Kanaiththu iḷam kaṟṟerumai kaṉṟu kkirēṅgi
Ninaiththu mulai vazhiyē ninṟu pāl sōra
The young buffaloes, longing for their calves, stand with milk flowing freely.
In this pāśuram, Andal describes a scene that feels very real and very close to daily life.
The girls come to wake up a friend in the cold Margazhi morning. As they stand outside her house, they notice something unusual. The buffaloes inside have not been milked. They are restless, calling out for their calves, and milk is spilling freely, making the floor wet and messy.
This is not how a careful household usually functions. And that is exactly what Andal wants us to notice.
The girl’s brother has chosen devotion over routine. Instead of attending to daily chores, he is fully absorbed in serving the Lord. The song does not criticise this. It quietly appreciates it. His house may be untidy, but his priorities are clear. True wealth, Andal suggests, is not about keeping everything perfectly in place it is about knowing what comes first.
The girls waiting outside are already awake and ready. Their hair is wet with dew, their feet cold on the ground. They stand at the doorstep and sing, calling their friend to join them. They sing about Rama the one who defeated the king of Lanka reminding her of the Lord’s strength and protection.
Even though Tiruppāvai is closely linked with Krishna, Andal brings Rama into this moment without effort. For her, the form does not matter as much as the presence. The same divine care appears in many ways, answering the same longing.
But the door does not open.
The girl inside remains asleep. Her sleep is described as very deep not just physical rest, but a kind of delay. The others are puzzled. Everyone else seems to be awake. Why is she still unmoved?
So the call becomes more personal now. “Wake up,” they say. “At least now.” It is not a scolding. It is said with affection. You belong here. Don’t stay behind.
This pāśuram gently asks us the same question. When devotion is already close to us in our home, in our surroundings, in the people around us what keeps us from waking up?
Andal does not explain this in many words. She simply shows it through unmilked buffaloes, a muddy floor, a closed door, and voices waiting patiently outside.
This style is now locked in.
Andal Tiruvadigale Sharanam
No comments:
Post a Comment