- Tiruppavai 27
Transliteration of Pashuram
Koodarai vellum seer Govinda, Undrannai
Paadiparaikonduyaamperumsammanam
Naadupugazhumparisinaalnandraga
Soodagametholvalaiyethodesevippoove
Padagameyendranaiyapalkalanumyaamanivom
Aadaiyuduppom adhan pinnepaarsoru
Moodaneiypeydhumuzhankaivazhivara
Koodiyirundhukulirndhelorempavai
Translation from Tamil
O Govinda,Youwill win rivals with valour,
We, sing your glory, seek Parai, and honours of
World recognition, Precious Bangles for wrists,
Golden Arm bonds, Ear tops & hangings, silver
Anklets for feet, and attractive Garments for us
To wear, to reach for Your divine association,
To enjoy delicacy of milk, rice, sweet with Ghee
flowing overelbows, justto be with You, forever.
Godamma started the 30-poem-Tiruppavai explaining the rigours of Siri Nomu, the Vratam, like do not wear flowers instead, offer each flower to Krishna, do not eat Ghee or other tasty delicacies which divert your focus from Krishna. Then, she wakes up ten Gopika leaders and Alwars. Along with Gopikas, Goda had proximate darshan of Lord Krishna.
In this Pashuram Goda expressed her desire and that of the Gopikas, her friends in Sri Villi Puttur, which she considers as VrepalleorBrindavanam. After having Darshan of Lord Krishna, they praise the glory of Bhagawan, Hails His adventures in defeating demons and helping the good and peaceful. As the Vratam is reaching its conclusion, she is expressing the desire, what they really intend to have from Krishna. They are asking for perpetual association with Sri Krishna. The Vratam that began with don’ts like ‘no ghee, no sweets, no flowers’ etc, the Gopikas are now requesting for certain things which bring them nearer to God, besides cherishing the constant touch with Him.
Also Read : Krishna’s affection for devotees is more than their Love
In the 26thPashuram, they asked for Margalil Holy bath with Sri Krishna. They were praying with Laskhmi to permit Sri Krishna to be with them. They demanded Sri Krishna, some Conches, like HisPanchajanyamsymbolising the Knowledge;Parai, the music instrument which also mean the world beyond the worldly material things;the Singers of glory of Vishnu; the lamp representing the Mother Lakshmi, Garuda Dwajam – the flag, Ananta Naga suggesting the tent, etc. The reason behind asking for Conch, which Vishnu needs always is that they can always live in proximity with Krishna. They were in fact, asking for the Lord Krishna Himself, without saying so. He asks them “You are asking my weapons, Lakshi, my devotees, Ananta, Garuda etc. Do you want to win me over completely”? Gopikas respond, “O God, it is impossible for us and we do not intend it, it is your unique quality to win all”. God again asks “Okay, please tell me what do you wantexactly from me?”.
The events thereafter are explained in subsequent Pashurams. Today she is in front of the Lord, she addresses the Lord who wins over people unwilling to join Him or vanquishes those who are not following the righteous path. They say, “we are singing your praise and seek from your hands gifts that the world will be enamoured of. We seek from Your hands, lovely garlands and earrings and many other ornaments, then lovely garments too. We will adorn ourselves when these are given by Your hands as ifYou adorn us yourselves. We make up ourselves just to please You and enjoy in Your presence. And after presenting ourselves well, we will eat Paayasam,i.e, rice cooked in milk, sugar and ghee as your Prasadamwhich will be full of ghee that flow down our elbow as we consume. And being in unison with you, in your company, partaking of the gifts and the food, we remain together and happy and blissful, which we desire to have perpetually.
Also Read : Precious Son of two divine mothers – Krishna
The way to attain Moksha
This song explains the way one can attain Moksha, the liberation. Reciting His name, Being with Him, Singing His glory, getting immersed in his thoughts, remembering his divine qualities, and enjoying the delicacies of Payasam called ‘Soru’ (sweet made of milk, rice, ghee, etc) along with the Supreme Being, shall be the ultimate result of the Vrata. It is the ultimate Bliss, called breaking of the birth, death, and rebirth cycle, i.e., Moksha or liberation.
Abhimukha, Vimukha and Udaara
Goda praises the God saying He can win the people who oppose Him, with his valour. There are three kinds of people who are reluctant to come near the God.
Also Read : To know Limitless Love and Unbounded Affection for Krishna
1. Abhimukha…. one who thinks he does not deserve to be associated with God. Yamunacharya is example for Abhimukha, as he felt very small, having committed several wrongs: Is it possible for me to be with you in your abode? no way, Lord? But God knows devotion of Yamunacharya, the Guru of Ramanuja, and took Him to His abode.
2. Second category is Vimukha… who do not like Him but oppose. God will win over them in battle.
3. Third type of people are the reluctant beings – Udaara. they are lazy, disinterested, who also get inspired by the attraction of Krishna.
Vijitaatma
Among thousand names- Vishnu Sahasra Nama, He is called Vijitaatma, who has won over by the devotees, and once He is defeated, Krishna becomes Vidheyatma, obedient to those souls. With his attractive affectionate character, He welcomes those enjoin Him. Regarding rivals, Lord will wage war and defeat them. For instance, He is most obedient to Pandavas who love Him serves them as charitoteer, and He gets all Kauravas killed who were in fact fighting Him.
Striking at Pride of Indra
Krishna notices egoistic behaviour of Indra and asks His father and friends to worship Govardhana, and offer him the sacrifices instead of giving to Indra. Furious Indra causes hailstorm, rain thunders, and drop lightning for a week. Krishna protects His people by lifting Govardhana like an umbrella holding it for seven days and nights on his little finger. Then, He earned title- Govinda, one who protected Cows. ‘Go’ in Sanskrit also means the earth, which was grabbed by Hiranyaksha, to kill whom Naryana descends in the form of Varaha Murthy.
Also Read : Simhasanappaattu: Inviting Krishna Simha to Singhasan
Goda, for the first time among 30 songs, calls Him Govinda in this 27thPashuram. This refers to the trouble Krishna took for seven long days to save all living beings. Gopikas and Goda desire to have those things, which are closely connected with Vishnu. Though they appear to have asked ornaments, they were in fact asking for Guru’s extended hand, impressions of Sanka and Chakra on arms- known as Samasrayanam, theprocess of admission into Vaishnavaite Guru tradition, ear tops etc mean eight – letter- mantra – Ashtakshari, two ear studs mean Dwaya mantra – pair of Naryana mantras etc. This pashuram is embodiment of enormous affection for Lord Krishna.