The pearl of Dwarka
I grew up hearing Krishna’s name always accompanied by Radha when the question of divine love came up. Like you hear Krishna, and you add Radha before the name of Paranthaman, who ascended into Dwaparyug with so much mischievous and so much nutkhut behaviour. Cause one without another doesn’t feel complete.
In the sanctum of love, I heard whispers of Radha Krishna, and in the sanctum of temple walls where I stood to worship, I witnessed Rumini Krishna. The Moustache Madhava, who was Sarathy to his Partha, hence named ParthaSarathy, stood tall, accompanied by his Priye Rukmini, his Lakshmi of Dwaparyug, with my hands clasped and heads bowed as the mouth whispered prayers, asking for wishes that lips can’t speak out.
In the same sanctum of the temple, someone stood to Maayon's left. I was curious who the second one was. It’s not until I have known the name I know through one who wore a garland that was supposed to be offered to lord Ranga, but chose to wear it first, and the lord accepted with his whole heart. Kothai, the one who ruled Love, the one who ruled Kanna, and the one who ruled Tamil, is hence called “Andal”.
Who is this Andal? She is the only female poet among the 12 Alwars–the saints of Vainavam. She is also said to be the avatar of Bhudevi, who later merged with her Hari in Srirangam, with her favourite Ranga, the one who sleeps atop Adisesh on the cosmic ocean. From this, my heart and mind exploded with a million questions: if Andal is the avatar of Bhudevi, did Bhudevi take any other avatars before Andal? Like how Rukmini is said to be an avatar of Maha Lakshmi, did Bhu Lakshmi take an avatar along with Krishna?
That’s when, through the echoes of time and space, the name landed into my ears and into my heart, which still beats.
Write a comment ...