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 ).
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.
இசை – Music – Sensing the Dance through aural medium – Oothukadu Venkata Kavi.
We are now moving into the second dimension of the Dance of the Yuga. We will look at a composition which will provide visual images through the aural route !
Anyone who has the ability to sing or anyone who has the ability to listen to the composition will be able to understand the essence of the dance through rhythmic notes and lyrics. So this blog will only provide the translation of the composition.
Audio Link
This is as old as me (more than 65 years back) when the music industry was at its elementary level of technology in audio engineering. This particular composition was never presented in a classical Carnatic Music Concert in those days and was normally explained in bits & pieces in the traditional Hari Katha Kalakshebam (a musical discourse about a story related to God). Sri. Needamangalam Krishnamoorthy Bhagawathar is credited with the first exposition of this full composition and making it popular and reach out to the masses.
This link is from the current generation of young musicians Kuldeep Pai, Sooryagayathri & Rahul Vellal, with the latest technology in audio engineering in the Carnatic Music style.
With its eyes flaming and its breath emitting deadly poisonous fumes, generatingintense heat all round, that serpent lord, bit Thee hard, but finding Thee unmoved,wrapped itself tightly around Thee, who hath unlimited power and strength. Quiteamazing, indeed.
Meaning in Tamil
கண்கள்அனல்கக்ககொடுவிடக்காற்றுவெளிமூச்சென
கடும்வெப்பம்சூழகடித்திட்டான்காளிங்கன்!
கடுவிடம் பயனுறுமோ மாயவனிடம், கண்ட மறுகனம்
சிக்கெனப்பற்றி சுற்றிவளைத்தான்சின்னக்கண்ணனை
Sanskrit Sloka 7
अविलोक्यभवन्तमथाकुलिते
तटगामिनिबालकधेनुगणे।
व्रजगेहतलेऽप्यनिमित्तशतं
समुदीक्ष्यगतायमुनांपशुपा: ।।७॥
English Transliteration
avilOkya bhavantamathaakulite
taTagaamini baalakadhenugaNe |
vrajagehatale(a)pyanimittashataM
samudiikshya gataa yamunaaM pashupaaH || 7
Meaning in English
The Gopa boys and the cows were waitng on the banks were getting worried andrestless, when they did not see Thee, and went to the bank of the river Yamunaa. In the houses in Gokula also the Gopas saw hundreds of evil omens and they also rushed towards Yamuna.
Meaning in Tamil
கண்ணனைக்காணாமல்கடுந்துயர்கொண்டு
ஆநிரையும்ஆயர்ரபாலகரும்நதிக்கரைசென்றனர்
ஆயர்பாடியில்இழிசகுனம்பலகண்டு
ஆயரும்விரைந்தனர்யமுனைநதிநோக்கி
Sanskrit Sloka 8
अखिलेषुविभोभवदीयदशा–
मवलोक्यजिहासुषुजीवभरम्।
फणिबन्धनमाशुविमुच्यजवा–
दुदगम्यतहासजुषाभवता॥८॥
English Transliteration
akhileShu vibhO bhavadiiyadashaa
M avalOkya jihaasuShu jiivabharam |
phaNibandhanamaashu vimuchya javaat
udagamyata haasajuShaa bhavataa || 8
Meaning in English
Oh Lord ! Seeing Thy condition, all of them, overcome by grief, decided togive up their life in order to save Thee, when, all of a sudden, Thou, freeing Thyself from the deadly grip ofthe serpent, rose above the waters, smiling casually.
Meaning in Tamil
மாயவனைக்காணாமல்மாளாத்துயர்கொண்டு
மாண்டிடுவோமெனமக்கள்உறுதியிட்டநேரம்தனில்
மின்னலெனஅரவுப்பிடிவிடுத்துகுறுநகைதனைகொண்டு
யமுனைநீர்உள்ளிருந்துஉதயமானான்மேகவண்ணன்
Sanskrit Sloka 9
अधिरुह्यतत: फणिराजफणान्
ननृतेभवतामृदुपादरुचा।
कलशिञ्जितनूपुरमञ्जुमिल–
त्करकङ्कणसङ्कुलसङ्क्वणितम्॥९॥
English Transliteration
adhiruhya tataH phaNiraajaphaNaan
nanR^ite bhavataa mR^idupaadaruchaa |
kalashi~njita nuupura manjumila
t karakankaNa sankula sankvaNitam || 9
Meaning in English
Then Thou mounted on the hoods of the serpent king and danced with Thy delicate beautiful feet. The gentle sound of the anklets mingled beautifully and rhythmically with the tinklings of the bangles on Thy wrists.
Meaning in Tamil
சின்னஞ்சிறுபதங்களின்சிலம்பொலியுடனே
கைவளைகாப்புகள்குலுங்கொலிகலந்து
அழகியமென்மலர்பாதகங்களுடன்
நாகமகுடமேறிநாட்டியம்ஆடினான்நாராயணன்.
Sanskrit Sloka 10
जहृषु: पशुपास्तुतुषुर्मुनयो
ववृषु: कुसुमानिसुरेन्द्रगणा: ।
त्वयिनृत्यतिमारुतगेहपते
परिपाहिसमांत्वमदान्तगदात्॥१०॥
English Transliteration
jahR^iShuH pashupaastutuShurmunayO
vavR^iShuH kusumaani surendragaNaaH |
tvayi nR^ityati maarutagehapate
paripaahi sa maaM tvamadaanta gadaat ||10
Meaning in English
As Thou performed the dance, the Gopas rejoiced, the sages sang hymns, and the gods showered flowers. O Lord of the Guruvaayur temple! Such that Thou are, save me from the severe illness.
Ever since my visit to Guruvayur, I have been planning to study Narayaneeyam. The sheer daunting task of studying over 1000 Slokas put me off perhaps.
The only Slokas which I heard (without knowing that it is from Narayaneeyam) was the ones that KJ Yesudas used to sing “Yogeendraanaam…..aayur aarogya sowkyam” and the religious discourse by the legendary Sengalipuram Anantharama Dikshithar on GuruvAyurappan
They say that for every thing to happen the way it happens, one needs a specific time and God’s grace. Perhaps I got that when I decided to do a blog on Lord Krishna’s Kalinga Narthanam.
So, here I am plunging into the nectar of Bhakti and looking at how the little Krishna danced on the hoods of the serpent Kalinga.
In Narayaneeyam Dasakam 55, Bhattadhri brings out the details of Kalinga Narthanam through 10 Slokas/verses. I will present each Sloka, its English Transliteration, its English and Tamil Meaning. For those who are interested in the meaning of the individual Sanskrit Words, I will provide a link to my Drop Box at the end of each blog where it will be stored and available. This is primarily to save space and memory. I will also consolidate the Tamil Meaning for the 10 slokas and provide as a separate blog at the end.
Oh Lord ! Determined to drive away that deadly serpent from the river, Thou, quickly,climbed on to the Kadamba tree, on the bankof, river with all its leaves dried up, owing tothe poisonous air around it.
Meaning in Tamil
நதிவாழ்நச்சுடைநாகம்தனைவெருட்டிடஉறுதியிட்டு
நச்சுக்காற்றினால்நதிக்கரையில்நலிந்துமக்கியஇலையுடை
கதம்பமரம்ஏறினான்எந்தன்மாயக்கண்ணன்
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Sanskrit Sloka 2
अधिरुह्यपदाम्बुरुहेणचतं
नवपल्लवतुल्यमनोज्ञरुचा।
ह्रदवारिणिदूरतरंन्यपत:
परिघूर्णितघोरतरङ्ग्गणे॥२॥
English Transliteration
adhiruhya padaamburuheNa cha taM na
vapallava tulya manOj~naruchaa |
hradavaariNi duurataraM nyapataH
parighuurNita ghOratarangagaNe || 2
Meaning in English
Placing the feet with a a pleasing radiance and which resembled tender leaves, Krishna climbed the tree trunk and reaching to the top, and with a long leap jumped far out into the deep waters with swirling fierce waves of the river, and went far down below.
Meaning in Tamil
கொழுந்திலைத்தளிரெனஒளிமிகுகமலமலர்ப் பாதமுடன்
காழ் மர உச்சிக்கொம்பேறி எழும்பித்குதித்து
சுழிர்நிறைநதியில்வெகுஆழம்சென்றான்பாலகிருஷ்ணன்
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Sanskrit Sloka – 3
भुवनत्रयभारभृतोभवतो
गुरुभारविकम्पिविजृम्भिजला।
परिमज्जयतिस्मधनुश्शतकं
तटिनीझटितिस्फुटघोषवती॥३॥
English Transliteration
bhuvanatraya bhaara bhR^itO bhavatO
gurubhaaravikampi vijR^imbhijalaa |
parimajjayati sma dhanushshatakaM
taTinii jhaTiti sphuTaghOShavatii || 3
Meaning in English
When, the bearer of the weight of the three worlds, jumped, Thy immense weight caused the waters to swirl and swell. On the river bed an area of a hundred bows (yards) submerged, as a sudden roar arose from the river.
Meaning in Tamil
மூவுலகுச்சுமைதாங்கும்முகுந்தன்முக்குளித்ததும்
முழுநீரும்சுழன்றுபொங்கிஆர்பரிக்கும்ஓசையுடனே
மூழ்கடித்தேநதிக்கரையைநூறுவில்அம்புசெல்தூரம்
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Sanskrit Sloka 4
अथदिक्षुविदिक्षुपरिक्षुभित–
भ्रमितोदरवारिनिनादभरै: ।
उदकादुदगादुरगाधिपति–
स्त्वदुपान्तमशान्तरुषाऽन्धमना: ॥४॥
English Transliteration
atha dikshuvidikshu parikshubhita
bhramitOdara vaari ninaadabharaiH |
udakaadudagaaduragaadhipati-
stvadupaantamashaantaruShaa(a)ndhamanaaH || 4
Meaning in English
The deep whirling swells, generated in the agitated waters, in all directions, due to Thyplunging into it, and the deafening uproar, which accompanied it, enraged the Kaaliya, and he emerged from the waters, and approached Thee in a fit of blinded anger.
Meaning in Tamil
ஆழ்சுழிநீர்பொங்கிஎட்டுத்திக்கும்கரைபுரண்டோட
ஆர்ப்பரிக்கும்ஒசைகேட்டுஎழுஅரவரசன்காளிங்கன்
அடைந்திட்டான்நிலைகலங்கிசீற்றமுடன்கடுஞ்சினம்
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Sanskrit Sloka 5
फणशृङ्गसहस्रविनिस्सृमर–
ज्वलदग्निकणोग्रविषाम्बुधरम्।
पुरत: फणिनंसमलोकयथा
बहुशृङ्गिणमञ्जनशैलमिव॥५॥
English Transliteration
phaNashR^ingasahasravinissR^imara
jvaladagnikaNOgraviShaambudharam |
purataH phaNinaM samalOkayathaa
bahushR^ingiNamanjana shailamiva || 5
Meaning in English
Thou saw the serpent in front with his thousands of peak like hoods emmitting burning fire flakes and fierce poison fluid, looking like a many peaked black mountain in front of Thee.
Prabhu's Ponder 