This year, Paasuram #17 marks the beginning of a New Julian Year ! And what a powerful message this Paasuram shares. The pitfalls of ego and how to let go of the ego… two methods, one, taking life as Leela or “play” and the other is love. Whatever method works for you, choose that. Each of us is different and our spiritual paths need not converge. The path that leads you to Moksha is the right path.
In our work life too, ego doesn’t help. We need to set aside our ego if we want to build teams and take things forward. A lot of organisations have collapsed, enterprises have folded just because of the ego of one person. So watch out :).
In Paasuram #17 Andal hints at the pitfalls of ego. She uses the Vamana Avatar as an example to explain why ego doesn’t help in our spiritual growth. Osho says this about Ego –
The entire message of Bhagwan Krishna is about living joyfully… because when you live a laughter filled life, the ego dies. The entire Margazhi Nonbu that Andal explains through the Thirupaavai Paasurams is all about celebration and being joyful. My interpretation of the Bhakti Marg is that it uses song, dance and surrender to your ishta devta as a means to drop the ego. How beautiful. No wonder these songs sound divine even as they speak of everyday rituals and chores.
The other thing that ego can’t survive is love. So Andal’s love for Bhagwan Krishna is another method for us mortals to follow in our spiritual journey. No wonder our Gods incarnate as human beings, rise in love (Gods cannot fall in love 😁) and show us the path to Moksha through a normal life.
As always do read Thirupaavai Paasuram #16 before reading Paasuram #17.
Click on this link to read the Paasurams and their meanings in Tamil – Thirupaavai Paadalkalum Villakamum.
Ambarame Thaneere – Paasuram #17
அம்பரமே தண்ணீரே சோறே அறஞ்செய்யும் எம்பெருமான் நந்தகோபாலா! எழுந்திராய் கொம்பனார்க்கு எல்லாம் கொழுந்தே! குலவிளக்கே! எம்பெருமாட்டி யசோதாய்! அறிவுறாய்! அம்பரம் ஊடறுத்து ஓங்கி உலகளந்த உம்பர்கோமானே! உறங்காது எழுந்திராய் செம்பொற் கழலடிச் செல்வா! பலதேவா! உம்பியும் நீயும் உறங்கலோர் எம்பாவாய்.
Tamil Translation
ஆடைகளையும், குளிர்ந்த நீரையும், உணவும் பிறர் திருப்திப்படும் அளவுக்கு தர்மம் செய்யும் எங்கள் தலைவரான நந்தகோபரே! தாங்கள் எழுந்தருள வேண்டும். கொடிபோன்ற இடைகளையுடைய பெண்களுக்கு எல்லாம் தலைவியான இளகிய மனம் கொண்ட யசோதையே! மங்களகரமான தீபம் போன்ற முகத்துடன் பிரகாசிப்பவளே! நீ எழ வேண்டும். விண்ணையே கிழித்து உன் திருவடிகளால் உலகளந்த தேவர்களின் தலைவனான எங்கள் கண்ணனே! நீ கண் விழிக்க வேண்டும். செம்பொன்னால் செய்த சிலம்புகளை அணிந்த செல்வத்திருமகனான பலராமனே! நீயும், உன் தம்பியும் உறக்கத்தில் இருந்து எழுந்து எங்களுக்கு தரிசனம் தர வேண்டும்.
English Translation
Andal refers to the Vamana Avatar in this paasuram. She refers to the Vamana Avatar in three Paasurams – 3, 17 and 24th. In Paasuram 17, Andal entreats with Krishna and Balarama to wake up and give darshan to the waiting Gopis. She praises Krishna as the one who ensures his devotees do not want for anything – clothes, food, water or charity.
Paasuram #17 is about ego being a huge roadblock in our spiritual growth. Even though the demon Mahabali was a good person, he became headstrong and full of himself. Mahavishnu had to take the Vamana Avatar to demolish his ego and bring him to his senses. Ego breaks close relationships …. so keep your feet firmly planted on Earth when success happens to you.
MLV singing Thirupaavai Paasuram #17
Here’s the link to the Mp3 of Paasuram #17 on Wynk – https://wynk.in/u/UtwQvOEt5.
Note
The 30 paasurams known as Thirupaavai are written by Andal and are a part of the Naalayira Divyaprabhandams (4000 verses singing the praises of Bhagwan Vishnu). For Iyengars, it’s a lifelong mission to memorise the Naalayira Divyaprabhandams and understand their meaning. These songs are written by the 12 Azhwars (saints is the closest translation possible) of whom Andal is the only female.
#Thirupaavai #Margazhi
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