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]
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