The Hindu : Miscellaneous / Religion : Devotional mysticism

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Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Devotional mysticism

CHENNAI, SEPT.7 . The Supreme Being has deigned to make Himself more and more accessible to humanity with the passage of time to suit the conditions of the different ages (Yuga). The Lord's incarnations in the world were undertaken with this purpose also as His transcendental form is beyond the reach of the majority of people. The paradox of the Lord's nature of transcendence and of His easy accessibility forms the subject of many hymns of the Azhvars like Nammazhvar and Andal. Andal did not stop with elucidating the salient features of the spiritual goal— man's true nature; the goal he has to attain and the method to attain it— but also showed by example how to practically follow them in life.

In his discourse, Srivilliputtur Sri Vasudeva Bhattachariar said Manavalamamunigal had asserted that Andal manifested for the benefit of mankind. From childhood She lived only for the sake of the Almighty. In the Tiruppavai She describes how man must overcome all the obstacles that stand in the way of his redemption and sums up that eternal service to God must be the goal that he should strive for and attain in this life. But the Lord did not respond at first to Her prayer as evinced from the hagiographical account of Her life. This was only to enhance Her devotion.

Devotion according to the philosophy of Visishtadvaita evolves through three distinct stages till it consummates in the experience of God. These progressive stages find expression in Her other hymn, the Nacchiar Tirumozhi, which is considered as the paradigmatic example of bridal mysticism in the genre of devotional mysticism. Being a lady this sentiment came naturally to Her and She establishes that the Lord is the Purushottama in relation to the souls. Developing the theme of the Tiruppavai further in this hymn Andal propitiates the god of love (Manmatha, Kama) imagining Herself to be the bride of Lord Krishna.

One may wonder why Andal who was brought up by another mystic like Periazhvar should have invoked Kama and describe the minutiae of the marriage ceremony. In this context it is important to remember that Andal was the incarnation of Bhudevi. It is the vacillating human mind that She portrays here and the hymn is a metaphor for the spiritual progress of the soul towards God and finally union with Him. Devotion matures due to separation from God but there is no uncertainty about the end to be attained in Her hymn— liberation.

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