Fwd: Stotram - 503 - Thiruvempavai & Thiruppavai

[Manikandan Govindasamy]

Thiruvempavai

Translated in to free verse

By

P.R.Ramachander

 

The ancient Tamil Nadu saw two important Bhakthi movements , which most probably preceded the philosophical movements of Adi Sankara and Saint Ramanuja. The sentinels(sages) of Bhakthi movement worshipping Lord Shiva were called Nayanmars and those worshipping Lord Vishnu were called Azhwars. History records the story of 63 Nayanmars and their story is chronicled in a book called “Periya puranam(Big epic)” written by Chekizhar who was an eminent poet of those times. Among those 63 sages , four Natyanmars were the most important and they were Appar, Thirugnana Sambandar, Thirunavukkarsar and Manika Vasagar.All of them were great poets and traveled through out Tamil Nadu visiting the shiva temples and composing poems on the deities in each Temple.The work of Manika Vasagar who was a Kshatriya by caste is called as Thiru vasagam (Holy script).”Thiru Vasagathukku urugar Evvasagathukkum Urugar” meaning,” those who do not melt for Thiruvasagam will never melt for any other book”, is a famous Tamil Saying of those times.

 

Thiruvempavai is a part of Thiruvasagam and was composed in the temple town of Thiruvannamalai during the month of Margazhi(December-january) when the temple town was celebrating the Pavai Nolumbu. This is a penance observed by unmarried girls of those times to get good husbands. The maids all wake up early , wake each other up and with song and dance go to the ponds and streams for bathing and then worship Pavai (woman goddess) and request her to bless them with suitable husbands. These songs are sung by them during the festival on 10 days preceding the Thiruadhirai Nolumbu. The fact that during the coronation of the Kings of Thailand these are sung shows the importance people of those times attached to this song. The Tamil used was the ancient Tamil and though many words used during those times are common even today, the meanings of these are not that obvious. Each verse translated is preceded by the first few words of the Thiruvempavai verse to help in easy identification.

Adhiyum andhamum illa aru perum

Adhiyum an^dhamum illA arumperuny

  chOdhiyai yAmpAdak kEttEyum vALthadaN^kaN

mAdhE vaLarudhiyO vancheviyO n^inchevithAn

  mAdhEvan vArkazalkaL vAzththiya vAzththolipOy

vIdhivAyk kEttalumE vimmivimmi meymmaRan^dhu

  pOdhAr amaLiyinmEl n^inRum puraNdiN^N^an

EdhEnum AgAL kidan^dhAL en nEennE

  IdhE en^thOzi parichElOr empAvAy

We sang of that glorious light,

Which has no beginning and no end,

Oh you the girl who has broad , bright eyes,

Are you still asleep,

Did you not hear,

The songs that we sang ,

Praising the holy feet wearing.

Hero’s anklets of Madhava [1], our Lord?

It is echoing in all the street,

One lady hearing our song,

Sobbed and sobbed and cried,

And another fell from her

Flower bedecked bed to a swoon,

Is this your state my friend,

Is this your nature, our lady. 1

Pasam param jothikenbai eraa pagal Naam

pAcham paranychOdik kenbAy irAppakaln^Am

  pEchumpO dheppOdhip pOdhAr amaLikkE

n^Echamum vaiththanaiyO n^ErizaiyAy n^ErizaiyIr

  chIchi ivaiyuny chilavO viLaiyAdi

Echum idamIdhO viNNOrkaL EththudhaRkuk

  kUchu malarppAdhan^ than^dharuLa van^dharuLum

thEchan chivalOkan thillaichiR RambalaththuL

  IchanArk kanbAryAm ArElOr empAvAy

 

“Oh,pretty damsel,

You used to tell all of us then, .

That your love is only to the God,

Who is the primeval light.

Has it now by any chance,

Shifted to the flower decked bed of yours?”

“Oh my well dressed friends,

Is it the time to make fun and play?”

“He whom even the great devas of heaven,

Are wary to approach,

He who is the Lord of Shiva Loka[2],

And he who is the God of Chidambara[3],

Has come in person and waits,

To give us his grace.

And we who do not know anything of him,

But have only love for him,

Are we capable of singing his praise,Oh lady” 2

 

Muthanna Ven nagyai , mun vandu edhir ezhunden

 

muththanna veNNakaiyAy munvan^ dhedhir ezun^dhen

  aththan Anan^dhan amudhan en RaLLURith

thithtikkap pEchuvAy van^dhun kadaithiRavAy

  paththudaiyIr Ichan pazavadiyIr pAN^gudaiyIr

puththadiyOm punmaithIrth thAtkoNdAR pollAdhO

  eththOn^in anbudaimai ellOm aRiyOmO

chiththam azakiyAr pAdArO n^amchivanai

  iththanaiyum vENdum emakkElOr empAvAy

 

[4]“Hey lady, with pearl like teeth,

You used to wake before us,

And talk sweetly,

Deep from your mind,

That he is our father,

He is the source of our happiness,

And he is nectar in person,

But now you are sleeping,

With not even opening the door”

“ My dear friends devoted to god,

Is it very bad,

If you forgive me just once for now?”

“Do not try to cheat us , our dear,

What devotion and love you have,

Do we not know all,

Would not the ladies with beautiful mind,

Sing about our lord Shiva.

All this we should definitely hear and suffer, Oh dear lady” 3

 

Onnithila nagayai innam pularnthindro?

 

oNNith thilan^agaiyAy innam pularn^dhinRO

  vaNNak kiLimoziyAr ellArum van^dhArO

eNNikko duLLavA chollukOm avvaLavum

  kaNNaith thuyinRavamE kAlaththaip pOkkAdhE

viNNuk korumarun^dhai vEdha vizupporuLaik

  kaNNuk kiniyAnaip pAdik kachin^dhuLLam

uLn^ekku n^inRuruga yAmAttOm n^IyEvan^dhu

  eNNik kuRaiyil thuyilElOr empAvAy[5]Oh! lady with glittering smile ,

 

And with pearl like teeth,

Has not the new day begun?”

“Have all the ladies ,

Who have lisping voice like a parrot, come?”

“Count we will and tell you soon,

Don’t spend your time sleeping till then.

Sing of Him who is the nectar of the heaven,

Who is the essence of Vedas,

And who is sweet to the eyes,

And melts your mind within.

But if you wish to know their number soon,

You wake up and count them yourself,

And if the number is less, go to sleep again, Oh Lady” 4

Malariya Nanmuganum Kanaa Malayinai Nam

mAlaRiyA n^Anmukanum kANA malaiyinain^Am

  pOlaRivOm enRuLLa pokkaN^ga LEpEchum

pAlURu thEnvAyp padiRI kadaithiRavAy

  nyAlamE viNNE piRavE aRivariyAn

kOlamum n^ammaiAt koNdaruLi kOdhAttuny

  chIlamum pAdich chivanE chivanEenRu

Olam idinum uNarAy uNarAykAN

  Elak kuzali parichElOr empAvAy

 

Hey deceiver, who has a milky honey speech,

You who bragged that we would,

See the mountain that neither the proud,

Vishnu and Brahma could not see[6],

Be pleased to open the door.

We sing and praise,

Of the great Lord Shiva,

Whose form those who live on earth,

Heaven and other worlds,

Could not see,

And who has come in person to rule over us,

And to remove our blemishes.

But you know this not.

And have not woken up yet.

She who sleeps with plaited hair,

Decorated by paste of Henna,

Even if we loudly shout,

“Hey Shiva, Hey Shiva”.

How come you do not still wake up.Oh Lady. 5

 

Manee nee nennalai nalai vandungali

 

mAnEn^I n^ennalai n^ALaivan^ dhuN^gaLai

  n^AnE ezuppuvan enRalum n^ANAmE

pOna dhichaipagarAy innam pularn^dhinRO

  vAnE n^ilanE piRavE aRivariyAn

thAnEvan^ dhemmaith thalaiyaLith thAtkoNdaruLum

  vAnvAr kazalpAdi van^dhOrkkun vAythiRavAy

UnE urugAy unakkE uRum emakkum

  EnOrkkum thaN^kOnaip pAdElOr empAvAy

 

Oh deer like maiden,

Only yesterday did you tell,

That tomorrow morn,

It is you who will wake us up,

And where has the word,

Disappeared without shame.

Has not it dawned?

Be pleased to open your mouth,

For us who have come singing,

About him, whom those.

In heaven , earth and other places,

Do not know,

And who has come to be with us,

And who has great noble feet,

With jingling anklets,

And sing with us,

Let your heart melt,

And let us all praise our king, Oh Lady. 6

Anne ivayum chilavo pala amarar

 

annE ivaiyuny chilavO pala amarar

  unnaR kariyAn oruvan irunychIrAn

chinnaN^gaL kEtpach chivan enRE vAythiRappAy

  thennAen nAmunnam thIchEr mezugoppAy

ennAnai en araiyan innamudhen RellOmuny

  chonnON^kEl vevvERAy innan^ thuyiludhiyO

vannenychap pEdhaiyarpOl vALA kidaththiyAl

  ennE thuyilin parichElOr empAvAy

 

Little mother ours,

Is this the time for make believe?

When the signal sounds ,

Boom all around in the past,

Of the presence of great one with great fame,

Who can never be thought of,

By even devas, the gods of heaven.

You would open your mouth,

And keep calling “Shiva, Shiva”.

You would melt like wax then ,

Even before his name,

Thennava[7] is complete.

Now we are telling before you,

“Our friend”, “Our king”.

“Our sweetest nectar”,

But are you still asleep?

You are lying like ,

The stone hearted ignorant ones,

What type of sleep , is this , our lady? 7

Kozhi chilabha chilambum kurukkengum

 

kOzi chilambach chilambuN^ kurugeN^gum

  Ezil iyamba iyambumveN chaN^geN^gum

kEzil paranychOdhi kEzil paraN^karuNai

  kEzil vizupporuLkaL pAdinON^ kEttilaiyO

vAziyI dhenna uRakkamO vAythiRavAy

  AziyAn anbudaimai AmARum ivvARO

Uzi mudhalvanAy n^inRa oruvanai

  EzaipaN^ gALanaiyE pAdElOr empAvAy

 

When the cock crows, all the birds twitter,

When the Veena is strummed, the holy conches boom.

Did you not hear when we sang,

Of the incomparable light of heaven,

The incomparable mercy of heaven,

And the one with incomparable fame?

Long live our dear, is this the way to sleep?

You never even open your mouth, dear,

Is this the way to love our God?

We will the all sing the fame,

Of him who alone is, after the deluge,

And of him who shares his body with his consort,

Please sing with us , our lady. 8

Munnai pazham porutkum munnai pazham porule

 

munnaip pazamporutkum munnaip pazamporuLE

  pinnaip pudhumaikkum pErththum ap peRRiyanE

unnaip pirAnAgap peRRavun chIradiyOm

  unnadiyAr thALpaNivOm AN^gavarkkE pAN^gAvOm

annavarE eN^kaNavar AvAr avar ukan^dhu

  chonna parichE thozumbAyp paNicheyvOm

inna vakaiyE emakkeN^kOn n^alguthiyEl

  enna kuRaiyum ilOmElOr empAvAy

 

Oh our Lord who is older than the oldest,

Oh Lord who exists in the modern way,

In this the new ways of the world.,

We thine slaves , who have got you as our Lord,

Would bow before the holy feet of your devotees great,

Would become their friends for ever,

And would obey their orders with reverence and with out fail.

If our God , you bless us this way,

We will live all live, without any wants,

Is it not, our Lady? 9

Pathalam ezhinum keezh chor kazhivu pada malar

 

pAdhALam EzinuN^kIz choRkazivu pAdhamalar

  pOdhAr punaimudiyum ellAp poruLmudivE

pEdhai orupAl thirumEni onRallan

  vEdhamudhal viNNOrum maNNun^ thudhiththAlum

Odha ulavA oruthOzan thoNdaruLan

  kOdhil kulaththaran than kOyiR piNAppiLLaikAL

Edhavan Ur EdhavanpEr Ar uRRar Ar ayalAr

  Edhavanaip pAdum parichElOr empAvAy

 

His flower like feet, which is beyond description,

Is below the seven worlds of Patala[8],

His flower bedecked hair is above the end of all matter,

And he not only has he the lady in half of his body,

But he is beyond the whole hearted praise,

Of those adept in Vedas,

Of those gods in heaven,

And ordinary mortals like us,

And clearly seen as Hara[9] in the minds of his devotees.

Hey ! lady devotees of his temples.

Which is his place?

Which is his name?

Who are his relations?

And who are his neighbors?

And certainly he cannot be limited by our songs,

Is it not our lady? 10

Moyyar thadam poygai pukku mugger ena

 

moyyAr thadampoykai pukku mugErennak

  kaiyAR kudin^dhu kudain^dhun kazalpAdi

aiyA vaziyadiyOm vAzn^dhON^kAN ArazalpOR

  cheyyAveN NIRAdi chelvA chiRumaruN^gul

maiyAr thadaN^kaN madan^thai maNavALA

  aiyAn^I AtkoN daruLum viLaiyAttin

uyvArkaL uyyum vakaiellAm uyn^dhozin^dhOm

  eyyAmaR kAppAy emaiElOr empAvAy

 

In the pretty pond, surrounded by bees,

We who are your devotees for several generations,

Used to play by making sounds in water,

And sing about you, our Lord,

Who is red like the raging fire,

And who is bathed by white ashes.

Lord of the maid with pretty eyes,

Applied with black collyrium,

Who has whisper thin hips.

Please take us within you,

In this play of life, only those who are fit win,

And so help us not to get famished by this play,

Is it not our Lady. 11

Aartha piravi thuyar keda naam arthadum

 

Arththa piRavith thuyarkedan^Am ArththAdum

  thIrththan n^aRRillai chiRRambalaththE thIyAdum

kUththan ivvAnum kuvalayamum ellOmum

  kAththum padaiththum karan^dhum viLaiyAdi

vArththaiyum pEchi vaLaichilamba vArkalaikaL

  Arpparavam cheyya aNikuzalmEl vaNdArppa

pUththikazum poykai kudain^dhudaiyAn poRpAdham

  Eththi irunychunain^I rAdElOr empAvAy

 

He is the one who has the holy pure waters,

In which with happiness we bathe,

So that the big sorrow of birth vanishes.,

He is the one who dances in the holy temple of Thillai[10],

With pot of fire in his left hand,

And he creates this and the world above,

Which he looks after and destroys .

Like playing a sport.

Let us sing his fame,

Let us take bath in his holy pond,

With the bangles making murmuring sound,.

With the golden belts with bells.,

Creating the holy sounds all around,

With bees surrounding our scented hair,

And praise his golden feet,

And then also play and bathe in the holy stream,

Is it not , Oh lady. 12

Painkuvalai kaar malaral chengamala paimpodal

 

paiN^kuvaLaik kArmalarAR cheN^kamalap paimpOdhaal

  aN^gaN^ kuruginaththAr pinnum aravaththAl

thaN^kaL malaN^kazuvu vArvan^dhu chArdhalinAl

  eN^gaL pirAttiyum eN^kOnum pOnRichain^dha

poN^gu maduviR pugappAyn^dhu pAyn^dhun^any

  chaN^gany chilambach chilambu kalan^dhArppak

koN^gaikaL poN^gak kudaiyum punalpoN^gap

  paN^gayap pUmpunalpAyn^ dhAdElOr empAvAy

 

With exuberant blue and red lotus abound.

With king fishers making lot of sound,

With people coming to wash away their dirt and sin,

The pond appears as a place of our Lord and our Goddess.

Let our bangles of conch and our anklets divine,

Join this din, And let us all,

Bathe with our busts raising,

And the water level going up,

Is it not our lady. 13

Kadaar kuzhai ada paimpoon kalan ada

 

kAdhAr kuzaiyAdap paimpUN kalanAdak

  kOdhai kuzalAda vaNdin kuzAmAdach

chIdhap punalAdich chiRRam balampAdi

  vEdhap poruLpAdi apporuLA mApAdich

chOdhi thiRampAdich chUzkonRaith thArpAdi

  Adhi thiRampAdi an^dhamA mApAdip

pEdhiththu n^ammai vaLarththeduththa peyvaLaithan

  pAdhath thiRampAdi AdElOr empAvAy

 

With the ear studs worn in the ear shaking,

With all pretty gold ornaments waving,

With the pretty plait of ours,

Moving hither and thither,

With the bees surrounding the plait,

Moving with the plait,

We will all bathe and play ,

In the cool holy waters of the stream,

And sing of the temple at Thillai,

Sing of the lord,

Who is the meaning of Vedas,

Sing of the meaning of holy light,

Sing of his Konrai[11] flowers adorning his hair,

Sing of Him who is the beginning and end,

Sing of him who shows us as different from this world,

And Pray the Goddess that we attain him,

Is it not our Lady. 14

Or orukal emperuman enrenre nam peruman

 

OrorukAl emperumAn enRenRE n^amperumAn

  chIrorukAl vAyOvAL chiththaN^ kaLikUra

n^IrorukAl OvA n^edun^thArai kaNpanippap

  pArorukAl van^dhanaiyAL viNNOraith thAnpaNiyAL

pEraraiyark kiN^N^anE piththoruvar AmARum

  Aroruvar ivvaNNam AtkoLLum viththakarthAL

vAruruvap pUNmulaiyIr vAyAra n^AmpAdi

  Eruruvap pUmpunal pAyn^dhu AdElOr empAvAy

 

 

Once in a while tells she “My Lord”

Once in a while describes she,

Of the fame of our Lord without stop,

Once in a while because of ebbing happiness,

That his memory gives,

Sheds she copious tears without end,

Once in a while lies she on the ground in trance,

In his memory divine ,

And once in while becomes she a lunatic of Him,

Who is our great God,

And never salutes other gods great.

Who could have enchanted this lady thus?

Oh ladies with decorated breasts,

Lets us all bathe in the flower filled pond,

And sing of Him,

Is it not our lady. 15

Munni kadala churukki ezhum thudaiyal

 

munnik kadalaich churukki ezun^dhudaiyAL

  ennath thigazn^dhemmai ALudaiyAL ittidaiyin

minnip polin^dhem pirAtti thiruvadimER

  ponnany chilambiR chilambith thiruppuruvam

ennach chilaikulavi n^an^thammai ALudaiyAL

  thanniR pirivilA eN^kOmAn anbarkku

munni avaLn^amakku munchurakkum innaruLE

  ennap poziyAy mazaiyElOr empAvAy

 

Oh Cloud, even before the season of rains,

You drank this sea and decreased its level,

And you climbed the skies,

And got the holy blue colour of our Goddess.

Your becoming streaks of lightning,

Reminded us of her narrow hips,

Your roaring claps of thunder,

Reminded us of the sound from her anklets,

Worn on her holy feet,

And the rainbow you made in the sky.

Reminded us of her pretty eye brows.,

Please shower her rain of mercy ,

On the devotes of our Lord and on us,

Is it not our Lady. 16

Chenganavapal disai mugan pal devargal pal

 

cheN^ka NavanpAl thichaimukanpAl dhEvarkaLpAl

  eN^gum ilAdhadhOr inbamn^am pAladhAk

koN^guN karuN^kuzali n^an^thammaik kOdhAtti

  iN^gun^am illaN^gaL thORum ezun^dharuLich

cheN^kamalap poRpAdhan^ than^dharuLuny chEvakanai

  aN^kaN arachai adiyON^kat kAramudhai

n^aN^kaL perumAnaip pAdi n^alan^thikazap

  paN^kayappUm punalpAyn^dhu AdElOr empAvAy

 

Oh Lady with the naturally scented black hair,

He who can do things impossible,

He who is the God with charming eyes

He who is pure nectar to us , his devotees,

Graces us with happiness great,

Which neither the red eyed Vishnu,

Nor Lord Brahma with four heads,

Nor all the Gods in the heaven ,

Can ever give,

And makes us purer than heaven.

Comes He to each of our homes great,

And gives us his lotus like golden feet,

And so that we will sing his praise and bathe,

In the flower filled lotus pond,

Is it not our Lady. 17

Annamalaiyan adi kamalam chendru irainjum

 

aNNA malaiyAn adikkamalam chenRiRainychum

  viNNOr mudiyin maNiththokai vIRaRRArpOl

kaNNAr iravi kadhirvan^dhu kArkarappath

  thaNNAr oLimazuN^gith thArakaikaL thAmakalap

peNNAgi ANAy aliyAyp piRaN^goLichEr

  viNNAgi maNNAgi iththanaiyum vERAgik

kaNNAr amudhamumAy n^inRAn kazalpAdip

  peNNEip pUmpunalpAyn^dhu AdElOr empAvAy

 

 

The jewels in the crowns of the gods of heaven,

Who bow their head to Lord Annamalai[12] looses their glitter,

The most famous Sun looses his sharp lights of rays before the Lord,

And the stars in the sky at night loose their sparkle before Him,

But the Lord becomes male, female , eunuch and others,

That are none of these also,

And he also becomes the sky , earth and all others .

That are different from these,

Oh Lady , He is the nectar which can fill our eyes,

So let us all sing his praise and bathe in this flower filled pond,

Is it not our Lady. 18

Un kayil pillai unakke adaikalamenru

 

uN^kaiyiR piLLai unakkE adaikkalam enRu

  aN^gap pazanychoR pudhukkum em achchaththAl

eN^gaL perumAn unakkon RuraippOmkEL

  eN^koN^gai n^in anbar allArthOL chEraRka

eN^kai unakkallA dheppaNiyuny cheyyaRka

  kaN^gulpagal eN^kaN maRRonRuN^ kANaRka

iN^gip parichE emakkeN^kOn n^algudhiyEl

  eN^gezilen nyAyiRu emakkElOr empAvAy

 

Oh lord, we are deeply afraid

Of renewing the saying of Old,

“The baby in your hand is only yours[13]”

For we feel that there is no use for that.

Oh Lord hear what we have to say,

Let not our breasts join any ones shoulder,

Except thine holy devotee,

Let not our hands ever do work except which is thine,

Let not our eyes see in day or night,

Anything except thee.

If you grant us all these our wishes,

We will not be worried on whichever side the sun rises ever,

Is it not our Lady. 19

Pothi aruluga nin adhiyam padha malar

 

pORRi aruLukan^in AdhiyAm pAdhamalar

  pORRi aruLukan^in an^dhamAny chen^thaLirkaL

pORRiyel lAvuyirkkum thORRamAm  poRpAdham

  pORRiyel lAvuyirkkum pOgamAm pUN^kazalkaL

pORRiyel lAvuyirkkum IRAm iNaiyadikaL

  pORRimAl n^AnmuganuN^ kANAdha puNdarikam

pORRiyAm uyya At koNdaruLum ponmalarkaL

  pORRiyAm mArkazin^Ir AdElOr empAvAy

 

 

Oh , Lord, we praise thine lotus feet in the beginning.

Oh , Lord, we praise thine soft leaf bud like feet at the end,

Oh Lord, we praise thine feet from which all beings were born,

Oh Lord, we praise thine feet which gives pleasure to all beings,

Oh Lord, we praise thine feet which gives redemption to all beings,

Oh Lord , we praise thine lotus feet not even seen by Brahma and Vishnu,

Oh Lord , we praise thine golden feet which makes us your slaves,

Oh Lord, we praise the water of Margazhy ,

And Ladies let us all dance and bathe,

Is it not our Lady. 20

---

[1] He who did great penance

[2] The world of Lord Shiva

[3] The famous temple town of Tamil Nadu

[4] This verse is in form of conversation between the girls and the lady whom they want to wake up.

[5] The conversation continues in this verse

[6] Once Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma tried to see the foot and head of Lord Shiva in the form of swan and a boar in Thiruvannamalai and accepted defeat.

[7] Lord of the South, one name of Lord Shiva

[8] The nether worlds underneath

[9] Name of Lord Shiva

[10] The holy temple of Chidambaram

[11] Red iris flowers which the Lord loved

[12] The God of the temple in the city of Thiruvannamalai meaning “Elder brother mountain”

[13] Meaning “whatever is yours has to be protected by only you”

THIRUPPAVAI - Celebrating the holy month of Margazhi

The Month of Margazhi is here, for simpler understanding it is the period approximately mid Dec to mid Jan.

http://cp.sify.com/webdata/asayana.com/home.htm

by  Mr.Anantha Sayana

Introduction

What does this mean for us all in 2013, living in cities across this wide world ? We are not going to bathe in a river, wake up very very early morning, make a Kolam (rangoli) in front of our doors and keep a nice yellow pumpkin flower stuck on blob of gobar in the center of that kolam et al.

We may not be able to do many of the physical acts (rituals ?) but that is okay ; but we can pray to God amidst all the hustle and bustle that our lives today are, right ! Here we go.

The most famous thing about Margazhi is Thiruppavai. Sri Andal’s thirty verses for the thirty days of this holy month, dedicated to the worship and praise of the Lord to the exclusion of all other celebrations and earthly events.

Let me take you through my simplistic, simplified sometimes trivialized explanation of how I understand the Thiruppavai. I claim no correctness or completeness of my understanding – my merit is that it is original, my admiration for the work is sincere and my devotion to the Lord in whose name it is written is total and has no ulterior motive.

The framework - before we commence the study of the 30 verses let us see the framework of the Thiruppavai. Once you understand the framework it is that much easier to understand and appreciate the work and also slowly divine the inner meanings that emerge from the rich poetry in these verses.

Thiruppavai can be broadly split into three major sections with a few subsections inside them.

Section 1 – Andal announces the intention to a perform a month long Nonbu (let’s say a project) a sustained and intense worship of the Lord Narayana manifesting in the form of Lord Krishna. This section has five verses. In these five verses the fact of the Nonbu, some details of how it is going to be done, some do s and don’t s are described in the first two stanzas and in the next three verses the glory of the Lord in whose name the Nonbu is being done is extolled to create the motivation and the energy for carrying on the Nonbu and achieve success in the project.

Section 2 – Any good activity is enhanced when done together by a group of like minded good people. Every project works with a good team right ? so here is Andal in section 2 collecting her team, a group of ten young girls like her to join her in her penance. Section 2 contains 10 verses. Each verse describing how Andal goes to the house of one of the girls, waking her up and imploring her to join the band.

Section 3 - In the Sixteenth verse Andal and her friends reach the entrance to the Temple of the Lord and beseech the guard there to let them inside. The next four verses gently wake up the Lord and his consort Nappinnai . And as the Lord wakes up, opens his Lotus Eyes and walks up majestically to the yard, the next verses sing eloquent praise of the various great qualities and victories of the Lord.

More about these later as the days unfold…….

Let me recall the verses in English for the benefit of those who cannot read Tamil, and then the simplified meaning of the verses and some comments.

16 December 2013 (1^st verse)

Margazhi thingal madhi niraindha nannalal

Nirada podhuvir, podhu mino neridaiyeer

Seermalgum aayppadi ch chelva chirumeergal

Koorvel kodunthozhilan nandagopan kumaran

Erarndha kannni yasodhai ilan singam

Karmeni chengann kadir madiyam pol mugathan

Narayanane namakke parai tharuvan

Paror pugazha p padinthelor embavai.

This first verse sets the time as the first day of the month of Margazhi (When Sri Andal sung this verse that was probably a full moon day ) thingal – month madi – moon). Andal invites the young girls of the prosperous Ayarpadi and everyone to symbolically bathe and join in the excellent and exemplary worship of Lord Narayana who will bless us and give us succor. Like in all the verses the Lord is referenced not just by name but by a number of lines of praise about His Form, lineage, beauty, valour, kindness and many virtues and also anecdotes from his victories and other illustrious events. In this verse the Lord is referenced as Krishna, the son of Nandagopan (who is ever vigilant with a sharp spear to protect the baby Krishna, the lioncub like son of the beautiful eyed Yashoda, the Lord who is dark, and whose face is radiant like the sun.

17 December 2013 (2^nd verse)

Vaiyathu Vazhveerkal ! nanum nam pavaikku

Seyyum kirisaikal keleero ! Paarkadalull

Paiyya thuyindra paraman adi paadi

Neyy unnom paal unnom naatkale neeradi

Maiyittezhudom malar ittu naam mudiyom

Seyyadana seyyom theekkuralai sendrodhom

Iyamum pichaiyum aandanaiyum kai kaatti

Uyyumarenni ugandhelor empavai

In this second verse Sri Andal enumerates the dos and don’ts for the month long Nonbu ( intense worship) that she is setting out to do with an invitation to everyone to join in. We will sing the praise of the feet of the Lord who is sleeping gently on the serpent in the middle of the wide ocean. We will wake up early and bathe, we will not adorn ourselves with kajal and flowers, we will not eat Ghee and milk, we will not do inappropriate deeds, will not speak evil and and harmful words, we will do charity and righteous deeds. Think noble thoughts and work to attain salvation and unification with the Lord.

The reference to not eating and not adorning is an advice to change the focus from the self and enjoyment of worldly pleasures to increasing the focus intensely on God and godly matters. When intensity of one activity increases the intensity and time on other activities automatically decreases. Conversely when we make the choice to eschew some activities, we automatically create the time and inclination for other activities.

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As you are into the second day of Margazhi it is a good time to introduce a nice little verse that can be recited every day before you recite the Thiruppavai. This verse is in praise of Sri Andal, was written by Sri Uyyakondar and goes like this.

Anna-vayal puduvai Andal arangarku

Pannu thiruppavai palpadiyam – innisai yaal

Paadi koduthall nar paamalai poomalai

Soodi koduthalai sollu

Soodi kodutha chuddar kodiaye ! tholpavai

Paadi arula valla palvalaiyaai - Naadi nee

Vengadavark kennai vidhi endra immatram

Naam Kadava Vanname Nalgu

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18 December 2013 (3^rd verse )

Ongi ulagalandha utthaman per padi

Naangall nam pavaikku sattri neeradinal

Theengindri nadellam thingal mummari peydhu

Ongu perun sennnell oodu kayalugala

Poonkuvalai p podir pori vandu kannpaduppa

Thengathe pukkirindhu seertha mulai pattri

Vaanga kudam niraikkum vallall perum pasukkal

Neengadha selvam niraindhelor empavai

Referrring to the Lord as the One who rose to the Viswaroopa form and measured the three worlds with three giant strides during the Vamana Avatar , in this third sanza, Andal describes the good that will follow when during this prayer, we all sing the praise of the names of the Lord during the Margazhi Nonbu.

All throughout the nation, without any disaster(floods), we will have adequate rains during all the months, the crops will cherish making the fields of tall well grown paddy lively with the fish jumping around, honey bees gently sleeping in the beautiful flowers, the big cows, like great philanthropists will fill the pots with milk from their abundant udders and In all prosperity and plenty will fill the lives of the devotees who are performing this prayers.

Andal cited the measures of prosperity in these terms in the days that she lived. Will these measures mean prosperity now ? We may be preoccupied with other measures like the GDP and the Sensex but with the focus on the environment as the single largest concern for humanity, Andal’s metrics appear truly farsighted.

19 December 2013 (4^th Verse)

Aazhi Mazhaik kanna ondru nee kai karavel

Aazhi ullpukku mugandhu kodaarththeri

Oozhi mudalvan uruvam pol mey karuthu

Paazhiyan tholudai p padmanabhan kaiyyil

Aazhi pol minni valampuri pol nindr adhirndhu

Thazhadhe sarngam udiatha saramazhai p pol

Vazha ulaginil peydhidaay nangalum

Margazhi neerada magizhndelor empavai.

Continuing the prayers that she commenced, Andal in this fourth verse, refers to the Lord as the master of all the rain that falls on this earth. She picturises the Lord as going deep into the ocean, taking the water and rising high in the sky to deposit it in the magnificent black clouds to eventually precipitate into rain. The Lord’s dark colour, his mighty and handsome shoulders are compared to the clouds, the sound of thunder to the sounds from His Conch (Valampuri), the lightning to the shine on the Lord’s Disc (Aazhi – Chakra) and the plentiful rain compared to the stream of arrows issuing out of the Lord’s Bow (Sarngam). Timely and adequate rain is referred to as the precursor of many gains and prosperity and the Lord Padmanabha as the master of that phenomena is offered prayers seeking that bountiful rain for the welfare of the devotees and all beings on earth.

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20 December 2013 (5^th Verse)

Maayanai mannu vada Madurai maindhanai

Thooya peru neer yamunai th thuraivanai

Aayar kulathinil thondrum ani-vilakkai

Thaayai k kudal vilakkam seydha Damodaranai

Thooyumai vandhu naam thoomalar thoovi thozhudhu

Vayinar padi manathinaal sindhikka

Poya pizhaiyum pugutharuvan nindranavum

Theeyinil thoosagum cheppelor empavai

The way to worshipping the lord is described here in this fifth verse as follows – come with cleansed body and pure mind, offer fresh flowers to the Lord, sing verses and songs in praise of the Lord with your mouth and think deeply of the Lord in your mind. And how do you think of the Lord – think of Him in his many forms, as the One who incarnated in Mathura, as the one who is the Lord of the Yamuna, as the scion of the cowherd community, as the One who made his mother proud, as the One who was bound by a rope as a naughty child.

And if you do so, all the sins that one had done unknowingly and our bad thoughts will be burnt away like cotton in a flame, therefore come my dear friends, let us worship and perform our Nonbu.

Thus concludes the first section of the Thiruppavai consisting of the first 5 verses, Sri Andal has established the fact of the worship, described the do s and don’t s, described the Lord in whose name the prayers are to be performed, described the method of doing the worship, explained the benefits that will accrue on account of the worship and put the energy and motivation into the worship.

Good idea to recite these five verses together at one go and imbibe their essence ; will give you the energy to keep you going for the month – this is a weekend – so you could make time for it. We will go the next section (10 verses) the next day.

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21 December 2013 ( 6^th Verse)

The second section of Sri Andal’s Thiruppavai consists of 10 verses beginning with the above 6^th verse and sets out to wake up 10 girls to join Andal for the margazhi worship. Each verse is an attempt to awaken one of the girls and adopts a different reasoning and pleading. The common theme however is citing the reason for waking up ie to worship the Lord, and the the Lord who is to be worshipped is referenced citing his many splendorous qualities and pertinent deeds He performed during his incarnations in this earth.

Like any scripture or any great literary work, the meanings inside the verses are far far greater than what they appear to be on first reading. The more we know and are involved in the subject, the more we understand it. For now I will stay with the simple meaning of these verses, We will revisit the deeper inner meanings may be next year.

Pullum silambina kaann pullaraiyan kovilil

Vellai vili sangin per-aravam kettilaiyo

Pillaay, ezhundhiray pey mulai nanjundu

Kallla chagadam kalakkazhiya k kaalochi

Velllath tharavil thuyilamarndha vitthinai

Ulllathu k kondu munivargalum yogigalum

Mellla ezhundhu ariyendra per-aravam

Ulllam pugundhu kulirndhelor empavai

Andal cites signs that indicate that the day has dawned, others – humans, animals and birds are up from their sleeps and therefore so should the girls. In this verse Andal says the birds are up and setting out, the sound of the white conch from the nearby temple is heard, so it is really daybreak, so dear girl, please wake up. The great Yogis and Munis invoke deep in their minds the Lord who finished the she-demon by suckling poison into her breasts, the Lord who vanquished the demon in a cart, the Lord who is resting gently on a serpent in the wide ocean and their minds are filled with the sound of “Hari”. As you wake up may a similar godliness enter your mind to enable you to begin our worship.

22 December 2013 (7^th Verse)

Keesu Keesendrengum aanai ch chatthan kalandhu

Pesina pecharavam kettilaiyo ? Pey pennne !

Kasum pirappum kalakalappa k kai perthu

Vasa narunguzhal aaychiyar matthinal

Osi paduttha th thayir-aravam kettilaiyo?

Nayaga p pennppillaiy ! Narayanan Murthy

Kesavanai p padavvum nee kette kidathiyo

Desamudaiyai thiravelor empavai.

Sounds wake us up from sleep. Andal asks the girl, can you not hear the sound of the birds that are chirping, conversing before the leave the company of each other in their nests and setting out on their own to search for their food ? The beautiful ornamented women of the cowherd community with fragrant tresses are up and at work churning the curds for butter, and as they churn the curds with their dainty hands can you not hear the sounds ? We think of you as our leader, but you are asleep, why are you not awake even as we sing the praise of the Lord Narayana as Kesava who vanquished the demon Kesi, Is the sound of our music lulling you to sleep instead of waking you up ? Please open the door !

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23 December 2013 ( 8^th Verse)

Keezhvanam vellendru erumai siruveedu

Meyvaan parandhanakan mikkulla pillaikalum

Povaan pogindrarai pogaamal katthu unnai

Koovuvan vandhu nindrom kodhugalamudaiya

Paavai ezhundirai paadi p parai kondu

Maavay pilandhanai mallarai mattiya

Devadi devanai sendru naam sevitthaal

Aavaa vendra rayndh arulelor empavai

Pointing out the signs of dawn ; the slow brightening of the lower skies, the buffaloes out to graze the tender dew laden grass, Sri Andal says to the next girl whom she is calling upon, - many of the girls are going out to worship, but leaving them aside, we are at your doorstep, please wake up and let’s get to the Lord ; the Lord who vanquished the demon kesi in the form of a horse, the Lord who defeated the wrestler demons, the Lord who is the king of all kings and devas. When we sing and pray and get to Him, He is going to be so pleased that we sought him out instead of Him coming to us, that He will joyfully bless us and remove all our deficiencies.

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24^th December 2013 ( 9^th Verse)

Thoomani Madathuch chutrum vilakkeriya

Dhoopam kamazha thuyilanai mel kann kavarum

Maaman magale manikkadavam thall thiravaay

Mameer avalai ezhuppeero ? un magal than

Oomaiyo ! andri sevido ! anandhalo !

Emapperunthuyil mandirappattalo

Mamayan madhavan viakuntan endrendru

Naamam palavum navindrelor empavai

A nice bed, comfortable and a conducive environment make for good deep sleep. In this verse Sri Andal and her friends struggle to wake up a girl (a relative - her Uncle’s daughter) who is sleeping in a nice bed, with nice lights and scented aromas so soundly that they suspect she has become deaf, not hearing anything, dumb not responding to their calls and so overcome by sloth so as not to wake up and come to open the ornate door. The girls plead to the mother of the girl to wake her up to which she responds, sing the many many names of the Lord as Maamayan, Madhavan and Vaikunthanan and being a pious and God loving girl, she will wake up on hearing the Lord’s names being chanted.

25^th December 2013 (10^th Verse)

Nottru suvargam pugugindra ammanay

Mattramum thaaroro ? vassal thiravadhaar

Nattra thuzhay mudi Narayanan nammaal

Pottra parai tharum punniyanaal pandorunaal

Kootrathin vaay veezhnda kumbakarnanum

Thottram unakke perundhuyil than thandaano

Aattra anandhaludayaiy ! arungalame

Thettramaiy vandhu thiravelur empavai

Oh blessed girl, who by virtue of her earlier worships is destined to unite with the Lord in heaven, please open the door, why are you not even responding with words to our call ? Have you been handed over the sleep of the demon Kumbakarna ? Kumbakarna who was slain by Lord Rama, the embodiment of dharma who is adorned by tulsi mala, with fragrant hair, who is worshipped by us and is full of virtues. Oh sleepy slovenly girl, please wake up adorn yourself and come and open the door and join us in the Paavai Nonbu.

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26^th December 2013 (11^th Verse)

Kattru karavai kanangal pala karandhu

Settrar thiralazhiya chendru seruchcheyyum

Kuttramondrilladha kovalar tham porkodiye

Puttravalgul punamayila podharay

Suttratthu thozhi marellarum vandhu nin

Muttram pugundhu migilvannan per paada

Chittradhe pesadhe selvap pendatti nee

Ettrukk urangum porulelor empavai.

We are all blessed to be in this land and community of Lord Krishna, You are the unblemished golden jewel of the cowherds who have milked their many cows and are capable of vanquishing their enemies in battle. Oh beautiful one, all your friends are gathered in your yard, singing the praise of the cloud like dark skinned Lord, and how do you still sleep and not wake up to join the worship ?

27^th December 2013 (12^th Verse)

Kanaithilan kattrerumai kandrukk irangi

Ninaitthu mulai vazhiye nindru paal sora

Nanaitthillam cherakkum narchelvan thangay

Panitthalai veezha nin vasar kadai pattri

Sinathinal thennilangai k komanai ch chettra

Manatthukkiniyanai paadavum nee vaay thiravaay

Initthan ezhunthiraay eedhenna p perurakkam

Anaithilltharum arindhelor empavai

Sri Andal continuing her pursuit of waking up the girls to join her on the Margazhi Nonbu ( worship) has enrolled 6 girls till now and is now on the door step of the 7^th girl. The scene is the house of a cowherd whose magnificent cows are so laden with milk that when the milking is delayed by the cowherd, the cows thinking of their calves start secreting so much milk from their udders in overflow that the ground below becomes slushy. The reference here is that when anything is in great abundance it pours forth, abundance of devotion for the Lord, pours forth as divine music. So is the Lord’s compassion for his devotees that it can pour forth for us. Oh girl, we are standing in your courtyard with the early morning winter dew drenching our heads, and singing the praise of the Lord who destroyed the King of Lanka, the Lord who is so dear to our hearts and you are not even responding ! Everyone can see us here and you are in such deep sleep, wake up girl and join us for the worship.

28^th December 2013 (13^th Verse)

Pullin vaay keendanaip polla varakkanai

Killi kalaindhanaik keerthimai paadi poiy

Pillaikal ellarum pavai kalam pukkar

Velli ezhundhu Vyazha muzhangittru

Pullum silambinakann podhari kanninaay

Kullak kulira kudaindhu neeradadhe

Palli kidatthiyo paavay nee nannallal

Kallam thavirndhu kalandhelor empavai

In this verse the effort is to wake up a girl with beautiful eyes, the girl appears to be sleeping lost in the thoughts of Lord Krishna, indicating that the girls were all inherently deeply devoted to the Lord and had Him in their thoughts most times, only given to laziness and reluctance to get out of their sleep in the early morning. The girls refer to the Lord as Krishna who tore up the jaws of the demon who took the form of a bird and as Rama who vanquished Ravana and destroyed his demon clan. Singing His praises the girls have gone forward to the holy place of worship, the morning planets are visible, the birds are out to search for their food, Oh beautiful girl, do not enjoy the thoughts of Krishna alone, come join us and let’s worship Him together.

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29^th December 2013 (14^th Verse)

Ungal puzhakkadai thottathu vaviyul

Sengazhuneer vaay negizhnindhu aambal vaay koombinakann

Sengal podikkoorai venpall thavathavar

Thangall thirukkovil sangiduvaan podandaar

Engalai munnam munnam ezhuppuvaan vaay pesum

Nangay ezhundhiray naanadhay naavudayay

Sangodu chakkara mendhum thadakkaiyan

Pangaya k kannanai paadelor empavai

This girl had promised that she would wake all others up, but she is now still sleeping. The red lotus and other flowers in the small pond in her backyard have blossomed, the ascetics with saffron robes and shining white teeth are on their way to the temple, Oh clever speaking girl, please wake up, let us sing the praise of the Lord who with the Conch and the Chakra in His hands has such Lotus like eyes and perform our worship.

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30^th December 2013 (15^th Verse)

Elle, Ilankiliye, innam urangudhiyo

Chillendrazhaiyenmin nangaimeer podharugindren

Vallai un katturaigall pande un vayaridhum

Valleergal neengale nanedhanayiduga

Ollai nee podhay unakkenna verudaiyai

Ellarom pondaro ponder pondennik koll

Vallanai kondranai matttrarai mattrazhikka

Vallanai maayanai padelor empavai.

We are at the halfway mark of the Thiruppavai and the end of part II, the effort in this verse is to wake up the 10^th the last on the list of girls that Sri Andal desires accompanies her to the worship. The girl here engages her callers in conversation as they call her a your parrot endearingly, she cribs unwilling to wake up, why are you crying out ? Have all others come ? etc,. the group chides her for being oversmart and clever with words. The girl accepts all the and the conversation continues with the girls pulling each others leg, but being firm in the request to join singing the praise of the Valiant Lord, who killed the demons and destroyed those who were his enemies.

With this the girls proceed to the Temple to see the Lord. Tomorrow ie on the 16^th day they will all reach the doorsteps of the Temple. Then begins Thiruppavai’s third section’s I part. In many households the 16^th day of the Thiruppavai is celebrated with Joy by preparing as prasad special chakkarai pongal to enjoy the arrival of the girls at the temple. Section III consist of three parts waking up the Lord, worshipping the Lord and singing his glory and finally the prayer and the summation.

Sri Andal will set out to wake up the Lord and worship him. What is the objective of the “Nonbu” ? What is that special “parai” that Andal is going to seek from the Lord? As is commonly believed – is it marriage with the Lord that she seeks ? No Andal like the rest of the true gopikas had united with the Lord long back in thought and mind completely, their devotion is so strong and sincere that they actually do not have to seek that as a boon from the Lord. Andal saves the suspense of revealing what is it that she seeks from the Lord till the very end of the Thiruppavai.

Stay with me and we will be with Andal and her group at the temple to sing the Lord’s glory in the coming days…

31 December 2013 (16^th Verse ) part I of section III

Nayakanai nindra Nandagopanudaiya

Kovil kappane kodith thondrum thorana

Vaayil kappane, manikkadavam thall thiravaay

Aayar sirumiyoromukku arai parai

Maayan manivannan nennale vaay nerndhaan

Thooyomay vandhom thuyilezhap paaduvaan

Vayal munnam munnam mattredhe yamma nee

Neya nilaik kadavan neekelor empavai.

Having woken up the ten girls and collected her retinue, Sri Andal has reached the temple of the Lord, it is either the Temple or the palace of of Krishna’s foster father Nandagopan. They find that the ornate doors and the festooned doorstep are bolted and guarded by sentries, so the girls address the gate keeper and ask him to open the bolts and let them in. The girls plead with the gatekeeper “we are small girls from the cowherd community and we seek the grace of the Lord. The Magical dark skinned Lord has made promised to us. We are pure and we come to sing the wake up song for Him. Please do not refuse entry for us, Please do open the door to enable us to obtain the grace of our Lord.

1 st January 2014 (17^th Verse)

Ambarame thanneere sore arancheyyum

Emperuman nandagopala ezhunthiray

Kombanarkellam kozhunthe kulavilakke

Emperumatti yashoda ! arivuray

Ambaramoodaruththongi ulagalandha

Umbar komane uranga ezhundhiray

Semporkazhaladich chelva baladeva

Umbiyum neeyum urangelor empavai

The doorkeeper appears to have let the girls and Andal inside and it looks like Andal’s work of waking up people is still a long way to go. Why is everybody sleeping in the Thiruppavai and why is there so much waking up ? There appears to be a very strong inner meaning to this whole waking up business. Is Andal subtly waking up the whole world not from physical sleep but from something else. Is the request not just to wake up to the day but to wake up to a new thought, habit and orientation ? Let’s see that later.

Sri Andal is now attempting to wake up Nandagopan and mother Yashodha, singing their praise as the munificent giver or food and water and clothes to everyone, as my Lord, Ruler of many kings, please wake up. She also attempts to wake up Lord Krishna and his brother Balarama, praising the Lord as the sone who rose up to the sky to measure the three worlds and one who is wearing a red golden anklet, please do not sleep, wake up !

2^nd January 2014 (18^th Verse)

Undhu madhagalittran odadha thollvaliyan

Nandagopalan marumagale nappinnaaiy

Gandham kamazhum kuzhali! Kadai thiravai

Vendengum kozhi azhaiththanakann madhavip

Panthal mel palkal kuyilanangal koovinakaan

Pandharvirali ! un maithunan per paadach

Chenthamaraik kaiyal seerar valai olippa

Vandhu thiravaay magizhnthelor empavai

Sri Andal now sets out to wake up the Lord’s consort Nappinnai – addressing her as the daughter in law of Nandagopan who is as powerful as the elephants in heat and one whose broad shoulders have known no defeat, Andal describes her as one who has fragrant tresses and tells her that many birds are awake and chirping on the lines laid out for the creepers so its dawn and so please wake up. With your beautiful hands that are like red lotuses and with your bangles jingling come joyfully and open the door to make us all happy.

3^rd January 2014 (19^th Verse)

Kuthuvilakkeria kottukkal kattil mel

Meththendra panjasayanaththin meleri

Kothalar poonkuzhal Nappinnaik kongaimel

Vaitthtu kidanda malarmaarba ! Vaay thiravaay

Maiththadan kanninay nee un manalanai

Eththanaipodum thuyilezha vottay kann

Eththanayelum pirivattra killayaal

Thaththuvamandru thagavelor empavai

The Lord is in his sleeping chamber, on a majestic cot with legs made of Ivory and an ambience heightened by the tall lamps, resting on a soft mattress with beautiful Nappinnai bedecked with beautiful flowers in her tresses closely by His side and leaning on His broad chest. The girls beseech Him to open his mouth and plead with Nappinnai “oh beautiful eyed one, why cannot you let go of your Lord and allow Him to wake up even though it is well past dawn now, we know you cannot bear separation from Him even for a second, but that is not fair ; this should not be your nature !”

4th January 2014 (20th Verse )

Muppathu moovar amararkku mum chendru

Kappam thavirkkum kaliye ! thuyilezhaai

Cheppamudaiyay thiraludaiyay !chettrarkku

Veppam kodukkum vimala ! thuyilezhay

Cheppenna menmulai chevvay sirumarungul

Nappinnai nangai thiruve thuyilezhaay

Ukkamum thattoliyum thandhun manalanai

Ippodhe emmai neerattelor empavai

In the 20^th verse, the waking up effort continues, why is the Lord asleep ? Why is Nappinnai too not awake ? There is obviously more meaning to this whole business of waking up. Waking up the Lord is found not just in the thiruppavai but is a practice in all temples, the idea is that the devotee’s enthusiasm to see the Lord makes him/her wake up really really early ; much before even the Lord does. And the devotee also does not want the Lord to wake up and wait for the devotees right ? think about it – we will go into the deeper meanings of waking up some other time. May be next year in version 2.0 of this work.

The girls begin the praise of Lord Sri Krishna as a King to whom other Kings also subservient, as one who gives the shivers to His enemies, Lord Wake up ! They then turn their attention to Nappinnai and address her as the very beautiful well endowed one, please wake up, please give oil, mirror and other things essential for a bath to your husband and send him out, so that we all may be bathed in His glory.

5th January 2014 (21st Verse )

Ettrak Kalangall edhirpongi meedhalippa

Maatradhe paal soriyum vallal perumpasukkall

Aattrap padaithaan magane ! Arivuraay

Oottramudaiyay ! periyaay ! ulaginil

Thottramaay nindra chudare thuyilezhay

Maatrar unakku vali tholaindhu un vaasarkann

Aattradhu vandhu unnadi paniyumam pole

Pottri yam vandhom pugazhndhelor empavai.

The girls are getting closer to waking up Sri Krishna, the glory of the Lord is infinite, cannot be contained in few descriptions and in every verse there is a reference to that greatness, Oh Son of the Nandagopan who is the owner of magnificent cows that yield milk in torrents, Oh learned one, Oh one who protects all people of the world, Please wake up ! Your enemies lose all their courage on seeing your valour and seek refuge at your feet, likewise we your ardent devotees, sing your glory and praise and offer our worship at your feet.

6^th January2014 (22^nd Verse)

Anganmagyalath arasar abhimana

Bangamay vandhu nin palllikattir keezhe

Sangamirippar pol vandhu thalaippeydhom

Kinnkini vaych cheydha thamaraip poo pole

Chengann chiri chiridhe em mel vizhiyavo

Thingalum adithiyanum ezhundhar pol

Angann irandunkondu engal mel nokkudiyel

Engal mel saapam izhindhelor empavai.

Having woken up Nappinnai and persuaded her to help them and join in the worship in the previous verse, the girls now proceed to wake up the Lord and sing His Praise. As the first step to waking up the girls beseech the Lord to gently open His eyes. Oh Lord, the Kings of many lands shed their arrogance, and gather at your threshold to pay their respects to you, likewise we too have gathered before you, to wake you up gently, like the beautiful red lotus flower blossoming, will you so ever gently open your eyes and look at us ? When you open both your bright eyes, it looks as if the Sun and the Moon are shining at the same time, but if you look at us with both your eyes, we will be absolved of all our sins and sorrow and be filled abundantly with your grace.

7^th January 2014 (23^rd Verse)

Maari Malai muzhanjil mannik kidanthurangum

Seeriya singam arivuttru thee vizhitthu

Veary mayir ponga eppaadum porndhuthari

Moori nimirndhu muzhangip purappattu

Podharuma pole nee poovai poovannna ! Un

Kovil nindrangane pondharulli koppudaiya

Seeriya singasanaththirundhu yam vandha

Kaariyam aarayndharulelor empavai

The Lord has woken up ! and when the almighty wakes up the world knows about it ! The girls' request is finally answered and Sri Andal here in this 23^rd verse becomes ecstatic describing the Lord’s waking up. The Lord of the world is likened to the Lord of the Jungle, like a magnificent Lion who earlier sleeping with his mate inside a cave in the mountains, wakes up from sleep and stirs to action as if spitting fire and shaking his fiery mane vigorously, scattering the scent symbolizing his presence all over the place, stretching his body and coming out of the cave with a fierce loud roar. Oh Lord whose skin is the colour of a dark flower, we request and desire that you please go from your temple to the majestic throne in the shaded courtyard and enquire from us our wishes and fulfill them.

Please note that Andal has not yet spelt out her desire to the Lord. She began performing the Nonbu (worship) describing how it is to be done, ( pure mind, no indulgences, offerings of flowers and prayers through the lord’s songs, praise and chanting of His names through our lips and the all enveloping thoughts of the Lord in our minds ) also informs that by doing this worship, the rains and prosperity will bestow on the land and the people who live in that land(1-5). She then gathers the ten girls waking each one of them patiently, alluding to many signs of the dawn and conveying the objective of worshipping the Lord by referring to many of his virtues and acts of valour(6-15). She reaches the temple, similarly wakes up nandagopan and yashoda, enlists the support of Nappinnai (16- 21) and now has the Lord also awake(22-23). Throughout these verses the glory of the Lord, his acts of greatness are referenced in many different forms, but there is yet to reference to a specific request to God for any favour. Hold on – we will get to it soon..

8^th January 2014 (24^th verse)

Andri ivvulagam alandhay ! adi pottri

Sendranguth thennilangai chettray ! thirall pottri

Pondrach chagadamudathaai ! pugazh pottri

Kandru kunila verindhaay! Kazhal pottri

Kundruk kudaiyai edutthay ! gunam pottri

Vendru pagai kedukkum nin kaiyyil vel pottri

Endrendrum un sevakame aethi parai kolvaan

Indru yaam vandhom irangelor empavai.

The Lord has woken up, is majestically seated on His throne, Sri Andal and he band of girls are having their eyeful of the lord, standing in front of Him finally and what does she do ? Does she go ahead and list her demands of boons ? No wonderstuck by the glory and beauty of the Lord, she starts singing His praise ; this 24^th verse is a wonderful verse that is fully devoted to rhythmically singing the Lord’s praise referring tohis various victories.

Once you measured the whole world ! Praise to thee and your feet

You went downsouth to Lanka and destroyed the demon there Praise thee valour!

You destroyed a demon who came in the form of a cart ! praise your fame !

In one stroke you vanquished two demons in the form of a calf ! praise to thee

You picked up a hillock to protect your people from the rain ! Praise your kindness

Praise to the sharp spear in your hands that kills your enemies

We come here to praise your valour and offer our worship

Hear our pleas and bless us with your grace

9^th January 2014 (25^th Verse)

Orutthi maganaayp pirandhu oriravil

Orutthi maganaay olitthu valara

Tharikkillanagith thaan theengu ninaittha

Karutthai pizhaippitthuk kanjan vayittril

Neruppenna nindra nedumaale ! unnai

Aruththithu vandom parai tharudiyaagil

Thiruthakka selvamum sevakamum yaam paadi

Varuthamum theerndhu magizhndelor empavai

Andal continues singing the Lord’s praise. Krishna, you were born to one woman (Devaki), but had to be hidden and brought up as the son of another woman (Yashoda) . the demon Kamsan who came to know about this sought to harm you in many ways, but you creator terror in his mind and made his stomach burn like a raging fire. We are here to sing about your Glory and if you bestow grace on us and fulfill our wishes we will rejoice and be rid of all our sorrows and be happy ever. This is the second of the five verses that sing the praise of the Lord after he wakes up. In all these five verses the worship is so powerful invoking the great qualities of the Lord with appropriate references and reiterating the fact ad desire that the Lord will bestow grace and fulfill the desires, but not mentioning the desire till the very end.

10^th January 2014 (26^th Verse)

Maale manivanna ! margazhi neeraduvaan

Melaiyar seyvanagall venduvana kettiyel

Gyanathey ellam nadunga muralvana

Palanna vannnathu un panchajanniyame

Polvana sangankal poyppadudaiyanave

Salapperum paraiye pallandu isaippare

Kola vilakke kodiye vithaname

Aalin ilaiyaay ! arulelor empavai

Oh Lord, who is in the color of deep blue pearl, let us recount the purity that devotees have observed for the Margazhi nonbu, we salute your Conch Panchajanyam that is milk while hued, which can make a sound that can make the whole world tremble and that has huge spaces inside. Oh beautiful Lord, you were so nonchalantly resting on a peepul leaf in the flooded ocean during pralaya, holding your devotees, and your grace and the lamps and the flags all protected in your fold, Bestow your grace on us.

Andal’s cup of joy is overflowing, she has woken up the Lord, who has now settled down to the worship and andal is at His feet, singing His praise in verse after verse and is feeling very satisfied that her Nonbu is close to fulfillment, she is ready for some celebration. In the next verse (Koodarai vellum seer Govinda) she describes the celebration and some treats. So you can prepare to make as Prasadam some wonderful “chakkarai pongal” tomorrow

Monday - 11^th January 2014 (27th Verse)

Koodarai vellum seer Govinda ! Undrannai

Paadi parai kondu yaam perum sammanam

Naadu pugazhum parisinaal nandraga

Soodagame tholvalaiye thode sevippoove

Padagame yendranaiya palkalanum yaam anivom

Aadai yuduppom adhan pinne paar soru

Mooda neiy peydhu muzhankai vazhivara

Koodiyirundhu kulirndhelor empavai

Sri Andal has in the early verses described the rigors of the Nonbu as not decorating themselves and not eating ghee and other delicacies to enable focus on the Lord. Now that She is in front of the Lord, she addresses the Lord as one who wins over those who are not willing to join Him or vanquishes those who are not following the righteous path and sings, we are singing your praise and seek from your hands gifts that the nation will be enamored of. We seek from Your hands lovely garlands and ear rings and many other ornaments ; then lovely garments. We will adorn ourselves when these are given by your hands or you adorn us yourselves. Our beautification is for you to see and enjoy. And after adorning ourselves we will eat paal soru ie rice cooked in milk and ghee as your prasadam and the delicacy will be so full of ghee that the ghee will flow down our elbow as we eat. And being unison with you, in your company, partaking of the gifts and the food that you give us, we remain together and happy and blissful.

12^th January 2014 (28^th Verse)

Karavaigall pin chendru Kaanam serndhunnbom

Arivondrum illadha aaykkulathu un drannaip

Piravi perundhanaip punniyam yaamudaiyom

Kuraivondrum illadha Govinda ! undrannodu

Uravel namakkingu ozhikka vozhiyadhu

Ariyadha pillaiygalom anbinal undrannaich

Chiruper azhaiththanavum seeriyaruladhe

Iraiva nee thaaraay paraiyelor empavai

Sri Andal is at the verge of asking her boon for which she performed the month-long nonbu, she has seen the Lord, got His attention, sung his praise to her heart’s content , asked for some gifts, got ready to celebrate. She now feels it is the right time to also reiterate the context, reintroduce themselves and also ask for forgiveness before asking for the real boon.

So she goes on to say we are the simple cowherds who drive the cattle to the forest and thus earn our daily bread, we are without much intelligence, but have been wonderfully fortunate to be born in this clan and be in your midst, You are the truly blemishless Govinda, the bonds and relationship that we have with you cannot ever be broken, We are small girls and it is possible that out of our enthusiasm and deep love for you, we might have taken liberties with you and in calling your name in singular, so please pardon and forgive us. Oh Lord, please grant us the “parai” boon that we seek.

13^th January 2014 ( 29^th verse)

Chittran sirukale vandhunnaich sevitthu un

Pottramarai adiye pottrum porull kelaay

Pettram meytthunnum kulathil pirandhu nee

Kuttreval engalai kolllamall pogadhu

Ittrai parai kollvaan indru kaan Govinda

Ettraikkum ezheazh piravikkum undrannodu

Vuttrome yavom unakke naam aatcheyvom

Mattrai nam kamangal mattrelor empavai.

Thus Andal finally gets down to asking for her boon. This is the most famous of the verses of the Thiruppavai and this verse and the next one are often recited in isolation often in the daily prayers of most people. This is indeed a very powerful plea and shows the intensity of the devotion that Sri Andal had for Krishna.

So Andal says to the Lord, let me tell you the objective of why we come to you in this early early morning, bow at your lotus feet and sing your praise ! Born alongwith us in the cowherd community who look after the cows to earn a living, you cannot refuse to take our worship or bestow your grace on us. What we have come for us not to just get your grace and boons today alone. What we seek is this – Forever and forever, in the next seven times seven births that we may take we should be privileged to have a relationship with you in all your avatars and we should be beholden and offer worship only to You and note other. You should give us this as a boon and also ensure that any other desires of ours other than this are removed from our minds.

So this is the final boon – that we should worship and serve the Lord without any other thought or desire in our minds, not just for today but for ever and ever. Unwavering, unquestioning, totally dedicated faith in Krishna at all times and occasions is what should rule our minds.

14^th January 2014 (30^th Verse)

Vangak Kadal kadaintha Madhavanaik Kesavanai

Thingal thirumugatthuch cheyizhaiyar sendrirainji

Angap parai konda vaatrai anipuduvai p

Painkamalath than theriyal pattarpiran Kodhai sonna

Sangath thamizh maalai muppadum thappame

Ingip parisuraippar eerirandu maal varaith tholl

Senkann thirumugaththu selvath thirumaalal

Engum thiruvarul pettru inburuvar empavai

Sri Andal has actually completed her Nonbu with the previous verse and this verse is more in the form of a “phalasruthi” – a last verse that describes the benefits that will accrue to a person who devotion follows the work or recites these verses.

The Lord Madhava, who churned the oceans for the devas, one who killed the demon Kesi, one whose face is like the moon and one who is worshipped by the women on the cowherd clan who are dressed with fine ornaments, was worshipped by Sri Andal of Srivilliputtur thru these garland of thirty tamil verses that are greatly enjoyable. All devotees who worship the Lord whose four shoulders are strong, whose eyes are bright red and who is the embodiment of all riches with these verses with similar zeal, will forever obtain the grace and blessings of the Lord and be supremely happy.

Thus we come to the conclusion of Thiruppavai. It is said that the Thiruppavai can be chanted on all days, not just during Margazhi although chanting this during Margazhi does have a distinct charm. If you cannot recite the entire thiruppavai every day, you could do well to include these last two verses in your daily prayer.

I am thankful to the Lord for His Grace to help me complete this work and let me end with the verses that sing the glory of Andal who wrote the Thiruppavai.

Kodhai pirandha oor, Govindan vazhum ooor

Needhiyal Nalla Bhaktarkal vazhum oor,

naan maraigall odhum oor,

Padhagankal theerkum paramanadi kaattum

Vedamanaithukkum viththagum

Kodhaith thamizh iyyaindhum iyndhum

Ariyadha manidarai vaiyyam sumappadum vambu

Thiruvaadi p poorathu jagath tudithal vazhiye

Thiruppavai muppadum cheppinall vazhiye

Periyazhvaar pettreduththa pennpillai vazhiye

Perumpoodur maamanikku pinnanall vazhiye

Oru nootru narpathu moondr uraiththall vazhiye

Uyararangarke kanni ugandhaliththal vazhiye

Maruvarum thirumalli vada nazhi vazhiye

Van puduvai nagar Kodhai malar padangall Vazhiye

Sri Andal Thiruvadigale Charanam !