A tale of two women, who were obsessed about Krishna, the yadhu kula prince. Govindha and Kesava, as he is fondly called, is followed by the cows and calves, his hair is adorned with Peacock feathers and plays venu, his flute. The magical music risen from his flute envelops everyone and make them forget everything but the divine music.
Andal, daughter of Periyalwar, a foundling, adored by her father, was brought up with verses on Krishna. She lived and loved Krishna. After hearing her father sing verses in praise of the divine child, from bala to kumara, Andal fell in love with Krishna. She imagined herself as a Gopika and followed the practices of Gokula. She wanted to marry Krishna. She had the support of her father, who not for a moment thought his daughter's idea of getting married to the lord himself is a crazy one. Her Naachiar Thirumozhi has a padhigam where she creates the wedding scenario of her getting married to Krishna right from wedding procession to the lord marrying her. Every small details are captured with the most beautiful words, like fresh honey dripping out of honeycomb.
Meera, born in a royal Rajput family was a mystic poet. Her love for Krishna is evident in her poetry. She has the wish of marrying Krishna. She clung to the idol of Krishna and he was her playmate and soul mate through her childhood days. Unlike Andal, she wasn't given the freedom of being unmarried. She was married to the Bhoj Raj, the crown prince of Mewar. Meera holding on to Krishna bhakti never paid heed to the political and personal chaos around her. Her only thought was Krishna and her love for him made her invincible, who tried to even kill her. She kept singing about Krishna amidst poison being served to her or snakes trying to get a bite out of her and even when she was ordered to drown herself.
Both Andal and Meera sang songs that were dipped in love and bhakthi for Krishna.
Andal songs are romantic, carefree, playful, cheerful and she owns Krishna to an extent she even mocks at him in certain places.
Meera on the other hand sings soulful songs on Krishna. It has a melancholic touch, being married to the King and in love with Krishna, makes her long for her union with lord, at the Same time making it difficult to remain with her husband and going against societal norms. This drove Meera to the brim of despair, hoping against all odds and naturally her songs were full of despair, loneliness, yet the longing in her words, stirs at the heart of people.
Andal her songs are not just about Krishna, everything surrounded him. She describes krishna, his various avatars, his conch, aadhisesha, his disc called sudarshana Chakra. She talks about Napinnai (Krishna's wife), yasodha, balarama, nandhagopala, devaki, vasudeva, the gopikas, the butter, curd, even the rope that was used to tie Krishna. all the asuras who were sent by Kamas to kill Krishna. Andal's description of krishna is just not him, she loves everything that belonged to him. She has the audacity to even address Nappinai, Krishna's wife to give Krishna along with her fan and mirror. Fan, mirror and krishna? It's a praise for Nappinai that Krishna had given her all the rights to handle him the way she can handle her fan and mirror. "Ukkamum thatoliyum thandhun manaalanai, ippodhae emmai neeraatu“.
Meera on the other hand sings about the dark skinned Krishna with his 'mor mukut' (peacock feather) and 'peethambara' (the golden yellow dress Krishna wears) and 'bansuri' (flute). She immerses herself in her Khanna and doesn't give heed to the surroundings. She is content to have Krishna and the surroundings doesn't matter.
Chala wahi des,
Preetam pawa, jalaan wahi des
Kaho kusumal saari rangawa,
kaho tho bhagawa bhes.
Kaho toh motiyan maang bharaawa,
kaho chhitkaawa kes.
Meera ke prabhu Giridhar naagar,
sunagyo Birad nares.
Let's go to that region, to be one with my love. It does not matter if I have to wear colourful attire or saffron robe. It does not matter if I have to decorate my hair with pearls or to have dishevelled hair as long as Meera be with her lord of love, Giridhar.
If Andal and Meera meets...
Meera sings:
Mor mukut pitambar sohe
Gale vaijanti mala
Varidawan mein dhen charave
Mohan murli wala
Mane chakar rakho ji
Andal sings:
Karpuram naarumo, kamala poo naarumo?
Thirupavala chevvai thaan thitthithirukumo?
Marupositha madhavan than vaai chuvaiyum naatramum,
Viruputru ketkinraen solaazhi vensangae.
Meera: Kodha means creeper? You are the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I have a question for you. How did you escape the clutches of the samsara? How did you escape getting married to a human?
Andal: Meera, I was created beautiful for Krishna. You look serene and your untouched beauty was created for Krishna too. This body is just a vessel to hold the love for Krishna. My father Vishnu Chitha like nurturing a plant, nurtured Krishna's love in me.
When I was ripe for marriage, I prayed to Kamadeva(the lord of love).
"Oonidai aazhi sangu uthamarkku endru unnittu ezhundha en thada mulaihal, maanidavarkku endru paechu padil vazhahillaen kandaai manmadhanae".
(My bosom beats and waits for the lord who holds the conch and disc and I am not meant to live with human (the mortals).) My father stood for me.
Meera: Your poetry is full of beauty. Nature, birds, Krishna's avayava. I am so immersed in your poetry now and I do not want to spend my time away from it.
Andal: Meera, I knew you were put to so many tests before you became one with him. How did you face them. It is so easy to give up than stick on. Not having the support of your own family, the enmity of your in-laws, you are the bravest and the determined. I respect you and want to join you in your bhajans. Let us slowly walk to Vrindavan. Let us sing and dance and enter his fort to be accepted all over again.
I want to sing with you,
"Yaad aave yaad aave
Vrindavan ki mangal leela
Yaad aave yaad aave
Krishna kanhaiya chhail chhabila
Yaad aave yaad aave
Sakhiyan ke sang jana
Nirmal jamuna neer nahana
Sab mil kar lalan gun gana
Kabhi kabhi val dars na pana
Yaad aave yaad aave
Nabh pe taro ka jhilmil na
Murli dhun sun dil khil milna
Kunjan kunjan mohan milna
Yaad aave yaad aave
Chandai madhu chandai raat mein
Ras rachana
Rup mantar se prem jagana
Krishan roop mein kridyan gana
Aabha ko parbhu ko mil jana
Yaad aave yaad aave
Koi kahe ye hai mitha sapna
Krishan kahani savimal rachna
More nahi kachu kahna sunna
More to brij lalan lalna
Yaad aave yaad aave.
"
(Won’t those days when Krishna was growing up in Vrindavan comes back again? The son of nanda did so many miracles those days. Won’t those days comes back again?
All the people gathered and sang the praise of Krishna and bathed in the river Yamuna. They wandered all over the forest looking for Krishna everyday in order to get a glimpse of him.
The herd of Does was put to shame by the gopis. They and the sages were enchanted by the music of flute played by Krishna which made it feel that humanity is superior to celestial life.
He used to go to the forest accompanying the cattle to let them graze. He used to get dirty all over by the dust floating around. The celestials witnessing that desired to visit earth.
Ignorant Meera’s heart is occupied by giridhAri (one who held Govardhana). The lotus feet, sought by scriptures, sages, and Brahma--- must have hurt while walking the forest. Won’t such days come again?)
Meera: Giridhar stayed with me in my hearts and the belief in him, took care of all the obstacles. As you sang, he doesn't need weapons to destroy enemies. He didn't lift one during the great War of Mahabarath and he made me not to lift one during my war within me and with those who stood between me and Krishna, my lord.
Holding their hands Meera and Andal sings in unison, language doesn't matter.. Only true love and devotion. Their songs reverberated and reached Vrindavan, even before they reached the gates of Vrindavan.
Image courtesy:
Meera: Meera Ho Gayi Magan in Sketching by Naveen Kumar Singh
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