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In the next few posts we shall present the lyrics of ThiruppAvai pAsurams in Thamizh, Roman,
and DEvanAgari scripts followed by their meanings in English. As a prelude to that the following
stray verses composed by Vaishnavite scholars on ANDAL and her magnum opus (ThiruppAvai)
are presented here.
Meaning: May I offer my obeisance again and again to Goddess ANDAL alias GOdhA --to Her
alone--who awakened Lord KrishNA (taking rest and) sleeping on the mountain-like lofty breasts
of goddess NILA alias Nappinnai PirAtti; GOdhA , who has imparted to Him ( Lord KrishNA )
Her dependence ( on Him ) as established in the hundreds of the texts of the crownof the VedAs(
Viz. the VedAnthA or the Upanishads); and GOdhA , who forcefully enjoys Him after binding
Him with flower-wreaths that were already worn by her. (Taken from the web source.
http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/dec2000/0124.html )
Meaning: ANDAL, from the land where swans wander (called pudhuvai or SrivilliputhUr),
sang sweet music in the form of a lovely poetic garland of many verses of ThiruppAvai in
praise of Lord nArAyaNa (RanganAtha). Let us extol her who wore the flower garlands
before they were offered to the Lord.
சூடிக் ககாடுத்த சுடர்க்ககாடியய! கதால் பாவை,
பாடி யருளைல் ல பல் ைவளயாய் ,-நாடிநீ
யைங் கடைற் ககன்வன விதி என்ற இம் மாற் றம்
நாங் கடைா ைண்ணயம நல் கு
Meaning: Oh the one who gave flower garlands to the lord after wearing them herself! You gave
us ThiruppAvai (which describes the austerity observed by young maidens). You prayed to
Manmadhan (lord of love) to enjoin you with lord VenkaTEshwara. Help us to abide by the same
path.
VEda PirAn Bhattar (12th century CE) extols ThiruppAvai in the following lines:
Meaning: ANDAL’s ThiruppAvai will get rid of our sins and will lead the way for the Lord’s feet.
It is the means to get the essence of the vEdAs. It is a burden for the earth to carry the load of those
who do not know the 30 verses of ANDAL.
Meaning: The place where KOdhai was born is the same place where GOvindhan lives
too. It is replete with decorative mansions. That is the place where righteous devotees
live. The four vEdAs are recited there. That place is VillipuththUr; the place of the
originator of the vEdAs.
Meaning:
Glory to the maiden who took birth in this world on the day of tiruvADip pooram!
Glory to the maiden who composed the thirty songs of tiruppAvai!
Glory to the maiden whose father was PeriyAzhwAr!
Glory to the maiden who was adopted as the younger sister of the sage from Perumpudhoor
(Sri Ramanuja)!
Glory to the maiden who wrote the one hundred and forty three verses (nAcciyAr
tirumozhi)!
Glory to the maiden who offered with love the garlands she wore to the great lord
Ranganatha!
Glory to the maiden who hailed from the fertile land which wafted with the fragrance of
jasmine!
Glory to KOdhai's lotus feet that lived in the beautiful pudhuvai (Srivillipuththoor)