Thirupaavai Paasuram #25

Paasuram #25 is a timely reminder about how Bhagwan Krishna grew up in a foster home, his maternal uncle tried to get him killed several times and despite all the difficulties he faced, he always helped his devotees as soon as they called out to him.

New Insight – Bhagwan Krishna’s life is an example of living upto our potential despite all the curve balls life throws at us. Anytime you feel, life is difficult, think about Krishna – his uncle was on the lookout to kill him as soon as he was born, his parents gave him up to be brought up by foster parents, he went to the Gurukul to start formal education only by the time he was 14, his uncle’s father-in-law kept attacking his kingdom and he had to relocate to Dwarka, his cousin Shishupal to the Kaurava queen mother Gandhari kept hurling abuses at him…. the list is endless. Krishna still takes life as “Leela” (fun).

Look at us, at the slightest inconvenience, we give up despite having immense potential to do so much more. People take the extreme step of ending their life if relationships don’t work or they don’t get a certain promotion or even marks in an exam. We have become so “comfortable” and used to having our way, anything contrary is unacceptable. But remember – The kite soars against the wind not with the wind. So adversity helps you rise ! Stick it out and live upto your potential.

As always do read Thirupaavai Paasuram #24 before reading Paasuram #25.

Click on this link to read the Paasurams and their meanings in Tamil – Thirupaavai Paadalkalum Villakamum.

Oruthi Maganai Piranthu – Paasuram #25

ஒருத்தி மகனாய் பிறந்து ஓரிரவில்
ஒருத்தி மகனாய் ஒளித்து வளர
தரிக்கிலா னாகித்தான் தீங்கு நினைந்த
கருத்தைப் பிழைப்பித்து கஞ்சன் வயிற்றில்
நெருப்பென்ன நின்ற நெடுமாலே! உன்னை
அருத்தித்து வந்தோம் பறைதருதி யாகில்
திருத்தக்க செல்வமும் சேவகமும் யாம்பாடி
வருத்தமும் தீர்ந்து மகிழ்ந்தேலோர் எம்பாவாய்.

Tamil Translation

தேவகியின் மைந்தனாக நள்ளிரவில் பிறந்தவனே! அன்று இரவே யசோதையிடம் ஒளிந்து வளர்வதற்காகச் சென்றவனே! அவ்வாறு மறைந்து வளர்வதைப் பொறுக்க முடியாத கம்சன் உன்னை அழிக்க வேண்டும் என்று நினைத்தான். அந்த கருத்து அழியும் வகையில், அவனது வயிற்றில் பயத்தால் ஏற்படும் நெருப்பை விளைவித்த உயர்ந்த குணங்களையுடைய திருமாலே! உனது அருளை யாசித்து நாங்கள் வந்தோம். அந்த அருளைத் தந்தாயானால், உனது விரும்பத்தக்க செல்வச்சிறப்பையும், பக்தர்களுக்காக நீ செய்த பணிகளையும் பாராட்டி நாங்கள் பாடுவோம். உனது பெருமையைப் பாடுவதால், துன்பங்கள் நீங்கி இன்பமாய் மகிழ்ந்திருப்போம்.

English Translation

Krishna grew up in a foster home ! He birth mother is Devaki but he was brought up by Yashoda. Paasuram #25 speaks about Bhagwan Krishna’s birth at midnight and how his father Vasudev crossed River Yamuna in spate and took baby Krishna to his friend Nanda’s house in Gokul. Yashoda and Nandlala were Krishna’s foster parents and witness to all his miracles as a child. Andal says just as you killed your evil uncle Kansa and released your birth parents, help us overcome all our difficulties by giving darshan to us.

What Krishna went through even as the most complete avatar of Mahavishnu is not for the faint hearted. The common thread that weaves through his life is about how he comes to the rescue of his devotees. All you have to do is call out to HIM in total surrender and He will respond. Also every action of his tells us that he can liberate us from this cycle of life and death. All we need to do is surrender to him.

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MLV singing Thirupaavai Paasuram #25

Here’s the link to the Mp3 of Paasuram #25 on Wynk – https://wynk.in/u/5tjbNBdrl

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