The Hindu : Austerity outlined in Tiruppavai

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 18, 2002

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Austerity outlined in Tiruppavai

CHENNAI DEC. 18 . Several are the paths shown by sacred texts as to how a human being can reach the goal of his life's journey and enjoy eternal bliss. Again several are the benefits, which will be showered on him if he adheres to the Divine commands, in which a list of dos and don'ts have been included. A saint mentions how prayers will fetch a devotee (at least) eight types of rewards for his sincere acts, such as birth in noble families, wealth, the company of the pious and fame, if only he loyally pursues the instructions prescribed in scriptural works.

One of these duties is the observance of a penance that will bring him before God. One of its important constituents is to rise early and take holy bath before embarking on subsequent chain of tasks. The purpose of this vow is elaborated in the Tamil hymn, "Thiruppavai", composed by Andal, held as one of the Azhwars or torchbearers of the Visishtadwaita philosophy, which describes the relationship between Lord Narayana and devotees who are His servants. Like all works this states that the soul is different from the body, which will perish as against the former, which is eternal. The hymn reiterates how God alone can grant salvation (Moksha) with a clear emphasis on the responsibilities of the seekers to observe any one of the stipulated steps and thereby get duly qualified.

In a discourse, Sri Andavan Swamigal referred to the words of the Lord (in the "Skanda Puranam") explaining how He had advised the innocent cowherd maiden who were eager to reach Him, about a similar penance, which they carried out in all sincerity. "The reward was that I gave Myself to them," the Lord said. The Thiruppavai prescribes identical austerities to be observed in the Tamil month of Margazhi (December-January) as circumstances will be highly conducive to perform the acts, which please Him.

Included in the 4,000 collective verses of the Azhwars, known as the Naalaayira Divya Prabandham, Andal's songs stand out with distinction as revealing the feelings of a pining soul, eager to reach God's domain. The early bathing symbolises how a devotee should immerse himself in the reservoir of the Lord's auspicious qualities. Saint Ramanuja was greatly enthralled by this ecstatic work that he recited it with all sincerity and admiration, which earned for him the title of the "Thiruppavai Jeeyar".

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Austerity outlined in Tiruppavai

dated December 18, 1952: After Sriramulu, Andhra State:

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