Tiruppavai

Smt Vasumathi Harish

From this month onwards, adiyen is undertaking the “sahasam” (courage) of trying to explain in simple English the meaning of Tiruppavai, the majestic garland of thirty verses that form part of the Nityanusandanam (daily ritual) for all Sri Vaishnavas, by Andal. adiyen does not profess to understand this ‘magnum opus’ at all but hopes and prays to Sri Andal/Godhadevi to give courage to this “siriya jnanathan”(little or no intellect) to undertake this task.

Tiruppavai is a glorious poetic composition of thirty verses by the only woman azhwar, Andal.

She was the daughter of Periazhwar/Vishnuchittar, one of the twelve azhwars in Srivaishnava literature. Periazhwar was involved in daily Pushpa Kaimkaryam to Vatapatrasayin, the presiding deity of Srivilliputhur. From a very young age, Andal’s love for Sriman Narayana was very strong and this devotion became so intense that she yearned to marry Him. To achieve this she resorted to the practice of Vrata (Katyayin Vrata) like the Gopis of Brindavan. The Vrata speaks of a religious rite observed by a bride-to-be in the month of Margasira to secure a person of one’s choice as husband. Keeping Lord Krishna of Brindavan as her beloved bridegroom, Godha, in the guise of a ‘Gopi’ in love with Krishna along with other companions, implored the Lord to fulfil her cherished desire.

The thirty poems portray the ritual ceremony (nonbu) observed in the early winter morning, the awakening of companions from sleep, the waking of the people in the Lord’s mansion including His consort, and finally imploring the Lord to grant them the boon. These hymns, as explained by all our Sri Vaishnava Acharyas, carry a much deeper significance of a spiritual nature. They speak of the nature of the Ultimate Reality (Purushartha) and the means of attaining (Hitha) the supreme goal.

Tiruppavai is also called ‘Godhopanishad’ and Godha Geetha. It can be said that she was the first ever organiser of women’s association for a noble and purposeful cause. The ‘Tiruppavai’ breathes rural atmosphere. Andal chooses to live in Nandagokula, a prosperous village, where Sri Krishna is present. She speaks of timely rainfall, paddy fields, fishes playing in the ponds, bees sucking honey from the flowers and sleeping peacefully, Gopalas milking the cows, and her prayer to the God of Rains to shower rains in time – all of this reflects the picture of prosperous rural life. Andal knew that villages in India form the backbone of the country. She also knew cows bring prosperity and since Sri Krishna himself was a cowherd boy protecting the cows, to protect and cherish cows forms a very big part of her prayer.

Godha had unshakeable faith in co-operation as well as social life based on dharma. She has never spoken about herself alone, but always in the company of friends (including us). All of us are equal and one in the Service of the Lord. In her Tiruppavai, she emphasises the importance of these essentials – food, shelter, clothing, water etc. Her friendships, social equality, social unity, large-heartedness, desire for rural upliftment, and prosperity are all reflected very well in her poems.

With the very brief introduction above, we will delve and dwell in the nectar of bliss that is ‘Tiruppavai’ in the coming months. In the spirit of having more members enjoy the Tiruppavai, adiyen will provide the script of the pasurams in Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and English. Explanations will be in English.

adiyen encourages members to provide feedback. Please support adiyen in this ‘sahasam’.

Andal tiruvadigale saraNam

Sri Krishnanin tiruvadigale saraNam