The tenth paasuram of Thiruppāvai is a call to a Gopi in front of her house but here Aandal is reaching out to someone who is not ignorant or indifferent, but deeply devoted yet sleeping.
Aandal does not accuse her or knock angrily. Instead, she calls out with wit, learning, tenderness and quiet authority. This paasuram is not merely about waking a gopi from sleep; it is about awakening a conscious devotee from spiritual complacency.
“NOtRuch suvarkkam pukukinRa vammanaay!" Acknowledging the gopi’s tapasya, her devotion, her merit Aandaal looks up to her as someone who has already received divine grace and is rejoicing in Suvarkkam, heaven. She therefore questions, Is this the reason you are silent now? Has contentment turned into withdrawal? This appears like a reminder about spirituality being a consistent effort and not the end of some responsibility.
In her words, even those who have received God's blessings, must rise again and again to pray, to serve, to walk together.
So she continues by asking the Gopi, Are you not opening the door because you are lost in the joy of divine blessings?
Haven't we experienced this in our own lives? Doesn't this sound familiar? Aren’t we self engrossed after receiving grace, success, recognition? Don't we become complacent, comfortable, slow to respond to the collective call?
Aandal does not deny Suvarkkam, heaven. She questions attachment to it. Her 'nombu', vrata is not about personal liberation alone. It is about seeking Narayana together. So she reminds the gopi that they are about to worship, “Naatraththuzhaay mudi NaaraayaNan”.
Narayana whose crown carries the fragrance of Tulasi, who is not an abstract God. He has a gentle, accessible, compassionate living presence as a God who blesses not only individuals but communities.
And the prayer they are about to undertake is not ordinary. It is led by Puṇṇiyan—the embodiment of virtue, who grants the 'parai', the symbol of fulfilment, purpose and collective joy.
There is literary master stroke too with a reference to Kumbhakarna.
Haven't we experienced this in our own lives? Doesn't this sound familiar? Aren’t we self engrossed after receiving grace, success, recognition? Don't we become complacent, comfortable, slow to respond to the collective call?
Aandal does not deny Suvarkkam, heaven. She questions attachment to it. Her 'nombu', vrata is not about personal liberation alone. It is about seeking Narayana together. So she reminds the gopi that they are about to worship, “Naatraththuzhaay mudi NaaraayaNan”.
Narayana whose crown carries the fragrance of Tulasi, who is not an abstract God. He has a gentle, accessible, compassionate living presence as a God who blesses not only individuals but communities.
And the prayer they are about to undertake is not ordinary. It is led by Puṇṇiyan—the embodiment of virtue, who grants the 'parai', the symbol of fulfilment, purpose and collective joy.
There is literary master stroke too with a reference to Kumbhakarna.
"KootRaththin vaay veezhindha kumbakaraNanum,
TOtRum unakkE perunthuyil thaan thandhaanO." So she asks, Has Kumbhakarna on his defeat by Sri Rama transferred his great sleep to you?
By refering to Kumbhakarna, Aandaal portrays her knowledge across epics. She is not casually name-dropping but demonstrating her vast scriptural awareness and literary confidence.
Kumbhakarna’s sleep was not ordinary, it was overpowering, consuming, almost fated. By using this metaphor, Aandaal warns warns us of the dangers of sleep and inertia, even among the wise.
Finally she becomes affectionate but firm stating, 'arungkalamE', come to join us,You are graceful, well-adorned, wearing precious ornaments but do not rush out carelessly, wake up fully.
The tenth paasuram seems like a mirror asking us:
• Have your past merits made you complacent?
• Has comfort replaced commitment?
• Are you silent when the collective spiritual call is made?
Aandal seems to be waiting at the doorstep—not just of a gopi’s home, but of our own and reminding us, “Thetramaay vandhu thiravElOr embaavaay”
Come with clarity. Open the door of Bhakti.
This paasuram is a proof that Aandal was not only a saint, but a philosopher-poet, capable of weaving theology, epic memory, humour, devotion, and social consciousness into a single verse.
She teaches us that waking up is not merely about opening our eyes—it is about opening our hearts again and again, no matter how blessed we already are.
Tenth Paasuram
NOtRuch suvarkkam pukukinRa vammanaay!
MaatRamum taaraarO vaasal thiRavaathaar,
NaatRaththuzhaay mudi NaaraayaNan nammaal
PotRappaRai tharum puNNIyanaal, pandorunaaL
KootRaththin vaay veezhindha kumbakaraNanum
TOtRum unakkE perunthuyil thaan thandhaanO,
AatRav anandhaludaiyaay! arungkalamE!
ThetRamaay vandhu tiRavElOr embaavaay.
Aandal Thiruvadigale Sharanam...
TOtRum unakkE perunthuyil thaan thandhaanO." So she asks, Has Kumbhakarna on his defeat by Sri Rama transferred his great sleep to you?
By refering to Kumbhakarna, Aandaal portrays her knowledge across epics. She is not casually name-dropping but demonstrating her vast scriptural awareness and literary confidence.
Kumbhakarna’s sleep was not ordinary, it was overpowering, consuming, almost fated. By using this metaphor, Aandaal warns warns us of the dangers of sleep and inertia, even among the wise.
Finally she becomes affectionate but firm stating, 'arungkalamE', come to join us,You are graceful, well-adorned, wearing precious ornaments but do not rush out carelessly, wake up fully.
The tenth paasuram seems like a mirror asking us:
• Have your past merits made you complacent?
• Has comfort replaced commitment?
• Are you silent when the collective spiritual call is made?
Aandal seems to be waiting at the doorstep—not just of a gopi’s home, but of our own and reminding us, “Thetramaay vandhu thiravElOr embaavaay”
Come with clarity. Open the door of Bhakti.
This paasuram is a proof that Aandal was not only a saint, but a philosopher-poet, capable of weaving theology, epic memory, humour, devotion, and social consciousness into a single verse.
She teaches us that waking up is not merely about opening our eyes—it is about opening our hearts again and again, no matter how blessed we already are.
Tenth Paasuram
NOtRuch suvarkkam pukukinRa vammanaay!
MaatRamum taaraarO vaasal thiRavaathaar,
NaatRaththuzhaay mudi NaaraayaNan nammaal
PotRappaRai tharum puNNIyanaal, pandorunaaL
KootRaththin vaay veezhindha kumbakaraNanum
TOtRum unakkE perunthuyil thaan thandhaanO,
AatRav anandhaludaiyaay! arungkalamE!
ThetRamaay vandhu tiRavElOr embaavaay.
Aandal Thiruvadigale Sharanam...
R.Vimala, IAS,
Resident Commissioner &Secretary
Government of Maharashtra &
PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay
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