Dear Mrs. RR, emboldened by your response to my earlier post, here I am sharing some more about Azhvar Nayaki feeling the pinch of separation. I hope you and other poetry lovers will enjoy.
Of the 12 Azhvars, there were three Azhvars who saw themselves as தலைவி and Sriman Narayana as தலைவன். Of these three, such bhavam came naturally to Andal as she had the advantage of gender by birth. But the other two, Nammazhvar and Thirumangai Azhvar, in spite of having been born male, expresses such tender female love to their தலைவன் it is a matter of wonderment just as equal to enjoyment. In fact Thirumangai Azhvar says in Siriya Thirumdal, that of the four Purusharthas, Darma, Artha, Kama, Moksha, "she" has no use for the other three but kama for Sriman Narayana is what "she" values.
There are couple of other Azhvar who took on female bhavam, but not as தலைவி, but as mother. One is Kulasekarazhvar, he sings from the POV of Kausalya and Devaki, both experienced
பிரிவின் கொடுமை, but not that of a lover. The other is Periyazhvar as Yesoda.
Now, coming back to
பிரிவின் கொடுமை of a lover, both Nammazhvar and Thirumangai Azhvar sing about this from three POV, one from "her" own, one from that of "her" mother, and one from that of "her" தோழி. Let me start out with a verse expressing the anxiety of a mother seeing her daughter suffer from
பிரிவின் கொடுமை. This verse is from the Prabhandham Thirunedundandakam (திருநெடுந்தாண்டகம்), verse #11. I am going to type the verse in a manner that is easy to read.
பட்டு உடுக்கும் அயர்த்து இரங்கும் பாவை பேணாள்
பனி நெடுங் கண் நீர் ததும்ப பள்ளி கொள்ளாள்
எள் துணை போதும் என் குடங்கால் இருக்க கில்லாள்
எம்பெருமான் திருவரங்கம் எங்கே என்னும்
மட்டு விக்கி மணிவண்டு முரலும் கூந்தல்
மடமானை இது செய்தார் தம்மை, மெய்யே
கட்டுவிச்சி சொல் என்னச் சொன்னாள் நங்காய்
கடல் வண்ணர் இது செய்தார் காப்பார் ஆரே!
Archaic words:
மட்டு விக்கி = drunk to the brim with honey
முரலும் = ரீங்காரம்
கட்டுவிச்சி = female soothsayer
Free translation:
Oh soothsayer, tell me truthfully, what did this ocean-hued one do to my little girl? She dresses up in beautiful silk garments, but is stricken with sorrow, her eyes are wet, and she never sleeps, not for a moment does she take refuge in my bosom. The only words she speaks are, where is my lord of Sri Rangam. This beautiful deer-like little girl with bees buzzing, drunk with honey from the flours my little girl wears in her hair, is under his influence, who can save her?
SVs believe three stages of bhakti -- bhakti, parabhakti, and paramabhakti. The first stage of bhakti is exclusive devotion to lord Sriman Narayana, one that is like a dedicated wife, the உன்னையல்லால் ஏதும் குறை வேண்டேன் kind, the kind of Bhakti that is criticized as narrow-minded. The second stage is one in which the jeeva sees Sriman Narayana in everything. The third stage of Parama Bhakti is one in which the Bhakta cannot tolerate even a moment of separation from the lord. Azhvar is supposed to be describing that stage in this verse.
If there is interest I can write about Azvar pasurams along these lines of divine love.
Cheers!
. . . :flame:
out:
