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SriRangaSri List Archive: Message 00280 Jan 2008

 
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SrI:
SrImathE Gopaladesika Mahadesikaya nama:
Dearest all,

Sri Anbil Ramaswamy Swami, it appears -was discussing
with a fellow Srivaishnavite in the USA and there were
lots of questions, discussions and enjoyment of AndAL
and her vaibhavam. 

He has taken efforts to jot down the discussion and
elaborate for our sake and enjoyment

Let us enjoy in about four to five segments (day after
day)

Regards
Namo narayana
dAsan madhavakkannan

********************

A REVOLUTIONARY LADY
Anbil Ramaswamy
======================================================
We have heard of many revolutions in the history of
mankind like ?
The Scientific Revolution, Industrial Revolution and
the French Revolution.. These were in the Scientific
or Economic or Political fields. But, we are looking
at how a lady brought about a silent revolution in a
different field. She did it not as a rebellion anybody
or revolt against anything but as a harmless
revolution for the benefit of humanity.

In many ways, she can be called a unique personality,
a pioneer, a role- model, a ?Maargadarsi?, a
?VazhikaaTTi? and indeed a ?Puratchi Thalaivi? in the
true sense of the term ? in the field of devotional
love.

Who is this lady?

She is none other than our very own Andal, the bridal
mystic, also known as ?Godha?.  She composed two
Stotras of immeasurable beauty bringing forth the
intensity of Bhakti one should have for the Lord and
also how to ?Learn and practice it the easy way?. 

Andal is considered to be the incarnation of Goddess,
Mother Earth. In ?Varaha Avatara?, when the Lord took
the form of a wild boar (not a pig as popularly
believed), she heard from the Lord what is known as
?Varaha PuraNam?.  She demanded that because she was
the Lord?s disciple, servant and devotee, what was
advised to her should be made available to the
suffering humanity to adopt the ?Easy way? to
liberation. 

aham sishyaa cah daasee cha bhaktaa cha maadhava/
mathkritE sarva bhootaanaam laghu upaayam vada
prabhO//

The Lord agreed to her prayer. And, she was born as
Andal for this purpose.

1. The seed of all Vedas

Do you know the earliest scriptures of humanity? They
are the Vedas that exist from time immemorial.  The
four works of Sage Nammaazhwar are considered to be
the essence of the four Vedas but Andal?s works are
eulogized as ?Vedam anaithukkum Vithu aagum? meaning
that they constitute the very seed of the primordial
scriptures of our religion called the ?Vedas? 

Is this not a unique compliment?

2. Dual Role of Andal
Nammazhwar is known as ?Chief among Azhwar? and ?Chief
among Acharyas?. No other Azhwar has been credited
with this twin role. But, these honorifics are
justifiably applicable to Andal, who is ranked among
the 12 Azhwars and she is also an Achaarya in her own
right, as can be seen from the way she leads the Gopis
of AyarpaaDi in the path of Bhakti through her
Tiruppavai. 

Is this not a unique combination?


3. Role of Lady Love
Bhakti is described as ?Devotional love? towards
Bhagavaan. In other words, it is unshakeable faith in
the saving grace of the Lord and unconditional
surrender and single minded devotion to the Lord. Such
a love called ?Naayaki bhaavam? can arise naturally
only in a woman. While all other Azhwars were men and
had to simulate this ?Naayaki bhaavam? donning the
role of Ladylove as ?Paraankusa Nayaki? (Namm Azhwar)
and Parakaala Naayaki? (Tiru mangai Mannan) since she
was herself a woman, the feelings of such pure love
came in naturally for her and flowed out as a
torrential stream in her works.There is a saying that
she was a daughter for the entire clan of Azhwars
(Slokam 8 of Godha Sthuthi)
(anju kuDikku oru Santadi)

In fact, Godha is considered to be a role model for
all other Azhwars.

Is this not totally different from ?the mill of the
run? kind of Bhakti?

4. Literary excellence
Tamil literature bristles with love lores employing
techniques such as Thoodu and MaDal. MuthoLL Aayiram
and Sangam literature which depict the distinguishing
feminine aspects as Achcham (fear), naaNam (shyness),
maDamai (Innocence) and Payirppu (Exclusive single
minded devotion), the physical changes wrought by the
joys of union with and the pangs of separation from
the beloved etc. 

Even Srimad Valmiki's Ramayanam takes a back stage in
relation to the portrayal in her Prabandhams which
exalt love and ennoble the soul, combining linguistic,
scenic and sense effects and blending the mundane with
the divine. Devotional poetry spontaneously emerging
from a God infatuated heart like that of Godha, the
sweetheart of Krishna, is sure to contain much more
than what appears on the surface .In Tiruppavai and
Nachiyaar Tirumozhi, generations of Achaaryas and
other scholars have been and still are seeing new
meanings and fresh beauties. And, the two provide an
inexhaustible goldmine of such delectable material and
an incomparably rich fare.

What is said of Valmiki applies with equal force to
Godha  . 

"Tad Upagatha Samaasa Sandhi yOgam, 
Sama Madhuropanata Artha Vaakhya badham"

Is this not a revolution in the field of literature?

5.  Layers of meanings
Her two works together are masterpieces couched in
simple but chaste Tamil, pouring forth her sentiments
which contain not only the apparent meanings (Baahya
artha) but also the inner esoteric meanings
(Svaapadesa) and the Supreme meanings (Para Artha).
The Tiruppavai is recited, especially 'one a day'
during the 30 days of the month of Margazhi (December 
January) and selected hymns from Naachiyaar Tirumozhi
during the wedding functions of Hindu families. For
her, the words fall in place so inimitably, that you
cannot alter even a comma or a semicolon without
damaging the beauty and style of poetry or the depth
and sense of the sentiments expressed. 

Is this not a rare combination of felicity and
diction?

[To be continued] 


      
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