“TIRUPPAVAI”
FOR 45
DAYS
A Spiritual Training Programme based on
Andal’s Tiruppavai as a Scripture of Wisdom commences on Friday, the
1st December 2006. The classes would be held at
7.00 p.m. for 45 days in succession. The
energy-field of the Saint-Poetess of Tamil Nadu, who lived in the 8th century A.D., is such as to confer
prosperity on those who are enabled to get in contact with it. Hence has it been
said:
The
prowess it is that yields
plenitude and prosperity
vast as
the infinite
blue as the sky.
Such is Andal’s field
of spiritual energy
and they who come to listen
to my account of
her Reign of Grace
are assured of attaining to
the sweetness of
Unison
with the Absolute
here in this world
and in this very birth …
––
Sage TGN
In this
context, we give below an article written by Sage TGN on
Andal:
Ariyakudi
Ramanuja Iyengar was a perspicacious Carnatic musician of the last century and
we are beholden to him for his notating and popularising the perfervid
pasurams (divine lyrics) of Andal compiled in two works of lilting
literature, Tiruppavai and Nachiar Tirumozhi. Of the two,
Tiruppavai comes in the literary genre known a ‘Attrupadai’
meaning ‘a code of guidance’. The soul, en effect (French for ‘in
effect’) is guided to its goal. Andal who is only known as ‘Kodhai’ in her works
(‘Andal’ was a title conferred on her by the Pandyan King of Madurai whose name
was Vallabha Devan, at the time of the Arangetram of Nachiar
Tirumozhi in a grand festival at Srivilliputhur, the birthplace of the
Saint-Poetess), delineates the royal road to liberation in Tiruppavai and
also coaches and leads the earnest seekers who are in various levels of
understanding. That is the significance of her awakening the sleepers and
calling upon them to join her Sat-sang (company of aspirants who are
intent on securing Union with the Origin, the
Andal sets out this uncompromising resolve through a telling example:
“Materials for performing yagam have been assembled by the priests and
the participants. Just then a wild
beast runs in, sniffs at the articles and stamps over them before scurrying
away. Would the materials desecrated in this manner be still considered fit as offerings to
the demigods?” asks Andal who proceeds, “Likewise this physical body of mine has been vouchsafed for the
journey of the indwelling soul in order that I may attain Union with my Lord who
is One and One only. If there is even a mere whisper of talk that this physical
frame is to be offered to a human, then that very instant I shall cease to
exist!” A terrible vow this, which freed her from the customs and constraints of
the world-process, smashed all opposition and obstacles to her spiritual quest
and took her to her goal in a surge of Effulgence.
The basic principle in sringara bhakti (amorous devotion) is that
all the souls (jivans) in the prapancham (Universe) are female and
the only purusha (male consort) for them is the Lord, Who is the sole
Source and Origin, Paraman, irreversible Union with Whom is the
consummation known as ‘Jiva-Brahma Iykyam’ or
Jivan-mukthi.
This commitment of the awakened jivan transformed Andal’s devotion
into volcanic ferocity. She alone, of all jnaanis, was prepared to take
on even seven more births or seven times seven, if the goal was to be attained
only through such ordeal. “That is the one desire in my heart”, she avers and
adds, “If other desires were to creep in, it is for You to denude me of them”.
This is no imploration but a command and her diligence ensured that it was
carried out in her lifetime, ‘here on this very Planet,’ as she certifies and
concludes her odyssey on a note of victorious exultation.
Blessed are we today, who have come into the reign of Andal’s benign
Grace!
--Excerpt
from Sage TGN’s Talk on
Andal’s Tiruppavai: Scripture of Wisdom
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