You are here: SriPedia - SriRangaSri - Archives - Dec 2004

SriRangaSri List Archive: Message 00113 Dec 2004

 
Dec 2004 Indexes ( Date | Thread | Author )
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]



                                                 
Srimate SrivanSatakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

 

                           The Conqueror
 

What is the hallmark of a devotee? You may come up with any number of answers-- 
like constant adoration of the Lord and Master, singing His praises, performing 
all sorts of service to Him prompted by overwhelming love and affection, etc. 
All these are no doubt important elements of devotion, but there is one more, 
which Bhaktas normally resort to, to remind them constantly of their Lord-viz., 
adopting His name as their own. They prefer to be called by any one of the 
innumerable holy names of the Lord, so that it reminds them of Him and His 
glory, every time others call them by name. Just as pots and pans in a 
household are often branded with the owner's name to indicate whom they belong 
to, we too are named after the Lord, to proclaim the inalienable and eternal 
relationship we have with Him, of Master and Slave, of Seshi and Sesha. It is 
thus that we have a Ramanuja, a Venkatanatha, an Azhagia Manavaala Perumaal 
Naayanaar, et al.

 

In sharp contrast to this haloed practice, one devotee (and no ordinary one at 
that) has been named the "Conqueror". Going by the depth of dedication, 
attachment, love and immeasurable affection this devotee has exhibited for the 
Lord, one would expect this person to have adopted a name signifying undying 
devotion to the Supreme Being Sriman Narayana. However, belying our 
expectations, we find this devotee being called, rather surprisingly, as a 
"Conqueror".

 

The haloed name of Sri Andal is on everyone's lips, at least during the month 
of Margazhi. Temples and homes resound with the sweet strains of Her 
Tiruppavai, discourses galore are delivered on the apparent and esoteric 
purports of this incredibly sweet composition, competitions are conducted for 
children in reciting the thirty verses and so on. So much importance is 
attached to Andal's outpourings, that one worthy goes to the extent of saying 
that those who know not these verses are but a mere drag on this planet-"Kodai 
tamizh iyyaindum iyndum ariyaada maanidarai vaiyyam sumappadum vambu".

 

We come across the strange phenomenon of a lady holding court in the elite male 
club of Azhwars. What is stranger is that while the others are "Azhwars" 
(meaning those immersed in divine experience), this Lady is "Andal" (one who 
conquered or ruled). What a contrast-a subjugator rubbing shoulders with those 
who have been thoroughly vanquished by the Lord! Azhwars admit to being 
comprehensively won over by Emperuman-

"Tottrom mada nenjam Emperuman Naaranarkku" says Sri Nammazhwar, admitting to 
defeat at the hands of the Supreme Being. "Jitante Pundareekaaksha!" exclaim 
the Maharshis of the Sveta Dveepam, describing how they have been won over by 
the lotus-eyed Lord. Amidst all these accounts of abject defeat at the hands of 
the Lord, we have too an "Andal", whose very name indicates a Victor, a Ruler, 
a Conqueror beyond compare. What could be the reason for this rather unsuitable 
name for a devotee who immersed Herself more in Krishnaanubhavam than perhaps 
any of the other Azhwars? Let's see how meaningful this sobriquet is.

 

1.      Sri Kodai Naacchiyaar is indeed "Andal", because She comprehensively 
won over the Lord Himself. The uncontrollably independent Supreme Being loses 
all His sovereignty before Goda Devi, asserts Swami Desikan in Goda Stuti. And 
such loss of independence is caused not by any strenuous effort by Andal, but 
through a mere flick of Her eyebrows. The Lord, whose duty it is to award 
appropriate punishment to mortals for their innumerable errors of commission 
and omission, loses the will to do so, quelled by a mere glance of Goda Devi, 
who intercedes on our behalf and saves us from certain Hell. Here is the 
beautiful slokam from Goda Stuti, for your enjoyment-

 

"Gode! gunai: apanayan pranata aparaadhaan

bhrookshepa eva tava bhoga rasa anukoola:

karma anubandhi phala daana ratasya bhartu:

svaatantrya durvyasana marma bhidaa nidhaanam"

 

Swami Desikan goes to the extent of saying that Sri Periazhwar was able to 
obtain the Poorna anugraham of the Lord, only after he started adorning Him 
with garlands made more fragrant by association with Sri Andal's hair. 

 

2.      Andal triumphs over not only the Supreme Lord, but over ignorant 
mortals like us too. She wins over even our stony hearts, through Her simple 
but nectarine outpourings, which appeal to the scholar and student alike. She 
wins us over by the irresistible charm of Tiruppavai, which sits sweet on our 
lips, whether sung or recited, with or without devotion. Incredibly hard indeed 
would be the heart, which can remain unmoved by these poignant pastoral verses! 

 

3.      Andal's mastery and control extends over Nature too-She attained rare 
mental maturity at an extremely early age, deeming the Lord to be Her 
all-"unnum soru, parugum neer, tinnum vettrilai ellaam Kannan Emperuman". When 
many of us still find it difficult to spare even a concentrated glance for the 
Lord even at the mature age of fifty or sixty, we find this young Lady 
conquering human nature comprehensively and devoting Herself to the Lord, even 
before entering Her teens. 'Pinjaai pazhutthaal" is how Sri Mamunigal describes 
this lady, indicating the incredible maturity She attained at an age when 
children would still be playing with dolls.

 

4.                  In an endearing display of extreme affection and love, 
Andal reverses the role of Master and Slave subsisting between ourselves and 
the Lord. Normally, it is we who consider it our good fortune to be favoured 
with garlands and cloth worn by the Lord and wear them with pleasure. "Udutthu 
kalainda nin peetaka aadai, uduttu kalattha tundu, toduttha tuzhaai malar soodi 
kalaindana soodum it tondargalom" says Sri Periyazhwar, pointing out the 
devotee's delight in wearing flowers and clothes cast off by the Lord.  
However, in the case of Sri Andal, it was Emperuman who sought out the garlands 
and upper cloth worn by Goda Devi and wore them with much relish. In fact, Sri 
Vatapatrasaayee of SriVilliputtur refused to wear garlands, unless they were 
made fragrant by association with Andal, bestowing on Her the sobriquet, 
"Choodi koduttha Sudar Kodi". 

 

Sri Ranganatha accepts the flowers already worn by Andal, with a bowed head, 
considering it a singular honour to be favoured thus, says Swami 
Desikan-"dhatte natena shirasaa tava mouli maalaam". 

 

5.      Andal ruled over the lands and hearts of the residents of Malli Naadu, 
according to another Acharya-"Malli naadu aanda mada mayil"

 

Considering all these, is it any wonder that Sri Kodai Nachiyar goes by the 
sobriquet "Andal"? Having demonstrated Her indisputable control over mere 
mortals, Acharyas and over the Lord Himself, could there be a better name for 
this Divine Bride, than that of "Conqueror"?

 

Srimate Sri LakshmINrisimha divya paduka sevaka SrivanSatakopa Sri Narayana 
Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

dasan, sadagopan

 

 

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]






------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> 
Give hope to a child.
Helping a needy child is easier than you think.
Click here to meet someone who needs your help.
http://us.click.yahoo.com/smp9aD/HohJAA/i1hLAA/VkWolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~-> 

 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SriRangaSri/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    SriRangaSri-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
 




[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next] [Date Index ] [Thread Index ] [Author Index ]
Home Page
http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia
srirangasri-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe to the list