Welcome back, (Thiru)vachaka perumakkale! Today we hit a sixer on finishing 6 stanzas of the sweet Thiruvempavai. Let's dive in.
The Verse
mAnEn^I n^ennalai n^ALaivan^ dhuN^gaLai
n^AnE ezuppuvan enRalum n^ANAmE
pOna dhichaipagarAy innam pularn^dhinRO
vAnE n^ilanE piRavE aRivariyAn
thAnEvan^ dhemmaith thalaiyaLith thAtkoNdaruLum
vAnvAr kazalpAdi van^dhOrkkun vAythiRavAy
UnE urugAy unakkE uRum emakkum
EnOrkkum thaN^kOnaip pAdElOr empAvAyTranslates to
"Oh deer(not dear), you said yesterday (nennal) you would wake us up yourself today, but where are you now? Don't you feel ashamed? Is it not dawn yet for you? One who is not known to mere knowledge has come down, to take us into his shelter, his feet as great as the skies, which we are now singing about, isn't that enough to melt your heart? Open your mouth. Let us sing of Him, the Chief of us and all."
What to understand?
There are a couple of notions about the soul's characteristics here.
One, In Tamil poetry, it is common to refer to an innocent, lovable woman as a deer. This metaphor highlights the idea that, like a deer, a person may be unaware of potential dangers lurking around them, such as a hunter's trap or a predator like a cheetah or snake. Despite these potential threats, a deer remains beautiful and calm, going about its business until it is startled by a sudden noise or disturbance. This can also be applied to the human soul, which may be unaware of the dangers that threaten to ruin its life, such as addiction, toxic friendships, or a lack of ambition.
By addressing someone as "Oh Deer," one is expressing a sense of concern for their well-being and a desire to protect them from harm.
Two, In India, particularly in the southern region, Hindu temples and deities are often sculpted from stone. While this is partly for practical purposes, such as ensuring the sculptures can withstand the passage of time, it also carries a deeper philosophical significance. The use of stone represents the hardening of the human soul over time as it becomes embroiled in materialistic pleasures and worldly pursuits, which can diminish its ability to emotionally connect with others and with the divine.
This idea is reflected in the song, which can be understood as a conversation between the soul and the heart. The soul is asking the heart, "Won't you melt in praise of the Lord?"
The message is that despite the hardening that may occur in life, it is still possible for the heart to be moved and to connect with the divine, of course with consistent practice, not away from life, but just by being present in the life that you're gifted with.
Let's meet with stanza 7 in my next post.
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