திருப்பாவை - 3 (ஓங்கி உலகளந்த)

ஓங்கி உலகளந்த உத்தமன் பேர்பாடி
நாங்கள் நம் பாவைக்குச் சாற்றிநீர் ஆடினால்,
தீங்கின்றி நாடெல்லாம் திங்கள்மும் மாரிபெய்து
ஓங்கு பெருஞ்செந்நெ லூடு கயல் உகளப்
பூங்குவளைப் போதில் பொறிவண்டு கண்படுப்ப,
தேங்காதே புக்கிருந்து சீர்த்த முலைபற்றி
வாங்கக் குடம் நிறைக்கும் வள்ளல் பெரும்பசுக்கள்
நீங்காத செல்வம் நிறைந்தேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்.



Explanation
If we (naangaL) bathe (neeraadinaal) and perform our (nam) 'paavai nOnbu'
(paavaikku chaatri), chanting (paadi) the name (pEr) of the best Lord
(uththaman), who measured (aLandha) all three (Ongi) worlds (ulagu). The whole
(ellaam) country (naadu) will be free of (inRi) evil (theengu). It will rain
(peydhu) three rainfalls (mum maari) every month (thingaL). Little fish
(kayal) will play (ugaLa) amidst (oodu) overgrown (Ongu) big (perum) rice
fields (sen nel); bright (poRi) beas (vandu) lieing drowsily over (kaN
paduppa) the flower bushes (poonguvaLai); Cows standing (pukkirundhu)
motionless (thEngaadhE), cowherds milking (seerththa mulai patri vaanga), the
generous (vaLLal) and big (perum) cows (pasu) fill up (niRaikkum) the
containers (kudam); the land will be filled with (niRaindhu) long lasting
(neengaadha) prosperity (chelvam).


Purport

When we sing the glory of the the Lord (Trivikrama) who took the cosmic form and measured the three worlds in two gigantic strides and put his foot, for the third stride on the emperor Mahabali, and when we perform the paavi nonbu the whole country will be rid of evils. It will then rain three times every month. Fishes will gleam and leap amidst the rich paddy plants. Spotted bees will fall sleep among the water lillies. Cow milked tirelessly will yield copious bounties enough to fill pots and pots. Prosperity will thus prevade the land.



More Insight

In this verse ANDAL wishes for rain and consequential prosperity for the whole world as the world is the property of her Lord.So who is a Sri Vaishnava? It is he who while being detached with reference to the riches of the world,is at the same time aspiring for them considering them as his Lord's riches.Hence all Sri Vaishnavas after daily prayer recite the verse which says "Sarve Janah Sukhino Bhavantu" every one should be happy.

Andal tells the girls,"If we,girls,recite the NAME of the Lord who measured the entire universe with his three steps and observe this vow then the whole world will become prosperous."

Note the text which says "Uthaman PER"(his NAME).She could have simply said "if we sing the glory of the Lord." But she says instead, the NAME of the Lord. Which means that the NAME OF THE LORD (the Tiru Ashtakshara Mantra, the Eight-Syllabled one) is more efficacious than the Lord Himself. When, in the court hall of Duryodhana, Draupadi was being disrobed by Dussaasana, it was only the NAME "Govinda" which saved her modesty while the Lord failed her.

But we Prapannas (Surrenderers) seek salvation only from Him.The Mantra is only for understanding the true nature of the Soul,Lord,and the mutual relationship; it is essentially to promote the ARTHA PANCHAKA knowledge.

NEENGATHA Selvam - we see that riches do not remain for long with any man; then what does NEENGATHA mean? It refers to the Moksha Aiswarya, Service of God, obtained through the recommendation of Sri Mahalakshmi.

Click title to hear the song by Sudha Raghunathan (Ragam:Aarabi Talam:Adi)