Dear friends, In the 3rd, 4th and 5th stanzas of the TirrupAvai there is a strikingly common thread of thought running right through all of them: Rain. The manner in which AndAL introduces the subject of Rain into these 3 "pAsurams" possesses what is called in Tamil, a literary "svArasyam" of its own. The Rain-theme is gradually developed in a particular sequence, in a certain logical order which, for want of a better word, can at best be described as 'Nature's own sequence'! This will become clear as explained below: In the 3rd stanza there is an expression AndAl uses: "teengginri nAdellAm tinggal mUmmAri peyydu..". This phrase, in this particular stanza, speaks of a land blessed by good seasonal showers. Although there is a reference to Rain ("mUmmAri-peyydu") contained here, it is rather incidental in nature. It is the lush surrounding landscape ("teengginri nAdu") AndAl is describing which is really heer main point of poetic focus. The mention of "peyydu" in this stanza is more in the nature of a suggestion of rain-to-come than a description of rain itself. In the reader's mind, this expression of AndAl is suggestive of today's showers indicating tomorrow's virulent thunderstorm. In the 4th stanza, the rain-showers stop and a mighty storm does indeed break out as expected! The "Azhi-mazhaik-annA" "pAsuram" is a heart-felt prayer going out to the Vedic Rain-god, "parjanya-dEvata", entreating him to be generous, but never excessive, in raining his gifts upon the world; to usher into the world prosperity, not deluge ("vAzha ulaginnil pEyydhidaay"). This prayer of AndAl contains fantastic little Tamil similes unleashed, one after the other, in a torrential downpour of divine inspiration: -- "Uzhi-mudalvan pOl meyy karuthhu", -- "padmanabhan kaiyil Azhi pOl minni", -- "valampuri pOl ninradIrndhu" and -- "sArngam udaitha sara-mazhai pOl". ... "vAzha ulaganil peyythidAi!" The expression "pOl" is the operative word to use in the Tamil language when one wants to convey through poetic similes (grammatically called "Uvamai") a comparison of the vivid likeness between any two entities. And so, AndAl too, poetess par-excellence, with the aid of this "pOl", makes a series of brilliant comparisons between Rain, as it we see it occurring in this world, and God Almighty, who is the real Rain-giver, as He appears in Vedic scripture and mythology. Firstly, she takes the dark, angry thunder-clouds and compares them to the dark, smouldering complexion of God ("mEy-karutthu") described in the mythology of "praLayam" when cosmic Dissolution and re-Creation take place. In the second comparison, flashing streaks of lightning filling the skies are compared to the blinding resplendence of Vishnu's great weapon, the irresistible "chakrAyudha" ("Azhi pOl minni") Next comes the comparison about the terrifying clap of rolling thunder. AndAL likens them to the roar of "pAnchajanya", the Conch-bugle of Vishnu ("valampuri pOl ninradIrndhu"). Finally, the torrent of rain as it pours with unrelenting ferocity upon the world, is compared to the barrage of arrows flying off Vishnu's bow, the mighty arch called "sArnga". The following day (in the 5th stanza of "mAyanai mannu vada-madurai mainthanai") is the day when the storm of the previous stanza has blown over! The rain has abated and a day of relative calm ensues. Now, the rivers, rivulets and streams in the land are all swelling and flowing out in swift, joyous currents. This picture of mighty rain-fed rivers gushing across the landscape (as the Yamuna does even today?)... it is this picture that ANdAl tries to evoke in our minds through that extraordinarily beautiful expression, "tUya perU-neer yamunai"... ******* ******* ******** In 3 stanzas of very rare beauty, ANdAl thus captures for us one of the most glorious sights of Nature: the sight of RAIN! RAIN that is Heaven's blessings upon earth! Rain as it exactly occurs in the world, in the very same natural order in which it is known to make its appearance and is in fact experienced by us viz.: first, as showers; next, as mighty storm; and finally, as life-sustaining and overflowing river-streams! Thus, we see how there is, indeed, a neat and picturesque natural-ness in the way in which AndAl introduces the subject of Rain in the TiruppAvai -- progressing as she does from the rain-showers ("mUmmAri pEyydhu") of the 3rd stanza to the raging thunderstorm ("sara-mazhai") of the 4th stanza until finally, in the 5th "pAsuram", she evokes in our minds the rich image of a vast, prosperous land through which rivers, full of life-sustaining rain-water ("tUya perU-neer") flow ... like the famed Yamuna once upon a time flowed too -- once upon a time when, in a long bygone era, Krishna, the "yamunait-turaivan", lived and frolicked upon her banks... (to be continued) ******* ******** ******** Regards, dAsan, Sudarshan __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com
Home Page
http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia |
srirangasri-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To subscribe to the list |