KOTHAIYIN GEETHAI 1

KOTHAIYIN GEETHAI








1. Pavai nonbu







Arumbuliyur Jagannathan Rangarajan











Andal's Thiruppavai otherwise known as Kothai's Upanishad, or Kothaiyin geethai ,is recited in all Vaishnavite temples in Goshti, a large gathering of devotees, in the month of Margazhi. Even in daily Tiruvaradanams Satrumurai songs Sitran chirukale, Vangak kadal kadaintha of 29, 30 th pasurams of Tiruppavai are recited. We have seen many scholars right from Sri Ramanujar, giving meanings, explanations, vyakyanams, swapadesartham, padapadartham for Tiruppavai. My presentation now to readers is just a trial to do something and not at all to be compared with other great research works of many poorvacharyas.



Andal's Thiruppavai is a collection of thirty verses on Andal's imagination as Gopi a cowherd girl during the incarnation of Lord Krishna. She is the only female in the list of Azhwars who sung immortal Nalayira Divya prabandam. This contains description of religious vows (pavai nonbu ) that Andal and the Gopika Sthrees to observe for this purpose. Tiruppavai is also a finest truth of vedantha. Andal gave Kothaiyin Geethai as Thiruppavai with just 30 pasurams as iyainthum iynthum (5x5+5) . Five is prefered perhaps with an idea of panchasamskaram , a vaishnavite should observe in his/her life,and Pancha dwaragai, Lord Krishna's aboding Kshetras in this country. This is similar to what Baghavan Krishna gave us his Bagavath Geetha in (18+8)x(18+8)+18)as 694 slokas. Significance of 18 is for chapters and 8 is for Ashtakshara manthram.



The five points in Thiruppavai in general is as follows.



1. Description of Pavai nonbu in 1 to 5 pasurams 2. Observation of nonbu in 6 to 15 pasurams 3. Awakening Kannan, Balaraman, Nappinnai in 16 to 19 pasurams 4. Singing glory of Kannan 20 to 24 pasurams. 5. Preaching and saranadathi 25 to 30 pasurams.



In this issue, the first part is analyzed briefly with reference to Srimad Bagavath Geetha.



Thiruppavai starts as Margazhithingal as Margazhi is most precious,enjoyable for its seasoned weather in early mornings. In Srimad Bagavath Geetha Lord Krishna quotes himself as Maasanam margasirsham (Gita 10.35 )

The safest means of securing Him is not Karma yoga etc but His Grace only.(Narayane namakke). In the very first pasuram itself Andal tells as Narayanane namakke paai tharuvan .In Srimad Bagavath Geetha,in 8.8 Krishna says as "He who meditates on Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his mind constantly engaged in remembering Me, undeviated from the path, he, O Partha, is sure to reach Me." Again in 18.66 SriKrishna says as "Resigning all your duties to me,the all powerful, and all supporting lord, take refuge in me.In similar way, Andal assures here in this that the success in all our attempts ,as our goal in nonbu is reaching the supreme Sriman Narayana . Importance to both men and women is given equally by Andal as she first quotes as 'Nandagopan kumaran' giving importance to male, and in the very next line as 'yasodai ilanchingam' giving equal status to female.



The second pasuram is on our Bakthi , in which we should have the confidence that we will be protected by God always.Do's and don'ts kirisaigal of the vow have to be followed strictly, and not to indulge in an act which was not practiced by our righteous minded ancestors.(Seyyadana seyyom ).The same can be seen in Gita as Lord Krishna says in 16.7, as "Men possessing a demoniac disposition know not what is right activity and what is right abstinence from activity. They do not possess purity, good conduct and truthfulness". Again in 4.18 as "He who sees inaction in action , and action in inaction , is wise among men. He is a yogi who has performed all actions. "As all duties are to be performed without attachment, desire for fruit, feeling of possession and egoism do not bear fruit in the form of pleasure and pain in this world or next". Andal also conveyed some ethical practices as not to tell ill of others as Thikkuralai sendru othom and to deliver any gifts only to the deserving persons at suitable time in a fit place as Iyamum pichaiyum anthanaiyum kaikatti . What Krishna said that his devotees who stick to the duties enjoined upon them will never be let down. Andal said this Uyyumarenni uganthu .The words Vaiyathu vazhvirgal is only greeting all as 'let all live in the world' and her words are never like 'oh sinners' being used by other religious groups.



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In the third pasuram Ongi ulagalantha uthaman perpadi Vamana avatharam is described by Andal, similar to Gita's Viswaroopa darsan of Lord Krishna in 11.21 as Siddhas, Maharishis praising your names and glories and saying as 'let there be peace'.By such sincere prayers abundant rain ,causing more prosperity is sure to be obtained. Andal uses the word 'padi' in 15 pasurams out of 30 in Tiruppavai, as 'uthaman perpadi' etc. So Andal is not only 'sudikodutha nachiar ' but also a 'padikodutha nachiar'. In Gita chapter 12, when Arjuna asks Krishna about devotees singing in praise of him, Krishna says "I consider them as to be the best yogis who endowed with supreme faith and ever united through meditation with me with the mind centered on me. This pasuram is considered as pallandu ,as it has the lines such as neengatha selvam nirainthua sort of blessing of moksha, aiswarya, service of god alone remain for long with any man.



In the fourth pasuram starting with Azhimazhaik kanna as Krishna is of anything and everything in fame, fair and faith. The word uzhimudalvan is similar to Gita 9.17 as'Krishna declares that "I am the sustainer and ruler of this universe its father,mother, grand father, the one worth knowing the purifier ''. The fourth stage of forms and exploits of Narayana in Vaishnava siddantham 'Antharyami' is depicted in this fourth pasuram as Lord is acting in disguise as Varuna. The lord in this form stays with individual self as its friend in its state of experience such as heaven, hell etc. Again the happiness in the month of Margazhi with bountiful rain causing all water areas in full level giving pleasure to one's mind and body, is well detailed in this pasuram. Lord Krishna describes this fact in Gita 9.19 as 'he hold back and sendforth showers' .Vazha ulaginil conveys that we should always think of everything good for everyone at every occasion.



The fifth pasuram is on God thinking,which disappears accrued Karmas from deliberate or accidental acts.Fifth status of Archavatharam is known through the word vadamathurai mainthan . Utterance of God's name with firm mind centered on God as vayinal padi manathinal sinthikka helps in relieving from all our mistakes.Also Andal says sins will erase completely like cotton placed in fire. Surrendering (Saranagathi ), Andal says will perish as earlier sins be burnt, and subsequent sins not stick. In Gita 12.2 Sri Bhagavan asks to worship him with the mind centered on him as nithya yuktha upasane . in the same chapter 7th sloka Krishna says that he will speedily deliver them from the ocean of birth and death.



In this pasuram 'thoomalar thoovi thozhuthu 'is written as devotees adore him with many fragrant garland of flowers to please Krishna.But He will grace even the people do poojas even with just few petals of flowers. The same lines are seen in Gita as patram puhpam palam thoyam whosoever offers to him with love a leaf, a flower, a fruit or even water , he delightfully partake them as it was offered with love.



Andal after describing details of Nonbu in the first five pasurams, calls all her friends to observe this in 6th to 15th pasram, which can be discussed in next issue.



Note.Due to Margazhi, Kothaiyin Geethai in five parts will appear .Vedanta desika 111 part 12 will then be continued.