ThiruppAvai

Today is the day, when the MahA Prabhandam of Soodikkoduttha NaacchiyAr, Andal, comes to the stage of SaatthumuRai. It is the culmination of the nonbu vratham and the attainment of oneness with the Lord for Andal. It is UttharAyaNa PuNya Kaalam. It is Makara SankarAnthi dinam. May her endearing message for our upliftment to reach Her Lord's Lotus feet easily serve as a beacon light for us all!

Let us always, even unto our 7th birth (ezh Ezh Piravikkum) be with Thee, serving Thy will alone! Oh GovindhA! Change all other desires in us into this unique aspiration to be Thy humble servant. This is the last pAsuram in which Andal in the form of Gopis addresses the Lord.,asking for the true reason for the nonbu- the eternal bonding with the Lord - to serve him for ever.

This pAsuram highlights sharanagathi aspects: the helplessness (incapable of doing Karma/Gyana/Bhakti Yogas), understanding our relationship with Him, asking for forgiveness and surrendering to Him through an Acharya. We are mere cowherds, illiterate and ignorant, we are blessed to have you be born amongst us. Do not be angry at us if we called you familiar names- bless us despite our sins, says Andal

The most delectable of the pAsurams as we finally finish the vratam/Nonbu and get to enjoy the ghee laden Akkara Vadisal! A true divine experience of bliss at the sight of the Lord giving the Gopis the items they came seeking to sing His Glory! They call Him by the name "Govindan" for the first time. The closeness of the gopis in addressing the Lord whom they addressed 27 days ago as Narayana! They get so lost in Govinda, the next 2 pAsurams also refer to Him as Govinda.

Andal and the Gopis get to be with Krishna and are getting whatever they wanted from Him for the vow. The conch (produces the sacred 'Aum' sound, Narayana), Lamp (knowledge of the Lord), flags (sense of belonging to the Lord, Garuda), the Adisesha cover or pandal (enveloped in pure knowledge) and drums/parai (Vedas, symbolic of moksha, salvation).

Having seen Krishna, Andal sings that the gopis are overwhelmed by His presence and sing his glory and seek His company rather than get the Parai they originally sought from him

This pAsuram is one of the most auspicious one in ThiruppAvai. It sings the glory of Lord Narayana in the form of pallAndu!

On a lighter note, this could be a description of a hexathlete-

Long jump (ivvulagam aLandhaay), Archery ( then ilangai seRRaay, Ramavataram), Football (udhaiththaay), Discus throw (eRrindhaay), Weight lifting (edundhaay)and Javelin (Vel)

Andal invokes the Lion King of the World, Lord Narasimha, who protected his bhaktas and destroyed those who stood in the way of bhakti. The vision she paints is that of a majestic Lion waking up from restful slumber in its cave during a rainy season!

Approaching the Lord as Sharanagathas at His feet, Andal says bless us as we are like Arjuna, seeking only His presence

"Mattrar vazhi tholaitthu un vasarkan"- Your enemies turned devotees at your doorstep as they wait to be blessed by You. We Gopis too wait for you, having shed our egos, We totally surrender to You