Kothaiyin Geethai 4

KOTHAIYIN GEETHAI




4.Preachings and Saranagathi



Arumbuliyur Jagannathan Rangarajan



Andal's preachings for well being and total surrender to Sriman narayana is elaborated in concluding six pasurams.

In 25th pasuram, Andal says that Krishna gave the pleasure of avatara rasa as born as the son of Devaki and on the same night by becoming the son of Yasoda he gave the pleasure of enjoying His sports in leela rasa .When asked about the requirements Gopis said that they just wanted to do service to God. Andal says Krishna as thiruthakka selvam , a divine personality to dispell all vicious influences and to bless them with all benefits .Her preaching in this pasuram is one can attain more happiness and be free from all troubles by singing Krishna's glory.

Periazhwar in his Thirumozhi moonram Anthathi states as Devakitan vayitril athathin patham nal . Similarly, his daughter Andal here gave puzzle as oruthi, oriravu, olithu, to solve by ourselves. Andal's praises for Krishnavatharam with two mothers is well explained in Gita (4.9 ). Krishna says here as His birth and activities are divine. He further says those who know this in reality is not reborn on leaving the body, but comes to Him. Thus it is known that Krishna has many forms and incarnations .Though there are many transcendental forms, they are one and the same Sriman narayana.



In 26th pasuram the word 'Maley' used by Andal may be a repetition of the previous pasuram as ‘Nedumale’ and as 'Selvathirumal ' in the last one. Nedumale is the great love and affection of Vasudeva on Devaki, which caused terror in the minds of Kamsan for his cruel nature with them. ' Selva Thirumal' is on Dwaya Mantram. But here it is Krishna's excessive, boundless and unlimited loving care and affection for the soul, Maam in Charama Sloka of Gita. Andal says that there is no direct Vedic injunction, excepting the practice of doing what their ancestors has done it as Melayaar seyvanagal. Andal preaches in this as ' Age old customs, traditions and practices of our Acharyas are to be respected and observed with great care .In Gita (4.1 ) Krishna says " Immortal yoga is revealed to Vivasvan from Me ,Vivaswan conveyed to Manu, Manu imparted then to Ikshvaku. Similar to this, all good habits are observed with much care in tradition. Alin ilaiyai conveys the power, glory and excellence of the Omnipotent Krishna is informed and conveys as 'Without His volition not even an atom will move'.



The 27th pasuram in Tiruppavai is popular because of its attraction with sweety, tasty, sumptuous , ghee quoted, Chakkarai pongal. The lines of 'Mooda Nei peithu muzhankai vazhiyara' in Koodaravalli pasuram is of unique attraction as Andal has expressed her broadmindedness and gesture fully in Nachiar Thirumozhi 9 as Nooru thada in which she is offering butter in 100 vessels, Akkaravadisal (the famous Ayyangar veettu Payasam of rice cooked in Milk with jaggery and ghee) in 100 vessels to Lord of Thirumalirunjolai . Andal uses the favorite name of Govinda in three pasurams continuously in pasuram 27, as Koodarai vellum seer Govinda, in 28 as Kurai onrum illatha Govinda, and in 29 as Andru kaan Govinda .Andal preaches as Lord can punish a soul for a wrong only if the the soul is not prepared to take refuge unto Him . The moment he accepts His protection, the Lord cannot punish him for his sins as padi parai kondu yam perum sanmanam.Andal prays for finest fragrant silk attire, and jewels such as bangles, padagam, ear rings, choodigi, citing the instance of issue of saree to Draupadi.

In Gita( 3.13 ) Lord Krishna says that the devotees are released from all kinds of sins because they eat in group offered first for sacrifice. But the people preparing food for just personal enjoyment in a lonely place verily eat sins only. So taking food with all friends and relatives is recommended both by Krishna and Andal.



In 28th pasuram,Andal tells Saranagathi, is otherwise observance Nonbu .As said in the very first pasuram as Narayane namakke parai tharuvan, lord Krishna is to be attained by us as padip parai kondu in 8th, and 27th, He is the means of attainment as angapparai kondu in 30th pasuram. Andal confesses that there is absolutely no omissions, mistakes or wrong things in Him. Andal says as though they know one should perform saranagathi according to one's status and without any expectation of its fruits, they are liable to commit mistakes often. She also pleads for excuse for calling Krishna in various names out of affection and love. Andal pleads for forgiving the break ness in the middle of three modes of Saranagathi Swanishte,( to do directly with full knowledge), Utkishte ,(doing through Acharya's guidance),Acharyanishte, (surrendering to Acharya). In Gita (8.9)Krishna asks Arjuna to think of Him at all times . Krishna claims that , He who contemplates on the all knowing, ageless being, the ruler of all, subtler than subtle, the universal sustainer, possessing a form beyond human conception, effulgent like the sun, and far beyond the darkness of ignorance. Andal's saranagathi to such a supreme personality Paramathma is ever appreciable one.



In Tiruppavai two pasurams 29 and 30 are considered as Satrumurai , Sriman narayana is both means and end in SriVaishnava sampradaya. This is stressed as Unakke naam aat seyvom in this pasuram and in previous one as Unthannai punniyam yaamudaiyom .What Periazhwar in Thiruppallandu tells as Enthai thanthai thanthai tham moothappan ezhpadi is repeated by Andal in this as ezhezh piravikkum unthannodu . Andal pleads Lord Krishna in this pasuram ,for changing all desires of worldly pleasures as sincere service to god. Saranagathi in the form of early morning prayers, prostration before Thiruvadigal ,doing mangalasasanam, are suggested in this pasuram. In Gita (7.19) Krishna says that He himself is the man of wisdom, and in the very last of all births the enlightened person worships Him by realizing that all this is God. Such a great soul is rare indeed. Andal has proved that statement in this verse by following Her father's words.



In the concluding pasuram, Saranagathi's result of Engum Thiruvarul petru inburuga is confirmed. Any one irrespective of caste, creed ,age or sex can follow Saranagathi or surrender. One can perform Saranagathi not only for himself but also for others including animals, birds, plant etc. The individual surrenders to the Lord expressing his limitations of yogic path. The process is simple with huge benefits. Resolve to do only such acts favorable to supreme God, and to avoid all actions nor favoured by the Lord. If one have full faith in the Lord that he will protect the individual. Andal says that people known to recite thirty pasurams of Thiruppavai without any errors are sure to attain benedictions of Srimannarayana and SriMahalakshmi. Vangak kadal kadaintha informs various specialities of Sriman narayana as Churning the ocean to get nectar, in vatsalya , managing individually in swamittva ,working with all in sausilya, distributing nectar in saulabhya, knowledge on chun in gnana, and strength to complete in shakthi.In Gita (5.29) Krishna says that the persons knowing all sacrifices and austerities, as the supreme lord of the worlds attains peace . Andal says in similar voice that Sangathamizh malai is sure to give peace to one and all.



Note. Kothaiyin Geethai is just my attempts to identify similarities in two immortal epics.

Vedanta Desika 111 will be continued from next week.

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