Thiruppavai of Sri Andal - Song 6

The girls approach the mansion of a gopi and wake her up by indicating signs of early dawn,"even the birds are up and chirping.Get up." The sleeping girl rejects this reason,"oh girls,you never allow the birds in your town to sleep,with your chanting of His names and making them chant too.This is no sign of dawn!" Then they mention a noteworthy sign," PULLARAYAN KOIL etc..The blowing conch in the temple of Vishnu for early morning worship, is inviting us all for His service.Get up." Here the phrase PULLARAYAN KOIL brings out an excellent quality of the Lord: PUL is bird,here Garuda; ARAYAN king ; KOYIL temple. The temple of Vishnu.But why this circumlocution? There is a reason. In Ramayana while narrating to Hanuman her abduction by Ravana,Sita says,"On that fateful day I was lured by that demon disguised as a deer,and was separated from Rama's younger brother and Lakshmana's elder brother(RAMANUJAM LAKSMANA POORVAJAM CHA)." Such phraseology is used for a purpose.The Lord feels happy when His name is coupled with His devotee'sand so does the devotee when he is referred to as being subservient to the Lord.The message of Sita (Sri Devi) and Andal (Bhu Devi) to us is that when a Sri Vaishnava names his child he should follow this principle. ULLATHU KKONDU etc in this verse is noteworthy.The munis and yogins get up in the morning very slowly from their beds so that the Lord,taking eternal abode in their hearts may not be disturbed.Prahlada was pushed down from the top of a huge mountain,and while falling he held fast his bosom with great concern for Sri Hari living there,never bothering about what was happening to himself.But the Lord waited for him at the bottom of the mountain and received him in his spread arms. Parasara Bhattar used to embellish his body with silken robe,ornaments,sandal paste etc, and when asked about its propriety in respect of the despicable body,he said in his view it was not despicable but adorable being the sanctum sanctorum of the Almighty. Andal also leaves this lesson in this verse: When you get up in the morning chant the name of Hari (HARIR HARIR HARIRITI VYAHARET VAISHNAVAH PUMAN).Let us do so.

Thiruppavai of Sri Andal - Song 5

Among the assembled gopis,one expressed a doubt,"we are planning elaborately for getting the company of Krishna.But remember,we are sinners and our sins will throw obstacles in our path.It always happens when a good deed is contemplated.It is the way of the world.Take the case of Dasaratha who planned the coronation of Rama;the great omniscient sage Vasishta fixed the date;the citizens clamoured for him and applauded the decision.But what happened ? Rama went to the forest forsaking the city,and it was His Paduka (holy sandals) which sat on the throne for fourteen years.So what is the surety that we will succeed?" The answer is given in this verse: Recite the name of Krishna;think of him;offer flowers;and all obstacles will vanish.All sins committed before taking Refuge with Him,as well those unwittingly accruing after Surrender (Saranagati) will perish. The Purva Agha (earlier sins) will be burnt to ashes like cotton bales in a fire;and the Uttara Agha(Subse- quent Sins) will not stick to the person like drops of water to a lotus leaf. Milk is both a pleasurable food as well as a medicine to cure bile.The same is the case with Him.(Maruttuvanai ninra mamanivanna)

Thiruppavai of Sri Andal - Song 4

The Presiding Deity of Rain was keenly observing the happenings in this world.He saw his master Sriman Narayana serving all the gopis.So he thought that taking orders from the gopis and carrying out their commands was the best and easiest means of pleasing his master.So approaching Andal who was in the guise of a gopi he requests her to command him;and she does so in a detailed manner in this verse. The inner significance is as follows:Just as the heir apparent to the throne is always feared and respected by all ministers and officers so are the Sri Vaishnavas by inferior gods.Hence When a Sri Vaishnava worships other deities like Indra,Rudra Varuna etc,he is doing something inappropriate as well as ridiculous.It will only cause his downfall and ruin his chance of getting salvation.So Beware! So here the Rain God who has come to hear her command is told," Go to the middle region of the sea,drink the entire water leaving not a drop,then pour it out in its entirety without discriminating between the places where the good and bad live.The rain, which resembles the arrows shot by Sri Rama to shatter the demons to pieces, should instead bring forth happiness and prosperity to the entire land." A Sri Vaishnava is one who always thinks of everything good for everyone in this world.

Thiruppavai of Sri Andal - Song 3

In this worse ANDAL wishes for rain and consequential prosperity for the whole world as the world is the property of her Lord.So who is a Sri Vaishnava ? It is he who while being detached with reference to the riches of the world,is at the same time aspiring for them considering them as his Lord's riches.Hence all Sri Vaishnavas after daily prayer recite the verse which says "Sarve Janah Sukhino Bhavantu" every one should be happy. Andal tells the girls,"If we,girls,recite the NAME of the Lord who measured the entire universe with his three steps and observe this vow then the whole world will become prosperous." Note the text which says "Uthaman PER"(his NAME).She could have simply said "if we sing the glory of the Lord." But she says instead, the NAME of the Lord. Which means that the NAME OF THE LORD (the Tiru Ashtakshara Mantra,the Eight-Syllabled one) is more efficacious than the Lord Himself.When,in the court hall of Duryodhana,Draupadi was being disrobed by Dussaasana,it was only the NAME "Govinda" which saved her modesty while the Lord failed her. But we Prapannas (Surrenderers) seek salvation only from Him.The Mantra is only for understanding the true nature of the Soul,Lord,and the mutual relationship; it is essentially to promote the ARTHA PANCHAKA knowledge. NEENGATHA Selvam - we see that riches do not remain for long with any man; then what does NEENGATHA mean ? It refers to the Moksha Aiswarya,Service of God,obtained through the recommendation of Sri Mahalakshmi.

Thiruppavai of Sri Andal - Song 2

At her cordial invitation a huge crowd gathered and the wonder-struck ANDAL exclaims,"in this ignorance-spreading world,are there so many interested in Emancipation!".She proceeds to prescribe "dos" and "don'ts"( which actually are the SAMBHAVITA SWABHAVA,the natural characteristics of the Adhikari). While we appear to be performing this vow for getting rain,in reality it is different.She stresses the words "NAMUM NAM Pavaikku"- NAMUM- WE are quite different from others; we long for His company and firmly believe that He alone is the Means for achieving it. NAM Pavai- Indrajit did a malefic rite to put an end to Rama;but OUR beneficent rite is for securing Lord's and His World's prosperity and happiness. The SriVaishnavite Code of Conduct as prescribed by her is as follows: Recite the Samskrita and Dravida Veda which sings the glory of the Feet of the Lord reclining on the Serpent in the Milky Ocean,all the while thinking about one's Redemption. Eschew all carnal and even worldly desires like eating ghee,drinking milk etc. Bathe early in the morning.Don't adorn your eyes with collyrium,or your hair with flowers till the completion of the vow;meaning thereby that a SriVaishnava needs decoration etc only when he is in union with the Lord. Never indulge in an act which was not practised by our righteous minded ancestors.Bharata refused the kingship though granted by his father and permitted by Rama on the grounds that the tradition of Solar Kings did not permit a younger son to rule when the elder was living. A SriVaishnava should not speak ill of others or even think about it (which is tantamount to reporting it to the God inside the heart,thereby ensuring their fall);Sita never uttered a word to Rama about the illtreatment by the Rakshasis. He should ever be ready to do charity and impart knowledge about God to all those who need it. In short he should constantly be thinking about his upliftment and keep his mind filled with peace and happiness.

Thiruppavai of Sri Andal - Song 1

The first stanza which states the central premise to be elaborated in the rest of the poem contains the following ideas: 1.Andal praises the day (NANNAL)that has appeared of its own accord for the observance of the vow.What it means is that for a soul,that day is the Good Day when he understands all about himself and God and their mutual relationship of Lord and Servant which is stated in the Tirumantram. 2.The fruit in getting one's body is for serving the Lord here and hereafter (NEERADA PODUVIR) 3.All those who have a longing for the service of the Lord are qualified to join her.(PODUVIR PODUMINO) 4.She speaks of the radiance that attended on the face of her companions on hearing her requisition.(MADI NIRAINDA ;the moon is not in the sky alone!) 5.The prosperity of Gokula consists of Sri Krishna's amiable pranks in stealing butter and girls; i.e.,the wealth of a Sri Vaishnava consists of his intoxicating love for and enjoyment of Lord's company. 6.Nandagopa's vigilance in guarding Krishna with his very sharp spear in hand symbolises the "ASTHANE BHAYA-SANKA" and "MANGALASASANA-PARATA" which characterises a SriVaishnava. 7.Yasoda's over-indulgence of Krishna is responsible for all his pranks and misbehaviour towards the young gopis. 8.SrimanNarayana is the SOLE MEANS of attaining His Feet. This strikes the keynote of the Song Divine-TIRUPPAVAI. NARAYANANE (Upaya Swarupam) NAMAKKE (Adhikari Swarupam) PARAI (Phala Swarupam) TARUVAN.The safest means of securing Him is not Karma yoga etc but His Grace only. That is the sum and substance of this verse.