Two women, two states, one goal
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...
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
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.
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
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?)
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
Andal: https://goo.gl/images/CFxU39
4 Candles:
உன்னுடைய ப்ளாக் ஆண்டாளையும், மீராவையும் ஒப்பு நோக்கி எழுதியதை நிதானமாக வாசித்து பார்த்தேன்.
இரண்டு தெய்வீக நாயகிகளின் ஒப்புவுயர்வு (இதுமாதிரி சொல்லலாமா என்று தெரியவில்லை) இருவருமே உயர்வானவர்கள்தான். இவர்களை ஒப்பிட நாம் யார் என்று தோன்றும். இருந்தாலும் ஒரு பட்டி மன்றம் மாதிரி நஹி நிந்தா நியாய முறையில் போகிறதோ என்னவோ உன் கட்டுரை. இரண்டு பேருடைய பாடல்களும் கொஞ்சமாவது தெரிந்திருந்தால் தான் இதை எழுதமுடியும். உன் முயற்சி 75% வெற்றி என்றே சொல்லவேண்டும். என்ன, பட்டிமன்றத்தில்யாராவது ஒருவர் பக்கம் தீர்ப்பு வரும். உன் கவிதை கட்டுரையின் முடிவில் இருவரும் கைகோத்து கொண்டு ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணனின் பெருமையை பாடிக்கொண்டும் ஆடிக்கொண்டும் போகிறார்கள்.
நம்முடய வாழ்க்கையில் இந்த நிகழ்ச்சியை பார்ப்பதற்கும் தெய்வீக மங்கையர் இருவர் வரலாற்றில் பார்ப்பதற்கும் நிறைய வித்தியாசம் தெரிகிறது. இவ்வுலகவாழ்வில், ஒருவனின் மனைவி மற்றோருபெண் தன் கணவனை விரும்புவதற்கு இடம் தரமாட்டாள். ஆனால் இந்த ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணனுடைய உலகில் அஞ்சு லக்ஷம் குடி திருவாய்ப்பாடி பெண்களும் கிருஷ்ணனுடன் யமுனை கரையில் ராசக்ரீடை செய்து மகிழ்கின்றனர். ஒருவருக்கும் ஒரு பொறாமை உணர்ச்சியும் தொன்றினதில்லை. ஒரு போட்டி மட்டும் நடக்குமாம். யார் அவனை அதிக நாள் பட்டினி போட்டனர் என்று. அது ஒரு தனி ரசனை. இது நிற்க.
ஆகையால் மீரபாயும் ஆண்டாளும் போட்டி போட்டு கிருஷ்ணனின் தாப மழையில் நனைந்து பாடி உருகுவதில் ஏற்றத்தாழ்வை காட்டியுள்ளாய். அதன் பின்னணி காரணமும் காட்டி உள்ளாய். உண்மையான வார்த்தைகளே.
இதிலிருந்து நாம் அறிவதென்ன? ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணனிடம் நாம் வைக்கும் பிரேமைக்கும் சராசரி மனிதனிடம் நாம் வைக்கும் பிறேமமும் எதிரெதிர் என்று தெரிகிறது. ஒன்று பேரின்பம் மற்றது சிற்றின்பம். அதனால் தானோ என்னவோ, நம்மாழ்வார் பரமபதத்தில் உள்ளவர்களை, “அந்தமில் பேரின்பத்து அடியரோடு இருந்தமை” என்கிறார். எனக்கென்னவோ ஸ்ரீ ஆண்டாளின் பக்தியைவிட ஸ்ரீ மீராவின் பக்தி சற்று உயர்வாகவே தோன்றுகிறது. ஆண்டாளுக்கு உதவிசெய்யவும் வழிகாட்டவும் தந்தை பெரியாழ்வார் துணை இருந்தார். மீரவுக்கோ அவர் குடும்பமே எதிரி. எள்ளி நகையாடல். கணவன் கையை பிசைந்தவன். ஒன்று நன்று செய்தான் மீராவின் போக்கில் பயம் கண்டு சற்று ஒதுங்கியவன். ஆண்டாள் தான் சாற்றிக்கொண்டு கன்ணாடியில் அழகு பார்த்த மாலையை கேட்டு வாங்கி போட்டுக்கொண்ட கிருஷ்ணனோ, மீராபாய் விஷயத்தில் ஓடியாடி ஓட்டம் காட்டியவன். இறுதியில் இருவரையுமே கிருஷ்ணன் தன்னிடம் பலர் காண மறைய வைத்தனன்.
இறுதியில் ஆண்டாளையும், மீராவையும் எதிரெதிர் நிறுத்தி உன் கல்பனையில் ஒன்று சேர்த்து இருவரும் தோள் மீது தோள் கை போட்டு பாட வைத்துள்ளது நல்லதோர் கற்பனை. இதில் ஆண்டாள் வழிகாட்டி என்றே சொல்ல வேண்டும். கிருஷ்ணனை தனியே பொய் தொண்டு செய்ய ஆண்டாள் எப்போதும் விரும்பியதில்லை அதனால் தானோ என்னவோ பத்து வீட்டு பெண்களாவது எழுப்பி அழைத்து போனாள். ஆகையால் உன் மூலம் மீராவுடன் சேர்ந்ததில் வியப்பு இல்லை எனக்கு.
ஒன்று நிச்சயம். கண்ணன் மீது இருவர் கொண்ட காதலும் உணர்வுகளும் இவ்வுலகம் அழியும் வரையும் ஓயாது. மாறாக ஆண்களையும் பெண்ணாக்கி அழகு பார்க்குமந்தோ ! பெரியாழ்வார் என்ன/ நம்மாழ்வார் என்ன, கிருஷ்ண சைதன்யர் என்ன, ஊத்துக்காடு சுப்ரமணிய ஐயர் என்ன இவர்கள் எல்லோருமே அந்த புருஷோத்தமனோடு ஒன்றப் பார்த்தவர்களே அன்றோ.
நல்ல கல்பனை, நல்ல யுக்தி சாமர்த்தியம் உன் கட்டுரையில் உள்ளது. பாராட்டுகள்.
ராம பக்தி சாம்ராஜ்யம் மாதிரி கிருஷ்ணா பக்தி சாம்ராஜ்யமும் ஒரு தனிசுவை தான். இவை உன் கட்டுரையை படித்தபின் என் மனசில் ஓடிய ஓட்டங்கள்.
excellent
how nice to read the simple verses of Meera
they have a haunting quality
thanks for sending this
dasan
Their love for Krishna is unbeatable. Their songs gives us so much joy and stirs our emotions. We were not fortunate to be a Gopika during Krishna's time or be one of Andal's ghosti. Nevertheless their songs has the power to transport us temporarily to their times. I see myself as the girl who குள்ளக் குளிர குடைந்து நீராடாமல் பள்ளிக் கிடக்கும் பெண். I also am among those followers of Meera, singing பிருந்தாவனத்தில் கண்ணன் வளர்ந்த அந்த நாளும் வந்திடாதோ. And I should thank you appa for showing me the divinity of Krishna. தலையல்லால் கைமாறிலேன்
Thanks Swamin. Yes the simplicity of her verses dipped in divinity never fails to bring tears. Whenever she mentions Meera ke prabhu, one can feel the pride yet humbleness. Thanks for leaving your comment. Adiyaen
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