Dear Smt Nappinnai, I am attaching a recent post of mine to Bhakti-list dealing with the question of why Andal was considered greater than the Azhvars? It was based on extracts from several vyakhyanams to Thiruppavai by our pUrvAchAryas. Periyavaccan Pillai starts out in 3000padi by saying that Andal is far greater than other Azhvars. (Andal to Periyazhvar and Periyazhvar to other Azhvars is like mountain to atom in each case). Then he asks why? And follows up with the following reasons: 1. Azhvars saw Him after He woke them up; Andal woke Him up and explained her problem. 2. Just like Sri Lakshmana, right from her birth she was submerged in the bhagavat guNas 3. Unlike a man liking a man, it is natural for a woman to like a man. 4. Her bhakti to Him is greater than that of Azhvars. 2000padi starts with the same comparison as 3000padi. The reasons given are: 1. She is the only child of the 10 azhvars and received their knowledge as stree dhanam. 2. Azhvars got divine knowledge from Him while she went and gave divine knowledge to Him (that is, woke Him up and presented her case). 3. Andal (who is attached to Periyazhvar) is like Madhurakavi Azhvar, unlike other Azhvars who are like Sri Lakshmana, and Periyazhvar who is like Sri Bharatha. 4. Like Lakshmana, she was attached to Him right from birth. 4000padi presents the following reasons: 1. From her ten fathers (Azhvars), she received knowledge as stree dhanam. 2. Azhvars destroyed their natural bhAvam and took on a stree bhAvam while she had stree bhAvam naturally. She did not have to take on that bhAvam (anyApadesha). 3. She had greater qualities than Azhvars (He gave her His beauty and guNa), while the pirAttis gave her their svarUpa and svabhAva. Therefore, unlike her fathers (the Azhvars) her femininity was not made, but natural. 4. She too, however has a anyApadesha which is taking on the gOpika bhAvam. Their kulam is one that is close to Him, as in "kulam tharum" pasuram. Andal Thiruvadigale Sharanam Azhvar Emperumanar Jeeyar Thiruvadigale Sharanam adiyEn madhurakavi dAsan TCA Venkatesan __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com
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