Upanishad ?sAram? --------------------- The great SriVaishnava philosopher and preceptor, Sri RamanujAchArya (10th century CE) was known to always regard the TiruppAvai as ?upanishad sAram?: the essence of lofty Upanishadic thought. It is the chief reason why this balladic but allegorical song of ANdAl, containing thirty dainty verses in chaste, marvelous Tamil poetry -- with its simple, pastoral theme about a group of rustic cow-maidens (?aaypAdi?) in rural Tamil country going about their annual vow (?vrata?) of a ritual bath in the early hours of dawn (?neerAda pOdhuvIr?) --- it is the chief reason why the TiruppAvai has attained the tall status of holy scripture accorded to it by tradition -- a status equal to the very best found anywhere in the age-old Bhakti literature of India. Ever since the time of Sri RamanujAchArya it has become unbroken sacred custom in SriVaishnava homes to dedicate the whole of the wintry month of ?mArgazhi? (Dec-Jan of the Tamil calendar) to the TiruppAvai, with each day of the month being devoted to the chanting and re-enacting, to the contemplation and celebration of each of the 30 verses the divine poetess of SriVilliputtur (Tamil Nadu, S.India) strung together in what has since come to be known as ?sangha tamizh mAlai? ? the ?garland of poetic gems? strung together by ANdal (?soodikkodutha-nAcchiyAr?). During the holy month of ?mArgazhi? (a salubrious period of the Tamil calendar which in Vedic tradition has always been regarded as exceptionally conducive for one and all to intensify their spiritual effort and exertion (?mAsAnAm mArgasheershO?aham?)), in most SriVaishnava households, rich and lowly, learned and unlearned, either in India or abroad, the TiruppAvai today constitutes an especial and integral part of daily religious life and practice. ******************** (to be continued) Regards, dAsan, Sudarshan Send instant messages to your online friends http://in.messenger.yahoo.com ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/VkWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SriRangaSri/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: SriRangaSri-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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