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Oppiliappan List Archive: Message 00087 Aug 2003

 
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Dear Members,
 

We are aware that differences exist in transliterating Shri Andal?s name Kodhai from Tamil to English. Many use the word Godha, some use Godhai and others, Kodhai. In this connection, I would like to bring tothe attention of Members the following information for a discussion:

 

The first is an article by Shri Embar Rangachari Swami which appears in the Quarterly Vedics Magazine ?Ramanuja Darshanam? (Volume 1, Issue 3 Jul-Sep 2003)

http://www.vedics.net/magazine/RD_0103_online_vers.pdf

 

THE SOOTHING WORDS OF THE CONSORT

Embar Rangachari Swami

(Extract)

??. The Upanishads bring forth that ladies can also be as wise as gentlemen.  YagnavAlkyA?s wife is an example. ItihAsas (history) and puraNAs (epics)  also make the same projections. For instance, Sabari is termed as dharmanipuNa  (an expert in the means; means, in this case refers to the way to  salvation). The equally ancient Tamil tradition too highlights the wisdom  in ladies. Avvai is one such renowned name amongst wise ladies.  KOdhai(another name for Andal) whose works are included in the sacred  Naalaayira Divyaprabhandham, is, however treated in Vaishnavite lore  as a lady of both wisdom and emotion, in Her longing for union with  the Supreme Lord Krishna. She is described as the one who first  decorated Herself with the garlands of flowers intended for the Lord  before they were offered to Him. Sri ParASara Bhattar describes this  phenomenon as ?SvOchishTAyAm sraji nigaLitam yA balAtkritya bhunkte?,  (i.e. as Kodhai catching the Lordwithin the garland discarded by her  and enjoying Him by force). It is on this account that she got the name  Andal or the governess of the Lord. In Tamil, Kodhai means garland and  the very same word was sanskritized into ?gOda? by Swami Parasara  Bhattar and later Acharyas (as distinguished from ?gOdha? meaning a  fighting ring)?????.

 

The second item is the meaning given to the word kOtai in the online Cologne Tamil Lexicon, (http://www.uni-koeln.de/) The following are the meanings given which seems to agree with Swami?s statement:

1.  women's hair; 2.  a Vaishnava female saint.; 3. garland of flowers, worn by women; 4. garland of pearls; 5. order, regularity, row, series; 6. woman, beautiful as a garland

 

Dasan,

Krishnaswamy M.K.


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