Thirupaavai Paasuram #26

Strangely, Paasuram #26 has been a favourite of mine for the longest time. This is the only one that I remember fully without having to read the lyrics. This paasuram refers to Krishna’s Panchajanya Shankha … the conch that Vishnu carries with him always. Krishna blowing the Panchajanya is like blowing away all our Karma and leading us to Moksha. Jai Shri Krishna !!

New Insight – Just as the Panchajanya is an identifier of Bhagwan Vishnu, we all have identifiers – behaviours and mannerisms that are uniquely us. Every warrior in the Kurukshetra war has a different Conch, because no two warriors are the same. No two executives are the same !! So keep checking with folks that work with you, your direct reports, peers and your manager about how they “see” you. 360 degree feedback is very useful in understanding your identifiers. Once you know them, you can lead using those. In other words, your strengths are your identifiers. Lead using your strengths.

As always do read Thirupaavai Paasuram #25 before reading Paasuram #26.

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

Maale Manivanna – Paasuram #26

மாலே மணிவண்ணா! மார்கழி நீராடுவான்
மேலையார் செய்வனகள் வேண்டுவன கேட்டியேல்
ஞாலத்தை யெல்லாம் நடுங்க முரல்வன
பாலன்ன வண்ணத்துன் பாஞ்ச சன்னியமே
போல்வன சங்கங்கள் போய்ப்பாடு உடையனவே
சாலப் பெரும்பறையே பல்லாண்டு இசைப்பாரே
கோல விளக்கே கொடியே விதானமே
ஆலின் இலையாய்! அருளேலோர் எம்பாவாய்.

Tamil Translation

பக்தர்களிடம் மிகுந்த அன்பு கொண்டவனே! நீலக்கல் நிறத்தவனே! பெரிய கடலில் ஆலிலையில் மிதப்பவனே! பெரியவர்களால் வழிவழியாக மேற் கொள்ளப்படும் மார்கழி நோன் பிற்கு, உல கத்தையே அதிர வைக்கும் ஒலியையும், பால் சாதம் போன்ற நிறத்தையும், உன் சங்காகிய பாஞ்சஜன்யத்தைப் போன்றதுமான வலம்புரி சங்குகளையும், பெரிய முரசுகளையும், பல்லாண்டு பாடும் பெரியோரையும், மங்கள தீபங்களையும், கொடிகளையும் தந்து, இந்த நோன்பை நிறைவேற்றுவதற்குரிய இடத்தையும் அளித்து அருள் செய்ய வேண்டும்.

English Translation

Paasuram #26 is the story of Bhagwan Krishna’s conch Panchajanya. The literal translation of this Paasuram is “O Krishna, you have unlimited affection for your devotees. Blue in colour and floating calmly over a sea that’s turbulent with big waves, that’s you. All the elders and saints have been praying to you, O mighty one. With conch shells like your milky white “Valampuri Sangu” dextral conch (very rare) Panchajanya, several lamps, saints singing your praises, we now are closer to completing the Margazhi Nonbu. Grace us with your blessings and give us the space to celebrate the completion of this Nonbu (fasting ritual)”.

Story of Panchajanya, Krishna’s Conch

Vishnu has four identifiers – the Sudarshana Chakra, Panchajanya Shankha (Conch), Kaumodaki (mace) and the Lotus flower. Vishnu as Bhagwan Krishna, started his education very late at the age of 16 at Guru Sandeepani’s ashram in Avantika (modern day Ujjain). As Gurudakshina, Sage Sandeepani asked Krishna to kill the daitya (loose translation, demon) Panchajana who killed his son and hid in the ocean. Krishna finds the daitya, kills him and holds him as a conch in his hand. Not just that, he also finds Sage Sandeepani’s son in the nether world and brings him back to life, reuniting father and son.

Krishna blowing the Panchajanya denoted the start and end of the Kurukshetra war. In other Puranas, it’s also mentioned that the Panchajanya’s sound is the primordial sound of the universe.

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MLV singing Thirupaavai Paasuram #26

Here’s the link to the Mp3 of Paasuram #26 on Wynk – https://wynk.in/u/Dvu1e9xhA

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