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SriRangaSri List Archive: Message 00075 Dec 2005

 
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                  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         


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