Sethubandhana

 When a squirrel show the significance of Servitude

Grace to Hanuman

 

Tiruppavai 24

Krishna is elegantly seated on the throne.  

The gopikas adore his magical charm. They are grateful that Krishna has accepted their request to participate in the sacred bath.

Overwhelmed with the Darshan of the Lord, they express their gratitude and sing the glory of the Lord’s feet.   

“Long ago, you measured this Universe with your feet. Glory to those feet !!

“You went south to Lanka and killed Ravana, who held Sita captive. Glory to your valour !!

“Shakatasura came in the form of a cart to kill you. You destroyed him with your kick, even as a child.   (It was so unbelievable, you became famous.)  

Glory to your feet and Glory to your everlasting fame !!

“You used Vatsasura as a stick and smashed it against a wood-apple tree (another asura), in one shot.

Your admirable stance when you used your feet to whirl the calf around and throw it at the tree!  Glory to those feet !! 

“You lifted the Govardhan mountain like an umbrella ; Glory to that quality of extraordinary grace !!  

“You wield a powerful spear that wins over your opponents and removes any trace of enmity !!  Glory to that spear in your hand.   

“We’ve all come today to seek the accessories required for the sacred bath.  Please be compassionate to us. We only seek eternal servitude to you.”  

(The word Bhagavan has six attributes. Gnana, Shakti, Balam, Aishwaryam, Veeryam and Thejas. Andal praises all these aspects in this verse.)  

Tiruppavai 16

 31-12-25 | Ramayana , Bhaghavata , Gopika , Tiruppavai , Guru and Devotee

Andal and the gopikas now reach the mansion of Nandagopa. They see a dwara-palaka (gate-keeper) at the entrance.

Andal asks him to open the bejeweled doors of the mansion and allow them in. “O’ Nayaka! We are here to sing Krishna’s glory and awaken him. He has already assured us yesterday, that he would give us the tools required for our vow.

“He is a mayavi — with a hue of dazzling blue-sapphire. But we can manage to read his thoughts. We know him. Please grant us entry.

“Please don’t send us away with trivial excuses. We are simple cowherd folk who have come to you with a pure heart. And don’t make us unlock the door and find our way in. You should hold our hands and take us where we should go.”

(Notes for the seeker):

The Acharya is the dwarapalaka. Andal addresses him as Nayaka — one who leads people. The doors are our ahamkara and mamakara (‘me’ and ‘mine’). The lock to the doors are the meanings of the mantra, which will be initiated by the Acharya.

Andal says “Krishna has already assured to protect all those who seek his protection — In the Rama avatar when he accepts Vibheeshana’s surrender and proclaims: “Anyone who surrenders to me completely, will be assured of protection.” And so also in the Bhagavadgita, Krishna tells Arjuna — Maam ekam sharanam vraja.)

(Andal wakes up the gopikas and goes on to wake up everyone until Krishna. But the dwara-palaka was not woken up. Can he ever sleep?)

Tiruppavai 13

 28-12-25 | Vatsalya , Rajagopala , Ramayana , Gopika

Next, a silent devotee, who has earlier had a glimpse of divine bliss.  She avoids any talk with the others. 

Andal encourages her: “O’ Young and beautiful girl with charming eyes!!  We all should go to the river to bathe. Not for a hesitant dip. But a deep plunge into the cold waters;  This immersion is an exhilarating Krishna anubhava! Don’t while away your time sleeping.

“Come, the others are singing the glories of Rama. Let’s join them.   Jatayu is a vulture who fought Ravana while he carried away Sita.  Jatayu’s wings and beak were chopped off by the Rakshasa.  Rama was uncontrollably angry.  The ten heads of Ravana rolled.

     
“All the gopikas have reached the chosen place for the austerities.  Oh dear sakhi ! it is truly a great day for us . Kindly let go of your restraint and share your divine experiences with all of us.”

Tiruppavai 12

 27-12-25 | Vatsalya , Rajagopala , Ramayana , Bhagavatha , Gopika

Andal wakes up a gopika who is sleeping even after daybreak.

She is the sister of a great devotee and a close personal attendant of Krishna (Sridhama).

He milks the buffalo in his home. On a particular day, he had rush to the temple on an important errand to the Lord. Due to the urgency, he left the buffalo unmilked. The buffalo was unable to bear the delay, and pours out her milk. It forms a slush in the gopikas house. Andal and the others couldn't get in.

Andal stays outside, holding the door step with the dense morning dew falling on their heads.

Andal: "You're still asleep? How can you be so ignorant? You're so fortunate to have a brother who has earned auspicious wealth? (Sharanagathi to Krishna.)

Since she didn't wake up by hearing glories of Krishna, Andal decides to sing the glories of Rama. "Rama is sweet to the mind (Ramayati iti Ramah)*. The one who would be affectionate even to his opponent. These should not only be enjoyed by the mind, but should also be talked about.

Everyone nearby is already awake. Get up now!"

Here, Andal lists the types of services to Krishna, and how to prioritise it.

Sanjeevani Hanuman

 

Prasanna Anjaneya

 

Hanuman with Sanjeevani

 

Jai Siya Ram

 Wishing all a very blessed and happy Sri Rama Navami

Andal in Vraj 24

 

08-01-25 | Krishna Leela , Gopika , Tiruppavai , Dashavatara

Andal now sings the glories of Krishna. There are six qualities which are in Him, which make Him Bhagavan. 

1. O’Krishna! Glories to your feet (as Vamana) which straddled the entire earth!
    
2. Rama! you’ve walked all the way to Lanka for the sake of Sita. How much pain your legs must have borne!! Glories to your feet!
    
3. O’ Krishna! Your soft little feet kicked an asura in the form of a cart and broke it into pieces. Glories to those feet! 
    
4. O’ Lord (Balarama)! You threw the asura calf as a stick to bring down another asura in the form of a wood apple tree — Glories to your feet! (as it was the slight bend of feet which gave more momentum to hit the tree). 
    
5. O’ Krishna! You held the Goverdhan standing on your feet for seven days, to protect your devotees. Glories to such quality of protecting your devotees! 
    
6. O’ krishna! Glory to your thejas! Your Sudarshana chakra always protects us from all harm.
7. 
   
   
   
   

Andal in Vraj 22

 06-01-25 | Tiruppavai

Andal says: “This world is so vast, that the kings  rule just a minuscule part of it. Yet they become proud and arrogant.” 

In the Ramayana, the Ikshvaku dynasty ruled the entire land without the slightest pride. Especially King Ambareesha. Despite being a Chakravarthi, having multitude of servants, he picked flowers and made flower garlands for the Lord.  He smeared cowdung on the floor, decorating it with floral designs served Him with all love and humility. The Lord was so pleased with his devotion, that his Sudarshana chakra was always protecting Ambareesha.

“O’ Krishna, we have come before you, abandoning all pride. Please open your eyes ever so slowly, just as a bell peeps out of an anklet akin to a half-blossomed lotus. Your graceful glance will purify us for eternal servitude.”

 31-12-24 | Ramayana , Gopika , Tiruppavai , Guru and Devotee

Andal pleads with the Acharya to allow access to all of them to the temple, and to have the darshan of Krishna. They’ve come to sing his glories. She reminds that He has already made it clear when he gave refuge to Vibhishana.

Andal in Vraj 13

 28-12-24 | Ramayana , Gopika , Tiruppavai , Hanuman

Jatayu and Hanuman play a significant part in the battle against Ravana. When his devotee is harmed, Rama does not restrain himself. He  intensifies the attack until Ravana (RajoGuna) is killed.   Andal, while waking up another girl, tells her to stop her reclusive approach to Bhakti.  “Dive deep into the waters of Krishna Anubhava - and  share the experiences with other bhaktas.

Andal in Vraj 12

 27-12-24 | Ramayana , Gopika , Tiruppavai

Rama: The one who delights everyone. (Ramayati ithi Rama).  Andal elaborates on the necessary duties of a devotee - if one has to choose between servitude to the Lord and one’s daily duties,  service wins. Lakshmana personifies this wealth of service, (Lakshmanah - Lakshmi sampannah) - which doesn’t diminish.) 

Sri Seetha Ramachandra Swamy

Wishing all a very blessed Sri Rama Navami

Sri Seetha Ramachandra swamy:  Bhadrachalam
#Ramayana #Ramanavami #Ayodhya #krishnaffortoday #watercolour

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.

Raghuveera

 

Sharanagathi

 

Prabhu Ramachandra