Ramanaduli/friends,
Yes ,indeed it is said that AndaL is the Divine Mother herself born to teach the way to liberation.She is truly universal and although the Bhakti framework refers to the avatars of Lord Narayana,we will see that the teachings themselves are universal;also Narayana referred to is, the supreme Being,at once personal and impersonal.
In Tiruppavai ,Andal is beckoning all spiritual aspirants without any distinction with regard to class,clan,Faith,Race.This is the spirit in which we will approach this wonderful work.Andal makes no bones about the language in which it is composed-she calls it Sangath Tamizh Malai-and this is the True Tradition that needs to be respected,if at all we have to take Tradition into account.The Aga nanooru and pura Nanooru are some of the other great works that are illustrative of the Grandeur and majesty of Sangath tamizh.
In this sense as well,Andal's Tiruppavai is not for the Brahmin Iyengars only but for all those who love Tamizh poetry as well;even those who are atheists as well!I have mentioned how Bharatidasan was an ardent devotee of Andal's sangath tamizh.In this respect as well,Tiruppavai is a unique work that has won the hearts of even atheists as well-In this respect ,it is truly universal and cuts across all divisions.The Temple Tower that is part of the Tamil Nadu state emblem is the tower of AndAL's srivilliputur Temple.
Again,herein we have a temple dedicated to a Saint,AndAl-Although ,Lord Vata patra sayana(Ala ilai Krishna in Tamizh)is the deity,the main deity is AndAl!Here people offer prayers to Andal -knowing well that if she is pleased the Lord has to simply comply!
I will share some stories regarding AndAl sometime later-Among her devotees were Kamban who wrote kamba Ramayana and King Krishna Deva Raya who wrote her life in Telungu in a work called Amukta Malyada.
Tiruppavai always brings to mind tiruvempavai of manikkavachakar ,as both these works are chanted during the Month of Margazhi.However,as we will see that Tiruppavai is not just a Devotional Hymn but an aRRU Padai-a Practical Guide that has a clear methodology as a step by step guide to spiritual living.In this way,it is quite a unique work.This sort of a view need not be viewed as an affront on TiruvempAvai nor does it detract from the beauty of Tiruvempavai.
We need to learn to approach these works in their own right and not pitch them against each other-as if one represents the Vaishnava and the other represents the saiva tradition.This sort of a narrow sectarian view has to be transcended with the clear understanding that These Great ones who composed it were truly identified with the Supreme being and it does not do them justice to confine them within the devotional framework within which they expressed this universal Truth.
TGN takes a jnAna illakiyam approach to TiruppAvai and we will see this in coming days.
Thanks very much for the interest and appreciation of this Great work.
Namaskar.