Pasuram 8: Kīzhvānam

Devadi Devan.

Based on the previous explanations it is clear that Bhakthi and Saranagathi  (introducing a new word, Prapathi) are essential to attain the Muktha state. 

Till yesterday, our mind has been under the assumption that it is Svatantric (Stand alone or free.) How will you change your mind set and start believing that  everything is Paratantric ? (Belonging to someone or submissive to someone?)  

In Mahabharata, Arjuna was in the same state, with  the only difference being that Arjuna had powerful weapons and ability to win anyone(human or demigods). Imagine how Svatanthric Arjuna's mind should be  before Bhagavan Sri Krishna started the Geetha Upadesam. Though, we don't have the leverage or bhagyam to get such a divine opportunity like Arjuna, we have a procedure to rehabilitate the mind. 

Let's revisit the shloka from Bhagavat Geetha mentioned in Pasuram seven's explanation.

 "Ananyaschintayanto mam ye janah paryupasate tesham nityabhiyuktanam yogakshemam vahamyaham" (Detailed meaning by clicking here)

Upasate, the word underlined in the sloka, represents the state of  of the mind that assumes dasatvam to Srimannarayana( Devadi Devan) as its primary identity. There are 5 different steps to attain perfection in Upasanam as explained below.

1. Vedanam: Learning about Srimannarayana.  Without even getting knowledge about the subject of Upasanam, we cannot start this process. Listening to discourses, chanting Vishnu Sahasranama by understanding meaning of it are the few ways to attain this. 
2. Smaranam: Is the process of recollection. This is achieved by repetitively conducting Vedhanam.
3. Dhyanam: Is process of meditation. This is a process of associating his name part of your intellect(athma).
4. NididhyAsana : Profound and repetitive meditation.
5. Bakthi Upasanam : Always meditating his name while doing anything and everything . This is  process of associating his name with every part of your identity.

Kothukalam Udaiya Pavay!

She is the third kind of bhaagavatha who is sleeping in Bhramaanubavam.  Kothukalam udiya pavai is a girl who is specially liked by Bhagavan. With the Bhagavat Geetha Sloka mentioned above (here), she is specially liked by bhagavan because of her Bakthi Upasanam(explained above) toward Devadi devan (Sriman Narayanan, The master of the nithyasooris and anya devatas).  Andal stops at the house of  kothukalam udaiya pavai and asks her to wake up  and join them for this vritham (kothukalam uḍaiya pāvāy! ezhundirāy). Andal indicates the signs of dawn (kīzhvānam veḷḷenṛu erumai ciṛu vīḍu | mēyvān parandana kāṇ), by mentioning that all the buffalos  have already left  for the barn(happens only after some comes out). She further mentions, we have already left , but we stopped at your door steps( mikkuḷḷa piḷḷaigaḷum| pōvān pōkinrārai pōgāmal kāttu | unnai kūvavān vandu ninrōm)  because Bhagavan has a special liking towards you (because of her Bakthi Upasana). Pavay asked, where are you going? for which Andal replied to sing in praise of one who killed the demon Keśi (who represents the ego), one who killed the two wrestlers(who represents desire and anger) and one who is Devadi Devan (Srimannarayanan) [(mā vāy piḷandānai mallarai māṭṭiya | devādi devanai cenru nām cevittāl)]. If we sing his praise with unconditional para bhakthi or in other words exhibit Kaikaryam ( pāḍi paṛai koṇḍu |....devādi devanai cenru nām cevittāl). Bhagavan Sri Krishna will delightfully honor his blessing (Bhakthi upayam) on us ( āvāvenrārāyndaruḷ ēlōr). 

Bhakthi Upasanam is a very important step and most time consuming process. sooner you start, faster you can inculcate it in your life. We will see how this is important for Saranagathi in the explanation of next Pasuram.

Thiruppavai - Pasuram 8 

தமிழ்

கீழ்வானம் வெள்ளென்று எருமை சிறு வீடு
     மேய்வான் பரந்தன காண் மிக்குள்ள பிள்ளைகளும்
போவான் போகின்றாரைப் போகாமல் காத்து உன்னைக்
     கூவுவான் வந்து நின்றோம் கோதுகலமுடைய
பாவாய் எழுந்திராய் பாடிப் பறை கொண்டு
     மாவாய் பிளந்தானை மல்லரை மாட்டிய
தேவாதி தேவனைச் சென்று நாம் சேவித்தால்
     ஆவாவென்று ஆராய்ந்து அருள் ஏல் ஓர் எம்பாவாய்.

English Text

kīzhvānam veḷḷenṛu erumai ciṛu vīḍu |
 mēyvān parandana kāṇ mikkuḷḷa piḷḷaigaḷum |
pōvān pōkinrārai pōgāmal kāttu | unnai
 kūvavān vandu ninrōm | kothukalam uḍaiya
pāvāy! ezhundirāy, pāḍi paṛai koṇḍu |
 mā vāy piḷandānai mallarai māṭṭiya |
devādi devanai cenru nām cevittāl |
 āvāvenrārāyndaruḷ ēlōr empāvāy ||


"Ananyaschintayanto mam ye janah paryupasate tesham nityabhiyuktanam yogakshemam vahamyaham" 

The word ananyas meaning exclusivity refers to those who have excluded themselves from all other desires except the Supreme Lord Sriman Narayana  who is their sole source of joy and only center of hope. Always meditating upon Him day and night in terms of his qualities and past times as well as what He may be doing and reflecting in relation to them. Deprivation of such meditation and reflections would be tantamount to cessation of their very lives, hence incessant remembrance of the Supreme Lord is wonderful for them in and of itself. The mahatmanas or great, noble beings of this description who devoutly contemplate the Supreme Lord in all His glory and splendor as the source of all glory and splendor throughout the cosmos all over creation and furthermore who contemplating Him thus intensely aspire for eternal communion and association with Him. Then the Supreme Lord Himself accomplishes that yoga or the attainment of the individuals consciousness in communion with the His ultimate consciousness. The word kseman means perpetually this denotes that it is eternal and indicates that there is no return back to the material existence for those so exclusively devoted.