Andaal, or Andal, is considered an Alwar Saint of the Sri Vaishnava tradition in Tamil Nadu. The only female alwar in a group of 12, Margazhi is her month. It was during this season somewhere in the 7th-8th centuries that Tiru Andal composed Tiru-paavai, a collection of 30 Paasurams which culminate in her disappearance and merging with Lord Ranganatha, a form of Krishna or Vishnu.
Today’s paasuram is in Ragam Mohanam and it’s one of my favorites because:
Everyone sings lullabies to children and even to Krishna and other gods. I love lullabies to utmost extent. I often listen to lullabies on my morning walks. I used to make my friends and classmates sing to me at night and tuck me in wherever I lived in communities, or I would ask someone to call me just for this purpose. When someone tells me they have a bad voice, I remember my Thatha’s lullaby which he wrote and performed for me until I was 20. Out of tune, out of pitch, out of rhythm, and absolutely beautiful. He instilled in me the importance of waking up early and performing sadhanas in the pre-dawn Brahma Muhurtam, making me turn the lights out by 10 pm even during exams at university. It’s made me desire to have deep, intellectual dialogues and debates in the early mornings, or take classes and study at that time. Alas! I’ve searched far and wide for a yoga class or a friend to connect with online at 3:30 or 4 in the morning, and ended up empty-handed. Whenever I get the opportunity to wake others up and have stimulating conversations, I grab them. Usually though, I do my own APMB practices, and focus on my personal sadhana practices, from mantra chanting to meditation, music to mindfulness. Sometimes I get inspired and write poetry or create some art.
Still, I sometimes wish I had someone to talk to when I wake up. And then I came upon my soul sister, Andal, singing a wake up song for her darling Krishna! What a great concept! A song for waking up the lord, a gentle cooing voice to welcome one to the world of light after a dark night in winter. Andal speaks to me, and to all the girls in her village with loving words and tones, in a simple language, but with hidden gems in the meanings of each word. So this month, I get to talk to my sister, by practicing and singing one paasuram each day, and reminding others to wake up.
Andal loves to wake people up in the early morning, and in this month of Margazhi, she wanders the village and rouses the girls to join her in her mission to merge with the Lord in marriage. Of course! What woman doesn’t want her sisters standing by her side when she weds her beloved? They are her bridesmaids, supporting her as she takes this auspicious, sacred step towards samadhi.
Of course every day is about waking up different girls and that’s also beautiful. This one is very specific, stating how important it is for her to wake up Krishna. Plus she identifies as a milkmaid, showing that she is truly casteless.
Furthermore, today’s paasuram is in the raga that resonates globally: The notes that comprise the raga, Mohanam, have been found to be the most used scale system around the world.
Andal is an example of a women’s empowerment specialist, one that has created a very unique sangha by loving each of her 10 paavais and bringing them on her journey.
