Category Archives: mudhalAyiram

mudhalAyiram nAchchiyAr thirumozhi

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nAchchiyAr thirumozhi – Simple Explanation

May 11, 2020 Published by: T N Krishnan

SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:

mudhalAyiram

maNavALa mAmunigal beautifully reveals the greatness of ANdAL in the twenty fourth pAsuram of upadhEsa raththina mAlai.

anju kudikku oru sandhadhiyAy AzhwArgaL
tham seyalai vinji niRkum thanmaiyaLAy – pinjAyp
pazhuththALai ANdALaip paththiyudan nALum
vazhuththAy manamE magizhndhu

ANdAL incarnated as the only inheritor in the clan of AzhwArs. The term anju would refer to the numeral ‘five’ as well as ‘fear’. In the first interpretation it would refer to the fact that ANdAL is the only inheritor for the clan of AzhwArs just as parikshith was the only inheritor to the clan of the five pANdavas. In the second interpretation it would mean that she is the only inheritor to the clan of AzhwArs who were always fearful as to what harm would come emperumAn’s way. periyAzhwAr was always engaged in singing mangaLASasaam [to wish well] to emperumAn, wishing him to live long while all the other AzhwArs were engaged in the state of paramabhakthi (a state in which they cannot sustain themselves in the absence of emperumAn). ANdAL was engaged in mangaLASasaam for emperumAn, like periyAzhwAr, and was steeped in devotion too, like the other AzhwArs. The term pinjAyp pazhuththaL refers to the state when someone (or something) matures at a young state itself. Normal plants would initially give rise to flower, which will become the unripened fruit and finally yield the ripened fruit. However, the plant thuLasi, even as it germinates and sprouts from the earth, will let out its fragrance. ANdAL was similar to the latter. In other words, even at a very young age, she was steeped in devotion. She composed the thirty pAsurams of thiruppAvai when she was just five years of age. In nAchchiyAr thirumozhi she melts to attain emperumAn. Oh my heart! Celebrate such ANdAL all the time.

In thiruppAvai which she composed, she determined that emperumAn is the upAyam (means to attain him) and the upEyam (end result to enjoy, after attaining him). Since emperumAn did not come and take charge of her, she became heart-broken. With uncontrolled desire to attain emperumAn, ANdAL composed this wonderful prabandham, nAchchiyAr thirumozhi.

At the end of each padhigam (decad) she identifies herself as vittuchiththan kOdhai and battarpirAn kOdhai (daughter of periyAzhwAr), being subservient to periyAzhwAr. She reveals her state of being in AchArya nishtai (fully anchored in the position of being subservient to AchArya, the guru) by saying that she would welcome if emperumAn accepts her for the sake of periyAzhwAr. Being the reincarnation of bhUmippirAtti (bhUdhEvi), by manifesting her close relationship with emperumAn, she makes us engage in the ecstasy of devotion.

This simple explanation is being written with the help of periyavAchchAn piLLai’s commentary and puththUr swAmy’s explanation to it.

Source: http://divyaprabandham.koyil.org/index.php/2020/04/nachchiyar-thirumozhi-tamil-simple/

adiyEn krishNa rAmAnuja dhAsan

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thiruppAvai – Simple Explanation – pAsurams 21 to 30

May 8, 2020 Published by: T N Krishnan

SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:

Source: http://divyaprabandham.koyil.org/index.php/2020/04/thiruppavai-pasurams-21-30-tamil-simple/

<< pAsurams 16 to 20

nappinaip pirAtti joins the group of ANdAL saying “I am one among you in enjoying emperumAn”

Twenty first pAsuram. In this, she celebrates kaNNa’s birth in the clan of nandhagOpa, his supremacy and his quality realised through the stable vEdhas.

ERRa kalangaL edhir pongi mIdhaLippa
mARRAdhE pAl soriyum vaLLal perum pasukkaL
ARRap padaiththAn maganE aRivuRAy
URRam udaiyAy periyAy ulaginil
thORRamAy ninRa sudarE thuyil ezhAy
mARRAr unakku vali tholaindhu un vAsal kaN
ARRAdhu vandhu un adi paNiyumA polE
pORRi yAm vandhOm pugazhndhu ElOr embAvAy

Oh the son of nandhagOpa who has huge, magnanimous cows which are capable of giving milk continuously such that all the vessels kept for storing the milk will get filled up and even overflow! You should wake up from your divine sleep. Oh one who has the strength as mentioned by vEdhas which are the most supreme authentic text! Oh one who is great! Oh one who has the splendour and who stood in this world to be seen by everyone! Wake up. We have reached the entrance to your divine mansion, praising you, just as your enemies reach after losing their strength, without any other refuge, and bow down to your divine feet.

Twenty second pAsuram. In this, ANdAL tells emperumAn that she and her friends do not have any other refuge and that they have come to him just like vibhIshaNa came to surrender to SrI rAma. She reveals to emperumAn that she has got rid of all her other desires and that she desires only his grace.

angaN mA gyAlaththu arasar abhimAna
banghamAy vandhu nin paLLik kattil kIzhE
sangam iruppAr pOl vandhu thalaippeydhOm
kiNkiNi vAych cheydha thAmaraip pUp pOlE
sem kaN siRuch chiRidhE em mEl vizhiyAvO
thingaLum Adhiththiyanum ezhundhAR pOl
am kaN iraNdum koNdu engaL mEl nOkkudhiyEl
engaL mEl sAbam izhindhu ElOr embAvAy

We have come here just like kings who rule earth, which is beautiful, expansive and huge, assemble together, under your throne, after having their egos demolished. Would you not glance at us gradually with your merciful eyes, which are like the mouth of a tinkling ornament and like a semi-blossomed lotus flower? If you look at us with your eyes which are like sun and moon, all our sorrows will disappear.

Twenty third pAsuram. In this emperumAn kaNNa, having made ANdAL to wait for a long time, asks her as to what she desires. She tells him to get up from the bed, walk to his throne, and like a King, ask her in the assembly of his court as to what her request is.

mAri malai muzhainjil mannik kidandhu uRangum
sIriya singam aRivuRRuth thI vizhiththu
vEri mayir ponga eppAdum pErndhu udhaRi
mUri nimirndhu muzhangip puRappattu
pOdharumA pOlE nI pUvaip pUvaNNA
un kOyil ninRu inganE pOndhu aruLik kOppu udaiya
sIriya singAsanaththu irundhu yAm vandha
kAriyam ArAyndhu aruL ElOr embAvAy

Oh the one who has a dark complexion like a purple flower! Just like a lion which has been sleeping inside a cave during monsoon time wakes up from its sleep, looks all around with its fiery eyes, stretches and moves its body such that the fragrant mane falls off in all directions, lets out a roar and comes out majestically, you should come to this place inside your divine mansion, get up on the beautiful, eminent throne, and shower your grace on us by asking us the purpose of our arrival here.

Twenty fourth pAsuram. After seeing him get seated, she starts carrying out mangaLASAsanam (invocation of blessings) to him. Being the divine daughter of periyAzhwAr, ANdAL’s aim is to only carry out mangaLASAsanam to emperumAn. ANdAL and her friends carried out mangaLASAsanam to emperumAn after seeing his gait, just like sIthAp pirAtti, the sages at dhaNdakAraNyam and periyAzhwAr. They also felt sad that they had made emperumAn, who has such soft divine feet, to walk.

anRu ivvulagam aLandhAy adi pORRi
senRu anguth thennilangai seRRAy thiRal pORRi
ponRach chagadam udhaiththAy pugazh pORRi
kanRu kuNilA eRindhAy kazhal pORRi
kunRu kudaiyA eduththAy guNam pORRi
venRu pagai kedukkum nin kaiyil vEl pORRi
enRu enRu un sEvagamE Eththip paRai koLvAn
inRu yAm vandhOm irangu ElOr embAvAy

The term pORRi means “May you live long” denoting mangaLASAsanam.

Oh one who measured these worlds long time back, for dhEvas! May your divine feet live long. Oh one who went to the beautiful lankA, rAvaNa’s place, and destroyed it! May your strength live long. Oh one who kicked the wheel such that the demon Sakata who had pervaded it was killed! May your fame live long. Oh one who threw a calf at wood apple such that the demons inside both the calf and the wood apple were killed! May your divine feet live long. Oh one who held the gOvardhana hill as an umbrella! May your auspicious qualities live long. May the spear, which is in your hand and which destroys enemies, live long! We have come here, carrying out mangaLASAsanam many times like this, praising your valour, in order to get from and to carry out kainkaryam (service) to you. You should shower your grace on us.

Twenty fifth pAsuram: When emperumAn asks them as to whether they need anything for carrying out their nOnbu, they say that all their sorrows have disappeared after having carried out mangaLASAsanam to him and that the only thing that they want is kainkaryam.

oruththi maganAyp piRandhu Or iravil
oruththi maganAy oLiththu vaLarath
tharikkilAnAgith thAn thIngu ninaindha
karuththaip pizhaippiththuk kanjan vayiRRil
neruppenna ninRa nedumAlE unnai
aruththiththu vandhOm paRai tharudhi Agil
thiruththakka selvamum sEvagamum yAm pAdi
varuththamum thIrndhu magizhndhu ElOr embAvAy

Incarnating as the son of the unique dhEvaki pirAtti, and in that incomparable night, you grew as the son of the unique yaSOdhAp pirAtti. During that time, unable to tolerate it, kamsan thinking ill of you, wanted to kill you. Oh supreme being who stood like fire on the stomach of that kamsan and destroyed that thought as well as kamsan! We have come here, seeking from you what we wanted. If you fulfil our prayer, we will praise your wealth and valour, which even pirAtti likes, get rid of this unhappiness of being separated from you and will feel blissful.

Twenty sixth pAsuram. In this, she tells him the accessories which are needed for the nOnbu. While earlier she had said that nothing is needed, she now seeks kainkaryaparas (those who carry out kainkaryam) such as pAnchajanyAzhwAn (divine conch) for carrying out mangaLASAsanam, lamp to see his divine face clearly, flag which announces his presence, canopy which provides him shade etc. Our pUrvAchAryas reveal that ANdAL is seeking these so that her krishNAnubhavam (experiencing krishNa) would be complete and proper.

mAlE maNivaNNA mArgazhi nIr AduvAn
mElaiyAr seyvanagaL vENduvana kEttiyEl
gyAlaththai ellAm nadunga muralvana
pAl anna vaNNaththu un pAnchasanniyamE
pOlvana sangangaL pOyppAdu udaiyanavE
sAlap perum paRaiyE pallANdu isaippArE
kOla viLakkE kodiyE vidhAnamE
Alin ilaiyAy aruL ElOr embAvAy

Oh one who is affectionate towards your devotees! Oh one who has the complexion of a bluish gem! Oh one who slept divinely on the tender banyan leaf during deluge! If you ask us as to what accessories we need for our bath in the month of mArgazhi, in line with what had been carried out by our elders, we will tell you. We need conches such as the milky white pAnchajanya which can blow resoundingly, making the entire world to tremble. We need percussion instruments which are spacious and big. We need those who will sing thiruppallANdu, lamps, flags and canopies.

In the twenty seventh and twenty eights pAsurams she confirms that emperumAn alone is both the means to attain him and the end result [to carry out service to him].

Twenty seventh pAsuram. ANdAL explains emperumAn’s distinguished quality of attracting both the favourable and unfavourable entities towards him. Further, she says that the highest level of purushArtham (goal or end result) is the sAyujya mOksham (to be with emperumAn) of carrying out kainkaryam to emperumAn continuously, without ever separating from him.

kUdArai vellum sIrk kOvindhA undhannaip
pAdip paRai koNdu yAm peRu sammAnam
nAdu pugazhum parisinAl nanRAga
sUdagamE thOL vaLaiyE thOdE sevippUvE
pAdagamE enRu anaiya pal kalanum yAm aNivOm
Adai uduppOm adhan pinnE pAl sORu
mUda ney peudhu muzhangai vazhivAra
kUdi irundhu kuLirndhu ElOr embAvAy

Oh gOvindhA who has the auspicious quality of winning over those who do not bow down! The further honour that we get after praising you and getting the kainkaryams is to wear various ornaments such as bracelet, armlet, ear stud, other ear ornaments, anklets etc which nappinnaip pirAtti and you don on us. We will wear the clothes which you drape on us. After that, we should together eat the ghee covered akkAravadisil (sweet prepared with rice, milk, sugar and ghee) and the excess ghee overflowing our elbow.

Twenty eighth pAsuram. In this, ANdAL explains the causeless connection between emperumAn and all the AthmAs, her inability to engage with any [other] means, greatness of emperumAn, his quality of uplifting everyone (having adhvEsham (non-hatred) as the reason, just like the cows of vrindhAvan) without expecting anything in return.

kaRavaigaL pin senRu kAnam sErndhu uNbOm
aRivu onRum illAdha Aykkulaththu undhannaip
piRavi peRundhanaip puNNiyam yAm udaiyOm
kuRai onRum illAdha gOvindhA un thannOdu
uRavEl namakku ingu ozhikka ozhiyAdhu
aRiyAdha piLLagaLOm anbinAl undhannaich
chiRu pEr azhaiththanavum sIRi aruLAdhE
iRaivA nI thArAy paRai ElOr embAvAy

Oh gOvindhA who has no fault whatsoever! We will follow the cows to the forest, roam around and eat together. We have the fortune of having you born in this clan of cow-herds which does not have any knowledge. Oh lord! The relation that we have with you cannot be severed either by you or by us. Do not get angry with us since we have called you by insignificant names due to our affection, and bless us by giving the end result that we are seeking.

Twenty ninth pAsuram. Here, she reveals an important principle: carrying out kainkaryam is not for our happiness, but it is only for his happiness. Further, she says that due to her deep desire for krishNAnubhavam, she started observing this nOnbu merely as a pretext.

siRRam siRu kAlE vandhu unnaich chEviththu un
poRRAmarai adiyE pORRum poruL kELAy
peRRam mEyththu uNNum kulaththil piRandhu nI
kuRREval engaLaik koLLAmal pOgAdhu
iRRaip paRai koLvAn anRu kAN gOvindhA
eRRaikkum EzhEzh piRavikkum undhannOdu
uRROmE AvOm unakkE nAm At seyvOm
maRRai nam kAmangaL mARRu ElOr embAvAy

Oh gOvindhA! You should hear the result of our coming here early in the morning, bowing down and reciting mangaASAanam to your most desirable, golden, lotus-like divine feet. You, who had been born in the clan of cow-herds, who graze their cows and eat, should not remain without accepting confidential kainkaryam from us. We did not come here to receive the percussion instrument, drum, from you. We should have a connection with you for time unlimited, irrespective of the number of times that we take birth. We should carry out kainkaryam only to you. When we carry out such kainkaryam you should remove the thought from us that it is for our happiness. You should mercifully grace us such that the kainkaryam is only to make you happy.

Thirtieth pAsuram: Since emperumAn tells her that he will fulfil her desires, she rids herself of the emotions of the cowherd girl and sings this pAsuram as her own self, ANdAL. She affirms that whoever sings these pAsurams will attain the same kainkaryam which she did, even if they do not have the same purity of heart that she had. In other words, the cow-herd girls who lived during the time of kaNNa in vrindhAvan and had deep affection for him, ANdAL who had the same mental make-up in SrIvillipuththUr as the cow-herd girls and anyone else who learns and sings these pAsurams, will attain the same benefit. [parAsara] bhattar [son of kUraththAzhwAn, one of rAmAnuja’s principal disciples] would mercifully say “Just as the cow yields milk even after seeing the [dead] calf which is stuffed with hay, if anyone sings these pAsurams which are dear to emperumAn, (s)he will get the same benefit which those who are dear to emperumAn get”. ANdAL completes the prabandham by narrating the incident of emperumAn churning the milky ocean. This is because, the cow-herd girls desired to attain emperumAn. To attain emperumAn, the purushakAram of pirAtti is needed. emperumAn churned the ocean only to bring pirAtti out of the ocean and to marry her. Hence ANdAL too narrates this incident and brings the prabandham to its end. ANdAL is one who is firmly in the state of AchAryAbhimAnam (dear to AchArya). Thus, she completes the prabandham by showing that she is bhattarpirAn kOdhai (daughter of periyAzhwAr, bhattarpirAn).

vangak kadal kadaindha mAdhavanai kEsavanai
thingaL thiru mugaththuch chEzhiyAr senRiRainji
angap paRai koNda ARRai aNi pudhuvaip
paingamalath thaN theriyal bhattarpirAn kOdhai sonna
sangath thamizhmAlai muppadhum thappAmE
ingu ipparisu uraippAr IriraNdu mAl varaith thOL
sengaN thirumugaththuch chelvath thirumAlAl
engum thiruvaruL peRRu inbuRuvar embAvAy

kESavan (emperumAn), the supreme entity, churned the milky ocean. Cow-herd girls, with beautiful faces like moon and with distinguished ornaments, went, worshipped that emperumAn and got benefit in thiruvAyppAdi (SrI gOkulam). ANdAL, the daughter of periyAzhwAr who has garland with cool, lotus flowers, and who incarnated in beautiful SrIvillipuththUr, mercifully narrated that history [of cow-herd girls getting benefit from emperumAn]. These thirty pAsurams are to be sung in large gatherings. Those who sing these thirty pAsurams, without missing anything, in this way, in this world, will get the grace of emperumAn who has divine shoulders like huge mountains, has a divine face with reddish divine eyes [reddish eyes denote affection towards devotees] and has wealth. Such people will remain blissful in all places.

adiyEn krishNa rAmAnuja dhAsan

thiruppAvai – Simple Explanation – pAsurams 16 to 20

May 7, 2020 Published by: T N Krishnan

SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:

Source: http://divyaprabandham.koyil.org/index.php/2020/04/thiruppavai-pasurams-16-20-tamil-simple/

<< pAsurams 6 to 15

In the sixteenth and seventeenth pAsurams, ANdAL is waking up in samsAram, representatives of nithyasUris such as kshEthrapAlas (guards of the town), dhvArapAlas (guards at the entrance), AdhiSEshan et al.

In the sixteenth pAsuram, she wakes up the guards at the entrance of nandhagOpar’s divine mansion and the guards at the entrance of his room.

nAyaganAy ninRa nandhagOpanudaiya
kOyil kAppAnE kodiththOnRum thOraNa
vAyil kAppAnE Manikkadhavam thAL thiRavAy
Ayar siRumiyarOmukku aRai paRai
mAyan maNivaNNan nennalE vAy nErndhAn
thUyOmAy vandhOm thuyil ezhap pAduvAn
vAyAl munnamunnam mARRAdhE ammA nI
nEya nilaikkadhavam nIkku ElOr embAvAy

Oh the one who is guarding the divine mansion of our swAmy (lord) nandhagOpan! Oh the one who is guarding the arch which has flags! You should remove the latch of the door which is embedded with gem stones. kaNNa, who has amazing activities and who has the divine complexion of bluish gem stone, has promised us yesterday itself that he will give us the resounding drum. We have come with purity in our hearts, to wake him up. Oh our lord! Without rejecting this request, you, who are affectionate towards kaNNa, should open this door.

Seventeenth pAsuram: In this, she wakes up SrI nandhagOpan, yaSOdhA and nambi mUththa pirAn (balarAman).

ambaramE thaNNIrE sORE aRanjeyyum
emperumAn nandhagOpAlA ezhundhirAy
kombanArkkellAm kozhundhE kulaviLakkE
emperumAtti yaSOdhAy aRivuRAy
ambaram Udu aRuththu Ongi ulagu aLandha
umbar kOmAnE uRangAdhu ezhundhirAy
sembon kazhal adich chelvA baladhEvA
umbiyum nIyum uRangu ElOr embAvAy

Oh our swAmy (lord) nandhagOpa who donates vasthram (dress), water and food! Please wake up. Oh one who is the head of the cowherd girls who have slender frames! Oh one who is the beacon of the clan of cowherd girls! Oh yaSOdhAp pirAtti, our leader! Be aware. Oh the king of celestial entities who pierced through the sky to rise up and measure all the worlds! You should wake up from your sleep. Oh one who has the victorious anklets made of reddish gold on his divine feet, balarAma! Both you and your brother kaNNan should wake up from your divine sleep.

In the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth pAsurams: ANdAL thinks that there is some shortcoming in waking up kaNNan emperumAn. She realises that she has not had the recommendatory role from nappinnaip pirAtti. In these three pAsurams she celebrates the greatness of nappinnaip pirAtti, the intimacy between her and kaNNan emperumAn, her unlimited enjoyability, her youthfulness, her beautiful divine form, her quality of being his sweetheart and her recommendatory role [in requesting emperumAn to shower his mercy on chEthanas]. Our pUrvAchAryas would say that desiring only emperumAn and forgetting about pirAtti is similar to the state of sUrpaNakA and desiring only pirAtti, leaving aside emperumAn, is similar to the state of rAvaNa.

Eighteenth pAsuram: Since emperumAn did not wake up however much she tried, she thinks that she could wake him up if she tried through the purushakAram (recommendatory role) of nappinnaip pirAtti, and does that. This pAsuram is one which emperumAnAr was very fond of.

undhu madha kaLiRRan OdAdha thOL valiyan
nandha gOpAlan marumagaLE nappinnAy
gandham kamazhum kuzhalee kadai thiRavAy
vandhu engum kOzhi azhaiththana kAN mAdhavip
pandhal mEl palgAl kuyil inangaL kUvina kAN
pandhAr virali un maiththunan pEr pAda
sendhAmaraik kaiyAl sIr Ar vaLai olippa
vandhu thiRavAy magizhndhu ElOr embAvAy

Oh the daughter-in-law of SrI nandhagOpa, who has the strength of an elephant and strength of shoulders such that he does not have to step back from a battle! Oh nappinnaip pirAtti! Oh one who has fragrant tresses! Open the entrance door. See how the hens are chirping, from all directions! Look at the flock of cuckoo birds which are chirping from the shed put up for creepers. Oh one who has fingers holding on to a ball of flowers! Open the door with happiness, with the bangles on your beautiful hands resounding well, with your divine hand which is like a reddish lotus.

Nineteenth pAsuram: In this, she wakes up kaNNa and nappinnaip pirAtti, alternatively.

kuththu viLakku eriyak kOttukkAl kattil mEl
meththenRa panjasayanaththin mEl ERi
koththu alar pUnguzhal nappinnai kongaimEl
vaiththuk kidandha malar mArbA vAy thiRavAy
maiththadam kaNNinAy nI un maNALanai
eththanai pOdhum thuyil ezha ottAy kAN
eththanaiyElum pirivu ARRagillAyAl
thaththuvam anRu thagavu ElOr embAvAy

Oh one who is sleeping, keeping your broad divine chest on the divine bosoms of nappinnaip pirAtti whose tresses are well decorated with bunches of blossomed flowers! You have got on top of the cot whose legs are made of elephant’s tusks, with the lamp burning. Please open your divine mouth and speak a word [to us]. Oh one who has her eyes decorated with black pigment! You are not allowing your consort to wake up even for a moment. Wouldn’t you be away from him even for a moment? Not letting him to come near us is neither apt for your svarUpam (basic nature) nor for your svabhAvam (basic character).

Twentieth pAsuram: In this, she wakes up both nappinnaip pirAtti and kaNNa and tells nappinnaip pirAtti “You should unite kaNNa with us and help us to enjoy him”

muppaththu mUvar amararkku mun senRu
kappam thavirkkum kaliyE thuyil ezhAy
seppam udaiyAy thiRal udaiyAy seRRArkku
veppam kodukkum vimalA thuyil ezhAy
seppanna men mulai sevvAych chiRu marungul
nappinnai nangAy thiruvE thuyil ezhAy
ukkamum thattu oLiyum thandhu un maNALanai
ippOdhE emmai nIrAttu ElOr embAvAy

Oh emperumAn kaNNa who has the strength to remove the hurdles of thirty three and a crore celestial entities by acting ahead! Wake up. Oh one who has the honesty to protect devotees! On who has the strength to protect! Oh one who has the purity to trouble the enemies! Wake up. Oh nappinnaip pirAtti who has divine bosom like golden dome, who has reddish mouth and slender waist! Oh one who is like periya pirAtti (SrI mahAlakshmi)! Wake up. You should bestow on us materials for our nOnbu such as circular fan made of palm leaves, mirror as well as your husband kaNNa and you should bathe us immediately.

adiyEn krishNa rAmAnuja dhAsan

thiruppAvai – Simple Explanation – pAsurams 6 to 15

May 6, 2020 Published by: T N Krishnan

SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:

Source: http://divyaprabandham.koyil.org/index.php/2020/04/thiruppavai-pasurams-6-15-tamil-simple/

<< pAsurams 1 to 5

Now, from the sixth to fifteenth pAsuram, ANdAL nAchchiyAr wakes up ten cow-herd girls as representative of waking up the five lakh cow-herd girls in thiruvAyppAdi (SrI gOkulam). These pAsurams have been organised in such a way that she wakes up ten devotees who are experts in vEdham.

Sixth pAsuram: In this, she wakes up a cow herd girl who is new to krishNAnubhavam. This cow-herd girl is satisfied experiencing kaNNa all by herself. This is the prathama parva nishtai (being anchored in first stage) in experiencing emperumAn. If one understands being together with (other) devotees, it would be the charama parva nishtai (being anchored in ultimate stage).

puLLum silambina kAN puL araiyan kOyil
veLLai viLisangin pEraravam kEttilaiyO
piLLAy ezhundhirAy pEy mulai nanju uNdu
kaLLach chagadam kalakku azhiyak kAl Ochchi
veLLaththu aravil thuyil amarndha viththinai
uLLLaththuk koNdu munivargaLum yOgigaLum
meLLa ezhundhu ari enRa pEr aravam
uLLam pugundhu kuLirndhu ElOr embAvAy

Birds are flying, chirping, as you can see. Can’t you hear the loud sound emanating from the white coloured conch which is blowing from the temple of emperumAn, who is the lord of garuda, who himself is the chief of these birds?

Oh little girl (who is new)! Wake up! emperumAn [as kaNNa] drank the poison as well as the life of demon pUthanA who came in the form of kaNNa’s mother; stretched his legs in such a way that the demon Sakata who was full of deception was dismembered; he reclined on the mattress of AdhiSEshan at thiruppARkadal, and he is the causative reason for this world. munis (sages) who meditate on such emperumAn and yOgis (ascetics) who carry out service to emperumAn, meditate on that emperumAn and get up in the morning, without giving any trouble to him who is residing in their hearts. Even as they get up, the huge sound of “Hari Hari” which they utter entered our heart and cooled it.

Seventh pAsuram: In this, ANdAL is waking up a cow-herd girl who is well versed in krishNAnubhavam. However, this girl is staying inside her house in order to hear the sweet voice of ANdAL and her friends.

kIsu kIsu enRu engum AnaichchAththan kalandhu
pEsina pEchcharavam kEttilaiyO pEyppeNNE
kAsum piRappum kalakalappak kai pErththu
vAsa naRum kuzhal Aychchiyar maththinAl
Osai paduththa thayir aravam kEttilaiyO
nAyagap peNpiLLAy nArAyaNan mUrthy
kEsavanaip pAdavum nI kEttE kidaththiyO
thEsam udaiyAy thiRa ElOr embAvAy

Oh ignorant (who despite having devotion towards krishNa is not realising it)! Can’t you hear the chirping of the Kingcrow bird’s “kIsu kIsu” in all directions? Can’t you hear the sound of churning of curd caused by the movement of shaft by the hands of cow-herd girls, who have fragrant and beautiful tresses and whose ornaments of gold coins and gold beads are making noise? Oh one who is the leader of the cow-herd girls! Even as we are singing about kaNNa who is the incarnation of nArAyaNa, could you remain lying like this? Open the door.

Eighth pAsuram: In this she is waking up a cow-herd girl who is very much liked by kaNNa and who is very proud because of that.

kIzh vAnam veLLenRu erumai siRu vIdu
mEyvAn parandhana kAN mikkuLLa piLLaigaLum
pOvAn pOginRAraip pOgAmal kAththu unnaik
kUvuvAn vandhu ninRom kOdhukalam udaiya
pAvAy ezhundhirAy pAdip paRai koNdu
mAvAy piLandhAnai mallarai mAttiya
dhEvAdhi dhEvanaich chenRu nAm sEviththAl
AvA enRu ArAindhu aruL ElOr embAvAy

Oh girl who is liked by krishNa! The sky in eastern direction is becoming lighter. The bullocks have been let out for a short time to graze outside and are roaming. We have come to the entrance of your house, stopping girls who are going for a bath considering it as the ultimate benefit. Wake up! If we go and worship kaNNa, who tore the mouth of the demon kEsi, who killed the wrestlers during the festival of bows conducted by kamsa and who is the leader of nithyasUris, he will analyse our shortcomings and bless us speedily.

Ninth pAsuram: Here, she wakes up a cow herd girl who is with the firm belief that emperumAn himself is the means [to attain him] and who is enjoying various charming things with emperumAn. This girl is like sIthAppirAtti who told hanumAn “SrI rAma himself will come and save me”.

thUmaNi mAdaththuch chuRRum viLakkeriya
dhUpam kamazhath thuyil aNai mEl kaN vaLarum
mAmAn magaLE maNikkadhavam thAL thiRavAy
mAmIr avaLai ezhuppIrO? un magaLdhAn
UmaiyO anRich chevidO anandhalO?
Emap perundhuyil mandhirappattALO?
mAmAyan mAdhavan vaigundhan enRu enRu
nAmam palavum navinRu ElOr embAvAy

Oh the daughter of my maternal uncle who is sleeping on a comfortable bed inside a mansion which is studded with faultless gems, with auspicious lamps shining and fragrant smoke wafting gently! Remove the latches of the carbuncle doors. Oh mAmi (wife of maternal uncle)! Wake up your daughter. Is your daughter dumb? Or is she deaf? Or, is she tired? Has she been kept under protection? Has she been tied down with any spell, to sleep for a long time? We have recited several divine names of emperumAn such as mAmAyan (one who has amazing activities), mAdhavan (consort of SrI mahAlakshmi), vaigundhan (SrI vaikuNtanAthan) etc. Still, she hasn’t woken up!

Tenth pAsuram: In this ANdAL wakes up a cow herd girl who is dear to kaNNa. She is of the firm belief that emperumAn is the means to attain him and is firmly engaged in that, due to which she is much liked by emperumAn.

nORRuch chuvarkkam puguginRa ammanAy
mARRamum thArArO vAsal thiRavAdhAr
nARRath thuzhAy mudi nArAyaNan nammAl
pORRap paRai tharum puNNiyanAl paNdu oru nAL
kURRaththin vAy vIzhndha kumbakaruNanum
thORRum unakkE perum thuyuil thAn thandhAnO?
ARRa anandhal udaiyAy arum kalamE
thERRamAy vandhu thiRa ElOr embAvAy

Oh the girl who has observed penances to continuously enjoy heaven! Though the door has not been opened, will they (those who are inside) not, at the least, utter a word from inside? Did kumbhakarNa, in an earlier time, who fell into the mouth of yama because of emperumAn, who has the divine name of nArAyana, who is praised by us to live for a long time and who grants us service, lose to you and hand over his quality of sleeping for a long time, to you? Oh one who has a beautiful sleep! Oh one who is like a rare ornament! Clear up [from your sleep] and open the door.

Eleventh pAsuram: In this she wakes up a cow-herd girl who is very much liked in brindhAvanam, like kaNNa. In this pAsuram, the importance of following varNASrama dharma (following the rules of one’s class and stage in one’s life) has been shown.

kaRRuk kaRavaik kaNangaL pala kaRandhu
seRRAr thiRal azhiyach chenRu seruch cheyyum
kuRRam onRu illAdha kOvalar tham poRkodiyE
puRRaravu algul punamayilE pOdharAy
suRRaththuth thOzhimAr ellArum vandhu nin
muRRam pugundhu mugil vaNNan pEr pAda
siRRAdhE pEsAdhE selvap peNdAtti nI
eRRukku uRangum poruL ElOr embAvAy

Oh the one who is like a golden creeper, born in the clan of herdsmen, who milk many clusters of youthful cows, who reach the dens of enemies and destroy their strengths and who are faultless! One who is having a waist similar to the spread hood of a snake which is in its nest, and who is like a peacock in its habitation! Come outside. Though all of us, your friends, who are like your relatives, have come to the courtyard of your mansion and are reciting the divine names of emperumAn kaNNa who has the complexion of a bluish cloud, why are you, who are fit for our affection, still sleeping without stirring or speaking?

Twelfth pAsuram: In this, she wakes up a cow-herd girl who is the sister of a cow-herd boy who is a close friend of kaNNan and who does not observe varNASrama dharma. When one is fully engaged in kainkaryam (carrying out service) to emperumAn, varNASrama dharmas are not important for him. However, when he completes carrying out kainkaryam and starts carrying out his routine activities, the varNASrama dharmas assume importance for him.

kanaiththu iLangaRRu erumai kanRukku irangi
ninaiththu mulai vazhiyE ninRu pAl sOra
nanaiththu illam sERAkkum naRchelvan thangAy
paniththalai vIzha nin vAsal kadai paRRi
sinaththinAl then ilangaik kOmAnaich cheRRa
manaththukku iniyAnaip pAdavum nI vAy thiRavAy
iniththAn ezhundhirAy Idhu enna pEr uRakkam
anaiththu illaththArum aRindhu ElOr embAvAy

Buffaloes which have young, nursing calves, taking pity on their calves, are crying out and increasing the quantum of milk in their udders, thinking of their calves. The excess milk thus secreted is making the house very muddy. Oh one who lives in such a house and is the sister of the cow-herd boy who is having the eminent wealth of krishNa kainkaryam! Though we are holding on to the entrance to your house, with dew falling on our heads, and are singing about emperumAn rAma who, in anger, killed rAvaNa , the head of beautiful lankA, and who gives delight to the mind, you are not speaking. At least now, wake up. What a lengthy sleep is this? All the people residing in thiruvAyppAdi have come to know of your sleep.

Thirteenth pAsuram: In this, she wakes up a cow-herd girl who is herself admiring the beauty of her eyes, in solitude. Since eyes generally denote knowledge, it could be said that this girl has complete knowledge in matters relating to emperumAn. She is of the opinion that kaNNa will come looking for her, on his own. Since kaNNa is referred to as aravindhalOchanan (one who has eyes which are like lotus), she is one who has matching eyes to his.

puLLin vAy kINdAnaip pollA arakkanai
kiLLik kaLaindhAnaik kIrththimai pAdippOy
piLLaigaL ellArum pAvaikkaLam pukkAr
veLLi ezhundhu viyAzham uRangiRRu
puLLum silambina kAN pOdharikkaNNinAy
kuLLak kuLirak kudaindhu nIrAdhAdhE
paLLik kidaththiyO? pAvAy nI nannALAl
kaLLam thavirndhu kalandhu ElOr embAvAy

All the girls (who are observing nOnbu) have reached the place earmarked for observing nOnbu, singing the valorous acts of emperumAn who tore the mouth of the demon bakAsura who came in the form of a stork, and who effortlessly destroyed rAvaNa who is the epitome of all harm. The planet Venus has risen and the planet Jupiter has disappeared from the sky. Birds are dispersing in various directions, seeking food. Oh one who has eyes similar to cat and doe! Oh one who has natural femininity! On this auspicious day, are you sleeping in your bed, deceptively (enjoying emperumAn alone) instead of joining with us and having a bath in the cold water?

Fourteenth pAsuram: Here, she wakes up a girl who had given word that she would wake up everyone but still is sleeping in her house.

ungaL puzhaikkadaith thOttaththu vAviyuL
sengazhunIr vAy negizhndhu Ambal vAy kUmbina kAN
sengal podikkURai veN pal thavaththavar
thangaL thirukkOyil sangiduvAn pOdhandhAr
engaLai munnam ezhuppuvAn vAy pEsum
nangAy ezhundhirAy nANAdhAy nAvudaiyAy
sangodu chakkaram Endhum thadakkaiyan
pangayak kaNNAnaip pAdu ElOr embAvAy

Oh the one who is complete [in all qualities], who took a vow that you would come and wake us all up! Oh one who is without any shame! On one who could speak well! In the pond at the backside of your house, the red water lilies have blossomed and the blue lily has closed its petals [signifying dawn]. sanyAsis (those who have renounced everything) are going to the temple, with their saffron clothes and white teeth, to blow the conch [signifying opening of the temple]. Wake up to sing about the supreme being who has the divine disc and divine conch held in the beautiful divine hands and who is having reddish lotus-like eyes.

Fifteenth pAsuram: In this, she wakes up a girl who is waiting anxiously to behold the sight of ANdAL and her friends coming to her mansion.

ellE iLam kiLiyE innam uRangudhiyO
chillenRu azhiayEnmin nangaimIr pOdharginREn
vallai un katturaigaL paNdE un vAy aRidhum
valleergaL nIngaLE nAnEdhAn Ayiduga
ollai nI pOdhAy unakku enna vERu udaiyai
ellArum pOndhArO pOndhAr pOndhu eNNikkoL
val Anai konRAnai mARRArai mARRu azhikka
vallAnai mAyanaip pAdu ElOr embAvAy

[The explanation for this is given as a conversation between the girls who have come and are waiting outside her house and the girl who is inside]

Girls outside: Oh one who is like a youthful parrot! How sweet is your way of talking! Are you sleeping even after all of us have come here?

Girl inside: Oh girls who are complete in all respects! Do not call out to me angrily, like this. I am coming out immediately.

Girls outside: You are very smart in your way of speaking. We know your rude words as well as your mouth for a very long time.

Girl inside: You people are experts in the way of speaking! Let whatever I do be incorrect. What should I do now?

Girls outside: Wake up fast. Do you have any special benefit?

Girl inside: Have all those, who are supposed to come, arrived?

Girls outside: All have arrived. You could come out and take a head-count yourself.

Girl inside: What am I to do after coming out?

Girls outside: Come out to sing about kaNNa who killed a strong elephant, who is capable of draining the strength of his enemies and who has amazing activities.

adiyEn krishNa rAmAnuja dhAsan

thiruppAvai – Simple Explanation – pAsurams 1 to 5

May 4, 2020 Published by: T N Krishnan

SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:

Source: http://divyaprabandham.koyil.org/index.php/2020/04/thiruppavai-pasurams-1-5-tamil-simple/

<< thaniyans

First pAsuram. Praising time, cow-herd girls and emperumAn, who is both the means and the end result, ANdAL resolves that she will observe mArgazhi nOnbu (a fasting or religious penance observed in the thamizh month of mArgazhi) so that she could have krishNAnubhavam (enjoying krishNa).

mArgazhith thingaL madhi niRaindha nannALAl
nIrAdap pOdhuvIr pOdhuminO nErizhaiyIr
sIr malgum AyppAdich chelvach chiRumIrgAL
kUrvEl kodum thozhilan nandhagOpan kumaran
Er Arndha kaNNi yasOdhai iLam singam
kAr mEnich chengaN kadhir madhiyam pOl mugaththAn
nArAyaNanE namakkE paRai tharuvAn
pArOr pugazhap padindhu ElOr embAvAy

Oh young girls in thiruvAyppAdi (SrI gOkulam) who have the wealth of krishNa kainkaryam (service to krishNa)! Oh those who are wearing great ornaments! It is an auspicious day on this full moon day of mArgazhi. kaNNan is the obedient son of nandhagOpar, who has a sharp spear which will destroy creatures which could harm kaNNan; kaNNan is the lion cub of yaSOdhAppirAtti who has beautiful eyes. kaNNan has a divine form which has the complexion of dark cloud, has reddish eyes and has a face like sun and moon. He is nArayaNa, emperumAn, and will give us all, his servitors, kainkaryam (service to him). Come together.

Second pAsuram. She lists the do’s and don’ts while engaging in krishNAnubhavam. She says that for us who have surrendered to emperumAn, the conduct of pUrvAchAryas (preceptors) is the guideline.

vaiyaththu vAzhvIrgAL nAmum nam pAvaikkuch
cheyyum kirisaigaL kELIrO pARkadaluL
paiyathth thuyinRa paraman adipAdi
neyyuNNOm pAluNNOm nAtkAlE nIrAdi
mai ittu ezhudhOm malar ittu nAm modiyOm
seyyAdhana seyyOm thIkkuRalai chenRu OdhOm
aiyamum pichchaiyum Andhanaiyum kaikAtti
uyyumAReNNi ugandhu ElOr embAvAy

Oh those who have been born to live in this world! Listen to the activities which we should perform, happily after understanding the path to uplift ourselves. We will praise the divine feet of the supreme entity who is reclining in thiruppARkadal (milky ocean). We will not consume ghee (clarified butter) and milk. We will wake up early in the morning and have a bath. But we will not apply the decorative pigment to the eyes and neither would we wear flower on our tresses. We will not carry out activities prohibited by our elders. We will not indulge in back-biting. We will donate to the apt people and offer alms to the needy to the extent that we are capable of giving.

Third pAuram. ANdAL prays that benefits should accrue to all the people who are in brindhAvan who had given her permission to enjoy krishNAnubhavam (the experience of krishNa). The implied meaning is that everyone should get krishNAnubhavam.

Ongi ulagu aLandha uththaman pEr pAdi
nAngaL nam pAvaikkuch chARRi nIrAdinAl
thInginRi nAdu ellAm thingaL mummAri peydhu
Ongu perum sennel Udu kayal ugaLa
pUnguvalaip pOdhil poRi vaNdu kaN paduppa
thEngAdhE pukku irundhu sIrththa mulai paRRi
vAngak kudam niRaikkum vaLLal perum pasukkaL
nIngAdha selvam niRaindhu ElOr embAvAy

We will recite the divine names of the supreme entity who grew huge in his form and measured all the worlds. We will have a bath since we are observing nOnbu. If we do that, rain will fall three times in the month, throughout the country, without any harm. Due to that, carp fish will leap through the reddish paddy crops which have grown tall. Spotted beetles will sleep on the blue Indian water lily flower. People could go without hesitation to the well grown cows in that place, which are magnanimous, and they will give milk which will overflow the container in which it is received. The place will be full of such indelible opulence.

Fourth pAsuram. ANdAL orders parjanya dhEva (deity for rain) to precipitate three times in a month (for the brAhmaNas, for the king and for chaste women) so that people in brindhAvan can live prosperously and engage in krishNAnubhavam.

Azhi mazhaik kaNNA onRu nI kai karavEl
AzhiyuL pukku mugandhu kodu Arththu ERi
Uzhi mudhalvan uruvam pOl mey kaRuththu
pAzhiyam thOLudaip paRpanAbhan kaiyil
Azhi pOl minni valampuri pOl ninRu adhirndhu
thAzhAdhE sArngam udhaiththa saramazhaipOl
vAzha ulaginil peydhidAy nAngaLum
mArgazhi nIr Ada magizhndhu ElOr embAvAy

Oh varuNa, the lord for rain, who has the quality of depth just like the sea! You should not hide anything. Entering the ocean, you should absorb the water from it and roaring thunderously, you should climb on to the sky. Becoming dark, just like the divine form of emperumAn who is the lord of time and other such entities, you should be splendorous like the divine disc which is held on his divine hand by emperumAn, who has a divine, lotus-like, navel. You should blow steadily, like the divine conch which is on the other divine hand of emperumAn. Without any delay, you should precipitate rain like a rain of arrows which emerge from SArngam, the divine bow of emperumAn, so that the people in this world could get uplifted and we, who are observing the nOnbu, could happily bathe in the month of mArgazhi .

Fifth pAsuram: ANdAL shows that all the karmas (deeds which result in both virtue and sin) will disappear if one involves continuously in the recitation of emperumAn’s divine names. The deeds of past will get burnt out like cotton which has been put in fire, the deeds in future will leave without getting attached, just like water on a lotus leaf. An important feature to be noted here is that emperumAn removes all the deeds of past. He will remove the (bad) deeds which may be performed unknowingly in future; however he ensures that we experience the result of (bad) deeds which may perform knowingly in future .

mAyanai mannu vada madhurai maindhanaith
thUya perunIr yamunaith thuRaivanai
Ayar kulaththinil thOnRum aNiviLakkai
thAyaik kudal viLakkam seydha dhAmOdharanai
thUyOmAy vandhu nAm thUmalarth thUvith thozhudhu
vAyinAl pAdi manaththinAl sindhikka
pOya pizhaiyum pugu tharuvAn ninRanavum
thIyinil thUsAgum seppu ElOr embAvAy

dhAmOdharan has amazing activities; he is the king of the resplendent mathurA in the north; he plays on the banks of river yamunA which runs deep with water; he is like an auspicious lamp, who incarnated in the clan of cow-herds and who brought fame to the divine stomach of SrI yaSOdhA. If we approach him with purity, worship him with flowers, meditate on him through our mind and recite about him through our mouth [worshipping him through all three faculties of mind, speech and body], all our bad deeds of the past as well as sins which we may indulge in, in the future, will disappear just like a piece of cotton thrown into fire. Hence, sing about him.

Thus, through the first five pAsurams, emperumAn’s para (SrIman nArAyaNa in SrIvaikuNtam), vyUha (lord of thiruppARkadal), vibhava (thrivikrama), antharyAmi (as the indwelling soul of varuNa) and archchai (emperumAn at vadamadhura) forms were mentioned.

adiyEn krishNa rAmAnuja dhAsan

thiruppAvai – Simple Explanation – thaniyans

May 3, 2020 Published by: T N Krishnan

SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:

Source: http://divyaprabandham.koyil.org/index.php/2020/04/thiruppavai-thaniyans-tamil-simple/

neeLA_thunga

nILA thunga sthanagiri thatIsuptham udhbOdhya krishNam
pArArthyam svam Sruthi Satha Siras sidhdham adhyApayanthI
svOchchishtAyAm sraji nigaLitham yA balAth kruthya bhungthE
gOdhA thasyai nama idham idham bhUya Ev’sthu bhUya

kaNNa (SrI krishNa) sleeps on the bosom of nappinnaippirAtti, who is the incarnation of nILA dhEvi (one of the consorts of emperumAn). Her bosom is like the slope of a mountain. ANdAL has imprisoned that kaNNa with the garland that she had donned earlier. She wakes up kaNNa and informs him about her pArathanthriyam (being totally dependent on emperumAn) which has been clearly shown in vEdhAnthams which are the end portions of vEdhams. Let my salutations to her, who forcefully goes to emperumAn and enjoys him, be there forever.

annavayal pudhuvai ANdAL arangaRkup
pannu thiruppAvaip palpadhiyam – innissiyAl
pAdik koduththAL naRpAmAlai pUmAlai
sUdik koduththALaich chollu

ANdAL nAchchiyAr, who incarnated in SrIvillipuththUr which is surrounded by fields having swans roaming around, mercifully composed the prabandham thiruppAvai with sweet notes and offered it to SrI ranganAtha as a garland of verses. She also submitted garland made of flowers, after donning it herself, first. Sing about that great ANdAL.

sUdik koduththa sudark kodiyE tholpAvai
pAdi aruLa valla pal vaLaiyAy – nAdi nI
vEngadavaRku ennai vidhi enRa immARRam
nAm kadavA vaNNamE nalgu

Oh one who submitted garland of flowers after donning it herself first and who is like a shiny creeper! Oh one who mercifully sang about pAvai nOnbu (a ritual followed by girls) which is being observed for a very long time and who has donned bangles on her divine hand! You had beseeched manmatha (cupid) to make you as a servitor to emperumAn at thiruvEngadam. You should mercifully shower us with your grace so that we do not have to tell him.

adiyEn krishNa rAmAnuja dhAsan

Source: http://divyaprabandham.koyil.org/index.php/2020/04/thiruppavai-tamil-simple/

thiruppAvai – Simple Explanation

May 2, 2020 Published by: T N Krishnan

SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:

mudhalAyiram

ANdAl_srIvilliputhur_pinterest.com_sreedevi_balaji

SrI maNavALa mAmunigaL reveals very beautifully, the greatness of ANdAL in the 22^nd pAsuram of upadhEsa raththinamAlai:

inRO thiruvAdippUram emakkAga
anRO ingu ANdAL avadhariththAL – kunRAdha
vAzhvAna vaigundha vAn bOgam thannai igazhndhu
AzhwAr thirumagaLArAy

Is today thiruvAdippUram (the star pUram in the month of Adi)? Just as a mother will jump into a well to save her child (which had fallen into that well), SrI bhUmippirAtti, leaving aside the unlimited joyful experience in SrIvaikuNtam, incarnated as ANdAL, the divine daughter of periyAzhwAr, in order to uplift me, on this day. She incarnated in this world only to show in action the words of SrI varAhap perumAn to bhUmip pirAtti “By praising me through their words, meditating on me through their mind and worshipping me through flowers, jIvAthmAs (sentient entities) can easily attain me”. What amazement! What a grace!

ANdAL considered herself as a cow-herd girl, SrIvillipuththUr as SrI gOkulam, her friends as cow-herd girls, the emperumAn who is residing in vadaperungOyil (in SrIvillipuththUr) as kaNNa (krishNa), and the temple itself as the divine residence of nandhagOpar (father of krishNa). Through her great mercy, she revealed through simple-to-understand thamizh pAsurams called thiruppAvai that emperumAn is the means to attain him and that carrying out kainkaryam (service) to him purely for his happiness, after attaining him through his devotees, with the recommendatory role played by nappinnaip pirAtti, is the svarUpam (basic nature) for every AthmA.

thiruppAvai is celebrated as the root for all the vEdhas. In other words, we can see the essence of vEdhas in thiruppAvai. An important revelation in vEdhas is that one can attain the divine feet of emperumAn with the help of those who are experts in vEdhas. In the same way, carrying out service to emperumAn along with his other devotees, for his happiness alone, is considered to be important. We can enjoy this aspect in thiruppAvai. emperumAnAr (bhagavadh SrI rAmAnuja) was called as thiruppAvai jIyar because of his involvement with the prabandham thiruppAvai. Another unique greatness for this prabandham is that there is no other prabandham in this world which is recited by everyone, from children to elders, with great happiness.

The simple translation for this prabandham is being written with the help of pUrvAchAryas’ (preceptors’) commentaries.

adiyEn krishNa rAmAnuja dhAsan

mudhalAyiram thiruppaLLiyezhuchchi

thiruppaLLiyezhuchchi – Simple Explanation

May 1, 2020 Published by: T N Krishnan

SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:

mudhalAyiram

SrI maNavALa mAmunigaL beautifully reveals the glory of thoNdaradippodi AzhwAr in the eleventh pAsuram of upadhEsa raththinamAlai:

manniya sIr mArgazhiyil kEtai inRu mAnilaththIr
ennidhankku ERRam enil uraikkEn – thunnu pugazh
mAmaRaiyOn thoNdaradippodi AzhwAr piRappAl
nAnmaRaiyOr koNdAdum nAL

Oh people of this world! I will tell you all the greatness of this kEttai day in mArgazhi, which has the greatness of being a SrIvaishNava month. Listen to me. This is the day which is celebrated by experts in vEdhas such as emperumAnAr (SrI rAmAnuja) as being the day on which thoNdaradippodi AzhwAr, who knew the meaning of vEdhas and who involved himself completely in it, especially being a servitor of emperumAn’s devotees alone, was born.

SrI azhagiya maNavALap perumAL nAyanAr (one of our pUrvAchAryas) shows in the 85^th chUrNika (aphorism) of AchArya hrudhayam that among those who sang suprabhAtham (beautiful song sung early in the morning) on emperumAn to wake him up from his yOganidhrA (meditative sleep (while the body may be at rest, the mind is very much aware of all the happenings)), he calls thoNdaradippodi AzhwAr as thuLasIbhruthyar (one who is very fond of carrying out service with thuLasi, to emperumAn). This stems from the fact that thoNdaradippodi AzhwAr called himself in his thirumAlai prabandham “thuLabaththoNdAya thol sIrth thoNdaradippodi ennum adiyanai” (the servitor who carries out service with thuLasi). thiruppaLLiyezhuchchi is the greatest prabandham which wakes up emperumAn from his yOganidhrA.

The simple explanation for this prabandham is being written with the assistance of the commentaries of our pUrvAchAryas.

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thaniyans

thamEva mathvA paravAsudhEvam
rangESayam rAjavadharhaNIyam
prAbOdhikIm yOkrutha sUkthimAlAm
bhakthAngrirENum bhagavanthamIdE

I extol thoNdaradippodi AzhwAr who gave the garland of verses, waking up periya perumAL (emperumAn in idol form at SrIrangam) who has auspicious qualities such as wisdom, who is reclining on the mattress of AdhiSEshan (serpent), who is worshipped like a king and who is the paravAsudhEva in SrIvaikuNtam.

maNdangudi enbar mAmaRaiyOr manniya sIr
thoNdaradippodi thonnagaran – vaNdu
thiNarththa vayal thennarangaththammAnai paLLi
uNarththum pirAn udhiththa Ur

Experts in vEdhas say that thirumaNdangudi is the place where thoNdaradippodi AzhwAr incarnated. The AzhwAr has done us a great benefit by waking up periya perumAL who is reclining in thiruvarangam, which is surrounded by fields which are full of swarms of beetles.

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First pAsuram. AzhwAr mercifully mentions that all the celestial entities come to SrIrangam to wake up periya perumAL. From this it is clear that only SrIman nArAyaNa is worshipped and that all the other deities and celestial entities are those who worship that emperumAn.

kadhiravan guNadhisaich chigaram vandhaNaindhAn
kana iruL aganRadhu kAlai am pozhudhAy
madhu virindhu ozhugina mAmalar ellAm
vAnavar arasargaL vandhu vandhu Indi
edhir dhisai niRaindhanar ivarodum pugundha
irungaLiRRu Ittamum pidiyodu murasum
adhirdhalil alai kadal pOnRu uLadhu engum
arangaththammA paLLi ezhundharuLAyE

Oh the lord who is dwelling in thiruvarangam! Sun has dawned on the eastern side, rising up on the eastern mountain, driving away darkness of night. With the arrival of daytime, honey is dripping from great flowers which are just blossoming. Celestial entities and kings have gathered in large crowds at the southern entrance to the temple, claiming that they had come first to be blessed by your glance. Along with them have come the male and female elephants which are their vehicles, and also those who play on various musical instruments. The sound of clapping that they make in their enthusiasm to see you waking up from your sleep is echoing in all directions, just like the uproarious sound from the agitation of waves in an ocean.

Second pAsuram. Since the easterlies have started wafting in, waking up the swans, indicating the arrival of dawn, out of great affection towards your devotees, you should wake up from your divine sleep.

kozhungodi mullaiyin kozhumalar aNavi
kUrndhadhu guNadhisai mArudham idhuvO
ezundhana malar aNaip paLLi koL annam
InpaNi nanaindha tham irum siRagu udhaRi
vizhungiya mudhalaiyin pilamburai pEzhvAy
veLLuyir uRa adhan vidaththinukku anungi
azhungiya Anaiyin arum thuyar keduththa
arangaththammA paLLi ezhundharuLAyE

The wind from eastern direction is gently rubbing against jasmine creepers whose flowers are just blossoming. Swans which were sleeping on that bed of flowers, wake up shaking off the dew which had fallen on their beautiful wings like rain. Oh lord who is having divine sleep in thiruvarangam! You had killed the crocodile, which had hurt gajEndhran (elephant) by biting his leg with its sharp poisoned teeth and tried to swallow his leg with its cave-like mouth, and removed the elephant’s difficulties. You should wake up now and shower your grace on us.

Third pAsuram. Sun has hidden the splendour of stars with his rays. AzhwAr says that he wishes to worship emperumAn’s divine hand which is holding the divine chakrAyudham (disc).

sudar oLi parandhana sUzh dhisai ellAm
thunniya thAragai minnoLi surungip
padar oLi pasuththanan pani madhi ivanO
pAyiruL aganRadhu paim pozhil kamugin
madal idaik kIRi vaN pALaigaL nARa
vaigaRai kUrndhadhu mArudham idhuvO
adal oLi thigazh tharu thigiri am thadakkai
arangaththammA paLLi ezhundharuLAyE

Sun’s rays have spread in all directions now. The well spread light from densely packed stars has now got hidden. The cool moon too has lost its brightness. Darkness which had spread well has been driven away. The early morning breeze brings the sweet fragrance from areca plant’s leaves after blowing through them. Oh one who has the strong, divine disc on his hand! Oh the lord who has taken divine rest in thiruvarangam! You should wake up and shower your grace on us.

Fourth pAsuram. AzhwAr tells emperumAn that he should wake up and destroy his enemies who are a hurdle to his enjoying emperumAn, just as he had done during rAmAvathAram.

mEttu iLa mEdhigaL thaLai vidum AyargaL
vEynguzhal Osaiyum vidai manik kuralum
Ittiya isai dhisai parandhana vayaluL
irindhina surumbinam ilangaiyar kulaththai
vAttiya varisilai vAnavar ERE
mAmuni vELviyaik kAththu avabiradham
Attiya adu thiRal ayOdhdhi em arasE
arangaththammA paLLi ezhundharuLAyE

The sound as the herd-boys play on their flutes after letting their buffaloes to graze and the sound from the bells tied to the necks of buffaloes together pervade in all directions. The beetles on the grass have started humming. Oh SrI rAma, who has the divine bow SArngam which roasts enemies, and who is the supreme entity! Oh the one who became our lord after destroying the demons, thus helping the sage viSvAmithra to complete his yAga (ritual) and who had avabruthasnAnam (divine bath), one who became the lord of ayOdhyA which has the strength to destroy its enemies! Oh one who has divine rest in thiruvarangam! You should wake up and shower your grace on us.

Fifth pAsuram. AzhwAr says that celestial entities have arrived with flowers to worship you. Since you do not see any distinction among your followers, you should wake up and accept the services of all.

pulambina putkaLum pUm pozhilgaLin vAy
pOyiRRuk kangul pugundhadhu pulari
kalandhadhu guNadhisaik kanaikadal aravam
kaLi vaNdu mizhaRRiya kalambagam punaindha
alangal am thodaiyal koNdu adiyiNai paNivAn
amarargaL pugundhanar Adhalil ammA
ilangaiyar kOn vazhipAdu sey kOyil
emperumAn paLLI ezhundharuLAyE

Birds in the gardens, which are full of blossomed flowers, are chirping joyously. Night has withdrawn and dawn has settled in. The sound of ocean on the eastern side is heard in all directions. To worship you, celestial entities have arrived with garlands, in which beetles are humming to drink the nectar. Oh the one who is worshipped by vibhIshaNa, the king of lankA! Oh the one who is having divine rest in thiruvarangam! You should wake up and bless us all.

Sixth pAsuram. subrahmaNyan, the chief of the army of celestial entities, who was appointed by you for administering them, and other celestial entities have arrived along with their consorts, vehicles and followers. Since they have come to worship you and have their desires fulfiled, you should wake up from your divine sleep and shower your mercy on them.

iraviyar maNi nedum thErodum ivarO
iRaiyavar padhinoru vidaiyarum ivarO
maruviya mayilinan aRumugan ivanO
marudharum vasukkaLum vandhu vandhu Indi
puraviyOdu Adalum pAdalum thErum
kumaradhaNdam pugundhu INdiya veLLam
aruvarai anaiya nin kOyil mun ivarO
arangaththammA paLLi ezhundharuLAyE

The twelve Adhithyas (sun gods) have come in their chariots. The eleven rudhras who rule this world have also come. subrahmaNyan, who has six faces, has come in his vehicle of peacock. The forty nine maruththus and eight vasus [they are different classes of celestial entities] are fighting with each other to be the first in the line to have your dharSan. Standing close to each other, all the celestial deities in their chariots and horses are singing and dancing. In order to be within the zone of your glance, all the celestial entities including aRumugan [subrahmaNyan] have assembled before thiruvarangam which appears like a huge mountain. Oh the lord, who is having his divine sleep in thiruvarangam! You should wake up and shower your mercy on us.

Seventh pAsuram. AzhwAr says that the celestial entities including indhra and the seven sages have assembled in the sky, filling up the space, and are praising you. You should wake up from your divine sleep and give them your dharSan.

andharaththu amarargaL kUttangaL ivaiyO
arundhava munivarum marudharum ivarO
indhiran Anaiyum thAnum vandhu ivanO
emperumAn una kOyilin vAsal
sundharar nerukka vichchAdharar nUkka
iyakkarum mayanginar thiruvadi thozhuvAn
andharam pAr idam illai maRRU idhuvO
arangaththammA paLLi ezhundharuLAyE

Oh lord! indhran has come on his elephant airAvadham and is waiting at the entrance to your temple. Further, celestial entities from svargam (heaven) along with their followers, the sages including sanaka et al, maruththus and their followers, yakshas, gandharvas and vidhyAdharas [different groups of celestial entities] have all arrived and are standing in the sky, jostling with each other. They are all waiting to worship your divine feet, in a state of stupor. Oh the lord, who is having divine sleep at thiruvarangam! Please wake up and shower your grace on us.

Eighth pAsuram: The time of dawn, which is the most appropriate to worship you, has arrived. Since the sages, who do not have any desire other than you, have come with all the necessary materials to worship you, please wake up from your divine sleep and give them dharSan.

vambavizh vAnavar vAyuRai vazhanga
mAnidhi kapilai oN kaNNAdi mudhalA
emperumAn padimaikkalam kANdaRku
ERpana Ayina koNdu nan munivar
thumburu nAradhar pugundhanar ivarO
thOnRinan iraviyum thulangu oLi parappi
ambara thalaththininRu agalginRadhu iruL pOy
arangaththammA paLLi ezhundharuLAyE

Oh swAmy, my lord! Eminent sages, thumburu and nAradha, celestial entities who dwell in the fragrant heaven, kAmadhEnu (divine cow) have arrived with materials such as divine leaves, wealth, mirror etc which are required for carrying out thiruvArAdhanam (divine worship) for you. Darkness has faded away and sun is spreading his rays in all places. Oh lord who is having divine sleep at thiruvarangam! Please wake up and shower your grace on us.

Ninth pAsuram. Eminent musicians and dancers have assembled to wake you up and to carry out service to you. AzhwAr is telling emperumAn to wake up and accept their service.

Edhamil thaNNumai ekkam maththaLi
yAzh kuzhal muzhavamOdu isai dhisai kezhumi
gIdhangaL pAdinar kinnarar gerudargaL
gendharuvar avar kanguluL ellAm
mAdhavar vAnavar sAraNar iyakkar
siththarum mayanginar thiruvadi thozhuvAn
Adhalil avarkku nALOlakkam aruLa
arangaththammA paLLi ezhundharuLAyE

Celestial entities such as kinnaras, garudas, gandharvas et al are playing on various musical instruments such as ekkam (single stringed instrument), maththaLi (percussion instrument), vINAs, flutes etc and are spreading the music in all directions. While some have been there throughout the night, some have come during the time of dawn. Eminent sages, celestial entities such as dhEvas, chAraNas, yakshas, sidhdhas et al have come to worship your divine feet. Oh lord who is having his divine sleep in thiruvarangam! Please wake up and shower your grace on us. Provide them space in your huge assembly.

Tenth pAsuram. In the first nine pAsurams, AzhwAr prayed to emperumAn to shower his grace on others. In this pAsuram, he is asking emperumAn to shower his grace on himself, who knows no deity other than periya perumAL.

kadi malark kamalangaL malarndhana ivaiyO
kadhiravan kanai kadal muLaiththanan ivanO
thudi idaiyAr suri kuzhal pizhindhu udhaRith
thugil uduththu ERinar sUzh punal arangA
thodai oththa thuLavamum kUdaiyum polindhu
thOnRiya thOL thoNdaradippodi ennum
adiyanai aLiyan enRu aruLi un adiyArkku
AtpaduththAy paLLi ezhundharuLAyE

Oh SrI rangAnAthA who is having your divine sleep in thiruvarangam which is surrounded by the sacred, divine kAviri! Fragrant lotus flowers have blossomed on looking at sun who is rising from the uproarious ocean. Women with slender waists after having their baths in the river, have dried their tresses and have reached the banks, with fresh dresses. Please accept this servitor, called as thoNdaradippodi, who is having a basket with thuLasi garlands and effulgent shoulders, as your apt servitor and subject me to be a servitor to your followers. You should wake up from your divine sleep for this alone and shower your grace on me.

Source: http://divyaprabandham.koyil.org/index.php/2020/03/thiruppalliyezhuchchi-tamil-simple/

adiyEn krishNa rAmAnuja dhAsan