Day 26 - maale maNivaNNa - மாலே மணிவண்ணா

Sri:
Srimathe Ramanujaya Nama:
Azhwar Emberumaanar Jeeyar Thiruvadigale Saranam

maalee maNivaNNaa maarkazhinii raatuvaan

melayaar sevanakaL veeNtuvana keettiyeel

nyaalaththai yellam natungka muralvana

palanna vaNNaththun paanjcha channiyamee

poolvana sangkakngal pooippaa tutaiyanavee

saalap perumpaRaiyee pallaaN tisaippaaree

koola viLakke kotiyee vithaanamee

aali nilaiyaa yaruLeelo rembaavaay.

மாலே மணிவண்ணா மார்கழிநீ ராடுவான்

மேலையார் செவனகள் வேண்டுவன கேட்டியேல்

ஞாலத்தை யெல்லாம் நடுங்க முரல்வன

பாலன்ன வண்ணத்துன் பாஞ்ச சன்னியமே

போல்வன சங்கங்கள் போய்ப்பா டுடையனவே

சாலப் பெரும்பறையே பல்லாண் டிசைப்பாரே

கோல விளக்கே கொடியே விதானமே

ஆலி நிலையா யருளேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்.

Introduction:

In the last Pasuram,Aandal said "paRai tharuthi aagil/பறை தருதியாகில்". Shri Krishna wanted to know more about what they meant by that and Aandal explains that in this Paasuram.

Padhapadhaartham - பதபதார்த்தம் - Word by Word Meaning:

maalee/மாலே - The one who is affectionate with His subjects

maNi vaNNaa/மணி வண்ணா - The who is blue in color

aalin ilaiyaai/ஆலின் இலையாய் - (During Pralaya), the one who slept in a banyan leaf

maargazhi neeraaduvan/மார்கழி நீராடுவான் - To bath during the month Margazhi (Tamil Month)

meelai yaar/மேலை யார் - Forefathers/Poorvaacharyargal

seivanakaL/செய்வனகள் - Their anushtanams/day to day routine

veeNtuvana/வேண்டுவன - the desired

keettiyeel/கேட்டியேல் - If you hear out (we will talk about that)

ngyalaththai ellam/ஞாலத்தை எல்லாம் - All those living in earth

nadungka/நடுங்க - To fear and tremble

muralvana/முரல்வன - To make a loud noise

paal anna vaNNaththu/பால் அன்ன வண்ணத்து - Like the color of milk

un paanchasanniyamee/உன் பாஞ்சசன்னியமே - Your conch with the name Paanchajanya

poolvana/போல்வன - Like that of

sangkangkaL/சங்கங்கள் - conches

pooy paadu udaiyana/போய் பாடு உடையன - lots of places

saala peru/சால பெரு - The largest

paRai/பறை - Drum like instrument

pallaNdu isaippaar/பல்லாண்டு இசைப்பார் - Those who sing your praise

koolam viLakku/கோலம் விளக்கு - holy lamps

kodi/கொடி - Your flags

vithaanam/விதானம் - A roof like structure, like an umbrella

aruL/அருள் - Please give

Meaning:

In the last Paasuram, Gopikas sung praise of Sriman Narayana's birth in this earth. Sriman Narayana always had a desire that someone sings about the numerous birth that He takes to protect His Bhagavathas. All Shruthi/Smruthi does is call Srimann Narayana as the one with No Birth.

Periyazhwar sung praise of Shri Krishna's birth in His paasuram, and Aandal along with Gopikas sung about His birth. Shri Krishna was pleased to see Gopikas melt like a candle thinkng of the numerous harm that came in Shri Krishna's way. He also enjoyed the unshakeable confidence that the Gopikas had on His strength, courage, and all the Kalyana Gunas.

After hearing the last Paasuram, Shri Krishna asks Aandal, why she said "Parai tharuthi aagil/பறை தருதி ஆகில்" in the last Paasuram and what she meant by those.

This Paasuram explains that.

Sampradhaya Meaning: This Paasuram talks about "Samyapathi Moksha"

Aandal explains the Margazhi Vrath to Shri Krishna and explains Him that they are asking for the things that they should have to complete the Vrath.

(maale/மாலே) - The one who is black, the one who is Supreme, the one who falls in love with His Bhagavathas : are the three meanings that we get from this word.

(maNi vaNNaa/மணி வண்ணா) - Mani means "rathnam" - a precious stone. Even though it is really expensive, it can be easily carried in the saree by tying it to one of the loose ends. Like that, Shri Krishna, inspite of His ever pervasiveness (Sarvavyaabi), inspite of His Supreme Powers (Sarvagyan), is easily tied down by His Bhakthas!! He becomes the servant of His Bhakthas.

Rathnam cannot be obtained by everyone easily because it is rare and it is expensive. Similarly, Emberuman is not obtained by everyone, but a select few.

Imagine a Rathna in the hand of a fisherfolk. He might not understand the value of it and so he will sell it to a merchant at a very small price. The merchant who bought this Rathna will sell it to the King at a very correct and a high price. The king, unlike the fisher folk or the minister, will instead of selling it out, will make a jewel out of it, and wear it on him.

It is the same with Spirituality!! Some may desire earthly benefits from Him. Some may desire get Moksha. But only a few will enjoy the union of them with Emberuman by doing Kainkaryam. They will enjoy Him just like they would enjoy a little baby.

On hearing this Shri Krishna says, "Hey Gopikas!! Thanks for praising, but do let me know what you want?"!

Aandal replied, "we are hear for Margazhi Vrath" (maargazhi neeraaduvaan/மார்கழி நீராடுவான்).

Shri Krishna again asked with great exclamation, "What is this Margazhi Vrath?! I have never heard of it in any shasthra or any of the Ithihasas or Puranas?! Where did you get these? Is this right to do these?"!

Aandal said, "We do not know about Shashtras or Ithihasas or Puranas. What we do is follow our elders ie., Poorvaachaaryas (meelaiyaar seivanagal/மேலையார் செய்வனகள்). What they did is what we practice, and what they did is our Shasthra". For us this is higher than any shashtrha.

Sampradhaya Meaning: In Shri Vaishnava Sampradhaya, this is the key philosophy; to believe in our Poorvacharyas and to follow what they did!!

Shri Krishna said, "All right! I undestand your intentions. What do you want?"!

Aandal now lists the things that she wants for the Vrath:
( sangu/சங்கு) - The conch
(paRai/பறை) - The drum like instrument
(pallaandu isaippar/பல்லாண்டு இசைப்பர்) - Bagavathas
(koola viLakku/கோல விளக்கு) - Lamp
(kodi/கொடி)- flag
(vidhaanam/விதானம்) - the scarf like, umbrella like thing to proctect from dew

In the earlier Paasuram, Aandal wanted to see Emberuman seated in His Throne (Seeriya singaadhanathirundhu/சீரிய சிங்காசனத்திருந்து). Now she wants to see the beauty of Him coming around the streets and blessing His subjects. Thiruveedhi ula/திருவீதி உலா

To start the Procession, we need to inform the Bhakthas about it, so we need the conch to blow and make the noise so they understand. We also need the music from the holy instruments like Parai. We need the Goshti, (pallandu isaippar), and lights to have Dharshan of Emberuman (koola vilakke).

On hearing this, Shri Krihsna said, "By asking these, you are asking me myself!!! Is it possible for me to get you all these things?!"

Aandal swiftly replies, "aalinilaiyaa/ஆலினிலையாய்" ; meaning, "Is it any difficult at all to the one who prserves every thing in His stomach during Pralaya and yet sleep in a small banyan leaf?! So please bless us by providing these!!"

adinaayen raamanuja dasan