- Tiruppavai- 9
On Ninth day, Goda is awakening fourth Gopika and Tirumalishai Aalwar. Of Guru mantras, Srimathe Ramanujaya Namah is invoked. In this Goda explained the relation between the Jeeva and Bhagawan. 9 symbolises completeness, nine forms of devotions and nine forms of precious stones.
Thoomani Madathuch chutrum vilakkeriya
In a Ratna sudded palace & amidst bright lamps
Dhoopam kamazha thuyilanai mel kann kavarum
And fragrance of Dhoopa, sleeping on a soft bed,
Maaman magale manikkadavam thall thiravaay
Oh, Uncles daughter unlock and open the Mani Dwara
Mameer avalai ezhuppeero? un magal than
Oh Aunty, why don’t wake up your daughter
Oomaiyo ! andri sevido ! anandhalo !
Is she dumb, or deaf or in tired sleep?
Emapperunthuyil mandirappattalo
Or is she in ordered sleep or in magic spell?
Mamayan madhavan viakuntan endrendru
Very mysterious Madhava, Vaikunthesha
Naamam palavum navindrelor empavai
Come, let us sing His names thousands of times.
[Transliteration of Pashuram, and its translation from Tamil (in italics/bold)]
That is a palace decorated with nine kinds Jewels (Nava Ratna). Palace is glowing with bright lamps. Goda connects some relation and calls her as the daughter of her uncle (Maradalu -Telugu expression, Maaman magane =Tamil Expression), She is in deep slumber on a very soft bed amidst the fragrance of Sugandha Dhoopa incense sticks. Yet, she is not waking up. Then she requests her mother: Oh Aunty, at least you may wake her up. Unlock the precious stone-studded door so that she joins us to perform Sri Vrata or Sri Nomu or Tiruppavai.
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The precious stone-decked palace referred here indicates that it is devoid of any defect. Nava Ratnas indicate the purification. The body called palace will lose its brilliance because of many worldly bonds. If human progresses and matureshe will get rid of action-based consequences and becomes brighter. Nava Ratna represent Nava dwara or Nava Randhra of body (nine openings of the body). If one can drive out impurities, he would illuminate.
Dependence on Him
One of the nine relationships of Jeeva with Paramatma is based on dependence. The Paramatma is the basis, and jeeva depends on Him. For any living creature the Paramatma becomes body for the soul. Paramatma has original shining with Nava Ratnas. One can see the devotee in the heart of Paramatma like a thing visible to outsides also because of the transparent Marakatha Petika, the jewel box. The Gopikas are praising that the building of Gopika inside is brilliant than that of the Bhagawan. as that was shining with natural Ratnas. This is because of her constant meditation of the Paramatma.
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In addition to original brilliance the devotee is lightening the lamps for the sake of welfare of all. That is the reason for arranging lamps during the day-light also. While our hearts called lamps are located outside, your lamps have enlightened inside. Gopika from outside askedher,How it is happening?She answered that she kept her halls lit expecting anytime Sri Krishna might come to have lovely exchanges with her.
The light as life
Here, the light is equated with life. Without the light, the palace (body) is lifeless. The Pramida (bowl of lamp) is the body, the oil in it is the love. If one can lit his life with oil of love, it will throw light on the way to God. The Veda and Commentary on Veda are like two sticks which should be turned to the side of God in our place of worship. The fire that burns the stick is the Knowledge -Jnana. If Jnana is associated with Love, we can have the Darshan of Lord with utmost clarity. This is how Jeeyar explained the Goda’s philosophy embedded in this eighth poem.
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Nine Kinds of Relations
We have nine kinds of relations with the Paramatma: 1. Father-son, 2. Protector, 3. Remainder (Sheshi, one who is a residuary-Jeeva), 4. Bhartha – Husband (One who bears the burden/responsibility like Husband and Jeeva -the wife) 5. Jneya -జ్ఞేయ(He is embodiment of knowledge (Jnatha జ్ఞాత) who imparts Jeeva (Jneya జ్ఞేయ), 6. Swamy (He is the swamy Ruler, Jeeva is subordinate-Ruled), 7. Dependency (Paramatma is Aadhaara, and Jeeva is one who depends upon -Aadheya), 8. Aatma (Soul and Body), 9. Bhoktha భోక్త – Bhogya భోగ్య, one who experiences and enjoys, the Jeeva is vasthu – Bhogya, enjoyable thing. The knowledge of these nine relations are symbols of nine jewels, with which the palace is built, wherein a Gopika is dissolved herself in Him which gives us an impression that she is asleep. Prajna ప్రజ్ఞ -wisdom lies in meditating the God in these nine relations. That Prajna is the jewel studded palace. Its full of lamps, which symbolize brilliance of knowledge. Fragrance of Dhoopa ధూప indicates that besides knowledge, they do practice of worship also.
The doors made of precious stones are symbols of ego and self-interests, which can open only with the kind teaching of Teacher (Aacharya). The devotees who always meditate Krishna, cannot hear or speak anything like dumb or deaf. Hence, Goda asks the Gopika in that palace, are you dumb or deaf, why are you not listening?
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Bhagavad Ramanuja, who is considered Jagadguru gave nine jewels like knowledge in the form of writings. 1. Sri Bhashyam, 2. Vedanta Deepam, 3. Vedanta Saaram, 4. Vedanta Sara Sangraham, 5. Nitrya Grandham, 6. Geetha Bhashyam, 7. Sharanagathi Gadyam, 8. Sri Ranga Gadyam, and 9. Sri Vaikuntha Gadyam. In this song Goda refers to Gopika inside as Mothers’ brother’s daughter (Maama’s daughter- Maaman Makale). Aandaal means mother of all. Sri Ramanuja being king of ascetics – Yathi Raja, considered as elder brother of Goda. Thus, Yathi Raja becomes Uncle. Hence the reference as Maaman Makale. This establishes that in this song, Goda is offering her Vandana to Ramanuja in synchronization with Srimathe Ramanujaya Namah.
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The Gopikas ultimately plead with the mother of the girl sleeping inside the palace to wake her up. Mother responded and she sang thousand names of the Lord as Maamayan, Madhavan and Vaikunthanan and being a pious and God loving girl, she woke up on hearing the Lord’s names being chanted.
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