Sakthi Thamil Changam - English articles                    

ROMANTIC DIVINITY IN THIRUPAAVAI

SouthIndians celebrate SREE VARALAXMI VIRATHAM,to welcome goddess Mahalaxmi to bless all wealth in families.
The word ‘’viratham’’ means fasting. Fastings help us to cleanse body and mind. Sreerama says that ‘’to be strong in a principle is viratham’’.To shed our desired materialistic pleasures is also viratham.So if we shed all our ego,attachment to luxury,wealth and all pleasures,we believe that Mahalaxmi will bestow all wealth back to enjoy this life.
Especially this festival is celebrated by women ,who are the replicas of Mahalaxmi in each Indian family.Women welcome Mahalaxmi in the form of silver face icon,decced with jewells and flowers.they perform elobrate poojas and offer 6 different tasty food.At the end women tie the sacred thread around the neck or right wrist.
It is a festival of socialization.Guests are invited.In a family mother-in-law sets up the poojs with her daughter-in-laws.The mantras are manily based on in praise of Mahalaxmi to offer health,wealth first to the men of the home then to all.
In Chennai it is very colourfull to see women in silksaree,flowers,mehandhi visiting homes to see the decoration of Varalaxmi.People gets tensed to get the priests at correct time,it has to be seen and enjoyed too.
Varam means boons.Mahalaxmi the wife of Mahavishnu…. God of protection is believed to be the most kind goddess and always addressed as’’THAAYAAR’’……..MOTHER.She is believed to come in all Vishnu’s avatharas as SEETHA,RADHAA,RUKMINI and SREE AANDAAL.
SREE AANDAAL.
SreeAandaal was born in a small town in south Tamilnadu statein 7th century A.D.Her father Vishnu chittar was the village head and a famous vedic scholar.He was also a great devotee of lord Krishna.
He named his girl as ‘’KOTHAI’’ meaning bunch of flowers.She was brought up in the pure divine cult of Krishna devotion by her dad.
She wanted to serve the man kind by provoking true devotion.so she refused to marry and stood boldly.she has recited and recorded all her spiritual feelings,experiences in 143 hymns.They are considered to be very very sacred and recited in homes and temples.
Finally she merged with lord by shedding her body in Sreerangam,where Sreerama’s diety…Sreeranganathar is residing .She is named as ‘’AANDAAL’’ because she considered herself as one of Krishna’s lover…GOPIES.With her true love and devotion she has conqured Krishna’s mind and therefore she has been titled as ‘’AANDAAL’’…………ONE WHO HAS OVERRULED.
Aandaal’s one of the work is called Thirupaavai.It is composed of 30 songs.It has very deep meaning on Vedanta,spirituality and divine love .
In this work we are going to enjoy Aandaal’s deep love,true devotion and service to lord and society and we will be relishing many of her words coated with RICH ROMANTIC DIVINITY.
Many aacharyas has written many commentaries on Tirupaavai.I pray to Sreeaandaal to bless me to experience her hymns and to share the divine love on lord and to attain spiritual bliss.
Varalaxmi bless us with the spiritual bliss….the real wealth.
GREATNESS OF AANDAAL.
BASIC CONCEPT TO UNDERSTAND THE DIVINE ROMANCE;
The divine mother…..
*vaishnavism……the Vishnu cult.
Lord Mahavishnu is belived to be the ultimate ‘’bhramam’’..meaning ‘’the real whole source of everything’’.He is named as ‘’paramathma’’.We are the jeevathma who are his expressions.The ultimate end and goal of human life is to realize this ‘’paramathma’’ within us.This is the real journey towards the source.This is the main spirit of Hindu devotional cult.In this long journey devotees consider them as various characters related to God likea slave,friend,mother.But most of the devotion has been expressed as romantic devotion as lover and love.why ?This is the real bliss of spirituality.So the jeeva within us is the love of God,it always seeks and longs to merge with him.Once the jeeva has identified the presence of paramathma within itself it is called ‘’THIRUKALYANAM’’ or wedding.With this basic concept let us plunge into the vast ocean of divine love ‘’THIRUPAVAI’’.
Mother pocesses the great nature of forgiving our mistakes.This character has been beautifully adopted in spiritual journey through devotion.We surrender to Mother Mahalaxmi,who accept us and rectifies our mistakes and makes us to merge with the ultimate paramathma.,to attain SALVATION.
The AACHAARYA……….the spiritual tutor;
 The aacaarya……is the real train track for us to reach the divine mother.The role of this tutor is to accept the disciple like a mother .The tutor is called as ‘’GURU’’…..meaning ‘’ONE WHO HELPS THE MIND TO COMEOUT OF DARKNESS OF IGNORANCE’’.The guru trains the disciple in various ways according to the SPIRITUAL MATURITY already exists.Without guru’s direction it is very difficult to travel.It is like searching our friend’s new home in a new town without any clue .
Therefore the guru is considered equal to lord.There were many incidents in devotees life where they have expressed there true dedication to their guru.Ramanaujar {12.A.D} has been celebrated as the most famous guru in southIndian Vishnu cult.His disciple Sree.Koorath..aalwaar was punished by a king.,by plucking his eyes,because the king was against Ramanujar.Later when lord was blessing with vision ,Koorath..aalwaar addressed as follows.,
                                ‘’ ho lord of Alagarkoil.,I got the real inner spiritual vision blessed by my guru.so I need not regain these eyes again to get attached with materialistic life.My guru and you are my eyes.’’
In southIndian Vaishnavism even when we die ,death is named as’’ the person has attained his aachaarya’s feet’’.
*Divine mother plays the role of great guru.
 
PAA.VAI VIRATHAM……….the beauty of winter:
If you visit any Hindu temple there are many prayers offered by devotees mainly for their wedding,family peace,children and occupation.It is often questioned ‘’WHY WE NEED ALL THESE MATERIALISTIC PRAYERS?’’
Hinduism teaches us to live anormal family life with spirituality.Family life is the foundation to lay the pathway to our spiritual journey.Especially Indian girls are asked to observe many fastings and rituals to get a good husband to set a spiritual life.
Sree Bahavatham…..{Krishna’s life history}says that the cowherd girls [GOPIES] observed an ospecious pooja and viratham to attain Krishna.Especially Radha ..Krishna’s most beloved love has observed this viratham in Margali month{December to first week of January------winter season}.
This viratham is dedicated to the great divine mother PARASAKTHI.
HOW TO OBSERVE PAA.VAI VIRATHAM?
 Girls gather in gang and recite chants on Divine mother and go to a pond,river ,pool or any water source.Divine mother’s face will be made in clay or sand and poojas will be done .Then these girls will have sacred dip and cleanse their mind and body and again do poojas and fast till noon.They address the Goddess about their wish or love to get fulfilled.This idol of mother is named as ‘’PAA.VAI’’ in Tamil.
Radha observed this viratham.why?Krishna was the great ultimate paramathma.To merge with him was not an easy task.So to get cleansed in mind Radha observed this viratham.In this PARASAKTHI is the sakshi…..Evidence to our spiritual journey.Thereby later in 7th century A.D AANDAAL also took this viratham to master her mind and soul to merge with lord.She has expressed all her spiritual experiences as 30 songs of THIRUPAAVAI……the great desertation of spirituality.
STRUCTURE OF THIRUPAAVAI:
Thiripaavai has 30 songs.Each song is made of 8 lines.The number 8 is very ospecious in Vaishnavism.The main mantra of lord Mahavishnu is ‘’NARAYANA’’…IT HAS 8 SYLLABALS.SO Aandaal has made her songs with 8 lines.Each song ends with the word,’’ PAA.VAAI’’…addressing the mother.Each song addresses each friend of Aandaal.But actually each girl mentioned in her songs are Aandaal herself only.They are the various level of spiritually evolved mind.
Aandaal begins with praising of lord,then addresses many of her friends,then she surrenders to SREE RADHA as divine mother to lead them to merge with Krishna.Then she addresses Krishna and expresses her spiritual feelings and prays him to bless them with all wealth and ultimate love.Finally she asks Krishna to remove all her materialistic attachments and she wants only Him.Finally she has blessed all of us with lord’s love.
EIGHT CLOSE FRIENDS:
SreeKrishna has been seen with Radha with her 8 close Gopies.They are our five senses,mind,intellect and awareness.Radha is the awareness.So all these 8 friends are always with RadhaKrishna in divine love and everlasting romance.Here the romance is the real bliss enjoyed by the soul.It is named as ‘’ BAHAVATH KAAMAM’’…….DIVINE DESIRE OR DIVINE ROMANCE.
WARNING!!!
IF WE CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EMOTIONAL –PHYSICAL LOVE,ROMANCE AND SEX AND DIVINE ROMANCE ;IT IS DIFFICULT TO KNOW MANY CONCEPTS OF THIRUPAAVAI.
BETTER UNDERSTAND THESE ELEMENTS OF RELATIONS AND PROCEED FURTHER.
GREATNESS OF SREE.AANDAAL.
It is like ,travelling across this universe to see its start and end ;to write about SREE.AANDAAL’s greatness.Many Aachaaryas has recited and composed many hymns in praise of SREE.AANDAAL.This part of the article enjoys few lines,words,phrases in praise of AREE.AANDAAL.Let our gurus bless us to enjoy the bliss of mother.
1.VEDHAM ANAI.THUK.KUM VITHU….
Hinduism ‘s backbone is VEDIC LITERATURE.Vedhas are very ancient SANSKRIT TEXTS composed by many saints who has experienced the ultimate spiritual bliss.Thirupaavai is celebrated as ‘’vedha vithu’’…which means seed of vedhas.How?Thirupaavai has been composed many centuries back after vedhas?
Aandaal has studded all the vedic philosophies,myths,vedic secrets in her songs to guide the post vedic society.Her songs are in simple Tamil ,but with deep spiritual meanings.One can interpret in so many views.The aim of vedhas is supremity.Thirupaavai is also taking us easily towards that supremity.
Thirupaavai is a banyantree seed within which the vast spiritual tree is sleeping.If we soak this seed in our mind..the farm and irrigate with true devotion.,we will attain the divine fruit.Guru is the sunshine.So Thirupaavai is titled as ‘’VEDHA VITHU{SEED}’’.
2.VAI .YAM SUMAP.PA.DHUM VAMBHU…
 
We are taking birth as humanbeings to realize the ultimate paramathma.For that only we have been gifted with ‘’MIND’’ and ‘’SPEECH’’.If we donot undergo a spiritual life again and again we are going to suffer.Aandaal’s songs are not just to recite before lord.The songs has to be understood and used by us for spiritual growth.If we fails in this ,Mother Earth feels very heavy to accomodate us.She will feels us her cursings.
3.AL.LE NAAL THAA.MARAI MAY.LAAL ANANKIN THU.NAI.VE…
Mahalaxmi is the jeeva{us}.She is in love with lord.It is SREEAANDAAL ,the close friend of laxmi,as guru makes her to meet and wed Vishnu.
4.MALLI NAADU AANDA MADA MAEIL…
SREE AANDAAL lived in Sreevilliputhur near Madurai in TamilNadu.She is the beautifull peacock dancing on seeing Krishna…the cloud of everlasting love.Her father’s vedic chantings are the tune for the dance.
5.AAYAR KULA VAEN.DHAN AGATHAAL…
Aayar kulam is the cowherd community .Krishna was the leaderof that community.AGAM means HOME and MIND.SREEAANDAAL had conqured lord’s mind and became his consort and also adorning his home in GOKULAM where Krishna lived.She who directs her beloved husband to bless all of us.
6.WAY.YAR PAYANDHA VILAK.KU…
Way.yar means ‘’the person who has attained master in spirituality’’.AANDAAL’s dad Peri.aalwaar was the great devotee.He has lighted his daughter SREEAANDAAL …the divine lamp to remove the darkness of ignorance.AANDAAL is the lamp,her dad is the wick,devotion is the oil and lord is the flame on it.She is the lamp of wisdom enlighting lord’s home .
7.ANNA.VAYAL PUDHU.VAI AANDAAL…
Sreevilliputhur is surrounded by farms,where many swans are playing.Here the farms are the devotee’s mind.Swans are the symbol of divine wisdom.Periaalwaar and Aandaal are the dad and daughter swans of wisdom playing in Sreevilliputhur.
*DURING AADI MONTH FESTIVAL{AANDAAL’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS AT THE MONTH OF JULY—AUGUST},PERI.AALWAAR ‘S IDOL WILL BE PLACED ON A LARGE SWANCAR AND AANDAAL WILL BW PLACED ON A SMALL SWANCAR.BOTH OF THEM WILL SEE 5 DIFFERENT VISHNUS FROM NEARBY TOWNS .AANDAL WILL BE ASKED BY HER DAD TO CHOOSE ONE AMONG THEM AS BRIDEGROOM.THIS SCENE IS MAKING US TO REMEMBER HER LINES,
‘’ Dear friend,don’t worry.though lord is very rich and supreme in position.,if we surrender to my dad..he will bring lord as a desired precious gift’’
This line expresses her staunch confidence and belief upon her dad as her guru.
8.MOTHER CAN CHANGE THE DESTINY…
One of the great guru addresses SREEAANDAAL as follows.
‘’ hae.,mother!please make lord to change my destiny.before that you need to change his destiny,so that he can only bless me and save me from this ignorance’’
9.AANDAAL AND CONCH;
SREEAANDAAL has asked the sacred conch of lord{symbol of soundenergy} to tell the taste of his lips.The real meaning behind that ….conch always listens to lord’s talks with his devotees.This is her anciety in knowing vendantic principles to get more guidance in spiritual journey.
10.AANDAAL THE SOLAI.KILE;
AANDAAL has written about her pet parrot.In Indian sculptures parrot is the symbol of true love and truth.AANDAAL herself is a lovable parrot resting on lord’s shoulder, has narrated all her spiritual experiences like a parrot.
11.AANDAAL’S INFINITE COMPASSION TO US;
AANDAAL came to this earth,because she cannot tolerate peoples sufferings.So she has incarnated as Peri.aalwaar’s daughter and taught us how to come out of this sufferings.She could not live happily with her lord in Vaikuntam{Vishnu’s heaven} when people are suffering here.
12.THIRUPAAVAI will forgive our sins,guide us to paramathma….if we really read,understand and train our mind according to AANDAAL’S teachings.
ARE YOU READY TO SEE THE DIVINE ROMANCE?!  
SREEAANDAAL’S EACH SONG’S MEANING IS GIVEN BRIEFLY.BUT WORDS WITH DIVINE ROMANTIC MESSAGES ARE EXPLAINED.
THIS FILE HAS FIRST 5 SONGS.
SONG 1.
AANDAAL is welcoming all of her friends to begin the sacred paavai viratham.Margali month fullmoon day was the day when she started her viratham.Usually all poojas will begin on newmoon day.,but this poojas are beginning on fullmoon day..so that along with moon our selfego must get shaded and after 15 songs again we regain our blessed new life.She wanted this viratham to attain Krishna’s blessings.Yashoda and Nandhagopa…Krishna’s parents were celebrated.A girl in love must surrender and accept her lover’s parents first.This is the unique life formula.
Margali thingal…….
Thingal means moon and month.Margali month makes lord very romantic with Laxmi.He is resting on her plumpy sacred breasts for warmthness.It is the winter season .Lord is slowly listening to AANDAAL’s hymns.Margali fullmoon makes lord and Laxmi to celebrate their honeymoon.
Mathi ne.raindha nan.naal…
Mathi is also moon and intelligence.Margali month is dedicated to observe many virathams.So this fullmoon makes our mind to be intellectual to start our spiritual journey.This moon made AANDAAL to feel for lord’s love and romantic expressions as he had with RADHA.
SEER MALGUM AAI PAADE…
Aai.paade is the Tamil name for Gokulam,Krishna’s residence.It is filled with all wealth because no body is interested in materialistic pleasures.All Gopies were just with Krishna.Than this Gokulam is adorned with SREE.RADHA.She made all her people to attain the ultimate wealth….her Krishna .Seer means wealth.
SELVA.SEE.RU.ME.
AANDAAL addresses all Gopies as selva.se.ru.me..meaning most wealthiest girls of Gokulam.AANDAAL herself is the richest girl in her peer group because she had attained her true love successfully.Than that her dad has made her to choose her own lord .She is very rich with her dad’s love and pampering than a mother.She was also trained by her dad.
YASODHAI ILAM SINGAM…
Krishna is Yasodha’s lion cub.Krishna romanced with all Gopies like great lion king but became a nightmare to all demons.Demons were scared like rabbits to see Krishna.
CAR MAY.NE…
Car may.ne means…dark complexion.Krishna was dark in colour.Darkness is the mixture of all colours here all great qualities.When lord romanced with Radha his darkbody sweated and drenched the lawns of Virandhavan{place near Gokulam where they had their privacy life
It is very beautifull to see the sacred bath given to lord RANGANATHAR and SREERANGANAYAKI{LAXMI} on Panguni uthiram festival midnight .The day remembers SREERAMA’S wedding day.Lord’s dark body is sweating and Laxmi’s golden complexion is the lightening.which awakes us from darkness of ignorance.
SENG.KAN…
Kan means eyes.Here lord’s eyes are reddish.reason-----his sleepless romance with Radha .Radha’s fair body is reflecting on his eyes,because he cant exists without looking at her.So lord’s eyes became reddish in colour.