--- "Sudarshan M.K." <sampathkumar_2000@xxxx> wrote: > To: tiruvengadam@xxxxxxxxxxx > From: "Sudarshan M.K." <sampathkumar_2000@xxxx> > Date: Sat, 06 Jan 2001 07:22:06 -0000 > Reply-to: tiruvengadam@xxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [tiruvengadam] A few unusual thoughts on 'tiruppAvai' on > 'vaikunta-ekAdasi' > > Dear friends, > > A casual conversation on 'tiruppAvai' with a fellow srivaisnava > y/day threw up rather unusual questions from his side. I place it > before the group-members for further comments. > > The gentleman wanted to know if there is any reference, direct or > indirect, by "SriAndAl-pirAtti' in any of the 30 'pAsuram-s' to the > > most sacred and auspicious day of 'vaikunta-ekAdasi'. This holiest > of holy 'ekadasi' days invariably occurs only in the month of > 'mArghazhi' and it might be reasonable to assume it did so even in > the days of AndAl. So, perhaps she refers to it in some slanted way > in the 'tiruppAvai'? Where? > > The second question: the basic theme of 'tiruppAvai' is > 'bridal-love of God' shown by the bucolic maidens of the 'aayarpAdi'. AndAl identifies with them totally. As a 'bride' herself, AndAl's object of passion was the Lord at SriRangam. Why then does she not even once in the 'tiruppAvai' use the real name of her divine paramour "Sri Ranganathan"? > > AndAl goes to great lengths to describe the glory of singing His > other names (vide. "uttaman pEr pAdi"....) She copiously and loudly > sings out the aliases of her divine groom --- plenty of "nArAyanans", "mAdhavans", "kesavans", "govindans", etc. strewn all over the 30 'pAsuram-s'.... > > But not once in the "muppadhu" does AndAL call out the real name of > her beloved viz. "rangA", "rangA"....! > > Why is this so? > > AdiyEn had no proper answer for this good friend of mine. > > I ventured weakly however with an explanation: > > It is generally not considered proper or decorous for a bride to > take the name of her groom-to-be upon her lips ( i.e. in those days; > these days however it is an entirely different manner!). So AndAl's > reticence and studious avoidance of using the name "rangA" in the > 'tiruppAvai' shows her extreme regard for the traditions and mores > of her times.... she was adhering to "mEllayAr seyvannagal..." i.e. > the dictates and customs of her elders... > > The other reason could be that AndAl was well aware of the yawning > 'age-gap' or 'age-chasm' between Lord Ranganatha and herself. She > was but a little budding girl, while Ranga was an old, very old > person..."purAna-purusha:".... (vide. "gOdA-stuthi"). Thus deferring to the very advanced age of her 'groom-to-be', AndAl probably avoided > using the name of "rangA" or "ranganathA" anywhere in the 'tiruppAvai'. (In this regard it must be noted that AndAl in the 28th stanza seeks pardon for freely and blithely (dis-respectfully ?) using even names like "kesavan", 'mAdhava" etc.... she apologises to the Lord in fact for her temerity in calling Him by his numerous "siru pEyar" (pet-names or sobriquets)). > > I don't know if my explanation is convincing. Do any of you have > any further comments? > > dAsan, > Sudarshan > > > > > To Post a message, send it to: tiruvengadam@xxxxxxxxxxx > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Photos - Share your holiday photos online! http://photos.yahoo.com/
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