Tiruppavai - Part 1

Smt. Vasumathi Harish

We had a brief introduction to the Tiruppavai in the August issue of "Adiyongal Tirumadal" newsletter. Tiruppavai belongs to the Pavai genre of songs, a unique Tamil tradition sung in the context of the Pavai vow (Vratam or ritual) observed throughout the month of Margazhi.

Andal's thirty songs contain the cardinal principles of Vaishnava dharma. These songs are sung to bring peace, prosperity and Divine Grace. Andal appears intent upon performing a particular religious vow to marry the Lord, thereby obtain His everlasting company, and inviting all her girl-friends to join her.

Overview
The first five stanzas provide an introduction to the main theme, its principle and purpose. According to Andal one should give up luxuries during this season. Sincere prayers to the God would bring abundant rain and thus prosperity. Offering Lord Krishna fresh flowers would expiate sins committed earlier and those that may be committed in future.
In the next ten stanzas she describes the importance of community participation. She invites her friends to gather flowers. She essays the ambience at her village, the chirping of birds, colourful blossoms, the musical sound of butter-churning, herds of cattle with tinkling bells, the sounding of the conch from the temple.

She visits each household and awakens all her friends to join her for a bath in a nearby pond. She also praises the incarnations of the Lord. The next five stanzas describe her visit to the temple accompanied by her friends. She desires to render Suprabhata gently to wake up the Lord. The group appeases the temple guards, enters the temple and recites prayers extolling the parents of Lord Krishna and begging them to wake up Krishna and Balarama. Then they approach Neela Devi, the consort of the Lord, to have darshan.

The last nine stanzas are on the glories of the Lord. On receiving his blessings Andal lists her demands;milk for the vratam, white conch, lamps, flowers, and rich costume and jewellery, plenty of ghee and butter. The concluding stanza is the "phalashruti" identifying her as the daughter of Vishnucittar who made this garland of 30 pasurams and says those who recite with devotion will have Lord's blessings.

Taniyans
Taniyan is a benedictory (standalone) verse which is a prelude to the main composition. The Tiruppavai has 3 taniyans, one in Sanskrit by Parasara Bhattar and the other two tamil taniyans authored by Swami Uyyakondar.

Taniyan 1 - [ParAsara bhaTTar]
nIlA tunga stana giri taTI suptam udbOdhya kRshNaM
pArArthyaM svaM Sruti-Sata-Siras-siddham adhyApayantI
svOcchishTAyAm sraji nigalitam yA balAt kRtya bhunktE
gOdA tasyai nama idam idaM bhUya EvAstu bhUyaH

May this salutation of ours to Sri Godha Devi continue forever – the saint who awakened Lord Krishna that cheerfully rested on the bosom of Sri Neela Devi, who made known her implicit faith in her sole dependence on Him, which fact is declared beyond doubt, in the most sublime portion of the Vedas and whose deep devotion enabled her to hold un-interrupted communion with the Lord, whose mind was lovingly entangled in the special garland first used by herself and then offered to Him!

Previous articles in this series may be found here.

Andal tiruvadigale saraNam
Sri Krishnanin tiruvadigale saraNam