TIRUPPAVAI
JUNE 2020
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| ANDAL'S TIRUPPAVAI |
The word "TIRUPPAVAI" brings with it a fresh wave of positive energy every time. This revered collection of thirty beautiful hymns was composed by ANDAL, the only female saint amongst the twelve divine AzhvArs of the ShreevaishNava tradition.
The poem revolves around ANDAL also known as gOdA dEvi or kOdai who invites all her friends and all the people of the world to wake up from sleep and join her in a penance called "pAvai nOnbu" or "mArgazhi vrata" or "shree vratam" in order to attain KrishNa. Full of wellness and positive vibes for all, tiruppAvai is adored as a Mangala Prabandham.
ANDAL crafted this brilliant hymn on Lord krishNa, explaining the essence of 'surrender' or 'sharanAgati shAstra' in a graceful and eloquent manner.
ANDAL specifically chose the sacred month of Maargazhi which is considered as the "head of all paths or mArgas" - (maarga + sheerSh). According to Agama ShAstra, Maargasheersha is the first month of the calendar. The first month is attributed to Lord Keshava, one of twelve VishNus attributed to each month. The sanctity of this month is affirmed by Lord Krishna Himself in the Bhagavad GeetA in which He declares:- "मासानां मार्गशीर्षोऽहम् mAsAnAm mArgasheerShOham" — "Among the twelve months, I am Maargasheersha".
ANDAL's conviction that LORD NARAYANA alone shall grant His devotees the everlasting bliss, is spot-on in the very first hymn/pAsuram in which she says - "nArAyaNanE namakkE parai taruvAn நாராயணனே, நமக்கே பறை தருவான்". She advises each one of us to surrender to Lord Maadhava, the beloved of ShreedEvi, thereby calling upon us to take the sublime path of "sharaNAgati" or "surrender", as revealed by Bhagavat GeetA. Embedded with literary, cultural, scientific, social, esoteric and devotional excellence, her profound poems have caught the attention of numerous learned scholars. Come mArgazhi and increasing number of bhAgavatas are all enthused to decipher new secrets from ANDAL's tiruppAvai.
In tamizh families, it is customary for everyone to know triuppAvai prabandham. In a laudatory poem on ANDAL, it is said that its a waste for the earth to bear people who don't know the 30 verses of tiruppAvai. (கோதை தமிழ் ஐயைந்தும் ஐந்தும் அறியாத மானிடரை வையம் சுமப்பது வம்பு ! kOdai tamizh aiaindum aRiyAda mAniDarai vaiyam sumappadu vambu). Such is the importance and glory of tiruppAvai.
SwAmi Desikan, hailed as the lion amongst poets, humbly extols ANDAL's greatness in his stOtram GODA STUTI.
वैदॆशिक: श्रुति-गिरां अपि भूयसीनां
वर्णॆषु माति महिमा न हि मादृशां तॆ |
इत्थं विदन्तं अपि मां सहसैव गॊदॆ
मौन-द्रुहॊ मुखरयन्ति गुणास्त्वदीया: ||
vaidEshika: shruti-girAM api bhUyasInAM
varNEShu mAti mahimA na hi mAdRushAM tE
itthaM vidantaM api mAM sahasaiva gOdE
mouna-druhO mukharayanti guNAstvadIyA:
Dear gOdA dEvi,
Even the glorious Vedas are incapable of praising You with words. If that is the case, how can people like me praise You. Knowing this well, I prefer to keep silent, but your endless auspicious qualities impel me to compose this stuti.
Every pAsuram is a precious gem to be preserved and enjoyed. Let us together experience our auspicious ANDAL's journey of gyAna, bhakti and vairAgya to attain KrishNa through the "sanga tamizh mAlai" as she proudly named her tiruppAvai prabandham.
TIRUPPAVAI AUDIO LESSONS BY SMT. SEETHA SARANATHAN
TIRUPPAVAI TANIYANS
ANDAL TANIYAN - 1
*Shree ParAsara BhaTTar's taniyan*
नीळा तुङ्ग स्तनगिरि तटी सुप्तं उध्भॊध्य कृष्णं
पारार्थ्यं स्वम् श्रुति शत शिरस् सिद्धं अध्यापयन्ती ।
स्वॊच्छिष्टायां स्रजि निगलितं या बलात्कृत्य भुङ्ग्क्तॆ
गॊदा तस्यै नम इदमिदं भूय ऎवास्तु भूय: ॥
நீளா துங்க ஸ்தனகிரி தடீ ஸுப்தம் உத்போத்ய க்ருஷ்ணம்
பாரார்த்யம் ஸ்வம் ஶ்ருதி ஶத ஶிரஸ் ஸித்தம் அத்யாபயந்தீ |
ஸ்வோச்சிஷ்டாயாம் ஸ்ரஜி நிகளிதம் யா பலாத்க்ருத்ய புங்க்தே
கோதா தஸ்யை நம இதமிதம் பூய ஏவாஸ்து பூய: ||
nILA tuga stanagiri taTee suptam udhbhOdhya kRuShNam
pArArthyam svam shruti shata shiras sidhdham adhyApayantee |
svOchChishTAyAm srajinigalitam yA balAtkRutya bhungktE
gOdA tasyai nama idamidam bhUya EvAstu bhUya: ||
pArArthyam svam shruti shata shiras sidhdham adhyApayantee |
svOchChishTAyAm srajinigalitam yA balAtkRutya bhungktE
gOdA tasyai nama idamidam bhUya EvAstu bhUya: ||
May I offer my this obeisance again and again to Goddess ANDAL called gOdA, who awakened Lord KrishNA resting on the vale of the hill-lock like bosoms of neelA dEvi alias Nappinnai PirATTi (the two representing gyAna and vairAgya). GodA explained to Lord KrishNa about her dependence on Him as His servitor (as declared by the hundreds of upanishads being the crown of the vEdas), and how she attained Him after binding Him with flower wreaths that were first worn by her.
ANDAL TANIYAN - 2
*Shree uyyakkoNDAr's taniyan*.
அன்னவயல் புதுவை ஆண்டாள் அரங்கற்குப்
பன்னு திருப்பாவைப் பல்பதியம்- இன்னிசையால்
பாடிக் கொடுத்தாள் நற்பாமாலை - பூமாலை
சூடிக் கொடுத்தாளைச் சொல்லு.
பன்னு திருப்பாவைப் பல்பதியம்- இன்னிசையால்
பாடிக் கொடுத்தாள் நற்பாமாலை - பூமாலை
சூடிக் கொடுத்தாளைச் சொல்லு.
anna vayalpuduvai ANDAL arangaRkup
pannu tiruppAvaip palpadiyam - innisaiyAl
pADik koDuttAL naRpAmAlai - pUmAlai
chUDik koDuttALai chollu.
pannu tiruppAvaip palpadiyam - innisaiyAl
pADik koDuttAL naRpAmAlai - pUmAlai
chUDik koDuttALai chollu.
ANDAL who hails from Puduvai (SreevilliputtUr), the land where swans wander, composed the tiruppAvai, a lovely poetic garland of many verses in sweet music, in praise of Lord RanganAtha. Let us extol her who wore the flower garlands before they were offered to the Lord.
சூடிக் கொடுத்த சுடர்க்கொடியே! தொல்பாவை,
பாடி யருளவல்ல பல்வளையாய், - நாடிநீ
வேங்கடவற்கென்னை விதி என்ற இம்மாற்றம்
நாங்கடவா வண்ணமே நல்கு.
பாடி யருளவல்ல பல்வளையாய், - நாடிநீ
வேங்கடவற்கென்னை விதி என்ற இம்மாற்றம்
நாங்கடவா வண்ணமே நல்கு.
chUDik koDutta chuDarkkoDiyE tolpAvai
pADi yaruLavalla palvaLaiyAy - nADinee
vEnkaDavaRkennai vidhi enRa immARRam
nAnkaDavA vaNNamE nalgu.
pADi yaruLavalla palvaLaiyAy - nADinee
vEnkaDavaRkennai vidhi enRa immARRam
nAnkaDavA vaNNamE nalgu.
Oh, the one who offered flower garlands to the Lord after wearing them yourself! You gave us tiruppAvai that explains the austerity observed by young maidens. Just as You prayed with austerity to bind yourself with Lord VenkaTEshwara, please lead us on the same path so that we come to You and EmperumAn.
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| ANDAL WITH KRISHNA IN HAND MADE DOLLS |
ANDAL assumes herself to be the cowherdess of ‘AyarpADi’ and awakens her peers to follow a certain discipline in view of attaining everlasting happiness and service to the Lord. Eventually selecting the month of “MARGAZHI”, she sang 30 pAsurams (one for each day) for the “PAVAI NONBU” called “TIRUPPAVAI” OR "MARGAZHI VRATAM" or "SHREE VRATAM". She awakens her friends first, and then the whole family of krishNa upto Lord shreeman nArAyaNa of VaikunTha. Hence, each pAsuram ends with the refrain “ELOr EmpAvAy”, which means "Rise and Reckon, my dear friends".
(El - agree, awaken, Or - consider, think, em - my dear, pAvAi - friends, girls)
The surface meanings of the pAsuram are explained in the first part and the inner message is explained in a separate line.
The definition of the key words are givem.
Each pAsuram praises one incarnation of Lord nArAyaNa. So, one or more sanskrit or tamizh tirunAmas embedded in each pAsuram are also mentioned separately in the meanings given below.
Every pAsuram is related to a divyadEsam which is also mentioned.
Like an icing on the cake, appended is the video of the treasures hidden in each tiruppAvai, rendered by our mentor Smt. Prabha Senesh.
So, enjoy the crisp meanings of tiruppAvai and give us your feedbacks on the blog section in the bottom of the page.
TIRUPPAVAI 1 - MARGAZHI TINGAL
PASURAM 474
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| Tiruppavai 1 in Warli Art |
mArgazhit tingaL, madi niRainDa nannALAl *
nIrADap pOduvIr! pOduminO nErizhaiyIr! *
sIr malgum AyppADich selvach siRumeergAL! *
kUrvEl koDuntozhilan nandagOpan kumaran **
ErArnda kaNNi, yasOdai iLanjchingam *
kArmEnich sengaN kadir madiyam pOl mugattAn *
nArAyaNanE namakkE paRai taruvAn *
pArOr pugazhap paDindElOr empAvAy (1)
The first pAsuram is the introduction wherein ANDAL invites all her companions for this pAvai nOnbu.
As it is the first full moon day of the month of “MARGAZHI”, Oh! The prosperous young girls always adorned with ornaments in the rich and wealthy AyarpADi! Those who are desirous of taking bath, please come along. He who is the son of NandagOpa who always holds a sharp pointed spear to protect his precious child from attackers; He who is the young lion-cub of YashOdA with very beautiful eyes; He who has a dark, rain cloud-like complexion; reddish lotus eyes; and face that shines bright both like the Sun and Moon - this Lord NArAyaNan is the only saviour who will give us the (parai), the fruit of this pAvai nOnbu. So, dear friends, please join us to praise the Lord and be praised by the people of the world. ElOr EmpAvAi!
KEY WORDS:
pAvAi means girl
paRai means a drum as the instrument for the penance. It also refers to the result/fruit of the penance - i.e. mOksha, kainkaryam - service to perumAL at VaikunTham.
MESSAGE: The underlying message in this pAsuram is that SHREEMAN NARAYANA is the sole granter of mOksha. This is expressed by the term "nArAyaNanE". He shall give kainkarya prApti only to people who are devoted to Him. This is expressed by the term "namakkE". Liberation and servitude is expressed by the term "paRai taruvAn". Hence we should have a strong desire to attain Him (neerADa pOduveer pOduminO).
The tirunAmam in this pAsuram is "nArAyaNan".
The divya desam for this pAsuram is "tiruvaikuNTham /paramapadam".
Additional notes: Out of the five forms of Lord VishNu, the first one called "para" roopam is extolled in this pAsuram. (1)
TREASURES OF THIRUPPAVAI 1 BY SMT. PRABHA SENESH
TIRUPPAVAI 2 - VAIYATTU VAZHVIRGAL
PASURAM 475
vaiyattu vAzhvIrgAL!, nAmum nam pAvaikkuch *
seyyum kirisaigaL kELIrO * pARkaDaluL
paiyat tuyinRa paraman aDi pADi *
neyyuNNOm pAluNNOm nAtkAlE nIrADi **
maiyiTTezhudOm, malariTTu nAm muDiyOm *
seyyAdana seyyOm teekkuRaLaich senROdOm *
aiyamum pichchaiyum Andanaiyum kai kATTi *
uyyumARu eNNi ugandElOr empAvAy (2)
In this second pAsuram, ANDAL describes about KARTAVYAM (what is to be done) and TYAJYAM (what is to be avoided) during the vratam.
Oh! people who reside in this world! Listen to the six austerities that we have to follow during our pAvai nOnbu. Singing the praise of the lotus feet of the Lord who is in a meditative sleep on the milky ocean (yOganidrA), 1) We shall refrain from consuming ghee and milk, 2) We shall bathe at the onset of the day. 2) We shall not apply collyrium to our eyes and 3) We shall not adorn our hair with flowers. 4) We shall not do any forbidden acts 5) We shall not speak ill of others. 6) We shall give liberally to the needy (aiyamum), the mendicants (pichchaiyum) and the ascetic sages, to the best of our ability (Andanaiyum). Contemplating on the dhArmic ways to salvation, we shall thus rejoice.
MESSAGE: This pAsuram enumerates the noble ways of living in this world. One should follow his AchArya and learn dharma. AchAryas are those who follow dharma themselves and teach their shishyas too.
KEY WORDS: pAvai - nOnbu, ARu - dharma, path, uyyum - salvation, Andanaiyum - to the best of ability, ugandu - rejoice
The tirunAmam of this pAsuram is "paiya tuyinRa paraman".
The divya dEsam for this pAsuram is "tiruppArkaDal".
Additional notes: Out of the five forms of Lord VishNu, the second one "vyooha" roopam - vyooha vAsudEvan in parkaDal, is extolled in this pAsuram.
(2)
TREASURES OF TIRUPPAVAI 2
TIRUPPAVAI 3 - ONGI ULAGALANDA
PASURAM 476
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| Tiruppavai 3 in Warli Art |
Ongi ulagaLanda, uttaman pEr pADi *
nAngaL nam pAvaikkuch sARRi neerADinAl *
tInginRi nADellAm tingaL mummAri peydu *
Ongu peRunj sennelooDu kayal ugaLap **
pUnguvaLaip pOdil, poRi vaNDu kaN paDuppat *
tEngAdE pukkirundu sIrtta mulai paRRi
vAngak * kuDam niRaikkum vaLLal perum pasukkaL *
nIngAda selvam niRaindElOr empAvAy (3)
ANDAL explains to her friends the fruits of the Shree vratam (pAvai nOmbu) if performed sincerely.
Dear friends, if we bathe singing the names of "UTTAMAN" Lord TRIVIKRAMA who grew tall to measure the universe, the whole earth is sure to get three sufficient rains per month. Nourished well by the rains, paddy crops will grow tall (Ongu perum sennel) and fishes (ooDu kayal ugaLa) will swim happily between them. The beetles/bees will sleep peacefully inside the petals of the kuvaLai flowers (water lilies) after drinking honey from their pollen. The healthy cows with their full udders will give so much milk that the pots will overflow. This way there will be inexhaustible prosperity on earth.
MESSAGE: The pAsuram with high thoughts urges us to sing the names of the Supreme Lord with dedication, which will bestow undiminishing knowledge of bhagavAn. ( neengAda selvam).
KEY WORDS: uttaman - the most magnanimous Lord who measured all the worlds and placed His divine feet on everyone without discrimination, pAvaikku - for the mArgazhi nOnbu, tingaL - month, mummAri pEydu - three times rain per month, kaN paDuppa - sleepy eyes.
The tirunAmam of this pAsuram is "uttaman / trivikrama".
The divya dEsam for this pAsuram is "tirukOvaloor".
Additional notes: Out of the five forms of Lord VishNu, the third one "vibhava" roopam is extolled in this pAsuram. (3)
TREASURES OF TIRUPPAVAI 3
TIRUPPAVAI 4 - AZHI MAZHAI KANNA
PASURAM 477
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| Tiruppavai 4 in Warli Art |
Azhi mazhaik kaNNA!, onRu nI kai karavEl *
AzhiyuL pukku mugandu koDu ArttERi *
Uzhi mudalvan uruvam pOl mey kaRuttup *
pAzhiyan tOLuDaip paRpanAban kaiyil **
Azhi pOl minni, valampuri pOl ninRadirndu *
tAzhAdE sArngam udaitta sara mazhai pOl *
vAzha ulaginil peydiDAy * nAngaLum
mArgazhi nIrADa magizhndElOr empAvAy (4)
ANDAL says: Oh KannA, the bestower of seasonal rains! Azhi Mazhai KaNNA!!
1. Do not hold the rains. (onRu nee kai karavEl)
2. May you penetrate into the deep oceans (Azhiyul pukku - heat from the sun entering the ocean).
3. May you lift the heated water up to the sky with a roar (mugandu kODArtteri - evaporation),
4. May you take the form of dark clouds (condensation) resembling the dark colour of bhagavAn in His primordial form (oozhi mudalvan uruvam pol mei karuttu).
5. May you then cause lightning that shines like His chakra, and thunder that resonates like the sound of His shankha. (Azhi pOl minni valamburi pOl ninRadirndu)
6. May you then, without any delay, shower abundant rains like the arrows released from the shArnga held by the beautiful arms of Lord PadmanAbha's ( pAzhiyan tOl uDaiya padmanAbhan kayil tAzhAdE shArngam udaitta mazhai pOl - precipitation). If you do your duties as per the law of the Lord, then we shall live a life of prosperity on this earth and continue our mArgazhi vratam happily every year.
MESSAGE: ANDAL emphasizes on thanking Lord PadmanAbha from whose nAbhi kamalam, the whole universe has emerged. Let us meditate on KrishNa as the primordial cause and indweller of every thing and every process in this universe. (jagat kAraNan).
REMEMBERING RAMAYANAM IN TIRUPPAVAI:
shArngam udaitta saramazhai pOl: - a shower of arrows from the bow of Lord rAma
When rAma used an arrow, it diversified as several flaming arrows and destroyed the enemies standing in front, in high speed.
VALMIKI RAMAYANA 6.13. 18,19
ततो रामो महातेजा धनुरादाय वीर्यवान् |
प्रविश्य राक्षसन् सैन्यं शरवर्षं ववर्ष ह ||
प्रविष्टन् तु तदा रामं मेघाः सूर्यमिवाम्बरे |
नाभिजग्मुर्महाघोरं निर्दहन्तन् शराग्निना ||
tatO rAmO mahAtejA dhanurAdAya veeryavAn |
pravishya rAkShasam sainyaM sharavarShaM vavarSha ha ||
praviShTan tu tadA rAmaM meghA: sUryamivAmbarE |
nAbhijagmurmahAghoraM nirdahantan sharAgninA ||
There upon, the highly effulgent and powerful rAma took His bow and entered the host of rAkshashas, and sent a downpour of arrows. Entering the battle field, rAma burnt the terrible
rAkshasas with His flaming arrows. The rAkshasas could not stand before them and disappeared like the clouds that disappear before the sun appears.
KEY WORDS: Azhi - earth, sea, chakra (discus), monsoon cycle. kai karavEl - Dont' hesitate to shower enough rains (or) do your duty of showering rains well, mugandu koDu- scoop the water, Arttu- roar, Eri - rise, oozhi - entire cosmos including kAla the time (nitya vibhooti and leelA vibhooti), tAzhAdE - without delay
It is interesting to note that the tamizh letter "zha" occurs eleven times in this pAsuram.
The tirunAmams of this pAsuram are Azhi mazhai kaNNA and padmanAbha.
The divyadEsam for this pAsuram is "tiruvanantapuram".
Additional notes: - The term Azhvi mazhai kannA is also construed as Lord KrishNa who is the antatryAmi of parjanya dEva. Hence, Out of the five forms of Lord VishNu, the fourth one - "antaryAmi" roopam is extolled in this pAsuram. (4)
TREASURES OF THIRUPPAVAI 4
TIRUPPAVAI 5 - MAYANAI MANNU
PASURAM 478
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| Tiruppavai 5 in Warli Art |
mAyanai, mannu vaDamadurai maindanait *
tUya peru nIr yamunait tuRaivanai *
Ayar kulattinil tOnRum aNiviLakkait *
tAyaik kuDal viLakkam seyda dAmOdaranait **
tUyOmAy vandu nAm, tUmalar tUvit tozhudu *
vAyinAl pADi manattinAl sindikkap *
pOya pizhaiyum pugutaruvAn ninRanavum *
teeyinil doosAgum cheppElOr empAvAy (5)
ANDAL's friends wondered if they were eligible to perform this great vrata. ANDAL consoles them and apprises them about the benefits of mArgazhi nOnbu.
KrishNa is mAyan, the performer of amazing feats. He is the celebrated child of the sacred place of MathurA. He abodes on the banks of the pure and blemishless YamunA. He is the bejeweled divine lamp of the AyarpADi clan. He is dAmOdara, who gave sanctity to His mother's womb. If we bathe, worship Him with fresh flowers and prostrate Him (deed), sing His glory with our mouth (speech), and constantly meditate upon Him with all our mind (thought), all our sins --- the sins we already committed (pOya pizhaiyum), the ones we are committing and those we may continue to commit (pugu taruvAn ninRanavum) will be burnt to ashes by His benevolence.
MESSAGE: In this pAsuram, ANDAL advises that one should worship the Lord single pointedly with all the trikaraNas namely - kAya, vAk, and manas inorder to be relieved from all sins.
KEY WORDS: mannu - adjective for mathurA, the city that is blessed to have bhagavat sambandham, yamunai tuRaivan - resident of yamunA ghAT, aNiviLakku - auspicious lamp or light, or maNiviLakku - beautiful light, tAyai kuDal viLakkam - the one who brought fame to mother yashOdA's womb. dAmOdara - the one whose stomach (udara) was tied with the rope (dAma), ancient meaning - the one who holds all the worlds in his stomach.
DAMODARA CHARITRAM - Once, yashOdA tied KrishNa with a rope on to the mortar as a punishment for stealing butter. KrishNa dragged the mortar into the twin arjuna trees standing nearby and split them into two. The trees transformed into two divine beings NalakuvEra and maNigreeva, They were originally kubEra's two sons who were cursed to become trees and were destined to be delivered by krishNa.
The tirunAmam of this pAsuram is "dAmOdaran", though there are five appellations to KrishNa namely mAyan, mannu vaDamadurai maindan, tooya peruneer yamunai turaivan, Ayar kulattinil tOnRum aNivilakku, tAyai kuDal viLakkam seyda dAmOdaran.
The divya dEsam for this pAsuram is "mathurA".
Additional notes: Out of the five forms of Lord VishNu, the fifth one "archA" roopam is extolled in this pAsuram. (5)
TREASURES OF TIRUPPAVAI 5 BY SMT. PRABHA SENESH
TIRUPPAVAI 6 - PULLUM SILAMBINAKAN
PASURAM 479
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| Tiruppavai 6 in Warli Art |
puLLum silambina kAN, puLLaraiyan kOyilil
veLLai viLisangin pEraravam kEttilaiyO? *
piLLAy! ezhundirAy pEymulai nanjchuNDu *
kaLLach sagaDam kalakkazhiyak kAlOchchi **
veLLattaravil, tuyil amarnda vittinai *
uLLattuk koNDu munivargaLum yOgigaLum *
meLLa ezhundu ari enRa pEraravam *
uLLam pugundu kuLirndElOr empAvAy (6)
ANDAL noticed that the performers of the vrata were very few. Not wanting to leave the others behind, she decides to awaken a few friends by going to their house personally. ANDAL awakens ten friends from pAsuram 6 to pAsuram 15. Since her friends are devotees or bhAgavatas of KrishNa, these ten pAsurams are referred as "bhAgavata tirupaLLiyezhuchchi pAsurams". She wakes up the first friend in this pAsuram conveying the signs of pre-dawn and recalling the feats of krishNa.
Oh child! Look, Even the birds are chirping and calling you. Can't you hear the loud, summoning sound of the white conch (shankha nAdam) from the temple of the Lord who rides the valiant GaruDa, the king of all birds? Please wake up to remember Lord krishNa who drank the poisoned milk from the bosom of the evil pootanA. He killed with His tiny feet the demon shakaTAsura who came disguised as a cart. He is the primordial one, the seed of all creations (vittu), who reclines on the AdisEshan on the milky ocean. The hermits and Yogis have woken up calmly without disturbing this Lord who is treasured inside their hearts. They are now chanting the name of Hari loudly for everyone to hear. May we also recite HarinAmam and cool our hearts.
MESSAGE: ANDAL urges her friends to be inspired by the Yogis and chant the name 'Hari" early in the morning.
ESOTERICA:
From 6th to 15th pAsuram, ANDAL awakens her ten friends to join her in the mArgazhi vrata. The ten friends are also construed to be the ten AzhvArs. So these pAsurams are called "AzhvArgaL tirupaLLiyezhuchchi pAsurams". (Madurakavi AzhvAr is said to be a part of NammAzhvAr and hence He is not counted in the ten). In the 6th pAsuram pullum silambina kAn, PeriyAzhvAr /ANDAL's father is awakened. KulasEkara AzhvAr is awakened in the 7th pAsuram, NammAzhvAr in 8th pAsuram, Tirumazhisai AzhvAr in the 9th pAsuram, mudal azhvArs poygai AzhvAr in the 10th pAsuram, bhoodattAzhvAr in the 11th pAsuram, pEyAzhvAr in the 12th pAsuram, tonDaraDipOdi AzhvAr in the 13th pAsuram, tiruppAnAzhvAr in the 14th pAsuram, and tirumangai AzhvAr in the 15th pAsuram.
REMEMBERING RAMAYANAM IN TIRUPPAVAI:
Sage vishvAmitra takes rAma and laksmaNa to the forest to get some demons banished. In a hermitage, the sage wakes up rAma and reminds Him of His duties.
Vaalmeeki RaamaayaNa 1.26.2
कौसल्या सुप्रजा राम पूर्वा संध्या प्रवर्तते |
उत्तिष्ठ नरशार्दूल कर्तव्यं दैवमाह्निकम् ||
kausalyA suprajA rAma poorvA sandhyAm pravartatE|
uttiShTha narashArdoola kartavyaM daivamAhnikam ||
Oh, noble progeny of mother kausalyA! Get up oh, tigerly-man, the eastern aurora is emerging. It is time to do your nityakarmas and dEvapoojas.
KEY WORDS:
puL - birds, silambina - chirp, kAN - look, puL araiyan- king of birds, garuDa, veLLattu aravu - AdisEshan on tirupArkaDal, pEr-aravam - resonating sound of shankh, and sound of Hari heard in prAta: kAlam, vittu - seed of all creations. In temples, during Vishvaroopa Darshanam, it is a tradition to blow the conch (shankh)
The tirunAmams of this pAsuram are "Hari", puLLarayanin kO (god of Garuda), veLLataravil tuyil amarnda vittu (Lord vishNu, the seed of all beings, and reclining on the AdisEsha floating on the milky ocean).
Additional notes: - In ShreevaishNava tradition, it is a practice to remember six things first thing in the morning. They are the five forms of the Lord, and Gajendra mOksham story in which Lord Shree Hari appeared on GaruDa to save the elephant gajendra from the clutches of the crocodile. ANDAL has mentioned all these six things in this pAsuram - 1. Param - vittu; 2. Vyooham - veLLa taravil tuyil amarntha; 3. Vibhavam - krishNAvatAram - pEymulai nanjchuNDu , kaLLach sagaDam kalakkazhiyak kAlOchchi; 4. ArchA - puLLaraiyan perumAl kOyil, 5. antaryAmi - ullatthu koNDu, 6. Gajendra mOksham - Hari enRa pEraravam. (6)
TREASURES OF TIRUPPAVAI 6 BY SMT. PRABHA SENESH
TIRUPPAVAI AUDIO LESSONS 7 TO 14 BY SMT. SEETHA SARANATHAN
TIRUPAVAI 7 - KEESU KEESU
PASURAM 480
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| Tiruppavai 7 in Warli art |
keesu keesenRu engum, AnaichAttan * kalandu
pEsina pEchcharavam kETTilaiyO? pEyp peNNE! *
kAsum piRappum kalakalappak kai pErttu *
vAsa naRunguzhal Aychchiyar ** mattinAl
Osai paDuttat, tayir aravam kETTilaiyO *
nAyagap peN piLLAy! nArAyaNan mUrtti *
kEsavanaip pADavum nee kETTE kiDattiyO? *
tEsamuDaiyAy! tiRavElOr empAvAy (7)
ANDAL goes to wake up the second friend who is immersed in krishnAnubhavam.
Oh, the possessed girl! It's dawn. Can’t you hear the sound of the BharadwAja (AnaichAttan) birds chirping among themselves? Are you possessed by some spirit (pEy peNNE)! that you are still in deep slumber ? Can't you hear the sound of the curds being churned by the gOpis of gOkula? Can’t you hear the clanging of their coin chains (kAsum), chains made with shape of flower buds (pirappum) and bangles as they churn, and also the fragrance from their plaited hair ? O radiant girl ! It seems you are meditating on the Parabrahman nArAyaNa and hence glowing. We are also singing the greatness of Lord nArAyanA and discussing on how He took KrishNa avatarA and killed the demon kEsi! You seem to hear us, yet pretend to be asleep ? Please get up. We wish to enjoy His glories with you as you are our leader!
Three meanings of Keshava:
KESHAVA - The source of Brahma (ka) and Shiva (eesha).
KESHAVA - The one with a beautiful, dark, thick and long hair (kesha).
KESHAVA - The one who killed the horse demon kEshi (krishNa)
kalau sankeertya keshavam! (kEshava nAmam should be sung in kali yuga - VishNu purANam)
kEshava: klEshanAshana: ! (kEshava is the remover of grief - Paancharaatra RakshA of swAmi dEsikan; PurushOttama Sahasranaamam)
MESSAGE: This pAsuram suggests that singing the glories of Lord Keshava removes the tamO guna and increases our inclination towards bhakti.
KEY WORDS:
AnaichAttan - malayALa name for tiny black drongo birds. In malayALam they are called AnaichAttan birds. ChAttan means protector - These strong birds are known to protect their nests and also other birds' nests from attackers. Even eagles fear AnaichAttan birds. When elephants (Anai) are taken for a walk early morning, these birds begin to chirp. Hence they were also called AnaichAttan. These birds are also called bharadwAja pakshi because they used to chirp when Sage bharadwAja began his early morning recitation of vEdas. In tamizh, they are caleld valian kuruvi/karum kuruvi/karichchAn kuruvi.
kAsu - ancient coin necklace (achchu tAli), piRappu - chain with bud shaped or tortoise shaped pendants (Amai tAli), tEsam - tEjas of the face of the gOpis/friends, kai pErttu - hands churning the curd.
The tirunAmam of this pAsuram is "kEshava".
The divyadEsam for this pAsuram is "tiruvAypADi". (7)
TREASURES OF TIRUPPAVAI 7
TIRUPPAVAI 8 - KEEZHVANAM VELLENRU
PASURAM 481
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| Tiruppavai 8 in Warli Art |
keezh vAnam veLLenRu, erumai siRu veeDu *
mEyvAn parandana kAN mikkuLLa piLLaigaLum *
pOvAn pOginRAraip pOgAmal kAttu * unnaik
koovuvAn vandu ninROm **kOdukalamuDaiya
pAvAy! ezhundirAy, pADip paRai koNDu *
mAvAy piLandAnai mallarai mATTiya *
dEvAdi dEvanaich senRu nAm sEvittAl *
AvA enRu ArAyndu aruLElOr empAvAy (8)
ANDAL wakes up the third friend who is usually enthusiastic and active in their group as she is very close to Lord KrishNa and He too adores her a lot.
The eastern sky has lit up. The buffaloes are on their way to graze the early morning dewy grass (siru veeDu). We stand here to take you along with us as you are the Lord’s favourite devotee. We have told some girls who were going alone, to wait for us. Oh enthusiastic one ! Please get up ! With you as the leader, let us sing the glories of dEvAdhidEvan ( the one who is the overlord of all dEvas but has no ego), the one who split open the jaws of the horse demon kEshi (mA), and killed the mighty wrestlers (mallar). Hearing our pleadings, He will surely shower His compassion on us and grant us our wish (paRai).
MESSAGE: When truly devoted bhAgavatas are in the forefront, we will be blessed with His unending grace and eternal bliss.
RAMAYANAM IN TIRUPPAVAI:
When rAma enters daNDakAraNya forest, He finds that the demons have cut off the hands of certain rishis and the legs of certain rishis. A few such rishis gathered themselves and assembled in front of rAma, addressed Him as rAjA ,and pleaded Him to protect them. Struck with empathy, Lord rAma immediately apologized to them saying that He had delayed in coming to their help. In the same way, in this pAsuram, the dEvAdhidEvan feels sorry that He delayed His blessing to such devoted gOpis and hence He exclaims: Aaa, I am sorry for the delay, What blessing do you want?
KEY WORDS:
kOdukalamuDaiya pAvAy - This friend is a happy person because she is the favorite of KrishNa; AvA - exclamatory word 'Aaa' to denote the patient hearing given by bhagavAn to the devotees.
The tirunAmam of this pAsuram is "dEvAdhidEva". (8)
TREASURES OF TIRUPPAVAI 8
TIRUPPAVAI 9 - TOOMANI MADATTU
PASURAM 482
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| Tiruppavai 9 in Warli Art |
toomaNi mADattuch, suRRum viLakkeriyat *
doopam kamazhat tuyilaNai mEl kaN vaLarum *
mAmAn magaLE! maNik kadavam tAL tiRavAy *
mAmeer! avaLai ezhuppeerO? unmagaL tAn
oomaiyO?, anRich seviDO? anantalO? *
Emap peruntuyil mandirap pattALO? *
mAmAyan mAdavan vaikuntan enRenRu *
nAmam palavum navinRElOr empAvAy (9)
Oh daughter of our uncle, sleeping nicely on your soft bed!! Open the latch of the gem-studded door. Your gem-studded hall is already filled with lighted lamps and fragrance of incense sticks. Dear Aunt! Please wake her up. Is your daughter dumb (UmaiyO), deaf (seviDO), tired and sick (anantalO) or has she been hypnotized into a long slumber (mandira paTTAlO)? We sing the names of "mA mAyan"- the great charmer, "mAdhavan"- the consort of mahALakshmi and "vaikuntan"- the Lord of SrivaikuNTham hoping that she will get up on hearing our bhajans and sing His names.
This pAsuram is a reminder to the already devoted people not to be satisfied with their devotion but to awaken and join the mArgazhi nOnbu and visit the temple with along others. nArAyaNa nAmams are the medicine (bhEshajam) to the disease of samsAra.
KEY WORDS:
tuyil aNai - soft bed the sight of which would urge one to sleep on it, navinDru - learn (more tirunAmams of the Lord)
The tirunAmam of this pAsuram is mAya, mAdhava, vaikuNTha. (9)
TREASURES OF TIRUPPAVAI 9
TIRUPPAVAI 10 - NORRU CHUVARKAM
PASURAM 483
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| Tiruppavai 10 in Warli Art |
nORRuch suvarkkam, pugukinRa ammanAy *
mARRamum tArArO vAsal tiRavAdAr *
nARRat tuzhAy muDi nArAyaNan * nammAl
pORRap paRai tarum puNNiyanAl ** paNDoru nAL
kURRattin vAy veezhnda, kumbakaraNanum *
tORRum unakkE peruntuyil tAn tandAnO *
ARRa anantaluDaiyAy! arungalamE! *
tERRamAy vandu tiRavElOr empAvAy (10)
The girls now awaken the fifth friend who is sleeping as if she has already entered swargam due to her previously completed vrata. She seems to have entered krishNa's home through a door connecting her home with His.
Oh dear Lady! Have you already entered heaven after successfully performing your vrata? Why are you not even replying? Wake up! Lord Narayana wearing fragrant tulasi garlands on his head (nARRa tuzhAy muDi) will bless us if we sing His glory. He is the puNNiyan, the benefactor who is waiting to fulfill our prayers. Did KumbakaraNa who once fell into the death trap laid by Lord RAma, gift you his deep sleep. Oh my dear gem (arungalamE). Don't get captivated by this sleep! Wake up! Come steadily and open the door dear!
Bhagavat anubhavam is not limited to one day. ANDAL urges even the accomplished bhAgavatas to continue their penance on all 30 days in order to reach the abode of LORD NARAYANA.
KEY WORDS:
nORRu - by doing penance, suvarkkam - swarga/heaven, mARRam - reply, nARRa - fragrant, tuzhAy - tulasee, muDi - crown, ARRa anantal - excessive sleep, tERRamAy vandu - Dont't be in a hurry, Walk gently and steadily! tORRum - It seems kumbakarNa lost to this girl in the race to sleep.
The tirunAmam of this pAsuram is "nArAyaNa, puNNiyan". (10)
TREASURES OF TIRUPPAVAI 10
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