Thiruppavai - Avatharikai

Avatharikai

Asmad Acharyan Thiruvadigale Saranam

All of our Poorvacharya granthams avatharikai has a common set of framework Avatharikai deals with three major set in the framework.

1.       Katru vailakshyantam – Lakshanam of the Kartha or the author

2.       Vishaya vailakshyantam – The lakshanam of the subject that is being discussed

3.       Prabhanda vailakshyantam – The lakshanam of the prabandam as a whole.

This framework is applicable to all Sri vaishnava granthas and undergoes strict reconciliation with the Pramaanas (or the basic axioms in Vedas). At no point of time, can a prabhandam or the vishayam deviate from the pramaanas. It is an important yardstick for all granthas and its vishayam. Let’s look at Thiruppavai in these frameworks.

Katru Vailakshyanyam

                Aandal – Amsam of Bhooma Devi Thaayar. She was named as Kothai by Periazhwar. Desika says Saakshat Kshama. Kshama is the other name of Bhooma Devi as she is very patient and forgiving. Also he says she is Karunaayam Kamalaam.  How can we correlate this. Perukkarunai swami in Godha sukti Sudhasvadam says she is the amsam of all 3 Devis. Sridevi, Bhoodevi and Neeladevi.

Aandal as an amsam of Sridevi

Sridevi Thaayar gives us Gnyaana. If you look at Dvaya Mahaamantra, it is said that Perumal instructed Dvayam to Sridevi Thaayar first. If you look at the name Godha, the dhaathu Go refers to Provider of Vak  Saamarthyam. Therefore, desikar depicts Karunayaam Kamalamivanyaam.

Aandal as an amsam of Bhoodevi

Desika says “Valmeekathaha Kshaakshat kshamaam” in Godha stuti. Valmeekam refers to the ear of Bhoomi. If you refer to the 5^th paasuram, she says “Vaayinal padi manithinaal sindhikka”. If you go to Varaha Puranam, there is a detailed discussion between Bhooma devi Thaayar and Varaha Perumal. Varaha perumal enquires to Bhooma devi Thaayar if she is ok as she was still shivering from the Hiranyaksha episode. Look at the response of Bhoomi Thaayar. Even in that situation, she was worried about the Jeevatma like us. She asks, you have saved me from a danger, however, I have millions of jeevaraasi living within me. When are you going to protect them and help them out. Varaha perumal says

Sthite manasi susvasthe shareere sati yo narahaa

lDhaatu-saamye sthite smartaa Vishwaroopam ca Maamajam ll

Tatas-tam mriyamaaNam tu kaashtta paashaaNa sannibham l

Aham smaraami madbhaktam nayaami paramaam gatim ll

If a person when he is in steady mind and a healthy body, thinks of me for a moment and does Saranagathy, whatever form he is in during his last moment, I will make sure that he reaches me.  He doesn’t need to worry about anything. This is Varaaha Charama sloka. If you look at the fifth paasuram, it directly correlates with it “Vayinaal Paadi manadhinaal sindhikka… Pizhayum Theeyinil thoosakum”. The Varaha charama sloka was in difficult Sanskrit and our Aandal communicated this same information in beautiful and simple Tamil.

Aandal as an amsam of NeelaDevi

Perukkarunai swamigal depicts beautifully that Neeladevi Thaayar doesn’t look at the Dhosham of the Jeevatma. In Thiruppavai, Aandal  depicts this Guna in Karavaigal pin sendru paasuram “Ariyaatha pillaikalom anbinaal”.

Vishaya Vailakshyanyam and Prabhanda Vailakshyanyam

The subject of Thiruppavai is to establish that Naama sankeerthanam is the only way in Kali yuga to reach Narayaana. Some of the places where it is depicted are as follows

1      பையத் துயின்ற பரமனடி பாடி  - Payya-th-thuyinra parama adi paadi

2.        உத்தமன் பேர்பாடி -  uthaman per paadi

3.        வாயினால் பாடி மனத்தினால் சிந்திக்கப் - Vaayinaal paadi manatthinaal sendhikka

4.        கேசவனைப் பாடவும் - Kesavanai-p-paadavum 

5.        முகில் வண்ணன் பேர்பாட  - mugil vannan perpaada

6.        மனத்துக்கு இனியானைப் பாடவும்நீ வாய் திறவாய் - Manaththukkiniyaanai paadavum nee vaaithiravaai!

7.        கிள்ளிக் களைந்தானைக் கீர்த்திமை பாடிப்போய்ப் - Killikkalainthaanai-k-keerthimai paadi-p-poi

If you look at the depiction of Perumal’s eyes, Aandal depicts it 3 times. “Kaarmeni Senkan”, “Senkan siru siruthe”, “Senkan Thirumugathu”. A beautiful explanation was provided by Azhagiya singar on this. He compares these 3 eyes depiction to Desika’s Kaamasikashtakam. “ Tapana, indhu, nayana:”. So Aandal’s Thiruppavai is for Narasimha avataram.

                There are many such vailakshanyams for Thiruppavai. I am not competent enough to discuss Rahasya arthas in a Sadas like this. However, I can give you a hint, there are paasurams which explains the 3 Rahasyas of Sri Vaishnavam whose explanation needs to be understood from an acharya after doing Saranagathi.

Paasura Sangraham

1.       The first 3 paasuram – Marghazi Vaiyathil Ongi. With this paasuram, 3 rahaya arthams (Ashtaaksharam, Dvayam, Charama slokam) are depicted. Please get the explanation from your respective acharyas.

2.       Ambarame, Undhu madhagalitran, Mupaathu muvar paasuram depicts and expands the Pranavam AUM. Again get the explanation from your respective acharyas.

3.       Uyyum Aaru enni – Explanation is given in the below blog. This is the 6 words of Sri Varadaraja perumal to Thirukkachi nambigal.
https://raghavanal.blogspot.com/2010/04/sri-vaishnavam-concepts.html