Gopika Geetham

 

Gopika Geetam - Tiruppavai 30

Andal identifies herself as the composer of these 30 verses of Tiruppavai, and the daughter of Periyazhwar, (an amsha of Garuda, the mount of Vishnu) residing in Srivilliputhur.  Whosoever recites this hymn, she assures, will get the divine bliss here and  hereafter , through the benign grace of Shriyahpathi) the Lord of Lakshmi.

Gopika Geetam - Tiruppavai 29

Andal says: "O Govinda! We’ve come here early morning and bow before Your golden feet and sing your praises.  Please accept our servitude unconditionally. We didn’t come here to seek any implements for the vow. Our wish is that in all of our births, we should keep serving You, knowing our eternal relationship with You. Whenever we deviate from the path due to our desires — correct it forthwith."

Gopika Geetam - Tiruppavai 27

The Gopis are ecstatic when Krishna fulfils  their wish, giving them the required implements for the vow.  

“O Govinda ! It’s a miracle how You win over your opponents with your grace. Furious Indra pours torrents of rain on Gokula, but you save the cowherds by lifting the Govardhana mountain like an umbrella. Realising his folly, Indra surrenders to You. (And Kamadhenu anoints you as ‘Govinda’) . 

So also, you lose yourself easily to those who are devoted to You.  What unlimited grace!! “Krishna, we’ve sung songs praising you. After completing a month-long vow, we’re blessed to earn a supreme gift. You!! 

“we’ll wear new clothes, which have been worn and discarded by you. And you’ll adorn us with garlands and many ornaments— bracelets,shoulder ornaments , studs and golden flowers (for the ear), rings, anklets etc.,  “Then we’ll partake of rice with milk and covered with ghee, overflowing upto our elbows.  And we will be overjoyed for eternity in Your company, serving You.” 

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Andal pleads with Krishna! “O compassion in a divine  form! O blue gem! We seek implements to perform the sacred bath to complete the vow!”

Krishna, says, “O Gopis ! You say you have come to get materials from me  for your vow and in the same breath say that You have come to enjoy My company. Those who desire my company  need to eschew all other desires . Moreover, What is this vow that You refer to?”

The gopikas respond: 

"O Krishna! the cowherds proposed this vow to gain auspiciousness. We readily agreed so that we can see you and sing Your glories. Although there is no direct injunction, we follow the traditions of our wise ancestors, or whenever there is a doubt.”

Krishna asks about the implements required for the vow. 

The Gopikas say: 

“Listen, these are what we require: white conches like Your great Panchajanyam which makes the earth tremble, giant size drums, musicians to sing your glory, decorative and auspicious lamps, flags (Garuda) and a big canopy.”

Krishna says: “oh! I have only one Panchajanya!?”

Andal responds,  “Oh Mayavin! You are Vatapatrashayee! We know about your prowess. You can create anything with your mere thought. Kindly bless us with these things to complete our vow.”

Gopika Geetam- Tiruppavai 25

Andal articulates her wish to Krishna: 

“O Krishna!! Your avatara is always a mystery. You graced this earth as the son of a matchless one (Devaki) in a matchless night (Janmashtami) and grew up in secrecy under another matchless one (Yashoda). Was it to escape Kamsa?! No. You chose to be amongst your devotees in Gokula. This was not tolerated by Kamsa. You destroyed all his evil intentions by converting it into a fire in his belly. 

“O Krishna! The one with overflowing love for his devotee! We cannot bear separation from you. We don’t need implements to complete the vow. We seek You as our boon! 

“We will sing about your matchless wealth and that of Lakshmi, who is always beside you. Completely rid of all our worries, we’ll happily serve you both eternally.“

Gopika Geetam - Tiruppavai 24

Krishna sits on the throne and looks all around.

The Gopikas led by Andal, hail the glorious qualities of Krishna.

“O’ Krishna! Hail to your feet which measured and blessed all the inhabitants of the universe!

“Hail to your feet that walked to beautiful Lanka and glory to your broad shoulders which vanquished Ravana!

“O Krishna, Hail to your fame, when we came to know that you killed shakatasura, even as a one-year-old.

“O Krishna! You swirled the calf Vathsasura using him as a javelin, threw him on Kapithasura (in the form of a tree) and killed both. You generated extra speed by bending your legs. Hail to those feet.

“Hail to your quality of kindness, which made you lift the Govardhana to save Gokula, as though it were a mere mushroom.

“Hail to the spear you wield, that wins over your enemies and removes their enmity without a trace!

“We’ve come here knowing that only you can give us refuge with grace and kindness. Please accept our servitude.“

Gopika Geetam - Tiruppavai 21

Nappinnai opens the door and joins the gathering of the Gopis.  

She says, “I was not being indifferent. I waited for the right time to advocate your cause.” The Gopikas are overjoyed. 

Andal submits to Krishna: 

“O Supreme Lord! You have the unique combination of having both compassion and power, which are usually mutually exclusive. It ensures your vow of giving refuge to all those who surrender to you. You have guaranteed earlier that those who understand the truth of Your avatara rahasya, will certainly reach You. (Gita)

Krishna!! 

You are the Paravasudeva!

You are Vyuha avatara!

You are Rama and Krishna!

You manifest yourself as deities in temples! You are our Antaryami! 

We have come here in all humility, devoid of all attachments, seeking refuge in Your lotus feet.”

Gopika Geetam - Tiruppavai 20

 Getting no answer, Andal realises they must have been really tired and asleep.  She tries to wake up Nappinnai and Krishna again, with humility.

She first addresses Krishna: “O Krishna!! Wake up! You are in the forefront of all the devas, preventing and removing all their fears. You possess all benevolent qualities. You are Sarvaloka sharanya — the sole refuge for the all the worlds.”

Turning to Nappinnai she says, “O lady of incomparable beauty! O Lakshmi! You are the repository of all good qualities! Please wake up! We beseech you to give us  the fan, the mirror and your dear Lord as well, to complete our vow and serve you. Please help us to prepare for the ceremonial bath now itself.”

Gopika Geetam - Tiruppavai 19

 Andal tries to wake up Krishna. 

Nappinnai tries to open the door, but krishna holds her down, and doesn’t allow her to open the door. Actually the divine couple compete with each other, although lightheartedly, to show who is more graceful than the other. 
Andal says: “O krishna! Maybe you cannot get up! But you can at least open your mouth, just to say you have given us refuge?!” 

Now she turns to Nappinnai “O lady with wide eyes! You’re not letting Krishna go. You fear you cannot bear the separation from Him even for a moment. This is neither just on your part, nor does it vouch for your unbounded mercy. Please recommend us  to Krishna to grant us refuge.”

Gopika Geetam - 18

 Andal proceeds to wake up Nappinnai (Neeladevi), the consort of Krishna. It is imperative that one approaches Krishna through his consorts. The mother recommends to krishna their child’s surrender (called Purushakaratvam). 

Nappinnai is playing a ball made of flowers. It represents the entire world, and the divine couple sustain the world with their infinite grace. 

Andal asks Nappinnai to get up and slowly open the door, with the delightful music of her bangles. 

(It is recalled here that once Sri Ramanujacharya was going around for bhiksha, he was reciting this verse of the Tiruppavai.  He stops when Atthuzhai, opens the door, her bangles jingling. Sri Ramanuja thinks it 

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Andal says Krishna is happy with His devotees. But he is happier when the devotee is His devotee’s devotee.  

At times there are conversations where there will be unnecessary blames, pointing out faults, albeit just to tease. 

When the devotee was a bit late in coming out to join the gathering, the girls make sarcastic remarks without knowing the actual reason. The devotee asks them to avoid harshness. Then she comes out and takes the blame upon herself although she was not at fault. This is the quality of a Bhagavatha bhakta. 

Andal is actually awakening the jiva to come out from the cage of worldly affairs to sing the glory of Krishna.

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 Andal creates an environment to help understand the significance of the verse. The body is represented by the tree, which in turn is sustained by the heart, suggested by the lotus pond.  

The blossoming of the lotus, is the realisation of the Paramathma within. When the realisation is complete, the soul begins to sing and celebrate Krishna unabashedly.
 
Andal encourages a learned girl to sing the glory of the lotus-eyed, Chaturbhuja Krishna holding the conch and discus.

Gopika Geetam - Tiruppavai 13

Next, Andal finds a learned girl lying on bed. She was already awake, but kept aloof from the proceedings. 

Andal says: “Oh doe-eyed girl! The others have already joined the congregation. They went singing the praise of Krishna, who tore open the mouth of the crane, BakAsura; and of Rama, who gave refuge to Vibheeshana and vanquished Ravana”.

Andal understands that the girl’s learning gave her a glimpse of bliss.  

“Instead of plunging yourself deeper into krishnanubhava, why are you whiling away your time? O blessed one, please share the intricate details of the knowledge you’ve  gained from the Acharya upadeshas.”

Gopika Geetam - Tiruppavai 12

 Andal wakes up another girl whose brother is extremely devoted to Krishna.

He left quickly to attend to Krishna, even without milking the buffaloes. The buffaloes let out all their milk, drenching the front yard to slush. 

Andal says such service to Krishna is an invaluable wealth.

She recalls Lakshmana’s unparalleled services to Rama. She also elaborates on the qualities of Rama, and why his name is so sweet to the mind (Ramayathi ithi Rama).

Gopika Geetam - Tiruppavai 11

 Andal continues to highlight the greatness of our acharyas. They open up their spectrum of knowledge to their best disciple — like a peacock spreads its tail to dance. This best disciple is humble like the snake, which shrinks the hood when getting into its hole — and clings to the acharya like the creeper to a tree.  Andal offers a simple solution for the people  struggling with life and searching for a way out of the morass:  “Krishna bhakti !!” Krishna, dark like the monsoon cloud, was born just to protect the cows - like a mother would. His boundless grace , simplicity and adorable qualities are an inexhaustible treasure to enjoy in our minds — over and over again. The easiest, exciting and practicable way of life, for survival and salvation. 

Gopika Geetam - Tiruppavai 10

Andal wakes up a wise girl who has realised the supreme, Narayana. She stresses the glory of Tulasi and the Sattva guna. The Lord’s favourite is Tulasi. He wears a garland of Tulasi as a crown.  She refers to Kumbhakarna, whose tamasa guna led to his downfall. (the brothers Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Vibheeshana —  represent the Rajas, Tamas and Satva guna respectively.) Narayana gives supreme importance to sattva guna, as demonstrated by Vibheeshana.  Andal addresses the realised girl as a precious vessel which can hold the best of qualities.

Gopika Geetam - Tiruppavai 09

 Andal, wakes up a disciple seemingly enjoying a life of luxury. She stresses the importance of sankeertan, singing the infinite qualities of Krishna — Maya, Madhava, Vaikuntha etc.,  She reminds one as to how the fleeting joys of this world pales into insignificance when compared to a divine experience in the spiritual world with discipline and detachment.

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 ANDAL:   “O enthusiastic girl! Wake up!  Let’s hurry to receive the Acharya’s grace.  Until we’re blessed by the Acharya, it is a night of total darkness. After surrendering, it is the onset of a bright dawn for the seeker.  Krishna says in the Gita that he prefers a gyani the most. O joyous girl! You are a gyani. You should be at the forefront of our gathering.  Our Acharya will lead us to the presence of the Lord of Lords, Devadiraja.  He will be elated and inquire carefully and  grant us the appropriate fruit of our austerities.” 

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 Andal: “Wake up, girl! Don’t you hear the chirping,  chatting and conversations all around you on Sriman Narayana?! Don’t you hear the analytical churning of the scriptures by the acharyas? We know you are you engrossed in Krishnanubhava. But it’s not complete until we surrender ourselves to Him. Come, O divinely glowing girl,  let’s sing the name of Keshava, the one with beautiful tresses.”