Andal's Thiruppavai

Andal's Thiruppavai

Margazhi Nonbu, Thiruppavai recitals, Discourses, Andal Utsavam and Neerattam come to a grand Finale on 30th of Margazhi as we step into Utharayanam and Makara Sankaranthi.  Here is a poem on Thiruppavai, the greatest contribution of Andal. 

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Sri Bhagavad Dhyana Sopanam composed by Thoopul Vedantha Desikan

Sri Bhagavad Dhyana Sopanam 

Composed by Sri. Thoopul Vedantha Desikan

Thiruppanazhwar had composed and sung 10 paurams of Amanalathipiran describing Lord Sri Ranganatha's beauty from Thiruvadi to head. Lord Ranganatha was so immensely pleased gave him moksham rightaway. Thiruppanazhwar describes Lord Ranaganatha as follows.

1. அரங்கத்தம்மான்  திருக்கமல பாதம் வந்தென் கண்ணினுள்ளன வொக்கின்றதே.
2. அரங்கத்தம்மான் அரை சிவந்த ஆடையின் மேல் சென்றதாம் என் சிந்தனையே
3. அரங்கத் தரவினணையான்  அந்தி போல் நிறத்தாடையும்  அதன் மேல் அயனைப் படைத்ததோரெழில் உந்தி மேலதன்றோ
4. அரங்கத்து அம்மான் திரு வயிறு உதரபந்தம்
5. அரங்கத்தம்மான் திருவார மார்பதன்றோ
6. அண்டம் பகிரண்டம் ஒரு மா நிலம் எழு மால் வரை முற்றும் உண்ட கண்டம் 
7. கையின் ஆர் சுரி சங்கு அனல் ஆழியர் நீள் வரை போல் மெய்யனார்
8. துளபம் விரை ஆர் கமழ் நீள்முடி எம் ஐயனார் அணி அரங்கனார் அரவு இன் அணை மிசை மேய மாயனார் செய்ய வாய்
9. அரங்கத்து அமலன் முகத்து கரிய ஆகி புடை பரந்து மிளிர்ந்து செவ்வரி ஓடி நீண்ட பெரிய ஆய அக் கண்கள்
10. அரங்கத்து அரவு இன் அணையான் கோலம் மா மணி ஆரமும் முத்து தாமமும் முடிவு இல்லது ஓர் எழில் நீலம் மேனி 

Sri Vedantha Desikan composed a Sanskrit Stothram "Bhagavad Dhyana Sopanam" on similar lines describing

  

1. Radiance or effulgence emerging from overall appearance
2. Lotus feet
3. Ankles and up to knees
4. Thighs and silk garment
5. Naval and the emerging lotus holding created Brahma
6. Chest- vakshasthalam
7. The Divine hands
8. Beautiful Face - Thirumugha MandalamHead
9. The Crown adorning the head
10. Enjoying Lotus feet to Head  Padahadhi Kesam
11. Beauty of NamPerumal 

An excellent review and Vykyanam of this Stotram bu Oppiliappan Koil Sri Vadhachari Satakopan Swami may be found at https://www.sadagopan.org/index.php/component/djcatalog2/?format=raw&task=download&fid=223

Adiyen really enjoyed reading this article.

rendering of Thiruppanazhwar's Amalanadhipiran may be found at https://srimannarayana108.blogspot.com/2013/03/amalanathi-piran-by-sri-thiruppanazhwar.html

Adiyen has tried to render Bhagavadhyana Sopanam in a similar tune like Amanadhipiran.

Unconditional, unflinching faith and Bakthi of Andal

Unconditional, unflinching faith and Bakthi of Andal
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अनन्यस्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते 
तेषां निथ्याभि युक्थानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्

Ananyaschintayanto Maam Ye Janaah Paryupaasate
Thesham Nithyaabhi Yuktaanaam Yogakshemem Vahamyaham

In Bhagavath Gita(9.22), Lord Krishna says " Those who reach out to and take refuge in me and think of of me and me only and stay united with me, I take full responsibilty and grant them everything they would ever need"

Vishnu Chiththar ( Periazhwar) was fully dedicated to Bhagavan Vishnu and his Archa forms. He was always engaged in Bhagavath Kainkaryam. He maintained a Nanadavanam and offered garlands to vatapathrasai daily. He was always thinking of Lord Krishna and his leelas. Even though Bhattar was not a scholar, the Lord chose him to participate in a debate and establish Lord Narayana's Supremacy. He was honored to be taken in a procession to azhagar Koil. Lord Sriman Narayana appeared before him in Garuda Vahana and Bhattar offered "Pallandu Pallandu"

Later when he discovered a small baby in his Nandavanam, he named it Kothai and brought her up in Bakthi claden environment. He was narrating the entire Bala Leelas of Krishna. Kothai was fully immersed in Sriman Narayana and her bakthi to the Lord had so much depth that Kothai brought the Lord under control with her bakthi. She stood steadfast in her love and attachment to Lord Ranganatha and decided to get married to him. She conducts Margazhi Nonbu with her friends extolling the glory of Sriman Narayana in 30 verses of Thiruppavai. Bhagavath Ramanuja was so much attracted to this master piece and wrote commentaries and gave vyakyanams. He was later came to be known as Thiruppavai Jeer.

Bhattar, as father was wondering that her daughter was aiming for, is next to impossible. But for Kothai laden with deep love and unwavering faith in Lord Ranganatha, nothing was impossible. Lord Ranganatha decides to marry her and orders the Pandayn king and Bhattar to bring Andal to Srirangam and also orders the Temple authorities to receive Kothai with fanfare. Ultimately, Kothai merges with the Lord.

So the life history of Bhattar( Periazhwar) and Sri Andal(Kothai) demonstrates unconditional, unflinching faith and Bakthi to Lord Sriman Narayana, there is nothing Impossible.