Sakthi Thamil Changam - English articles                                

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Today's song is very important for us in the spiritual journey.Because this song is going to show how Aandaal has sheded her impersonal and materialistic ego to merge with lord.But we need a balanced state of mind to understand this song.

In Sreevaishnavism,we need to surrender to Sree Mahalaxmi..,the holy mother to cleanse our sins and ego.She makes us to attain Lord's feet.She will forgive us for any sins.

If you watch a cinema shooting,the director will first act and show the sceen.Like that Aandaal is performing a very important role now.She wants to marry Krishna.So first she is giving away her pocessiveness,materialistic love and accepting SreeRadha as the queen in Krishna's mind and home.

In today's social setup a woman cannot accept an other woman in her family life.This concept of discipline was very strongly taught to people from Aandaal's time.So first she is ready to accept Radha as one of Lord's consort.It is really very very tough for a woman to give away or to share her husband with an other woman.But there comes the saadhana for a woman.In spiritual life to attain Lord we must shed our most beloved needs,relations so on.There comes the real sanyasaa or detattachment.

In each avatharam Lord and Laxmi has performed this concept.In Rama avathara both of them have sheded the ego of husband -wife-kids relation.

So Aandaal is surrendering to Radha [most personal lover of Krishna]to come and open the doors of her palace.Radha is the symbolic expression of jeevathma with total awareness.

*Radha...........she lived an unconditional life with Krishna,even refused the status of being wife when she has realised she and Krishna are the same .We need to talk more about her later.

But Aandaal has titled Radha as ''Nandhaa's daughter-in-law'' and gave the social status for Radha in southIndia for the very first time.Because without a proper wedding women are not accepted and respected in Tamilnadu.Today many devotees celebrate SreeRadha kalyanam in Tamilnadu,because of Aandaal's teachings.

Radha's locks of dark long hairs got scented with tulsi leaves,after romantic play with Krishna her hairs got more fragrance.Krishna's sandal paste,turmeric paste,flowers got smashed with her body and hairs.This is the symbol of becomming one .

Radha is wearing many bangles.They are clinging and announcing her arrival to the entrance.Bangles are symbolic expression of '' service''.Often in nayake [lover]characters poets say that she has lost her bangles,because she became thin without eating or sleeping properly.Here Aandaal says even love to serve others is an attachment.Then the service must be  honest,sacred,pure and selfishless.

Aandaal has mentioned the sounds made by cocks,hens and kuku -birds.She says Radha used to play ball with lord,which means lord and Laxmi are palying all these actions through us.

Radha's hands are compared to lotus because,

1.the complexion and texture are like lotus.

2.her palms are always involved inmassaging Krishna's lotus feet.

3.as Mahalaxmi she holds the lotus flowers.

4.she will bless only to true devotee like lotus responding only to sunshine.

Again namasangeerthanam got insisted in this song.

* Saint Ramanuja[11 A.D] who nourished southIndian Vaishnavism was in fond of this Thirupaavai.Whenever he walks on streets he used to sing this song.

So along with Aandaal let us surrender to SreeRadha to attain lord's blessings.

*many southIndian vaishnavites do not consider Radha in thier cult.Even there will be many protest against in mentioning Nappinai as Radha.

Exercise: Try to be not possessive with any of your belongings from morning  to evening.

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