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Eternal service

CHENNAI: The Azhwars, the mystics whose hymns have been canonised in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, are unanimous about the objective of their adoration of the Supreme Being — eternal service to Him. Their hymns are in chaste Tamil and moving in their expression of their desire for spiritual union, and their subtler philosophical meaning is enhanced by the extensive commentaries on them.

In her discourse, Dr. Sudha Seshayyan said the Tiruppavai of Andal, a hymn in 30 verses, was very popular among devotees but its spiritual import can be appreciated only from the commentaries on it. On the face of it Andal describes a vow (nonbu) undertaken by Her and Her friends on the lines of the Katyayani vrata performed by the cowherd maidens in Brindavan. Andal lists all the objects of sensory joys that they denied themselves during this period and till the 27th verse does not explicitly state the objective of this observance. She even says that Lord Krishna should examine for Himself and grace them. Finally Andal articulates their intention very clearly that it is the joy of eternal service to Him that they want and not the fleeting joys of the world: “You were born in the cowherd-clan, now You cannot refuse to accept our service to You. Know that these goods are not what we came for. Through seven lives and forever we would be close to You, and serve You alone. And if our desires be different, You must change them.”

All the Azhwars are clear that they seek constant communion with the Lord, the joy of adoring Him and His auspicious qualities, and service to Him whether here in the world or eternally in His divine abode. Tondaradippodi Azhwar without mincing his words declares, “…denying the joy of praising You, if I were given to rule Indra’s kingdom I shall not want it, O Lord of Arangamanagar!”

And, certainly not another birth says this Azhwar categorically, his rationale being that even if one were to be blessed with a lifespan of 100 years granted by the Vedas, half of it would be spent in sleep; the remaining 50 years will be frittered away in childhood and sorrow due to disease, hunger and old age. So what is the point of another birth?

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