The Vratham has begun. The Gopis were worried about completing it without any hindrance (vignam).One of the knowledgable Gopi pointed out that the Vignams will be banished , if the Vratham is performed with Bhagavan Naama Uccharanam (recitation of the name of the Lord). The Gopis therefore invoked the name of Naarayana , Kshirabhdhi Naatha, Vaamana, Thrivikrama , Dhamodhara and concluded that all those names are that of Krishna, who is Aapath Bandhava and anatha Rakshaka. In this fifth paasuram , the Gopis invoke the name of Dhamodhara and reflect in the subsequent paasurams on the Maaya’s (mysterious, wonderful acts) of Krishna as celebrated by Swamy Nammazhwar.
Tiruppavai Paintings/Illustrations Courtesy: Keshav’s KrishnaforToday. Religion World would like to acknowledge and thank the FB page of Mr Keshav for using them.
Tiruppavai 05 – Maya — Damodara – The light of the cowherds #watercolour #krishnafortoday
Maayanai
maayanai mannu vada madhurai maindhanaith *
thooya peru neer yamunaith thuRaivanai *
aayar kulaththinil thOnRum aNi viLakkaith *
thaayaik kudal viLakkam seydha dhaamOdharanaith *
thooyOmaay vandhu naam thoomalar thoovith thozhudhu *
vaayinaal paadi manaththinaal sindhikkap *
pOya pizhaiyum pugudharuvaan ninRanavum *
theeyinil thoosaagum ceppElOr embaavaay.
Dhanurmasam : Tiruppavai – Pasuram 1
Translation
All of our sins vanish like a blade of grass thrown into fire , when we sing in praise of Krishna and worship Him. Him–the mysterious Lord ; the young courageous Lord born at north Mathura , the One who sports in the pure waters of the great river , Yamuna ; the emerald-like shining Lamp that has risen from the race of cowherds; and the Lord Daamodhara (the One bound by the rope around the waist) who has brought high esteem to His mother Yasodha (literally, who illumined the mother’s womb)–Him let us approach with sincerity (purity–physical and mental); let us worship Him with fresh and fragrant flowers; let us pay our obesiance to Him; let us sing in praise of Him , by words of mouth; let us think of Him in our mind; if we do so approaching worshipping , obeying, singing and thinking of Him alone), our sins of past , present and future will vanish like straw put into fire. Therefore let us sing His glory.
Word for Word meaning
maayanai One of wondrous deeds; magician
mannu associated with
vada madhurai northern Mathura
maindhanai prince (lit. son)
thooya pure
peru great, deep
neer water(s)
yamunai the river Yamuna
thuraivanai one who has his abode on the banks
aayar kulaththinil
in the cowherd community
thOnRum appeared
aNi auspicious, sacred
viLakkai light
thaayai mother
kudal womb
viLakkam seydha polish, brighten
dhaamOdharanai Damodara, the one who’s belly was tied with a string
(an epithet of Krishna)
thooyOm pure
aay becoming
vandhu coming
naam we
thoo pure
malar flowers
thoovi offering (lit. sprinkling)
thozhudhu worshipping
vaayinaal with the mouth (verbally)
paadi singing
manaththinaal with the mind (mentally)
sindhikka thinking
pOya past
pizhaiyum sins
pugutharuvaan yet to come
ninRanavum are
theeyinil in fire
thoosu cotton
aagum will become
ceppu (therefore let us) say (his names)
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Must Read : Tiruppavai – Andal and her divine love for Perumal
Listen to Tiruppavai – Pasuram 5 by Chinna Jeeyar Swamy
Tiruppavai rendition by Pasuram 5 by M L Vasantha kumari
