Today, January 12, 2016 is Day 27 of Margazhi masam. The twenty seventh pasuram of Thiruppavai, Koodarai Vellum Seer Govinda, is to be recited today.
Margazhi month assumes special significance for Srivaishnavas. Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita says masanam margashirso aham (of months, I am Margazhi). Of the 12 sub-Vyuhas which are representative of the 12 months beginning from the Tamil month of Margazhi, Kesava is the lord for the month of Margazhi.
Most importantly, the month derives its auspiciousness primarily due to its association with ThiruppAvai. It was during Margazhi that Sri Andal observed the pious Pavai Nombu for Sriman Narayanan and composed the 30 pasurams of Thiruppavai for the ujjeevanam (upliftment) of jeevatmas like us. Thiruppavai is very sacred and all our Acharyas have given commentaries on this prabhandam. The very fact that Swami Ramanuja was called ‘ThiruppAvai Jeeyar’ because of his deep attachment to this, illustrates the special place Thiruppavai had with Swami Ramanuja.
The following is a brief on the twenty seventh pasuram (Koodarai Vellum Seer Govinda)…
Andal and Her friends are elated as they have achieved their goal-SriKrishna. They ask Him to drown them in the ocean of compassion. They have been observing the pavai Nonbu for 26 days inorder to attain Him and Nappinai. So far they abstained from ghee, milk, applying collyrium, decorating their braids with flowers etc. but now that they have attained Him they ask for bangles for their hands, shoulder ornaments, flowers for their tresses, ear-rings and other ear ornaments, tinkling anklets and silk garments. After this there would be celebrations. After offering rice cooked in wholesome milk, sweetened and dripping in ghee (when a morsel would be eaten ghee would drip down the elbows) to Sri Krishna each and everyone present would partake of the divine prasadam and experience supreme Bliss.
கூடாரை வெல்லும்சீர் கோவிந்தா உந்தன்னைப்
பாடிப் பறைகொண்டு யாம்பெறும் சம்மானம்
நாடு புகழும் பரிசினால் நன்றாகச்
சூடகமே தோள்வளையே தோடே செவிப்பூவே
பாடகமே என்றனைய பலகலனும் யாம்அணிவோம்
ஆடை உடுப்போம் அதன்பின்னே பாற்சோறு
மூடநெய் பெய்து முழங்கை வழிவாரக்
கூடி இருந்து குளிர்ந்தேலோர் எம்பாவாய்.
koodaarai vellum seer gOvindhaa undhannai(p)
paadi(p) paRai kondu yaam peRum sammaanam
naadu pugazhum parisinaal nanRaaga(ch)
choodagamE thOL vaLaiyE thOdE sevip poovE
paadagamE enRanaiya palagalanum yaam aNivOm
aadai uduppOm adhan pinnE paaR chORu
mooda ney peydhu muzhangai vazhi vaara(k)
koodi irundhu kuLirndhElOr empaavaai
