Today, January 11, 2016 is Day 26 of Margazhi masam. The twenty sixth pasuram of Thiruppavai, Male Mannivanna Margazhi, is to be recited today.
Margazhi month assumes special significance for Srivaishnavas. Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita says masanam margashirso aham (of months, I am Margazhi). Of the 12 sub-Vyuhas which are representative of the 12 months beginning from the Tamil month of Margazhi, Kesava is the lord for the month of Margazhi.
Most importantly, the month derives its auspiciousness primarily due to its association with ThiruppAvai. It was during Margazhi that Sri Andal observed the pious Pavai Nombu for Sriman Narayanan and composed the 30 pasurams of Thiruppavai for the ujjeevanam (upliftment) of jeevatmas like us. Thiruppavai is very sacred and all our Acharyas have given commentaries on this prabhandam. The very fact that Swami Ramanuja was called ‘ThiruppAvai Jeeyar’ because of his deep attachment to this, illustrates the special place Thiruppavai had with Swami Ramanuja.
The following is a brief about the twenty sixth pasuram (Male Mannivanna Margazhi)…
In this pasuram Andal and Her friends ask Krishna for all materials needed for their Nonbu. Krishna asks them the authority (pramanam) for their Nonbu. Andal says that they are following the practice of their wise ancestors. They request for white conches like The Panchajanyam which would wake up devotees from slumber not the kind that send shudders among the enemies of the Lord, they need percussion instruments to be used for procession, They need devotees to sing Benedictions (Pallandu), auspicious lamps to be carried, tall flags with Garuda emblem and a canopy to protect the devotees from dew. When Krishna says He is but a cowherd and wherefrom He would provide all this, they say they know that He is ‘Male Mannivanna’ that is the dark bluish captivator of Sri. He is Vatapathrasayee the infant who lay on the banyan leaf after swallowing the entire Universe. The gopis remind Him that they belong to Him and to come with them to the banks of Yamuna and accept their worship.
மாலே மணிவண்ணா மார்கழிநீ ராடுவான்
மேலையார் செய்வனகள் வேண்டுவன கேட்டியேல்
ஞாலத்தை எல்லாம் நடுங்க முரல்வன
பால்அன்ன வண்ணத்துஉன் பாஞ்ச சன்னியமே
போல்வன சங்கங்கள் போய்ப்பா டுடையனவே
சாலப் பெரும்பறையே பல்லாண்டு இசைப்பாரே
கோல விளக்கே கொடியே விதானமே
ஆலின் இலையாய் அருளேலோர் எம்பாவாய்.
maalE! maNivaNNaa! maargazhi neeraaduvaan
mElaiyaar seyvanagaL vEnduvana kEttiyEl
NYaalaththai ellaam nadunga muralvana
paal anna vaNNaththu un paancha sanniyamE
pOlvana sankangaL pOy(p) paadudaiyanavE
saala(p) perum paRaiyE pallaandu isaippaarE
kOla viLakkE kodiyE vidhaanamE
aalin ilaiyaay aruLElOr empaavaai
