Thirupaavai - Song -3    

In this song AANDAAL is asked about the objective of paavai viratham. AANDAAL   is a good teacher who knows how to approach us. She does not immediately talk about spiritual bliss, because people will think about sanyasam, to renounce the world. She says that the Lord will bless us with proper monsoon rains, farms with good paddy yield, and the cows with good milk.

These lines show that for a nation the basic necessity is food. As Swami Vivekananda says ‘’ religion is not for empty bellies’’, AANDAAL wants the Lord to bless mankind with basic needs before beginning the spiritual journey.

We need to see that she is mentioning only about the basic needs but not the luxuries of life. She asks the Lord to bless with all basic needs so that man, contented with what he has, will slowly turn to the spiritual path. India is slowly losing her spirituality because the numbers of poor people are increasing day by day. But at the same time it has to be mentioned that the poor are managing with festivals, rituals etc. Rich and educated Hindus are becoming very lazy in the name of ‘’SECULARISM’’.

In this song, the Lord’s Vamana avatar has been specially mentioned. In this avatar [incarnation]only Lord Vishnu used nonviolence to vanquish King Mahabali’s ego.When the king gave up all ego, the Lord blessed him with all wealth and a good life. Thiruvonam…a sacred harvest festival has been celebrated in Kerala to remember this king. See how Lord Vishnu has made a king’s life so happy with a special day.

ROMANTIC SENSE……..

AANDAAL is asking the Lord to measure her feelings and love and to take her away. The Lord went as a yasakar [one who seeks materialistic help]to Mahabali’s court. But here she is waiting to give herself to him, but he does not come..

*This song is dedicated to SREEAANDAAL because as a mother she does not want the Lord to test his devotees giving them difficulties to remove their ego. So often she has appreciated the Lord's vamana avatar.

*This song also advises all developing nations to concentrate first in agriculture and to uplift the farmer’s life.

 Exercise:

Can we make ourselves aware about farming, a farmer’s life, and government programs about farmers? Or you can list out what are the luxuries you are enjoying apart from the basic needs.

 Please click here to continue to read Thirupaavai-4