Tiruppaavai Monday, Jul 31 2006

Sri Ramanujacharya was always reciting the 30 pasurams or hymns of Tiruppavai. It seems he was in habit of reciting the hymns and enjoying the beauty of the composition and Bhakti emanating out of these. It is said that one day, while he was going round seeking the food as it was ordained in shastras that a Sanyasi has to live by way of charity received, he was enjoying the beauty of hymn starting with ” UNDU…”

 In this hymn Sri Andal requests in front of bedchamber of the Lord to get up and come out to know their desire. She requests Nappinnai consort of Krishna to come and open the door with her bangles jingling sweetly so she can have darshan of Lord. Just as he was immersed in the hymn, he had reached the residence of his guru Mahapurna. It so happened that Guru’s daughter Atthuzhayi by name opened the door to present the alms with her bangles jingling while opening the door. Acharya was overwhelmed at the scene in his contemplation unfolding itself in reality and swooned in emotion.

Perplexed the lady brought her father out and Guru could imagine what exactly had transpired and felt how great a person was Ramanuja. This favoritism towards Thiruppavai Of Ramanuja earned him the name Thiruppavai Jiyar. His devotion to Sri Andal was so much that he fulfilled a vow made by her in one of the hymns. In hymn she says that if her wish of union with LORD ranganatha is fulfilled she will offer 100 Thadas of Akkaravadishil ( rice cooked in Milk with Jaggery very much like Sakkarepongal ) to lord at Azhagarmalai. In her place, Sri Ramanuja fulfilled the vow by offering 100 thadas of Akkaravadishil which pleased Sri Andal so much that she exclaimed that Sri Ramanuja is like her Anna or Elder brother to her.

Thiruppavai is chanted during month of Margazhi (Dec 15th to Jan 14th ) during Aradhanam in all houses and temples early in morning at rate of one hymn per day.

At Srivilliputtur, birthplace of Sri Andal, Sri Andal is seen alongside Sri Rangamannar ( Ranganatha ) and she has given equal place to Garuda in gratitude to his sevice of bringing the lord to her quickly.

The temple tower at Srivilliputtur Was tallest gopuram in South India. This gopuram finds the place in Tamil nadu State Government emblem. In 1987, H. H. 44th Jiyar of Ahobila Mutt (Mukkoor Azhagiya Singar ) constructed the unfinished gopuram of Sri Ranganatha Temple at Srirangam, based on the dream he had in which Sri Andal ordained him to build. This is the tallest of all gopurams now pushing Srivilliputtur temple Gopuram to second place.

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Thiru Adi Pooram Friday, Jul 28 2006

Thiru means holy Adi is tamil month of Kataka ( of Zodiac fixing Sun’s position ) as per solar calendar and Pooram is birth star of Shri Andal or Goda devi. She is an Incarnation of Bhoodevi, one of the Consorts of Lord Vishnu the other two being Sridevi or Mahalakshmi born out of milky ocean and Neeladevi Like Sri Seetha of Ramayana.

Andal was not born of human parents. She was found in Thulasi garden of Sri Vishnuchittar, a Brahmin in service of Lord Vatapatrashayi of Srivilliputtur in Tamilnadu. He brought her up as his own daughter in midst of his services to lord Vatapatrashayi ( one reclining on Banyanleaf ).

Vishnuchitta was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. He tended the flower garden solely for Lord’s service and he would with great devotion cut the flowers and make it to beautiful fragrant malais to present to Lord.

Andal grew up in such an atmosphere and would listen to the Leelas of the Lord and his various Archamurthis (idols) in other holy places. She was impressed by the Lord of SriRangam, Sriranganatha as explained by her father. She dreamed herself fit to be the bride of the Lord of SriRangam and developed love for him and would not think of marriage with worldly beings.

She has written “Divya Prabhandham” (Holy Hymns) in praise of the Lord where she has poured her yearning for the Lord. Unable to bear the separation, she has sung 143 pashurams (hymns) in praise of Lord and she at times is harsh with him for not listening to her entreatise to be united with him.

She used to stealthily adorn herself with the garlands prepared by her father and used to look at herself in the mirror to judge whether she is fit enough to be the bride of the Lord. Vishnuchitta used to take these garlands to the Lord without knowing of Andal’s using it.

One day it happens that a hair is found in the garland which Vishnuchitta is about to offer and he is shocked at the desecration. So, during tracing the cause for it, he happens to see his daughter adorning herself with a garland before a mirror. He becomes sad and then stops taking the garland to the deity.

That night, Vishnuchitta sees the Lord in his dream and asks him to continue offering the garlands and he likes the garland worn by Sri Andal. So she becomes famous as Sudikudutha Nachiyaar (Thaayar, consort). Further, the Lord wishes to take her as his consort and he orders Vishnuchitta in his dream to bring her to SriRangam bedecked as a bride and he would accept her.

So, Vishnuchitta is happy and takes Sri Andal as ordered by the Lord to SriRangam where Andal merges with Lord Ranganatha. Thus, Vishnuchitta became father-in-law of Ranganatha and so Periya Aalwar.

Sri Andal has sung Tirupaavai, 30 songs sung imagining herself to be a Gopasthree of Gokula and she wakes up Lord Krishna sleeping in his house. She points out that it is his duty to look into the requisites of his devotees and should not sleep. Thus, she becomes an Achaya or Guru even to the Lord.

Her sacred hymns are considered very beautiful and emotional. She is the only lady Aalwaar and there is difference of opinion that she should not be counted among the twelve aalwars as she is BhoomaDevi herself. So she has given thirty paashurams of Tirupaavai and 143 hymns in praise of Lord of SriRangam and Thirumaal Irunjolai and other places.

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