Tiruppavai

Tiruppavai is a set of Tamil Hindu hymns attributed to the female poet-saint Andal.

Tiruppavai
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Painting of Andal, Sri Appan Venkatachalapati Temple, Cheranmahadevi.
Information
Religion	Hinduism
Author	Andal
Language	Tamil
Period	8th century CE
Verses	30

Tiruppavai consists of thirty stanzas referred to as pasurams in praise of Vishnu. It is a part of the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, a collection of the works of the twelve poet-saints called the Alvars, an important part of the devotional genre of Tamil literature. Tiruppavai has also been translated into Telugu by Mullapudi Venkata Ramana as Melupalukula Melukolupu. In this work, Andal calls all people to recite the names and glories of Vishnu and Lakshmi.

Genre

Tiruppavai belongs to the pavai genre of songs. This genre referred to the Tamil tradition of unmarried girls and boys performing rites and upholding a vow (vrata) of their performance throughout the month of Margali for their future marriages. This practice assumes special significance during Margali: each day of this month gets its name from one of these thirty verses. There are references to this vow in the late - Sangam era Tamil classic anthology called Paripatal.

Andal's thirty songs contain the cardinal principles of Vaishnavism during the month of Margali. Andal like a Gopi in these 30 verses. Andal appears intent upon performing a particular religious vow to marry Vishnu and remain in his everlasting company, inviting of all her friends to join her to live with him with her and Andal, an incarnation of Lakshmi, marries Vishnu as Rangamannar in Nachiyar Tirumoli.

Theme

According to the religious hymns, the symbolic undertone behind Andal's entreaty to her friends to wake up and seek Vishnu subsumes the essence of the three basic mantras in the Vaishnava tradition — the Tirumantram, Dvayam, and Charama Sloka that signify the truth of Vishnu and Lakshmi as the paramatmas or the absolute selves who dwell in everything. There is a hidden meaning in the 27th pasuram, for example, where Andal explains the importance of an acharya whose guidance is mandatory for a disciple to get to know these three mantras.

Tiruppavai is said to be 'Vedam Anaithukkum Vithagum', meaning it is the seed of the Vedas. As the entire tree coming from it are hidden in the subtle seed and it is grown up fully, so is the entire four Vedas are hidden in Tiruppavai, which can be revealed only under the guidance of an acharya who is well versed in Hindu scriptures.

This entire hidden essence is mentioned in the Andal's verses in the form of poetry.

Overview

The first five stanzas provide an introduction to the main theme, its principle and purpose. According to Andal, one should do penances during this season. Sincere prayers to Vishnu and Lakshmi would bring abundant rain and thus prosperity. Offering Vishnu and Lakshmi flowers would do good things.

In the next ten stanzas she describes the importance of community participation. She invites her friends to gather flowers. She essays the ambience at her city, the chirping of birds, colorful blossoms, the musical sound of butter-churning, herds of livestocks with tinkling bells, the sounding of the conch from the temple.

She visits each household and awakens all her friends to join her for a bath in a nearby pond. She also praises the incarnations of Vishnu and Lakshmi. The next five stanzas describe her visit to the temple accompanied by her friends. She desires to render a Suprabhatam gently to wake up Vishnu. The group appeases the temple guards, enters the temple and recites prayers extolling the parents of Vishnu as Krishna, Vasudeva and Devaki and telling them to wake up Vishnu as Krishna and Shesha as Balarama. Then they see Rukmini, an incarnation of Lakshmi, the wife of Vishnu, to have a darshana.

The last nine stanzas are on the glories of Vishnu and Lakshmi. On receiving his and her blessings, Andal lists her demands; milk for the vrata, white conch, lamps, flowers, and rich dresses and jewellery, plenty of clarified butter and butter. The concluding stanza is an envoie identifying her as the foster-daughter of Vishnucitthan (Periyalvar) who made this garland of 30 pasurams and says those who recite with devotion will have Vishnu and Lakshmi's blessings.

Verses and explanation

Tiruppavai also includes three taniyans ('singletons') composed by later authors to introduce older texts. The first taniyan, "Nila Tungastana" in Sanskrit was composed by Parashara Bhattar, and the next two taniyans, "Anna Vayal Pudhuvai" and "Sudi Kudutha" (translated below) were composed by Sri Uyyakondar.

Taniyan

This song is a prelude to Tiruppavai and is one of the 3 taniyans.

Andal from the swans filled Srivilliputhur,
Sung she, in her glorious voice,
Several songs,
For being sung during,
The worship and adulation of Pavai.
They are but a garland to him,
From her who wore them first,
Before presenting them to Him.

Each pasuram (song) of Tiruppavai is named after the first few words of the religious hymns. These are given first and a translation into verse given then:-

Hymn name	Translation
1. Margali Tingal	In this month of Margali, On this day filled with the light of moon, Come for bathing, Oh women who are richly dressed, And Oh women in rich homes of cowherds, For he with a sharp spear, He who kills his enemies without mercy, He who is the son of Nandagopa, He who is the son of Yashodha, Who wore scented flower garlands, He who is a lion cub, He who is pretty in black colour, He who has small red eyes, He who has a face like the well-lit moon, And He, who is our god Vishnu, Is going to give us protection, So that we bathe and that is our Pavai (vratam), In a way that the whole world sings about.
2. Vaiyathu Vaḻvirgal	Oh, people of this world, Be pleased to hear of those penances, That we daily do for the worship of Pavai, We will sing of those holy feet, Of Him who sleeps in the ocean of milk, We will not take the very tasty ghee, We will avoid the health giving milk, We will daily bathe before the dawn, We will not wear any collyrium to the eye, We will not tie flowers in our hair, We will not do any act that is banned, We will not talk ill of any to any one else, We will give alms and do charity, As much as we can, And do all those acts to make others free of sorrow, This is our vratam (Pavai).
3. Ongi Ulagalandha	If we sing the praise of Him, Who grew big and measured the world, And worship Vishnu with a Pavai, Then would there be at least three rains a month, And the red paddy plants would grow big, And in their fields would the fish swim and play, And the spotted bees after sipping honey, To their hearts content, Would sleep in the flower themselves After having their fill, And the cows with big udder Would fill milk pots to the brim, And healthy cows and never diminishing wealth, Would fill the country, And all this I assure by our vratam.
4. Ali Malai Kanna	Please obey our wishes, Oh Varuna who comes from the sea, Enter the sea, please, and bring water to your fill, And with zest and sound take it up, And like the Vishnu, God of creation become black, And shine like the holy wheel in the hands, Of The God Padmanabha who has powerful shoulders, And make booming pleasing sounds, Like the white spiraled conch, And rain with out stop like the arrow storms, From Sharanga, the bow of Vishnu and descend on us, To make this world happy, And to help us take bath in month of Margali,
5. Mayanai Mannu	To Him the enchanter of all, To Him the son of Mathura, To Him who played and frolicked, In the shores of holy Yamuna, To Him who is the ornamental lamp, Of the family of cow herds, And to the Damodara who made, His mothers womb holy, We came after a holy bath, And offered pure flowers at his feet, And sang with our mouth, And brought the thoughts of him in our mind, And we were sure, That all our mistakes of the past, And all that we will do in future, Will vanish as ashes in fire,
6. Pullum Chilambina	Did you not hear alternate twittering birds making loud noises, Did you not hear the loud sound of white conch, From the temple of the king of Garuda, Oh, girls please wake up, Let us hear the holy sounds of "Hari, Hari". From the savants and sages, Calling him who drank the poisonous milk from the ghost, Him who kicked and killed the ogre of the cart, And him who sleeps on the great serpent Shesha So that it goes through our mind, And make our mind cool
7. Kīsu Kīsu	Did you not hear, Oh slow witted girl, The twittering sound of black birds of the morn, Which sounds like a talk between them, Did you not hear the tingling sound, When the big and small coin like pendants, Rub against each other, Did you not hear the sound of vigorous pull, Of the curd churner being pulled, By the flower bedecked cow herdesses, Did you not hear the sound of twirling curd, When churned using the mixer, Oh, leader among girls, How can you sleep, When they sing the names sweetly. Of Narayana and Kesava, Oh, She who is sparkling, Be pleased to open the door,
8. Kīl Vanam	The eastern sky has become white, The buffaloes are free to walk and graze, The remaining lasses, have stopped from going, All those who wanted to go, And have come to call you, Oh girl filled with happiness, Please wake up. Let us all sing and get gifts, From Him who has killed the horse like ogre, By pulling apart his mouth, From Him who killed the wrestlers, Sent to kill him, From Narayana, who is first among the deities, And prostrate before him.. Please hear what we tell. And decide for yourself,
9. Tumani Madaththu	Oh my uncle's daughter, who sleeps, In the soft cotton bed, In the pearl filled villa, Well lit from all sides, And full of the smoke of incense, Please open the ornamental door. Oh aunt, why don't you wake her up, Is your daughter dumb or deaf, Or down right lazy, Or she is in trance of deep pleasurable sleep, Let us all call him the great enchanter, Madhavan and he who lives in Vaikunta, By several of His names, And get benefited,
10. Notru Svargam	Oh lady fine, who has entered the heaven, Due to penance done in last birth, Won't you reply, please Won't you open the door, please If we pray the God Narayana, Having with him the scented garland, Made of holy basil, He would give us gifts, many, He is the same who is holy in times ancient, Who killed Kumbhakarna, After beating him in the field of war. Did that ogre give you his sleep, Before he went off from here, Oh lass who is very lazy, Oh lass, who is like pretty jewels, Wake up from your sleep, well, And open the door.
11. Katru Karavai	Oh daughter of the cattle baron, Who milks herds of cows, And wages war on enemies And makes his enemies lose their strength, Oh Golden tendril, Oh lass who has the Mount of Venus, Like the hood of the snake, Wake up and come, When your flock of friends, Have come to your courtyard, And sing of Vishnu, Who has the colour of the cloud, Oh rich, rich lady, How can you neither move nor talk, And lie in deep trance,
12. Kanaithilam Katrerumai	Hey, sister of the rich one, who owned, The mooing she buffalo with a calf, Which took pity on the calf, And gave out plenty, Of milk to it through its udder, And made his courtyard slushy with milk, We are assembled in thine yard, In the dripping fog, And sing about Him, Who killed Ravana, And who is very dear one, But open your mouth, you don't.. At least wake up now, Why this very deep slumber, For people of all houses around, Have already become alert
13. Pullin Vāi Kīndanai	The lasses have reached, The place of prayer for Pavai, Singing the fame of Vishnu. Who killed the ogre who came like a stork. And who cut off the heads of the bad ogre, One by one. Venus has risen in the morning, Jupiter has vanished from the sky, The birds are making lot of sound, Of beautiful one with wide eyes red as a flower. Without taking bath by dipping again and again in ice cold water, Would you prefer to sleep. Oh lass, On this holy day, Do not stay aside, And come to bathe with us.
14. Ungal Pulakkadai	In the pond in the backyard of your house. The lily in the ponds have opened, The night flowers have closed, The white toothed sages, Who wear clothes as red as, The powder of brick, Are going to their temples. To sound the conch. You who promised to wake us up, Please wake up, Are you not ashamed, You chatter box, Let us all sing about the lotus eyed one, Who has a holy conch and disc in his hands,
15. Elle Ilam kiliye	"Hey, little bird, Are you still sleeping?" "Don't disturb my sleep, Lasses, I will just come". "You are good in your speech, We know what you mean." "You be good, but leave me alone" "Come quickly, why is it different for you?" "Have every one gone?" "Gone, think they have gone" "Please wake up and sing, Of he who killed Kuvalayampida, Of him who can remove enmity from enemies, And of him who is the holy enchanter,
16. Nayaganāi Ninra	Hey, He who guards the palace of Nandagopa, Hey, who guards the ornamental door with flags, Please be kind to open the door with bells, For yesterday the enchanter Vishnu, Has promised to give beating drums, To us the girls from the houses of cow herds. We have come after purification, To wake Him up with song, So do not talk of this and that, Hey dear man, And open the door with closed latches,
17. Ambarame Tannīre	Hey Nandagopa, who does good deeds and charity, Who gives water, cloth and food to others, Please wake up. Our lady Yashodha, who is the light of the homes of cow herds, She who is dear to all the ladies, Please wake up Hey, Vishnu who is the king of deities, Who went up tearing the sky. Please wake up, and do not sleep. Hey Balarama, who wears pure golden anklets, Please wake up along with your brother,
18. Undhu Madha Kalitran	Hey, Who is the fair daughter-in-law, Of Nandagopa, who has several elephants, And who is a great hero who never ran away from his enemies, Hey Rukmini, who has hair surrounded by holy scent, Please be kind to open the door. The cocks are everywhere waking us up, The koels flock on the jasmine landals, And coo so that we all wake up, Hey woman who happily plays ball, To help us sing your deities fame, With your hands with tingling bangles, Please open the door with happiness,
19. Kuttu Vilakeriya	In the light of the oil lamp, On the ornamental four legged ivory cot, On the soft bed filled with cotton, Reclining on the busts of Rukmini, You sleep, Oh he who has a flower like heart, Please open your mouth. She who has, wide black eyes with collyrium. We know that you will never allow him to wake up, For you can never bear to be away from Him, This is not that good, And cannot be accepted by us.
20. Muppatu Muvar	Please wake up Oh, Vishnu, Who removed sorrow and fear, From the thirty three gods, Even before they approached you, Oh Vishnu, Who is glittering like gold, Oh deity, who has inimitable valour, Please wake up, Oh Rukmini, Who has desirable busts like golden pots. Who has little red mouth, And who has thin narrow hips, Please wake up, Oh Goddess of wealth. Please give mirror and fan, Just now to your consort, And allow us to take bath,
21. Etra Kalangal	Oh son of him, Who owned several cows, Which gave so much milk, That always the milking vessel got overflowed, Please wake up. Oh Vishnu, who is full of mercy, Oh Vishnu, who is better than the best, Oh lord, who is the light that began the world, Please wake up. Like your flock of defeated enemies, Falling at your feet in surrender, We came praising you, So that we get fame,
22. Angan Mā Jnalathu	Like all the famous rulers Of the wide world, that is pretty, Have crowded near your cot, After surrendering their ego, We also have come near. Will not the sight, Of your red eyes which is like the lotus Fall little by little on us? If you see us using those eyes, Which are like sun and the moon, All the curse on us will vanish,
23. Māri Malai Muḻainjil	Like a powerful lion wakes up with power, From the mountain cave in the rainy season, Looks with powerful sight, And with deep powerful sweat from all the hairs, Turns up its head with awe, And comes out making much din, Hey deity, who is the colour of the blue lotus, Come from your temple to here, And sit on the glorious royal throne, And hear with compassion, For why we have come here,
24. Anru Ivvulagam	We worship your feet which measured the world then, We worship your fame of killing Kumbhakarna and Ravana, We worship thine valour in breaking the ogre who came like a cart, We worship you strength which threw the calf on the tree, We worship you goodness in making the mountain as an umbrella, And we worship the great spear in your hand, which led to your victory, We have come here to sing always for ever your praises, And get as gift the drums to sing,
25. Oruti Maganāi Pirandu	Being born to a woman, And in the same night in hiding. You became the son of another, But this he could not tolerate, And wanted to cause more harm to you, And you great one, became, The fire in the stomach of that Kamsa and you killed Kamsa, We have come here with desire for a drum, And if you give the drum to us, We would sing about thine great fame and wealth, And would end our sorrows and become happy,
26. Māle! Manivanna	Oh Vishnu, Oh lord who is like the blue sapphire, If you ask us what we need, In your great grace and great deeds, For our holy bath of Margali, We will ask for very many conches Like the milk white conch of yours called Panchajanya, Very many big drums whose sound can be heard everywhere, Several musicians of fame to sing “Pallandu ” Several beautiful pretty lamps, Several flags and cloths to make tents, Oh, He who sleeps on a banyan leaf at time of flood, Please give us them all,
27. Kudārai Vellum	Hey Vishnu, who is known for victory over enemies, After singing you we will get drums and many gifts, And after being praised by all the people, Wear we will the golden flower on our hair, Wear we will golden bracelets, Wear we will golden ear studs, Wear we would then the golden flowers on the ear, Wear we will ornaments on the legs, Wear we will pretty new dresses, Eat we will rice mixed with milk, Covering the rice fully with ghee, And with the ghee dripping from our forehands, We will be together and be happy,
28. Karavaigal Pin Chendru	Belonging to the ignorant family of cow herds, Drive we would the cattle to the forest, And there we would all eat together, But We are blessed that you are one of us.. Oh Vishnu who does not have any short comings. None can ever break the ties that we have with you, Oh deity, We are but ignorant girls, who do not know the world, And in ignorance and love we have called you by name. So please be not be angry on us, And please give us drums, Oh deity,
29. Chitram Chiru Kale	Please hear why, In this very early dawn, We have come to worship, Your golden holy feet. You were born in our family of cow herds, And we are but there to obey your every wish, And not come to get only the drums from you, Oh Vishnu. For ever and for several umpteen births, We would be only related to you, And we would be thine slaves, And so please remove all our other desires,
30. Vanga Kadal Kadaintha	The one who sings, These thirty songs in Tamil, Of the story of how the rich women, With faces like moon, Who worshipped and requested, Madhava who is also Keshava, Who churned the ocean of milk, For getting a drum to worship Vishnu by a Pavai, As sung by Godhai (Andal) who is the dear companion, Of Vishnuchittar (Periyalvar), From the beautiful city of Srivilliputhur, Will be happy and get grace, Of Vishnu with glorious eyes, And glorious four hands.

Recital in Thailand

In Thailand, an annual Giant Swing ceremony known as Triyampavai-Tripavai was held in major cities until 1935 CE, when it was abolished for safety reasons. The name of the ceremony was derived from the names of two Tamil Hindu songs: Tiruvempavai (a Shaivite hymn by Manikkavacakar) and Tiruppavai (a Vaishnavite hymn by Andal). is known that Tamil verses from Thiruvempavai and Tiruppavai were recited at this ceremony, as well as the coronation ceremony of the Thai rulers. According to T.P. Meenakshisundaram, the name of the festival shows that Tiruppavai and Tiruvempavai is recited as well.

See also

• Tirupallantu
• Nachiyar Tirumoli
• Periyalvar Tirumoli