अगजानन (Agajaanana): The Face of Gauri [Devi Parvati]
अगजा (Agajaa) = Devi Parvati, the daughter of Himalaya
आनन (Aanana) = Face
पद्मार्कं (Padmaarkam): The Rays from the Lotus [Face of Gauri]
पद्म (Padma) = Lotus
अर्क (Arka) = Belonging or Relating to Sun
गजाननं (Gajaananam): Having the Face of an Elephant
गज (Gaja) = Elephant
आनन (Aanana) = Face
अहर्निशम् (Aharnisham): Day and Night, Continually
अनेकदंतं (Anekadamtam): Granting Many [Wishes of] His [Devotees]
अनेक (Aneka) = Many
द (Da) = Giving, Granting
तम् (Tam) = His
भक्तानां (Bhaktaanaam): Devotees
भक्त (Bhakta) = Devotee
एकदन्तं (Ekadantam): Having a Single Tusk
एक (Eka) = One
दन्त (Danta) = Tusk
उपास्महे (Upaasmahe): Worship
उपास् (Upaas) = Worship
Meaning in English
1: As the Rays from the Lotus-Face of Gauri (Devi Parvati) is Always on Her Beloved Son Gajanana ( Who is having the Face of an Elephant ),
2: Similarly, the Grace of Sri Ganesha is Always on His Devotees; Granting their Many Prayers; the Devotees who with deep devotion Worship the Ekadanta ( Who is having a Single Tusk ).
There is a saying that “the grass is always greener on the other side”. Very often we do not appreciate the inner beauty that we hold and look for greener pastures elsewhere.
Living in this wonderful community, I was searching for the greener side within the “woods” during my regular morning and evening walks. I got them in plenty and didn’t loose the opportunity and “snapped” them with my iPhone.
Here is “Serenity in the woods”. Music is by my 7 year old grandson
I constantly salute the son of Gauri, the devotee of Vaasudeva who uses a snake as a couch. He is the Lord of the group of attendants of Shiva . Lord Indra and the Devas serve him. He wears a snake as a garland and is worshipped by sages. He holds his favorite sweetmeat (of liberation). He has an elephant face. He destroys the unlimited ego garva of Lord Chandra (moon). He grants happiness to those who bows to Him and protects His devotees who pray Him. He removes the obstacles fir our liberation.
शुक्लाम्बरधरं (Shukla-Ambara-Dharam): Who is wearing White Clothes
शुक्ल (Shukla) = White
अम्बर (Ambara) = Clothes, Garments
धर (Dhara) = Wearing
विष्णुं (Vissnnum): Who is All-Pervading
विष्णु (Vissnnu) = All-Pervading
शशिवर्णं (Shashi-Varnnam): Who is Bright in Appearance like the Moon
शशिन् (Shashin) = Moon
वर्ण (Varnna) = Colour, Appearance
चतुर्भुजम् (Catur-Bhujam): Who is having Four Arms
चतुस् (Catus) = Four
भुज (Bhuja) = Arm
प्रसन्नवदनं (Prasanna-Vadanam): Who is having a Compassionate and Gracious Face
प्रसन्न (Prasanna) = Gracious, Kind
वदन (Vadana) = Face
ध्यायेत् (Dhyaayet): Let us Meditate on Him
ध्यान (Dhyaana) = Meditation
सर्वविघ्नोपशान्तये (Sarva-Vighna-Upashaantaye): To ward of all Obstacles
सर्व (Sarva) = All
विघ्न (Vighna) = Obstacle
उपशान्त (Upashaanta) = Calmed, Appeased
Meaning in English
1: (We Meditate on Sri Ganesha) Who is wearing White Clothes, Who is All-Pervading, Who is Bright in Appearance like the Moon and Who is having Four Arms,
2: Who is having a Compassionate and Gracious Face; Let us Meditate on Him to ward of all Obstacles.
I consider myself as extremely fortunate to make an attempt to understand the Dance of the Yuga from a three dimensional (Literary, Music and Dance) perspective. My learning has been immense. There is only one to thank – The Lord Himself. What better way to conclude these set of blogs than with a composition by Lalitha Dasar made universally popular by the legendary Carnatic Musician Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagawathar and later on by Dr KJ Yesudass.
I surrender to the holy lord of the town created by Lord Guru and Lord Pavan (Guruvayur). The Lord is Sri. Krishna, who is dark like the rain bearing cloud and lives in the cattle rearing village (Gokulam). He is worshipped by Narada and Shiva and is the is protector of the three worlds. He is worshipped by Brahma and Indra ,shines greatly holding a flute and gives happiness to the damsels of his village. He cannot be defeated and is very magnanimous. He as pretty as hundred Gods of Love (Manmatha). He is a never ending source of mercy and is like the Chakora bird to the moon like face of Radha. He is the divine brother of Parvathi.
The third dimension – நாடகம் – Play – Understanding the dance through visual medium by enacting
In the first part of the “Dance of the Yuga”, I tried to understand Purandara Dasa’s description and Daskam 55 of Narayaneeyam. In the second part, I tried to get the grasp of Oothukadu Venkata Kavi’s description of the dance by listening to two generations of artists.
Seeing is believing, they say. In this part, we will watch three dance events. Dance is the third dimension and eyes are the medium through which we understand and absorb the event
Dr. Padma Subramanyam is a living legend in the South Indian Form of Dance called Bharath Natyam. We will link with her depiction of the event as described by Bhattathri in Narayaneeyam.
Team led by Bhairavi Venkatesan of Sridevi Nrithalaya presents the dance as composed by Oothukadu Venkata Kavi.
The third one is by the youngsters Janaki & Kalyani for the Purandara Dasa Krithi at Guruvayur where Narayaneeyam was written.
These three dances are available in the social media. We will link up with them.
Video 1 – Depiction of Narayaneeyam
Video 2 – Depiction of Oothukadu Venkata Kavi’s Composition by Sridevi Nrithyalaya
Video 3 – Depiction of Purandara Dasa’s Adidanao Ranga
Happy viewing. Tomorrow I will conclude the Dance of the Yuga with a prayer to Lord GuruvAyurappan. Please look out for the blog and visit again. Thanks
Prabhu's Ponder 