On 2/1/2015 the day of “Undhu madha kalitthan” Ubha Ve Adoor Asuri Madhavachariar swami’s upanyasam “Tiruppavai and Tirunedunthankam” started with chanting of the pasuram after anusandhanam of acharya and Tiruppavai thaniyans. The 18th pasuram of Tiruppavai was the favourite pasuram of Tiruppavai Jeer, Bhaghavadh Ramanuja. While going on the veethis of Srirangam doing unchuvritthi singing and contemplating on the layers of meaning embedded in these thirty glorious verses , he came to the 18 th pasuram when he reached Periya Nambhi’s Tirumaaligai(residence). At the doorstop he spotted Periya Nambhigal’s kumarathi ( daughter ) wearing many bangles in her arms. Taking her to be Nappinai Swami Ramanuja fell down in prostrations. Nappinai is addressed in the pasuram as the daughter-in-law of Nandhagopan. Andal and friends tell her that the hens have crowed and the innumerable cuckoos sitting on the Madhavi pandal(Madhavi is a flower which is a creeper) have cooed. She is described as one with beautifully perfumed tresses,holding the kandukam(ball) tightly in her palms while sleeping and holding on to SriKrishna with her other hand. Wake up and open the door with your bangle filled hands.
In this pasuram Thayar’s purushakaram is talked about. She mediates on our behalf and makes Him accept us. A cock/hen digs a whole heap to get a grain of its choice. A Srivaishnavan picks up the superior most tatvams. He accepts the Rahasyatrayam-Ashtaksharam,dwayam and charama slokam.The cuckoos singing on the Madhavi pandal are acharyas who talk sweetly. The ball Nappinai holds is Naaram( Chetana and Achetana) ,Krishna ofcourse is Narayana. The sound of the bangles are the explanations of the Mantra trayam by acharyas and the opening of the door is the happiness felt by an acharyan when he performs prappathi to the seeker. He is happy to have shown the right path.
Swami then dealt briefly with Pasuram-4 of Tirunedunthandakam .The proccess of learning begins by attentive listening, Called shravanam in sanskrit one has to first listen to upanishad artham(meaning) from a guru. The saaram(essence) are the Rahasya trayam ( the three secrets).Brahmam should not be forgotten,the mantras should not be forgotten. Japam of Ashtaksharam, dwayam and charama slokam should be done daily. These are known as “ujeevana mantrams”. The first step towards learning is desire. Even the most difficult lessons can be learnt if there is an eagerness to study. Because Paratatvam can never be fully understood can we just keep quiet? If Nathamunigal had not taught his two nephews Nalayiram( the 4000 divya prabhandhams) with raagam(music). thaalam(beat) and abhinayam (mime) would posterity have ever enjoyed them.? We should seek an acharya and study the arthams(meaning) and cotemplate on their meanings. Acharyas are called Sarvagandha:(Good smelling) and Sarvarasa. We get the perfume of brahma gnanam from them.
Writeup & Video : Vyjayanthi and Sundararajan
