THIRUPPAVAI
Sri.U.Ve.Elayavilli Bhuvarahachariyar Swami

PULLUM SILAMBINA KAN

The girls approach the mansion of a gopi and wake her up by indicating signs of early dawn," even the birds are up and chirping. Get up." The sleeping girl rejects this reason, "oh girls, you never allow the birds in your town to sleep, with your chanting of His names and making them chant too.

PULLUM SILAMBINA KAN

புள்ளும் சிலம்பின காண் * புள்ளரையன் கோயில் *
வெள்ளை விளி சங்கின் பேரரவம் கேட்டிலையோ? *
பிள்ளாய் எழுந்திராய் பேய்முலை நஞ்சுண்டு *
கள்ளச் சகடம் கலக்கழியக் காலோச்சி **
வெள்ளத்தரவில் * துயில் அமர்ந்த வித்தினை *
உள்ளத்துக் கொண்டு முனிவர்களும் யோகிகளும் *
மெள்ள எழுந்து அரி என்ற பேரரவம் *
உள்ளம் புகுந்து குளிர்ந்தேலோர் எம்பாவாய்

INTRODUCTION: The first five pasurams of Tiruppavai form one section and pasurams 6-15 the second section. These 10 stanzas describe the sleeping girls being woken up by those who are already up. These two groups represent KAINKARYA NISHTHA (those impatient to serve God, like Lakshmana) and GUNA NISHTHA (those who are content to meditate on the glorious qualities of God, like Bharata). Nammazhwar speaks of their presence even in Vaikunthaloka - VAIKUNTATTU AMARARUM (service minded) MUNIVARUM (enjoying His Virtues). Poison acts on different people in different ways – some faint and some run here and there; so do the attributes of Sri Krishna. Hence the sleeping girls not a bit inferior in their longing for Krishna to those who wake them. Though one could go to Krishna on one's own, it is not advisable         "VEDAM VALLARGALAI KKONDU, VINNOR PERUMAN TIRUPPADAM PANINDU" says Nammazhwar. We should always approach Him through some godly person; because we have sinned against Him and being a SWATANTRA (free to act as He pleases), He may punish us. Hence a Recommending Authority is very much needed. Moreover His virtues are like a huge river in spate during rains, and so if a man wants to cross it surely he needs the help of others. Further unlike in the case of carnal company, enjoyment of His company will be sweeter in the company of Bhaktas.       

Those gopis who are vigilant are goaded on by their haste (twara) to get Kainkarya, while those that are asleep have firm faith (adhyavasaya) in the Lord as Upaya. Hence pasurams 6-15 give room for interpreting them as referring to Azhwars and acharyas.

The girls approach the mansion of a gopi and wake her up by indicating signs of early dawn," even the birds are up and chirping. Get up." The sleeping girl rejects this reason, "oh girls, you never allow the birds in your town to sleep, with your chanting of His names and making them chant too. This is no sign of dawn!" Then they mention a noteworthy sign," PULLARAYAN KOIL etc. The blowing  conch in the temple of Vishnu for early morning worship, is inviting us all for His service. Get up."

Here the phrase PULLARAYAN KOIL brings out an excellent quality of the Lord:
PUL is bird, here Garuda; ARAYAN king; KOYIL temple, the temple of Vishnu. But why this circumlocution?

There is a reason.
In Ramayana while narrating to Hanuman her abduction by Ravana, Sita says," On that fateful day I was lured by that demon disguised as a deer, and was separated from Rama's younger brother and Lakshmana's elder brother (RAMANUJAM LAKSMANA POORVAJAM CHA)." Such phraseology is used for a purpose. The Lord feels happy when His name is coupled with His devotee's and so does the devotee when he is referred to as being subservient to the Lord. The message of Sita (Sri Devi) and Andal (Bhu Devi) to us is that when a Sri Vaishnava names his child he should follow this principle.

ULLATHU KKONDU etc in this verse is noteworthy. The munis and yogins get up in the morning very slowly from their beds so that the Lord, taking eternal abode in their hearts may not be disturbed.Prahlada was pushed down from the top of a huge mountain,and while falling he held fast his bosom with great concern for Sri Hari living there, never bothering about what was happening to himself. But the Lord waited for him at the bottom of the mountain and received         him in his spread arms.

Parasara Bhattar used to embellish his body with silken robe, ornaments, sandal paste etc, and when asked about its propriety in respect of the despicable body,he said in his view it was not despicable but adorable being the sanctum sanctorum of the Almighty.

Andal also leaves this lesson in this verse: When you get up in the morning chant the name of Hari (HARIR HARIR HARIRITI VYAHARET VAISHNAVAH PUMAN). Let us do so.