Pasuram 7 of Andals Thiruppavai

http://www.scribd.com/doc/76214700/Andal-s-Thiruppavai-in-easy-to-readTamil-text-and-English The full text of all 30 Pasurams may be found here. Also, a scholarly discussion can be found at the link given below. http://www.ibiblio.org/sadagopan/sundarasimham/ebooks/Thiru1.pdf See below the images of the English and Tamil texts of Pasuram No. 7 of Andals Thiruppavai. For those who wish to read the text in other languages, please go to http://www.prapatti.com Andal is considered to be Sridevis amsaavataaram. She was born at Srivilliputoor (close to Kanchipuram, also the city where Indira Gandhis son and Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated), as the daughter of PeriyAzhwar. She is also the only female among the 12 SriVaishNavite Azhwars. She longed for union with Her Lord and insisted that she should be taken to Srirangam where she eventually merged with Lord Ranganatha. You can read more about Andal at the link given above (or click here). The immortal Thiruppavai, attributed to Her, is a divine composition, filled with deep esoteric meanings, on which many commentaries have been written over the centuries. The first five pasurams cover the following. In the first pasuram, ANDAL invites Her friends for the Vratham observance (Sakhi JanAn aahvayanthi). In the second paasuram, She spells out the rites to be observed and the deeds to be abandoned (Karma Phalam upadisanthi). In the third Paasuram, She describes the fruits of the Vratham (Vrathasya Phalam Vadanthi). The aacaaryas who have blessed us are considered to be like the milk giving cows with overflowing udders. In the fourth Paasuram, Andal is directing her prayers to Varuna (actually to KrishNa who had the complexion darker than the darkest rain bearing clouds), the god of the rains, (actually KrishNa who is darker than the darkest rain bearing clouds) and comparing the bounty bestowing by aacaryas to the bounteous rains showered by Varuna. In Pasuram 5 Andal tells us that He would completely burn off all of our accumulated sins much like a fire burns pieces of straw thrown into it.

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In Pasurams 6 to 15, Andal is trying to wake up 10 different types of bhaktas. The second of these bhaktas is described in Pasuram 7.

She is still sleeping and is called Pey PeNNaY (a deluded girl, or a demon girl, like Ravanas brother Kumbhakarna who spent most of his time sleeping). She asks here, Cant you here the chirping sounds of the birds (called annai chaththan which make the annoying sound keechu keechu). Dont you hear the churning sounds made as the ladies are churning yogurt (thayir) to produce butter. Besides the sound of churning, you can also here the jingling sound of their bangles and smell fragrance produced by the flowers that they have adorned themselves with.
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Then she calls her a blessed one among the gopis and tells her that she should be open her door and join in the singing of the glories of the Lord Narayana. For a more detailed discussion see http://www.sundarasimham.org/ebooks/Thiru1.pdf MEANING OF THE SEVENTH PAASURAM (V. SADAGOPAN) Oh pEy peNNE (deluded girl)! don't you hear the noise raised by the Aanai Saatthan birds (BharadhvAja Birds in Sanskrit and Valiyans in Tamizh)? Doesn't your sleep get affected by the Keesu-Keesu sabdham (avyaktha madhura sallAbham) of these busy birds outside your sleeping chambers? The dawn is advancing. There are signs of the world awakening all around you. Don't you hear the sound made by the busy churning of the curd by the other gopis with symmetric movement of their churning rods? The body movement (exertions) of these beautiful gopis sends out fragrances from their flower-adorned locks of well combed hair. Their engagement in the churning act makes their bangles and other aabharaNams around their neck (acchu thAli, Aamai thAli et al.) collide against each other and result in a rhythmic musical sound (mangaLa naadham). Don't you hear that auspicious jingling sound? Aren't you awakened yet by the sloshing of the curd as a result of the strong movement of the churning rod in your neighbor's houses during this still hour of the morning? Oh crown gem among gopis! How can you be so indifferent and sleep away even after hearing us singing the nAmams of our Lord Kesavan, who destroyed the demon Kesi appearing in disguise as a horse? Please awaken and get up! Oh Luminous one! Come and open the door so that we could sing together about the mahimai of our Lord with you. INNER MEANINGS OF KEESU KEESU PAASURAM aanai saatthAn: Our Lord, who defeated our indhriyams (having the strength of the elephants), and stimulated us to perform Prapatthi at His lotus feet Kalanthu: That Lord joining His Dharma Pathnee in conversation Keesu Keesu yenRu: Havent you heard their sweet dialog, yengum pEsina pEccharavam kEttilayO?: where PirAtti says asthutE dayayaiva sarvam sampathsyatE (Oh PrapannA! You will realize all your wishes as a result of your performing prapatthi) and the Lord responding with the blessing May you perform all Kaimkaryams for us in all places (sarva desam) and all times (sarva kaalam)?
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pEy peNNE!: Oh Maiden, who is deeply lost in Bhagavathanubhavam and as a result look like a deluded one! Vaasa NaRum Kuzhal Aacchiyar: VyAsar and other AchAryAs who have researched on the fragrant tresses like Upanishads, which contain inside them the Sarvaghandhan, Sriman NaarAyaNan kaasum piRappum: of the wealth of Brahmins, Vedhams and the smruthis born out of them kalakalappa kalanthu: and describing the VedArthams with the help of smruthis and UpabrahMaNams kai pErtthu: VyAsar and AchAryAs raise their hands matthinAl osai- after churning with their intellect paduttha thayir : the curd (annam) like BhOgya NaarAyaNan aravam kEttilayO?: and declare (assert) without doubt that Sriman NaarAyaNan is Para DEvathai (There is no god, who is equal to or greater than Him). Oh pEy peNNE! Havent you heard that loud declaration? Naayaka peNN piLLAi: Oh smart one, who understands fully the Para dEvathA aspect of our Lord and thereby have become the leader of our ghOshti NaarAyaNan Moorthy Kesavanaip paadavum: when they declare (sing) that NaarAyaNan is the One, who created BrahmA and Sivan. nee kEtte kidatthiyO?: even after hearing that powerful message, how can you stay without performing SaraNAgathi at Sriman NaarAyaNan's sacred feet? tEsam udayAi: Oh Maiden with such a wealth of Jn~Anam about TatthvaHitha-PurushArtham! ThiRa: Please seek the upAyam of Prapatthi to reach Him. OTHER ANUBHAVAMS OF COMMENTATORS A. ABHINAVA DESIKAN'S ANUBHAVAM This paasuram describes the status of those BhAgyasAlis involved with Ubhaya VedAntha vimarsanam and invites those, who are adept in other SaasthrAs to follow the way of the former group. The end result of UbhayaPage 4 of 7

VedAntha nishkarsham (evaluation) is the unassailable conclusion that Sriman NaarAyaNan is the Para Devathai.

B. SRI P. B. ANNANGARACCHAR SWAMY'S ANUBHAVAM (1) pEy peNNE: Swamy quotes two dhivya prabhandham passages to interpret the deep devotion of the maiden (utthama adhikAri) of this paasuram: atthA ariyE yenRu unnai azhaikka, pitthAvenRu pEsuhinrar piRar yennai ---Thirumangai: periya Thirumozhi:7. 1. 8 Arangan adiyArkaLukkAhi AvanukkE pittharAmAvar pittharalkarhaL maRRayAr muRRum pittharE ---KulasEkarar: PerumAL Thirumozhi--> 2. 9 (2) Kaasum piRappum kala kalappa: Inner meaning is that the two abhAranams (Aathma guNams) are Samam and dhamam. They compliment each other to enhance the stature of the adhikAri. C. UPANISHAD BHASHYAKARAR'S OBSERVATIONS (1) pEy peNNE!: hE BhrAntha BaalikE! (2) Naayaka peNN PiLLAi! hE KanyA MaNi! (3) tEsamudayAi hE TejasvinI! Sri RangaraamAnuja Muni quotes GithA passage BhOdhayantham Parasparam. He points out that paraspara BhOdhanam is BhAgavatha kruthyam and that the KanyA MaNi is awakened to come out and join in the mutual lessons befitting her role as an illustrious (tEjasvini) devotee. D. PERUKKARANAI SWAMY'S OBSERVATIONS (1) aanai-chaathAn: This name refers to EmperumAn, who killed one Yaanai (elephant KuvAlayapeetam) and protected another (GajEndhran). Saatthuthal means killing. Saathuthal (SaaRRuthal) also means honoring. (2) NaarayaNa Moorthy Kesavanaip paadavum: Kesavan is the abhimAna dEvathai for the month of Marghazhi. He is one of the Upa-vyUha Moorthy of Sriman NaarAyaNan. Hence in this month Kesavan has to be worshipped. (3) In Sri BhAshyam, AchArya RaamAnujA did not use the Naamams of NaarAyanan, VaasudEvan, KrishNan, Raaman et al. He used the saamAnya sabdhams like ParamAthmA, Para Brahmam instead. Vyasar, the BrahamaPage 5 of 7

SoothrakArar used NaarAyana sabdham only in Linga bhUyasthvAthi adhikaraNam. ANDAL invoked the name of NaarAyaNA thrice in ThiruppAvai just as the Moola Manthram and dhvaya manthram uses thrice NaarAyana sabdham between themselves. One such use of NaarAyana sabdham is in this ThiruppAvai Paasuram. THE COMMENTARY BY SRIMAN SADAGOPAN (click here or http://www.ibiblio.org/sadagopan/ahobilavalli/thiruppavai.pdf)
It is said that in ten pasurams starting with this one, Andal is awakening the ten Azhwars. As per that, Pasuram 6 awakes Poygai Azhwar. This Azhwar has sung the episodes of Putana vadham and Shakatasura vadham Beautifully (both of which are mentioned in Pasuram 6). Now, Pasuram 7, Andals friend becomes the leader of the group. She had made plans with her fellow Gopis to wake up early in the morning and go to worship Kannan. In spite of knowing about the tatvams, one of Andals friends seems sleepy and does not wake up to join them. They go to her doorstep and start awakening her. Andal says, Oh lady, please get up. Let it dawn. Whats the hurry? says the maid. Of course it is bright day already. Really? Are you not hearing the chirping (keesu keesu) sounds of the birds (valiyan or bharadhvaja sparrows)? These sparrows are now flying out of their nest in search of food after staying in the nest together during the night. They are making loud chirping noise feeling sad about separating from their friends says Andal. They keep chirping even before dawn says the maid. Is it so? Even after knowing the fact that Bhaagavathas are greater than Bhagavan Himself, you are making us wait at your doorstep. Oh spellbound girl! The sound of the curds being churned by our fellow woman folk in Aayarpaadi is so clearly audible. The sound of jingling of their achchu thali, aamai thali, bangles and other jewels during churning of curd to get butter is so clear. Have you come under the spell of any spirit? The women folk of Aayarpadi apply fragrant oil to their hair and have groomed their hair beautifully before grinding curds. That fragrant smell has permeated everywhere. Are you not noticing this either? Are you affected by a sense of superiority because you are our leader? The Gopis during churning sing the glories of Kannan so beautifully. After Kannan came to Gokulam, all the cows due to His association have
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started giving lots of milk three times a day. Milking cows most of the time and churning curds has now become our job. So, just because somebody is churning curds into butter, how can you say its already dawn? I have not been affected by any spirit or by ghost, says one of her friends still drowsy with sleep. They all then think of telling the dangers that had befallen on Kannan, so as to make her get up in a flash and come along with them. Oh lady! Listen. A demon by name Keshi has come in the guise of a horse and is fighting with Kannan. There was no response for this. When Sita who was in a cave in Janasthanam, after hearing that Sri Rama had won over fourteen thousand demons, came running to Him joyfully and hugged Him. Having known this, they thought a similar thing will happen here and said Kannan has won over Keshi and has brought him down. But there was no response still. They then see through the window and observe that her face was bright and joyful after having heard of Kannans victory. Oh! What a beauty is yours. Shouldnt we see it? says Andal. After hearing this, the maid immediately got up and came out. This pasuram teaches us that Vedams are the curds that have been churned by the Acharya to get the divine Ashtaksharam and Dvaya mantram, which is preached. It is said that Bhoothathaazhwar is being awakened here.

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