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Th e 2 Ve:d as & V ais hn a v am
The 2 Ve:das & Vaishnavam

sangathamizh (uniting Tamil text) text of Sri Andal. see this today as Thiruppa:vai recitals are part of

Thiruppa:vai: A Treasure daily religious rituals. Particularly in the month of
Ma:rghazhi, Thiruppa:vai recitals happen in early
Trove for Life mornings in temples and sathsangs that stretches

from Melbourne to Seattle and Azhvarthirunagari to
Andal was not only a philosophical exemplar,
but also a great poet, whose words touch all sections Dallas. Every time, when lectures happen on this text,
of the society. As alluded earlier, the text has three it lends itself to fresh and new thoughts in addition
important structural characteristics of classical to established vya:kya:nas. We enjoy different aspects
Tamil literature and the text has three supreme value of this text as it relates to Sri Ra:ma:yanam and other
attributes: 1) Divine Tamil; 2) Poetical Tamil and 3) A:zhva:rs’ texts—such is this fertile text!
Life Tamil. No wonder Pa:dma Pura:na mentions bhakthi

Divine Text originated in South India, “Uthpanna: Dravide,”
with the bhakthi river flowing in regions around
In the introductory part of the text, with all Srivilliputhur, Azhhvarthirunagari and Srirangam.
certainty, Andal shines light on all three aspects as Life Text
highlighted above with great emotion. On the get go,
Thiruppa:vai categorically states Sri:manna:ra:yana The divine text also preaches highways of
is the supreme who can grant us eternal bliss to be living life. Andal while uniting folks for Sri Krishna
of service to Him and His devotees. One of the anubhavam, instructs us to live well and addresses
attributes of Sarana:gathi is faith [Maha:vishva:sam], us that we are all blessed to live here to do Krishna
which A:ndal depicts precisely in an easy way to learn anubhavam and enjoy these great aspects of life with
and understand as “Na:ra:yanane:” It is the faith that His devotees. Andal while preaching bhakthi aspects,
drives us forward. And in the times of great stress emphasizes faith, determination and caring for the
like the present times, hope for better days ahead society. Why would Andal praise those living in this
is the quality we all need. How aptly Andal stresses uncertain world? Is this not hope in the Supreme and
from the get go in the text, by expressing great faith us! We look forward to the next day, look forward to
in Sri:manna:ra:yana and her fellow beings. Andal Ma:rghazhi month every year to enjoy Thiruppa:vai
labors hard to bring her society folks into a single fold and Adhyayana festivities—this is hope again.
to practice bhakthi, again emphasizing faith in the
society. Andal’s text showcases high ways of living in Thiruppa:vai is a divine text that is a text for
service to the Lord and the society—a text that will all ages and showcases bhakthi emotion, which
live forever, as we see this aspect during this stressful highlights the purpose of life. Our preceptors have
times. attached enormous importance to this text which is
deep in theological aspects and poetic beauty. It is
Poetical Text certainly an aide-memoir for living well.

Andal was a forerunner among Tamil poets Sri Andal has ruled over Emperuma:n Krushna,
to express sa:stra: essence and bhakthi in structured ruled over Tamil language and certainly rules all of us!
Tamil text known as “Bhakthi literature.” In fact, she
very well is a leader in this genre along with other - By: Professor Gomatam Seshadri Ramkumar,
bhakthi literature saints. The text is written in a mind Texas Tech University, USA Jai Srimannarayana !
melting flow in Tamil that entices even a 7-year-
old and non-native speakers to learn and recite. We

Jan 2022 Bhakthi Nivedana 35