As I wrote last week, I have commenced my journey in understanding myself. Nothing works without a prayer and I am a strong believer in that life style. So, I will start with a prayer on who else except the one and only Lord Arunachala at Thiruvannamalai who through Bhagwan Ramana Maharishi kindled the enquiry “WHO AM I?” in millions of people in the Universe, me being the latest ignorant one , the “jada jana”. This will be a composition by Sri Muthuswamy Dikshithar. The blog will appear under Carnatic Musing in the Menu on 9th April 2021
An introduction to Dakshinamurthy will be presented in the blog that follows on 16th April. I am deeply obliged to Mr. Sreenivasa Rao for kindly permitting me to use his blogs where he has covered the subject in it’s entirety
This will be followed by a blog on the Dhyana Slokas (துதிப்பாடல்கள்) that will be published on 24th April 2021 coinciding with the Divine Wedding of Goddess Meenakshi with Lord Sundareshwarar at the Meenakshi Temple at Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
After that I plan to take time for each of the Slokas as I am a learner. These blogs will be longer than usual, as these will include apart from the translation in Tamil, excerpts from the various commentaries that I tried to read for my understanding. The first Sloka is planned in the month of May
As a kid nearly 60 years back, Visalakshi Ammman Kovil (Temple is more than 300 years old ) in Batlagundu (Vattlagundu), situated in Nilkottai Taluk of in Dindigul District in Tamilnadu, on the bank of HARIDHRA RIVER (MANJALARU – no idea if the river exists today!) was the only place which I used to go regularly for prayers, not because I understood what a prayer is and the need for one; but that used to be the mandate those days for boys at the “Agraharam (an ungated community!)” from the family. Visalakshi Amman & Lord Visvesvarar are the principal deities and the temple included several Deities such as Ganesha, Subramanya, Chandikeshwarar, Dakṣiṇāmurty etc. For each of the Gods, we used to recite a specific Sloka and when it came to Dakṣiṇāmurty, we used to recite as a routine. Here is a short video of the temple (Photo Courtesy – My friend Muthunarayanan alias Muthappa)
I did not know anything about either God or the Sloka except that I had to recite it at that particular spot where Lord Dakṣiṇāmurty was situated. All I knew was that He was a form of Siva. Never in my life subsequent to that period and even in my dreams did I imagine once, that one day I will be writing about the Sthothram on Lord Dakṣiṇāmurty by Adi Śankarācārya. Blessed I am indeed to even think of consolidating what is written and explained by legends and doyens of Spirituality and Vedāntaḥ.
But strange is the nature and power of “the Ultimate Reality”. Study of Vedāntaḥ and listening to Spirituality oriented Discourses is the most familiar route for spending time after retirement for most of us and I am no exception to this. One such lecture by Prof. Mahadevan of IIM, Bangalore was the spark I needed to dive into the Ocean of Vedāntaḥ Concepts brought out in Dakṣiṇāmurty Stotram. Realizing that I am getting old and spending time on spirituality, my son presented me with a book titled “The Upanishads” by Sri. Eknath Easwaran. This added fuel to the fire. As I was exploring these two topics, I learnt that I can’t do either if I don’t know Tattva Bodha. Now this is the third dimension to my time management. My preoccupation with these three books and commentaries by Swami Paramarthananda, Swami Omkaranada and Swami Sravapriyananda drove my grandchildren (my daughter’s young boys) to the conclusion that their “Thatha” (grandfather) who used to spend lot of time playing cricket and organizing/fixing the place rendered as a “mess” by them is not doing it anymore and is lost. They even declared my room as “Thatha’s Corner “– The lost and found room. The fact is that as a “Thatha” I am lost; but I am trying to find out as to who I am instead of where I am.
How can I find out the answer to the question “Who am I”? The legendary Tamil Saint Thirumoolar comes to my rescue in his epic Thirumandiram
“நரருஞ் சுரரும் பசுபாசம் நண்ணிக்
கருமங்க ளாலே கழித்தலிற் கண்டு
குருஎன் பவன்ஞானி கோதில னானால்
பரமென்ற லன்றிப் பகர்வொன்று மின்றே”.
மனிதர்களும்,தேவர்களும் பாசத்தில் அகப்பட்டு பல்வேறு வினைகளைச் செய்து அதனால் அழிந்து போகின்றனர். இதைக் கண்ட பின்பு ஒருவன் செய்ய வேண்டியது என்ன? ஒரு குற்றமற்ற ஞானியைத் தன் குருவாகப் பற்றிக் கொண்டாலே போதும். “பரத்துடன் கூடி நீயும் பரம் ஆவாய்” என்று உபதேசம் செய்வதன்றி அந்த குரு செய்ய வேண்டியது எதுவும் இல்லை.
As mortals like me, get trapped by “attachment” and perform actions which lead us nowhere, one has to look for a Guru who will make him understand that “You are That”. Fine; I need a Guru. How do I look for Guru at this Old age? Thirumoolar gives a response to my query.
“ஆட்கொண்ட வர்தனி நாயகன் அன்புற
மேற்கொண்ட வர்வினை போயற நாடொறும்
நிற்கின்ற செஞ்சடை நீளன் உருவத்தின்
மேற்கொண்ட வாறலை வீவித் துளானே”.
ஒரு குருவாக வந்து மாணவனை ஆட்கொள்பவர் ஒப்பற்ற ஈசனே ஆவார். அவர் தன் மாணவனின் வினைகள் அழியும் வண்ணம் நாள்தோறும் உபதேசிக்கிறார். அவர் நீர்மலிந்த நீள் சடையை உடைய சிவனே அன்றி வேறு எவரும் அல்ல. சிவனே மனம் இரங்கியும் கீழே இறங்கியும் வந்து மாணவனின் வருத்துகின்ற வல்வினைகளை அழித்து விடுகின்றார்.
Thirumoolar further states Lord Siva Himself comes in the form of a Guru to help us understand ourselves. It is with this confidence, that I am undertaking this journey, with Lord Dakṣiṇāmurty as my Guru and Adi Śankarācārya’ Stotramon on the Lord as the first leg of my journey.
To be honest, nothing that I will be writing in the months to come is mine, except the attempt to focus my understanding and in that process try to express the Sanskrit Slokas in my mother tongue – Tamil; it is only my limited understanding of the vast literature available in public domain. The purpose of documenting my understanding is with the hope that someday someone as ignorant as me (hopefully not when they become “the lost Thatha”), will take baby steps as a novice like me, into this delightful field of spirituality holding this piece of document as the helping hand. If that happens, that will be the biggest gift that I would be automatically passing on (without holding back) to all the people in the public domain whose works I have used extensively. There is no commercial interest whatsoever.
A word of caution here – Millions of pages have been written over centuries by “Subject” – “Matter” – Specialists to provide commentaries for the Slokas in these books. Summing them up into few lines is absolutely immature and childish; yet as a child I have started my baby steps on Vedāntaḥ. Pardon me for that. But Children have the right to enquire and ask questions. The child I am, I am asking questions to myself with the fond hope that someday I will find answers as to who I am.
Seeking your Blessings and wishes as I commence my journey. You are most welcome to join me in my journey. Looking forward to your wonderful and valued company. A broad based schedule for April & May will be posted in the next blog.
With very little knowledge of Sanskrit and abysmally poor idea about Vedanta and Spirituality, on January 4th of this year , I commenced my journey to try and get a feeling of the first Dasakam of Narayaneeyam. No need to emphasise the very low confidence that I had in this journey. It was akin to the journey by foot undertaken from the erstwhile State of Madras to Kasi (Varanasi) in the previous centuries, with the traveller not really sure if he will ever reach the destination; leave alone the chances of studying there.
As a beginner and a self-learner, like the Kasi traveller, I take lot of time to understand the sentence in Sanskrit (In Tamil we call it எழுத்துக்கூட்டி படிப்பது). Then look for help in splitting the long words into simple and understandable words (பதம் பிரித்து) and then refer to the dictionaries for meaning; come to some conclusion and then refine it with respect to the context. Many times I had lost hopes of me understanding the context and the concepts that are propounded by Bhattathri. But as I started the journey, I had an invisible hand holding mine after I finished studying each sloka – I can only guess that it was indeed the Lord of Guruvayur Himself.
So here I am; at the end of 75 days plus around 25 days of preparation , have just completed the first round of my study of 10 Slokas . I need to study this again and again till I get an understanding, as I feel that this Daskam brings out Vedantic concepts in describing Lord Guruvayurappan. I will do that as my next project. In the meantime, here is a consolidation of my learning.
Pl bear with me if you find my understanding and translation as inadequate. Please feel free to let me know through your comments.
O Lord of Guruvaayur! Thy lordliness consists in being the controller of all gods from Lord Shankara onwards.Thy prowess overcomes that of those who excel the whole world in prowess. Thy pure fame is sung by even the most desireless sages. Laxmi Devi always resides in Thy bosom. Thou are omniscient and there is not the slightest trace of attachment in Thee. Therefore, the term ‘Bhagavan’ is applicable to Thee alone
ऐश्वर्यं – state of being a mighty lord (Lordliness)
शङ्करादीश्वरविनियमनं = [शङ्कर + आदी + ईश्वर + विनियमनं = Sankara + beginning + Lord/God + control/limit/restrict = ] controls all gods beginning with Sankara
विश्वतेजोहराणां = [विश् + तेजस् + हर = universe, powers, destroy = ] of those (powerful beings) who are the destroyers (हर) of the powers (तेजस्) of the universe (विश्व)
तेजस्संहारि = [तेज: + संहारि = powers, destroyer ] = is the destroyer (संहारिन्) of the powers (तेजस्)
वीर्यं = prowess
विमलमपि = विमलं + अपि = stain less/pure/untainted
यशो = fame/honour
निस्पृहैश्चोपगीतम् = [निस्पृहै: + च + उपगीतं] = free from desire,and, sing/sung
अङ्गासङ्गा = अङ्ग + सङ्ग = part of the body (implies heart):, union
सदा – always (resides in your bosom)
श्रीरखिलविदसि = श्री + अखिलविदसि = Lakshmi, omnipresent
न क्वापि ते सङ्गवार्ता = no, anywhere, the, attachment (you are beyond any attachment)
भगवच्छब्दमुख्याश्रयोऽसि = भगवत् + शब्द+ द्मुख्य + आश्रय: + असि = Bhagwan , the sound, main, base, you are (You are the main base for the name Bhagwan). The author says that only You deserve to be called Bhagavaan since You possess the six qualities of ऐश्वर्यं (sovereignty), वीर्यं (virility), यशः (fame), श्रीः (wealth), ज्ञानं (knowledge), वैराग्यम् (detachment).
O Lord Shri Krishna! while other gods out of compassion, fulfill the desires of their devotees, Thou out of Thy unique compassion, offer Thyself (liberation) to Thy devotees. While other gods rule over the world with the powers invested in them, Thou are the very inner controller of all and rule over all beings and other gods as well as Thyself. Hence all fortunate jeevas [souls] take immense delight in the bliss that Thou are. As for Thee, Thou are ever satisfied in Thyself and are the abode of incomparable attributes. O Lord! prostrations to Thee.
English Transliteration
kaaruNyaatkaamamanyaM dadati khalu pare svaatmadastvaM visheShaa-
daishvaryaadiishate(a)nye jagati parajane svaatmanO(a)piishvarastvam .
O Lord Vishnu! for the devotees who surrender to Thee, Thou always confer, unasked for, not only wealth and other desires, but also liberation.Thus being accessible to every one and bestower of unlimited boons, Thou are the unique Paarijaata tree [parijaata: a heavenly flower]. Alas, the desire prompted hoards of people, in vain, long for trivial blessings from the Kalpaka tree of the garden of Indra. [Kalpaka: a wish fulfilling tree]
O Invincible Lord! Thy activity of creation is indeed a tragic sport, as it causes a lot of sufferings to the living beings. This is what I used to think, but now I do not think so. For if there were no creation, how could human beings enjoy the beauty and sweetness of Thy form which is so delightful to hear and ecstatic to behold, and thus revel in the ocean of Supreme-Bliss-Consciousness.
English Transliteration
kaShTaa te sR^iShTicheShTaa bahutarabhavakhedaavahaa jiivabhaajaa-
Your form is like the beauty of the fresh rain bearing clouds, and of a beautiful bunch of blue lotuses. Your form is an embodiment of beauty, in the eyes of the people who have done meritorious deeds, and is a complete incarnation of all their good deeds. You are the abode where Goddess Laxmi delights without inhibition. You are the source of a torrential flow of nectarine Bliss, soaking the hearts of people who meditate. On that form of Yours I continuously meditate, O Lord of Guruvayur!
• प्रत्यग्रधाराधरललितकलायावलीकेलिकारम् = which ridicules (केलिकार) the fresh (प्रत्यग्र) rain-bearing (धारा-धर) clouds (धाराधर) and the bunch (आवली) of lovely (ललित) dark-colored kalaaya (कलाय) flowers, due to its superior dark-colored beauty
• लावण्यस्य एकसारम् = which is the ultimate (एक) essence (सार) of beauty (लावण्य)
• सुकृतिजनदृशां पूर्णपुण्यावतारम् = which is the full (पूर्ण) manifestation (अवतार) of the virtues (पुण्य) in front of the eyes (दृश्) of virtuous (सुकृति) people (जन)
• लक्ष्मीनिश्शङ्कलीलानिलयनम् = which is the location for Lakshmi to play without any worry
• सिञ्चत् = which is raining
• सञ्चिन्तकानाम् अन्तः = in the minds of those who are meditating
• अमृतस्यन्दसन्दोहम् = the combined flow of emerging nectar
tena ivO deti liinaa prakR^itir asati kalpa a(a)pi kalpaadi kaale .
tasyaaH samshuddhamam shaMkam api tam ati rOdhaayakaM satvaruupaM
sa tvaM dhR^itvaa dadhaasi sva mahima vibhava akuNTha vaikuNTha ruupam .. 5
Meaning in English
Oh Birthless Lord! Even though You are not bound by any activities, and You are without any motive, You do resort to that activity known as ‘eekshanaa’ – the will to create. Because of that only. Nature (‘Prakriti’) manifests itself. This Prakriti, is latent in You, as if non existent in the beginning of a new cycle of creation. Then, from the pure Saatvik portion of ‘Prakriti’ (Maya) (which does not in any way obstruct Your Brahmic effulgence), Oh Lord of Vaikunth, You manifest Yourself, in full glory, with a Divine form here in Guruvayur.
Meaning of the Sanskrit Words
निर्व्यापार: – अपि – jobless/free from any occupation, even (though not bound by any activities)
निष्कारणम् – without any reason/motive,
अज भजसे – unborn, choose (thou resort to),
यत्-क्रियाम्-ईक्षणा-आख्यां – that, action/performance/doing, sight/look/care for, inform/tell/make it known (that activity known as ‘eekshanaa’ (the will to create)
तेन-एव-उदेति लीना प्रकृति:-because of that, only, came to manifest, the latent, Nature or ‘Prakriti’
असति-कल्पा-अपि कल्पादि-काले -.असत् non existent/unreal, period, and, beginning of the period, timely/seasonable
(which abides in Thee) as if non existent in the beginning of a new cycle of creation
तस्या: संशुद्धम्-अंशं – that, purified of sin, part
of that (Prakriti) an absolutely pure part
कमपि तम्-अति रोधायकं सत्वरूपं – which does not stop/obstruct (Thy glory of) the Saatvic form
स त्वं धृत्वा दधासि -that Thou did take and assume
स्व-महिम-विभव-अकुण्ठ वैकुण्ठ रूपं – O Lord of Vaikuntha! a majestic form which does not obstruct Thy glories
…….majestic, omnipresence/rich/wealthy, eternal, vaikuntam, form
Prabhu's Ponder 