Varanam aayiram -By Andal

 Sri Andal, one of the twelve Alwars and the only female saints, lived in the first half of 8th century A.D. Some scholars fix the possible date of Andal as far back as 3000 years B.C.

 

Andal was born in Srivilliputhur near Madurai, in the Tamil month Adi, with the birth-star Pooram, on a Tuesday, on the fourth day of the bright fortnight. Andal is now one of the best loved poet-saints of the Tamils. Andal, is known as Choodi Kodutha Sudarkodi, is considered an avatar of Bhooma Devi, who is one of the consorts of Lord Mahavishnu, the other one being Sri Devi. Andal wrote many verses in praise of Lord Krishna or Ranganatha, the deity at Srivilliputhur. Her first work is the Tiruppavai, a poem of thirty verses in which Andal imagines herself to be a cowherd girl during the incarnation of Lord Krishna. Tiruppavai teaches us to feel emotion while praying to the Lord. It enables us to perceive the Prakriti, Paramatma and Jeevas merging with each other by Para Bhakthi.

Andal also wrote the Nachiyar Thirumozhi in 143 verses. She attained the status of an Azhwar because of her total devotion to the Lord. Varanam Aayiram is the title of a verse rendered in Nachiyar Thirumozhi [naa-chi-yaar thi-roo-mo-zhi].a heart-warming rendition of Andal’s desire to wed her ideal husband – Lord Krishna.

In her Famous VARANAMAYIRAM. Andal confides to her friends about a dream in which she sees Lord Krishna walking towards her with a procession of a thousand elephants (Vaaranam Aayiram) to wed her. She sees her people welcoming him with poornakumbham and thoranam.

This verse describes with colorful imagery, her dream wedding with Lord Vishnu. Aandaal’s solitary goal was to unite physically and spiritually with her Lord. Through her poetry (Thirupaavai and Nachiyar Thirumozhi), she articulates autobiographically her divine love and longing, with narratives influences by Vedas and Puranas. Many hold her work to be unparalleled in literary style and rendition..

MargazhiMasam and Thirupavai songs are wonderful memories of my childhood. Varanam Aayiram paasuram is one of my favourite.The month of Margazhi is unique.

 

Varanam Aiyiram , consisting of 10 verses is a renowned Thir mozhi written at the age of 15!It relates the sequences of her dream of getting married to Narayana or Vishnu, to her friend.The beauty of these verses lies in the fact that any young woman, on the threshold of marriage of this present times, can identify herself with Anda,l transcending time , class ,caste and other barriers.Though it goes without saying that Andal's dream was on a higher plane!

Apart from the astonishing literary merit of these verses , that are dripping with Bhakthi, what is amazing is that the rituals of marriage mentioned 1200 years earlier are still followed with the same enthusiasm even today! Varanam Aayiram verse is sung regularly in Tamil Hindu weddings. Several choreographies, film songs and song lyrics have been inspired by Andaal’s verses.

 

Verse-1

வாரணம் ஆயிரம் சூழ வலம் செய்து,

நாரண நம்பி நடக்கின்றான் என்றெதிர்,

பூரண பொற்குடம் வைத்துப் புறம் எங்கும்,

தோரணம் நாட்டக் கனாக் கண்டேன் தோழி நான்!

vaaraNam aayiram suuzha valam seidhu

naaraNa nambi nadakinraan enredhir

pooraNa porkudam veithu puramengum

thoraNam naatta kana kanden thozhi naan

 Meaning: Andal is recounting her dream to a friend, in which The Lord is Marrying Her. This group is sung with fervour during weddings. This group consists of various rites gone through in a wedding which Andal went through in Her wedding To The Lord (Dream ) 1. She sees Sriman Narayana coming in a procession with 1000 (ayiram ) Varanam or Elephants. To welcome Him, Purnakumbhams are kept and everywhere thoranam or festoons are used in decoration to welcome Him. Purnakumbham is pot (kudam, here gold kudam ) filled with water and pot’s mouth is covered by a coconut and with bunches of green Mango leaves. This Kumbham or Pot is taken in front of Very important persons, a Guru, Heads of State like King etc. The bearer of Kumbha walks backwards facing the guest never showing his own back to the guest. 2. Andal sees the Lord Govinda entering the decorated wedding pandal for the wedding on the morrow.

 

Verse- 2

naaLai vadhuvai maNamendru naaLittu

paaLai kamugu parisuDai pandarkizh

koLari madhavan govindan enbaanor

kaaLai pugudha kana kanden thozhi naan

நாளை வதுவை மணம் என்று நாளிட்டு,

பாளை கமுகு பரிசடைப் பந்தற் கீழ்,

கோளரி மாதவன் கோவிந்தன் என்பான், ஓர்

காளை புகுதக் கனாக் கண்டேன் தோழி நான்!

Meaning: Tomorrow is the Muhurtam,It has been thus decided the tender leaves sheathing arcenuts have been weaved ,to form a canopy over the marriage pandal,Into this entered a strong youth bearing the names, She says that She has dedicated Her Body solely for the Lord bearing the Discus and Shankham and cannot bear the thought of fixing the marriage with a Human Being.

 

 Verse-3

இந்திரன் உள்ளிட்ட தேவர் குழாமெல்லாம்,

வந்திருந்து என்னை மகட் பேசி மந்திரித்து,

மந்திரக் கோடியுடுத்தி மண மாலை,

அந்தரி சூட்டக் கனாக் கண்டேன் தோழி நான்!

indiran uLLitta devar kuzhamellaam

vandhirindhu ennai magaL pesi mandiriththu

mandira kodi uduthi manamaalai

andhari sootta kana kanden thozhi naan

 Meaning:Indra and other celestials request her hand for Lord and present the saree sanctified by chanting mantras. Sister of The Lord Goddess Durgai helps Andal to wear bridal saree and decorates Andal with flower garland. Friend! So I saw in my dream!

Verse-4

நாற்றிசைத் தீர்த்தங் கொணர்ந்து நனி நல்கி,

பார்ப்பனச் சிட்டர்கள் பல்லார் எடுத்தேத்தி,

பூப்புனை கண்ணிப் புனிதனோ டென்றன்னை,

காப்பு நாண் கட்டக் கனாக் கண்டேன் தோழி நான்!

 

naaldhisai theertham konardhu naninalgi

parpana chittargal pallaar eduthethi

poopunai kanni punidhanodendrenai

kaappunaaN kaatta kana kanden thozhi naan

Meaning:Priests well versed in Religious rites have brought Water from Holy rivers from all directions. While the priests chant loudly the Mantras in benediction, Lord and Andal are tying Kankana (thread ) to take marriage vows.

 

Verse-5

கதிரொளி தீபம் கலசம் உடன் ஏந்தி,

சதிரிள மங்கையர் தாம் வந்து எதிர்கொள்ள,

மதுரையார் மன்னன் அடி நிலை தொட்டு, எங்கும் 

அதிரப் புகுதக் கனாக் கண்டேன் தோழி நான்!

kadhiroLi deepam kalasamudan yendhi

chadhiriLa mangaiyar thaamvandhedhirkolla

madhuraiyaar manna aDinilai thottengum

adhira pugudha kana kanden thozhi naan

 Meaning:Young damsels of beauty of age and form are bringing auspicious kalashms and lamps while Lord came striding with firm footsteps that shook the earth. My dear friend! so I saw in my dream!

 

Verse-6

மத்தளம் கொட்ட வரி சங்கம் நின்றூத,

முத்துடைத் தாம் நிரை தாழ்ந்த பந்தற் கீழ்,

மைத்துனன் நம்பி மதுசூதன் வந்து, என்னைக் 

கைத்தலம் பற்றக் கனாக் கண்டேன் தோழி நான்!

maththaLam kotta varisangam ninroodha

muthuDai thamam niRai thazhndha pandharkeezh

maithunan nambi madhusudhan vandhennai

kaithalam patra kana kanden thozhi naan

Meaning: MatthaLam kotta -. She hears the auspicious sounds of MattaLams , She experiences the purifying , sacrd sound of Vari Sankhus ( praNava Naadham ).Under the weddingcanopy bent with the load of flowers decorating it , She (ANDAL ) recalls the scene of the Lord ( MadhusUdhananambi) lifting her hand and covering it with the palm of His hand . My dear friend! So I saw in my dream!

 

Verse-7

வாய் நல்லார் நல்ல மறையோதி மந்திரத்தால்,

பாசிலை நாணல் படுத்துப் பரிதி வைத்து,

காய்சின மாகளி றன்னான் என் கைப்பற்றி,

தீவலம் செய்யக் கனாக் கண்டேன் தோழி நான்!

vaai nallaar nalla marai odhi mandhirathaal

pachilai naaNal paduthu paridhiveithu

kaaichinamaakaLiranran en kai patri

theevalam seiya kana kanden thozhi naan

Meaning: Mantras were chanted by priests, who recited them clearly with good wishes in their hearts. The sacred grass with green leaves were spread and sacred twigs [used in hommam] were laid on them. One who is as proud as a angry elephant clasped my hands tightly and strode majestically around the sacrificial fire with me in tow, I saw the Lord going round the Holy fire holding my hand .My dear friend! So I saw in my dream!

 

Verse-8

இம்மைக்கும் ஏழேழ் பிறவிக்கும் பற்றாவான்,

நம்மை உடையவன் நாராயணன் நம்பி,

செம்மை யுடைய திருக்கையால் தாள் பற்றி,

அம்மி மிதிக்கக் கனாக் கண்டேன் தோழி நான்!

immaikum ezhezhu piravikkum patravaan

nammai udayavan naaraayaNan nambi

chemmai udaya thirukaiyaal thazh patri

ammi midhikka kana kanden thozhi naan

Meaning:In this birth as well as in all succeeding seven into seven births,The protector in all such births,Our leader the one with noble qualities is The handsome Narayana ,With his reddened hands held and placed my toe on the grinding stone!Friend ! So I saw in my dream!

 

Verse-9

வரிசிலை வாள்முகத் தென்னைமார் தாம் வந்திட்டு

எரிமுகம் பாரித்து என்னை முன்னே நிறுத்தி,

அரிமுகன்  அச்சுதன் கைம்மேலென் கைவைத்து,

பொரிமுகந் தட்டக் கனாக் கண்டேன் தோழி நான்!

 varisilai vaaL mugathu ennaimaar thaam vandhittu

erimugam paarithu ennai munne nirutthi

arimugan achuthan kai mel en kai vaithu

pori mugam thatta kana kanden thozhi naan

 Meaning:Andal Sees her brothers come and take part in Laja Homam, where brothers of bride come and give Pori or puffed rice for homam in fire and placed my hands in the hands of Achchutha; and they showered puffed rice over our clasped hands. Friend ! So I saw in my dream!

 

Verse-10

குங்குமம்  அப்பிக் குளிர்ச் சாந்தம் மட்டித்து,

மங்கல வீதி வலம் செய்து மணநீர்,

அங்கவ னோடு முடஞ்சென்றங் கானைமேல்,

மஞ்சன மாட்டக் கனாக் கண்டேன் தோழி நான்!

kumkugam appi kuLirchandham mattithu

magala veedhi valam seidhy maNaneer

angavanodum udanchenranganai mel

manjanamaatta kana kanden thozhi naan

 Meaning:To ease the discomfiture of exposure to the heat of Agni during Homam couple is anointed with cool Kumkumam paste and Sandal paste and in all finery Andal is going round the decorated city with Lord on an elephant in Procession along with him seated by my side!Friend! So I saw in my dream.

 

  Parayana Palan

ஆயனுக் காகத்தான் கண்ட கனாவினை,

வேயர் புகழ் வில்லி புத்தூர்க்கோன் கோதை சொல்,

தூய தமிழ்மாலை ஈரைந்தும் வல்லவர்,

வாயு நன் மக்களைப் பெற்று மகிழ்வரே!!

aayanukkaga thaan kanDa kanavinai

veyar pugazhvillu puththurkon kodai chol

thooya tamizh maalai eeraindum vallavar

vaayum nan makkalai petru maghizhvare

Kodhai the daughter of Periaazhwar who is praised by veyyar clan and is the leader of Srivalliputhur, has written her dream about her marriage in a garland of pure tamil,.

Finally her dreams come True.. Sri RanganAthan tied the auspicious knots around the neck of Andal to the sound of ghetti mELam and said : " Oh ANDAL ! This is the Mangala Suthram . I tie this Mangala sUthram around Your neck for enhancing my good fortune .You are the light and purpose of my life .Oh! SoubhAgyavathi ! May Thou be with Me eternally and grant the most glorious boons to our BhakthAs and protect them from any and every mishap " .

This hymn is giving the results of chanting these ten hymns with devotion. They are the reader will get good natured obedient children. Unmarried girls will get a good husband as good as Lord Krishna Himself!

*( pics taken from google image)