half of the opponent's

strength, thus making it ridiculously easy for Vali to triumph. We find from the

Kishkindha Kaandam that Vali wore this garland during all his major battles, for

instance the one with Dundhubhi, the dreaded asura in a buffalo form--

 

 

 

" Tam evam uktvaa samkruddho maalaam utkshipya kaanchaneem

 

Pitraa dattaam Mahendrena yuddhaaya vyapatishttata "

 

 

 

Given his innate, phenomenal strength, Vali was made so powerful by this unique

garland that he never lost any of his battles. However, it is a confirmation of

fate's long arm that even the magical garland could not save Vali, when his end

was at hand. Upon his death, the broad-minded Vali bequeaths this unique garland

to his detractor Sugriva, duly advising the latter about the garland's divine

properties.

 

 

 

If Vali lost his life due to a garland, it is indeed a coincidence to find that

his father Indra too lost his entire riches and fame, again due to a garland.

Once Sage Dhurvaasa, known for his irascibility, presented Indra with a garland

obtained from Paarvathi Devi as prasaadam. Indra placed the sacred garland on

the neck of Iraavatam, his elephant, from where it fell and was trampled under

the pachyderm's feet. Dhurvaasa was enraged at the apparent disrespect shown by

Indra and cursed him immediately, as a result of which Indra lost all his

wealth, splendour and status as the head of the devas.

 

Going on to the Krishnavataram, we find the Lord extremely enamoured of

garlands. When He goes to Mathura to do away with Kamsa, Sri Krishna goes to the

royal court in style. First and foremost, He appropriates beautiful apparel,

freshly washed and pressed, being carried by the washer man for Kamsa's use and

dresses Himself in the freshly laundered clothes, much to the chagrin of the

dhobi.

 

Krishna goes next to the royal florist, who is busily stringing together fresh

and fragrant flowers in beautiful garlands for Kamsa and asks him for the

garlands. The florist, recognizing Krishna to be the Paramatma come in person,

welcomes Him with bowed head and offers the lovingly strung garlands to Krishna

and Balarama, deeming himself extremely fortunate to be of service to the Divine

Duo.

 

 

 

In contrast, when Krishna, Bheema and Arjuna go to Magadha to battle with

Jaraasandha, the three snatch fresh garlands being taken by the florist for the

use of Jaraasandha and adorn themselves with the flowers, thereby adding insult

to the injury to be inflicted on the Magadha sovereign.

 

 

 

Garlands have another role--they serve as an ideal way of welcoming VIPs. No

meeting, political or otherwise, is complete without the speakers being

profusely garlanded by the organizers. If you think this practice is a recent

one, you are in for a surprise. The Kousheetaki Upanishad tells us that all new

entrants to Paradise are welcomed by a hundred divine damsels, all holding

beautiful garlands in their hands, to adorn the necks of those fortunate souls

who have performed Prapatti and are hence led to Sri Vaikunttam upon release

from their mortal coils--

 

 

 

" Tam pancha shataani apsarasaam prati dhaavanti, shatam maalaa hastaa:

 

shatam anjana hastaa: shatam choorna hastaa: shatam vaasohastaa: "

 

 

 

There are actually five hundred beautiful maidens in the welcoming party--while

a hundred hold garlands, the other four hundred hold spanking new garments,

fragrant powders, etc., with which to welcome the VIPs.

 

 

 

Though it would appear from the aforesaid that garlands are of universal

application, there is a particular section of the populace that is specifically

prohibited from wearing garlands or using them in any fashion. According to

Manu, Brahmachaaris are forbidden from wearing garlands and are directed to

avoid them, along with other items like perfumes, intoxicating liquor, female

company, etc. Here is the relative sloka from Manusmriti--

 

 

 

" Varjayet madhu maamsam gandham maalyam rasaan striya:

 

suktaani yaani sarvaani praninaam cha eva himsanam "

 

 

 

The same Manusmriti tells us that whenever Brahmins well versed in Veda and

Vedanta visit us, these athithis hould be propitiated with garlands, inter

alia--

 

 

 

" Upavesya tu taan vipraan aasaneshu ajugupsitaan

 

gandha maalyai: surabhibhi: archayet daiva poorvakam "

 

 

 

We saw how Sri Andal bedecked the Lord with not only floral garlands, but verbal

ones too--not only " Poomaalai " but " Paamaalai " too. Inspired by Her example, Sri

Tyagaraja of Tiruvaiyaaru speaks of stringing together a unique garland of

diamonds: however, these are no mere stony and hard gems, but are composed of

lyrics in a hundred delightful tunes, filled with devotion and brimming over

with Bhakti-- " Raaga ratna maalika che, ranjillu nata Hari shata raga ratna

maalika che " . Not only the Lord, even His ceremonial umbrellas are decorated

with garlands of pearls and precious stones, we are told by Azhwars-- " Maalai ser

ven kudai " .

 

 

 

Shall we end this rather long narrative with an interesting tidbit? To go back

to the beginning of this piece, to the bride's adornment with a garland, it

appears to be ancient custom (which is followed to this day) to have the

kalyaana maalai placed on the bride's neck by the sister-in-law (naatthanaar),

as soon as the bride is bedecked in the bridal dress (koorai pudavai). This we

learn from Sri Andal's own words, where, dreaming of Her wedding with Sri

Krishna, She finds Durga Devi (also born to Yasoda) gently placing the

sweet-smelling garland around Her (Andal's) beautiful neck-- " Mana maalai andari

chootta kanaa kanden tozhee naan " .

 

 

 

Srimate Sri LakshmiNrisimha divya paduka sevaka SrivanSatakopa Sri Narayana

Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

 

dasan, sadagopan