Margazhi Paasuram 7-A Gentle prod to the Procrastinating Soul

Margazhi Paasuram 7-A Gentle prod to the Procrastinating Soul

Margazhi mornings do not whisper, they  arrive before dawn to summon and awaken us. The month is warm with purpose so does not believe in postponement. It therefore knocks softly at first, then insist with love.
So on the seventh day of Margazhi, Aandaal stands outside her friend’s door calling out to her as “pey” , ghost,  not as an insult, but in a teasing manner as mirror of a ghost of laziness, clinging to sleep when life has already begun its sacred rhythm. Her call is like a playful rebuke to the part of us that chooses the warmth of sleep over the light of awakening.
She points out that outside, the world has already begun its worship.The birds are chirping as they fly into dawn, women churn curd as their bangles jingle. Homes are busy with people doing their own work or praying  in devotion. Yet one soul still lingers in laziness.
Aandaal’s call is timeless not just to her friend, but to every procrastinating heart like me that knows what must be done yet continues to delay.
Aandaal reminds her friend of Bhagawan Krishna the protector, the one who shattered arrogance, who destroyed the horse-headed demon, a symbol of uncontrolled speed, ego, and blind force. She urges her to remember that inertia or inaction too is like a demon  subtle, silent and equally destructive.
Our acharyas too never separated bhakti from action she says. So remembrance of God without effort is incomplete just as knowledge without practice is indulgence.
So, Margazhi is not about cold mornings alone, it is about discipline with devotion.
Aandaal’s “wake up” is not just physical but  a spiritual alignment guiding us to wake up from postponement masked as patience, comfort disguised as contentment or sheer laziness justified as waiting for the “right time”
This pasuram is not harsh but an affectionate truth where Aandaal teaches us that the right time is now. It is not about waking early but about waking inwardly.
• Waking from “I’ll start tomorrow”
• Waking from knowing-but-not-doing
• Waking from comfort that dulls purpose

So, Rise, not because the world demands, but because the soul remembers. Even a tired step toward duty,  is like worship in motion. So leave the bed of excuses and step into clarity even if cold because Bhagawan Krishna walks with those Who rise when called.

Thiruppavai Paasuram 7

Keesu keesenRu engum aanaichchaattan kalandhu

PEsina pEchcharavam kEttilaiyyO pEyp peNNE!

Kaasum piRappum kalakalappak kai pErththu

VashanarunguLal aaychchiyar maththinaal

Oshai paduththa tayiraravam kettilaiyO

Naayaga ppeN piLLaay! NaaraayaNan moorthy

Keshavanai ppaadavam nee kEttE kidaththiyO

Teshamudaiyaay! ThiRavElOr Embaavaay!

R.Vimala,  IAS, 

Resident Commissioner & Secretary, 

Government of Maharashtra & 

PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay