Naayaganaay ninRa Nandagopan udaiya…
Until now, the Gopis were knocking on the doors of their friends homes. Sleepy, lazy, dramatic friends waking them up, asking them to join the paavai nombu.
Today, there are no longer in the narrow streets of their villages but in front of King Nandagopan’s palace seeking permission to enter.
There is a shift in the scene, Aandaal and the Gopis are not calling out to Krishna yet. They are at the entrance which is guarded by the gatekeepers so they first address them,
“Naayaganaay ninRa Nandagopan udaiya
Koil kaappaane…”
“O Guardian of Nandagopa’s palace,
Protector of the home where our Nayagan stands!”
Their tone is respectful without arrogance or entitlement. They know and accept that one cannot enter any divine or higher authority's office without permission.
Andal further calls out to them.as “Kodi thonrum thoraNa vaasal kaappaane” The ones who protect the flags fluttering high and festoons which announce grandeur.
The Gopis plead, “MaNi kaDavam thaaL thiRavaay”. Open the jeweled door.” a door which is not any ordinary door as it takes you closer to God.
Just like hands are clapped before we open temple doors or places of worship,
Just like we wait, hands folded, breathes held for some doors to open. This door also has to be opened in grace.
There is an added humility when she says
“We are just simple cowherd girls.” “Aayar siRumiyomukku arai paRai” Not learned. Not powerful but sincere.
In today’s world of name dropping or using influence this request is extremely innocent.
In anxiousness they also say , He has Called Us. “Maayan MaNi vaNNan nennele vaay neRundaaN”. The wondrous sapphire-hued Lord called us yesterday and promised us, His darshan.
This potrays trust that Krishna himself gave His word. And the Gopis know : When God promises, doors cannot remain closed.
They clarify their intent quickly by saying, “Thooyomaay vandhom thuyiLeda paaduvaan.” We have had a bath and come with pure minds, to wake Him, to sing with Him.”
Not for wealth or miracles, not even for answers but just to wake God and sing His praise.
Isn’t that appealing? Sometimes devotion is not asking God to solve our problems, but simply saying: “Get up, God , let us spend this dawn together.”
Then comes a gentle but firm plea to the guards,
“Vaayaal munnamunNam maatRaadhe amma nee”. Don’t refuse us with words, don't block our way with authority.
Andal is quietly sharing something powerful here, Acharyas, leaders, gatekeepers must become bridges not obstacles. And she knows the power of the gatekeeper so she insists, “Nesanilai kadhavam neekkeLor embaavay” Open the door with compassion.” because devotion does not break locks.It melts them.
In our daily lives we meet gatekeepers at temples, in institutions, in systems and in life itself.
There is always a watchman from whom we have to seek permission or give a slip for entry.
Paasuram 16 reminds us,
• Humility opens doors
• Purity earns passage
• Promise gives confidence
• Right guidance leads to God
And sometimes, before we meet Krishna,
we must learn how to stand respectfully at the gate and be permitted to enter.
And of course a bhakta, true devotee is never stopped —she is only guided to doors which open.
Paasuram 16
Naayaganaay ninRa Nandagopan udaiya
Koil kaappaane kodi thhonrum thoraNa
Vaasal kaappaane maNi kaDavam thaaL thiRavaay
Aayar siRumiyomukku arai paRai
Maayan maNi vaNNan nennele vaay neRundaaN
Thooyomaay vandhom thuyiLeda paaduvaan
Vaayaal munnamunNam maatRaadhe amma nee
Nesanilai kadhavam neekkeLor embaavay
R.Vimala, IAS,
Resident Commissioner & Secretary,
Government of Maharashtra &
PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay
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