History of Indian Philosophy

SR No.: 007593
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Surendranath Dasgupta
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Publication Year: 1922
Total Pages: 2517
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 125 MB

Page 1263

74 The Arvārs
[CH. earth and how his behaviour to God was like that of the Gopīs, full of ardent love and eagerness. In the concluding verses, however, he says that the real vision of God can come only to a deeply devoted mind and not to external eyes.
Hooper gives some interesting translations from the Tiruvruttam of Nămm'-ārvār, a few of which may be quoted here to illustrate the nature of his songs of love for God?:
Long may she love, this girl with luring locks, Who loves the feet that heavenly ones adore, The feet of Kannan, dark as rainy clouds: Her red eyes all abrim with tears of grief, Like darting Kayal fish in a deep poola. Hot in this village now doth blow the breeze Whose nature coolness is. Hath he, this once, The rain-cloud hued, his sceptre turned aside To steal the love-glow from my lady, lorn
For tu!asī, with wide eyes raining tears ?3 In separation from the lord the Arvār finds delight in looking at darkness, which resembles Krşņa's colour:
Thou, fair as Kannan's heaven, when he's away What ages long it is! He here, a span! Whether friends stay for many days, or go, We grieve. Yet, be this spreading darkness blest In spite of many a cunning trick it has. What will befall my girl with bracelets fair, With tearful eyes like gleaming Kayal big, Who wanders with a secret pain at heart For blooms of tulasi fresh from the Bird's Lord
Who with that hill protected flocks in storm?5 The Arvār then laments and pleads with swans and herons to take his message:
The flying swans and herons I did beg, Cringing: “Forget not, ye, who first arrive, If ye behold my heart with Kannan there Oh, speak of me and ask it 'Sir not yet Hast thou returned to her? And is it right?'"
1 Hymns of the Alvars, by J. S. M. Hooper, pp. 61-88.
? The maid who is represented as speaking here stands for Arvār's disciple, and the lady in love is the mistress, and Kannan is Krşņa, the Lord. * This is also a speech from the maid, and tulast stands for Krşņa.
The time of separation is felt to be too long, and the time of union is felt to be too short.
6 Lamentation of the mother for the girl, the Arvăr.