In the eighth paasuram of Tiruppavai, Saint Poetess Aandaal is standing at the closed door of a friend's house once again to wake her up from her slumber and sloth.
She points out towards the sky which is beginning to brighten in the morning glow saying, 'Kizhvaanam', the lower horizon has turned pale, the darkness is thinning. Dawn has entered quietly and not just the sky but even the buffaloes, 'erumai', who symbolize heavy inertia and comfort, have risen and moved to graze in 'seervidu', dew moistened grass nearby. Yet her dear friend remains unmoved.
This gopi is not only lazy but also cleverly resistant. She argues that what Aandaal sees as dawn may only be a reflection of the gopikas radiant faces. She also expresses a subtle doubt, Will Krishna truly respond to our prayers?
This is no longer simple sleepiness. It is hesitation masked as logic.Doubt disguised as wit.
Understanding this Aandaal responds with reassurance.She tells her friend that even those who had already started toward the temple have stopped and are waiting for her. "POvaan pOkinRaarai pOgaamal kaaththu, unnai". No one is willing to go ahead without you. This is the quiet power of collective devotion.
Our acharyas remind us again and again that Bhagavan is pleased not by individual brilliance, but by shared surrender.
When voices join and intentions align, when effort becomes united grace flows more easily. ''DEvaadhidEvanai chchenRu naam sEviththaal, Aavaa enRu arayndhu aruLElOr embaavaay."
Aandaal’s mention of the buffalo is deliberate.
Buffaloes love to sit in water, still, unmoving, comfortable. They resist effort until necessity pushes them forward.
This pasuram tells us that even the buffalo has risen, so what excuse remains for the human soul to rise?
The eighth pasuram therefore moves us beyond waking up. It asks us to walk forward despite doubt, clarifying that when signs are clear, do not argue with them, when grace hints, do not demand proof and when others wait for you, do not hold them back.
Most importantly, it teaches that spiritual progress cannot be a solitary journey. Being together would speed up our salvation.
In essence the seventh paasuram challenges procrastination but the eighth paasuram rebuts laziness, reluctance and doubt.
So let us rise not alone, but together because when all bhaktas will go as one, Krishna's blessings will be received soon.
Paasuram 8
KeeL vaanam veLLenRu erumai siRuveedu
MEyvaan paranthana kaaN! mikkuLLa piLLaigaLum
POvaan pOkinRaarai pOgaamal kaaththu, unnai
Kkoovuvaan vandhu ninROm; kodhukulamudaya
Paavaay! ezhundhiraay ppaadi ppaRaikondu
Maavaay piLandhaanai mallarai maattiya
DEvaadhidEvanai chchenRu naam sEviththaal
Aa vaa enRu arayndhu aruLElOr embaavaay.
This gopi is not only lazy but also cleverly resistant. She argues that what Aandaal sees as dawn may only be a reflection of the gopikas radiant faces. She also expresses a subtle doubt, Will Krishna truly respond to our prayers?
This is no longer simple sleepiness. It is hesitation masked as logic.Doubt disguised as wit.
Understanding this Aandaal responds with reassurance.She tells her friend that even those who had already started toward the temple have stopped and are waiting for her. "POvaan pOkinRaarai pOgaamal kaaththu, unnai". No one is willing to go ahead without you. This is the quiet power of collective devotion.
Our acharyas remind us again and again that Bhagavan is pleased not by individual brilliance, but by shared surrender.
When voices join and intentions align, when effort becomes united grace flows more easily. ''DEvaadhidEvanai chchenRu naam sEviththaal, Aavaa enRu arayndhu aruLElOr embaavaay."
Aandaal’s mention of the buffalo is deliberate.
Buffaloes love to sit in water, still, unmoving, comfortable. They resist effort until necessity pushes them forward.
This pasuram tells us that even the buffalo has risen, so what excuse remains for the human soul to rise?
The eighth pasuram therefore moves us beyond waking up. It asks us to walk forward despite doubt, clarifying that when signs are clear, do not argue with them, when grace hints, do not demand proof and when others wait for you, do not hold them back.
Most importantly, it teaches that spiritual progress cannot be a solitary journey. Being together would speed up our salvation.
In essence the seventh paasuram challenges procrastination but the eighth paasuram rebuts laziness, reluctance and doubt.
So let us rise not alone, but together because when all bhaktas will go as one, Krishna's blessings will be received soon.
Paasuram 8
KeeL vaanam veLLenRu erumai siRuveedu
MEyvaan paranthana kaaN! mikkuLLa piLLaigaLum
POvaan pOkinRaarai pOgaamal kaaththu, unnai
Kkoovuvaan vandhu ninROm; kodhukulamudaya
Paavaay! ezhundhiraay ppaadi ppaRaikondu
Maavaay piLandhaanai mallarai maattiya
DEvaadhidEvanai chchenRu naam sEviththaal
Aa vaa enRu arayndhu aruLElOr embaavaay.
Aandaal.Thiruvadigale Sharanam.
R.Vimala, IAS,
Resident Commissioner & Secretary,
Government of Maharashtra &
PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay
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