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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