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Antidote to sins

CHENNAI : There is always the apprehension of obstacles creating the proverbial slip between the cup and the lip while undertaking a task. The person maybe well equipped to accomplish the work and also make all efforts necessary but for some unknown reason face hurdles. Preceptors cite the case of Rama's coronation coming to a standstill on the eve of the ceremony, when all arrangements had been made for it, to substantiate this. Rama was God-incarnate and the eldest son of emperor Dasaratha who wished to crown Him as the prince-regent and no less a sage than Vasishta had overseen all the arrangements; yet it did not come about as planned. What is the reason for obstacles thwarting human enterprise from succeeding?

In his discourse on the Tiruppavai, Kalyanapuram Sri R. Aravamudan said the sins committed by a person acted as impediments to the success of his efforts. Andal highlights this in the Tiruppavai through the doubt raised by one of the maidens when they resolved to perform the `Pavai nonbu' during the month of Margazhi. She was worried whether they would be able to complete this month-long observance without impediments. Andal's verse is in the form of answer to this doubt.

As sins can be committed by thought, word and deed, it is through the same faculties (mind, speech and body) that one must take precautionary measures. Andal sings, "If with purity we come and strew fresh flowers, with songs on our lips and feeling in our hearts, and offer praise with joined hands to our Lord Damodara... then He will forgive our past misdeeds, and even what remains will disappear like cotton unto fire. So come, let us praise Him."

The reference to the Lord as `Mayan' in this verse has been interpreted by commentators to refer to Lord Krishna's childhood divine deeds thereby underscoring the truth that He had incarnated in human form amidst the cowherd community out of compassion for His devotees and as a result of their merit.

The divine name `Damodara' draws attention to His nature of being easily accessible to His devotees. The Lord came to be known as Damodara when Krishna allowed Himself to be bound with a piece of rope to a mortar by Yashoda when He saw her tiring by her efforts as the rope fell short repeatedly.

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