திருநாளைப்போவார் (Thirunalaipovar) கதாகாலக்ஷேபம் (Discourse)

The Story of Nandanar as told by the divinity personified Smt Vishaka Hariji can be heard countless number of times and each time the experience will be newer and the feeling as immense as can be felt by the honest seeker who is equipped with a strong faith, bhakthi and a firm believer of the divine.

There can only be a few stories of this kind and listening to one such discourse is a lifetime experience. I don’t think one will tire listening to the bhakthi charithram any number of times. Towards this end and to preserve this story for the younger generations to read the Harikatha in English this blog is dedicated. I dictate this by transcribing verbatim the story of Thirunalaipovar as told by Smt Vishaka Hariji by listening to the mp3 audio file piece by piece by pausing and replaying and translating this into english whilst being careful not to omit any gems therein...

As it is intertwined with a soul-stirring dual-divinity personification of the "nada brahmam" and the "saguna brahmam" in equal measure which can only arise from the soul-stirring nadam from the mouth of our beloved Smt. Vishaka Hariji, the pravachanam has been told with so much bhAvam mixed with the pure essence of bhakthi and the Lord personified all through. One cannot just stop the flow of tears of bhakthi which flow by the grace and presence of the lord, the guru and the devotee outpouring with the pravachanam. Surely by the grace of Smt. Vishaka Hariji and Gurunathar blessings, I was even able to just translate this upanyasam by hearing it word-for-word. Not according to the grammatical rules and other rhetorical rules, but simply an attempt to glorify the lord is enough! This was what motivated me to translate word-by-word albeit with a simpleton's understanding and on hearing of the words coming from Smt. Vishaka Hariji an attempt to repeat the words as a service to the lord and a chance to be able to write his glories that's all! I want to be completely forgiven by the lord for any mistakes and if at all I have assumed something even knowingly and unknowingly, for it is complete lack of ignorance and foolhardiness on my part. I really really thank the lord from the depths of my heart to have got this thought, more so to be able to even bravely embark upon writing the words of the divinity personified Smt. Vishaka Hariji and I take this as a great fortune and blessings bestowed unto me."

Transcribed by the grace of the Lord and Gurunathar, I place this pravachanam translation at the feet of Guru Maharaj with my humblest namaskarams and offer this as a service to one and all to beget the satsaghAnubhAvam - Anand Sundaresan

Please listen to the pravachanam from the divine voice of Smt. Vishaka Hariji in Tamil for no words can describe the divine bliss one gets from hearing the upanyasam from the divinity personified Vishaka Hari. You can reach out for all the divine discourses expounded by Sri Sri Anna at the website portal https://srisrianna.com/ and the latest information of Smt. Vishaka Hariji discourses at http://harianna.blogspot.com

Opening Song:

sabhApatikku vERu deivam samAnamA gumA tillai
krupAnidhi ivaraippOla kidaikkumO inda tAraNi tanil.....
oru taram shivacidambaram enRuuraittAl pOdumE paragatikku vERu puNyam paNNa vENDumA ariya pulaiyar mUvar pAdam aDaintAr enRE purANam aRindu sollakkETTOm gOpAlakrishNan pAdum in Abhogi.
Nama parvathi pathaye Hara Hara Mahadeva!!!

Thrunaalaipovar, the story of Nandanar is one which is drenched with bhakthi rasam and this is a story from about 1000 years ago. From the Periya puranams, Sekilar adigalar, around over 200 years ago there lived a great bhagavathar by name Gopalakrishna Bharathiar who wrote this dance drama. This was during the same time as that of the great saint Thyagaraja swamigal. Sri Gopalakrishna Bharathiar was a very disciplined brahmacharyan and was always ready to help others and was a great siva bhakthar. In Nagapattinam there lived Kandappa chettiar and Chellapa chettiar who had come to Chidambaram where Gopalakrishna bharathiar also lived and they came with a wish to invite the bhagavathar to Nagapattinam for telling a siva kathai (story). Sri Gopalakrishna bharathiar however had a principle wherein he did not want to tell siva kathai to people who had Vishnu dwesham (abhor) as he felt that with dwesham there is no bhakthi. One who does not have any bedham (differences) between SivaperumAn and bhagawan Mahavishnu is a good bhakthar, he then goes on to tell the characteristics of a true bhakthar. Usually Sri Gopalakrishna bharathiar would test whether one was a true bhakthar by telling them thus, “I don’t tell siva kathai, only vishnu kathai”. Based on their acceptance or not, he would determine whether dwesham existed within them. But these two bhaktas were true and said any kathai is fine and passed the test. 'Any kathai told by you from your own mouth will definitely be a very good kathai'. Sri Gopalakrishna bharathiar agreed to perform the discourse which would be a dance drama. Gopalakrishna bharathiar went to Nagapattinam and sat there in front of a big sabha where eager devotees thronged to listen to him. He had not selected any kathai and some time passed. Now there were some fruits placed in front of him. He just closed his eyes and prayed to sivaperumAn in his heart and he said, "Please can a good siva katha come to me from my heart". Instantly a flash came to him with the name “Nandanar” and in front of him there were these fruits. Mahans can just about tell anything from any object or thought, such is their divine power.


With a single Nondi Sindhu, the full Nandanar charithram was told and based on this for a period of 3 days, he poured the charithram drenched with full of bhava in various chandas, meter, eladi vritham, kambu, thukada, savaii…filled with raga bhavam. By Swabhavam itself, Nandanar charithram is drenched with bhakthi rasam, which now being added with ragam it was like milk laced with honey. It is said that sivaperumAn himself listened to this upanyasam. Sage Upamanyu bhagavan mentioned that sivaperumAn himself listened to this story...

Nandan…Charithirama Nandan….Analum…
AnthyanthaM Bhakthi Rasam….Cholla Cholla…
Nandan… Charithirama Nandan ....

Kollida Karai Adhanur (ஆதனூர்) village - this is as if it's Amaravathi, Alakapuri (as Kerala desam, filled with coconut trees by itself is so beautiful as if we have come to some heavenly place, it's such a wonderful place). But instead of describing all the beauty, Gopalakrishna bhagavathar describes the cheri (a old caste custom of people who are literally treated with low work and in slums and are not allowed in prestigious areas such as temples of that time). But wherever there is siva bhakthi that place itself is Kailasam. A village can be very beautiful but if there is no temple, it will be devoid of beauty as there is no bhakthi, but if Namasankeerthanam is told in a temple then it will be Mangalakarakam (meaning an environment with divine surrounding) and beautiful.

Born in the Pulayar Vagupil (cheri), Nandanar was a siva bhaktha from his younger days. His cheri friends were all bad, they had all the vices – 
pon-asai (love for gold), mun-asai (love for land), pen-asai (love for woman) and they were after material things, whereas, Nandanar had no desire and no interest in bad things and was always chanting Namam. Namam must be chanted always, “Guruvayurappa” – if this is said in any home it will always be subhiksham (goodness) and filled with goodness. Nandanar would do any work - "Seiyum Thozhilye deivam" (Work is God) was his motto. Kotthadimai (slaves), even in Maharastra state, there were slaves like this and it was farmland work. Whereas Adhanur brahmins were landlords and out there, the slaves had to work hard for them and do so with utter submission and Nandanar had no freedom. But although externally Nandanar had no freedom, internally though he was free and filled with bhakthi and had the freedom to practice this. Many people have freedom outside but inside they have no freedom at all. Some are as bonded slaves to kAma (lust), KrOdham (anger) and desire and because they cannot get what they desire, they are again adimai (slave) to KrOdham. Like this its a cyclic process.

Nandanar had no great desire except that he had to go to siva kshetram and have the darshan of sivaperumAn. But the pulayar vaghupil community were not allowed inside temples and therefore he had no chance to have the darshan. Due to his desire to go, however, one day a message comes to his ear thus "In Tiruppungur (8 kms from Vaideeshwaran kovil near Sirkazhi Mahakshetram), Theradi (Chariot) nindram (from the chariot) siva darshanam is possible."

So Nandanar desires to go there. His bhakthi filled mind says, "this Siva darshanam will be such an anandam (happiness) to everyone, everyone must also have the chance to see sivaperumAn and experience the bhakthi like himself". He wants to take all his colleagues and therefore calls out to everyone and tells them that there is a message. Big vedanta vishayams, Gopalakrishna Bharathiar, has sung in very simple sentences in his song as he sings,

Arpa Sugathai Ninaithom…Aran Thiruvadiyai Maranthom…
Siva Lokanathanai Thedi…Seviduvom Vareer…
Arpa sugathai ninaithom….
Avan thiruvadiyai maranthom…
Karpidhamana prapancham idai…

…..Kanal Jalam pole…..

(Kanal Jalam pole… Here there is a description from Smt. Vishaka Hariji that makes my eyes drenched with tears, the bhAvam is deep when it touches our inner soul….Kanal Jalam,.. that's our life…like a mirage…Palai vanam - in the hot summer, looks like water is available, even in Tamil Nadu in hot summer days, when you are walking on the road, you can see a glitter at the bottom of a tree as if there is water there, but when you go closer there won't be any…we call this in English as “Mirage” (Kanal Jalam), an optical phenomenon in which light rays are bent to produce a displaced image...The deer will be very very thirsty and since it is full of thirst it will keep on jumping…(thavi thavi)..it will get here and then put its mouth only to find its not there…should not the deer have any buddhi? but it won't get..it will keep on going here and there…so as it's said in Tamil…thulli thulli…gudhichi gudhichii (skip and jump)…in Sanskrit this is called – MRIGA TRISHNA....(mrga trshna : water of a mirage), the deer doing so will eventually die of helplessness…Gopalakrishna Bharathiar says, this is not any deer story, this is OUR story…as we all are in this loka sanskaram… like the deer we think this is sukhamo (happiness), that is sukhamo – is money happiness, is fame happiness, if we buy 4-5 cars can we be happy and like the deer we keep on jumping for the Kanal Jalam. We still won't get budhhi, it should come shouldn’t it, but it won't come. We should open our arms and say “Panduranga”, “Eesha”, “Shambho Mahadeva” without any shyness or hesitation. Tears come to us but we cannot understand the simple meaning but Smt Vishaka Hariji tells us this with so much Bhava in order to stir this in us… those tears should make us understand….) But should we keep on doing this and leave this world just like that, is that what we are here for, is this why this manida (human) janmam has been given to us?

சிவலோக நாதனை கண்டு சேவித்திடுவோம் வாரீர்
சிவலோக நாதனை கண்டு சேவித்திடுவோம் வாரீர்
சிவலோக நாதனை கண்டு சேவித்திடுவோம்

Come let's get the darshan of Shiva Loka Natha and seek his blessings
அற்ப சுகத்தை நினைத்தோம் -
அவன்திருவடிகளை மறந்தோம் -
நாம்அற்ப சுகத்தை நினைத்தோம் -
அவன்திருவடிகளை மறந்தோம்

We thought just about silly pleasures and forgot His lotus feet
கற்பித மாயா ப்ரபஞ்சமீதை
கற்பித மாயா ப்ரபஞ்சமீதை
கானல் ஜலம் போலே எண்ணி

Let us think of this illusionary world as a mirage
Manida Janmam Kudhuthar…
Varundha karangal Alaithar…

11 comments:

Guru said...

I am so moved by the translation that I want to hear the original rendition by smt Visakha hari. I am not able to find the link to hear original rendition in ur site. can u favor me?
U r blessed.

Guruvayurappan

Anonymous said...

I have updated the blog with the schedules of Smt Vishaka Hari during the Margazhi Mahotsavam.

Kindly verify the correctness of the schedule by calling up the Event location to confirm the schedule as this may be changed or postphoned....

Anonymous said...

Good post and this post helped me alot in my college assignement. Thank you as your information.

தக்குடு said...

Such a big post, but very help ful.

Regards,
Thakkudu
www.ummachikappathu.blogspot.com

vidya said...

What awonderful translation!! Could u please direct me as to where I could buy this Cd or VCD

Unknown said...

dear anand,
can you please post the original talk by smt vishaka mam, so that we can hear the divine talk.... your work is too good. thanks .. heartfelt thanks to what ever you are doing

Venugopal Banda said...

On 16 September 2010 18:00, Venugopal Banda(Venugopal.Banda@fmr.com> wrote:
Jai Guru Dev ...
I just completed listening the Nandanaar Charitam.
Even though I am not a tamil understanding guy, I am able to understand with help of your translation and the grace of GuruDev.

I just want to say thanks to you once again for everything you did and all your efforts to pass on the divine grace.

Jai Guru Dev

pinkdrops said...

H Ainand

Nice post..:)

Can you please share the links of her rendition if possible with me.?

I would love to listen to her..

Thanks

Archana

subha sekar said...

pls i want to know the lyrics of rama rama rama sita rama song by vishakha hari in sundarakandam. i have that dvd every wk friday and saturday i put that cd and listen. its very amazing. i also want to sing along with that dvd. pls forward that song lyrics to my email. i will be thankfull if u forward that song lyrics. expecting soon from yr side of the song lyrics. thank u.

Ranjani Chitoor said...

Hi
I am very big fan of your harikathas i also keeping listening & watching them from YouTube. Even when i am working in kitchen, office anywhere even while driving the kids to their activities. Thank you so much. Wish you and your family a Very Happy New Year 2013.

Aiswarya S said...

Radhe krishna !!
Awesome Work Sir !

சிவலோக நாதனை

சிவலோக நாதனை கண்டு சேவித்திடுவோம் வாரீர்
சிவலோக நாதனை கண்டு சேவித்திடுவோம் வாரீர்
சிவலோக நாதனை கண்டு சேவித்திடுவோம்
Come let's get the darshan of Shiva Loka Natha and seek his blessings

அற்ப சுகத்தை நினைத்தோம் - அவன்
திருவடிகளை மறந்தோம் - நாம்
அற்ப சுகத்தை நினைத்தோம் - அவன்
திருவடிகளை மறந்தோம்
We thought just about silly pleasures and forgot His lotus feet

கற்பித மாயா ப்ரபஞ்சமீதை
கற்பித மாயா ப்ரபஞ்சமீதை
கானல் ஜலம் போலே எண்ணி
Let us think of this illusionary world as a mirage

சிவலோகநாதனைக் கண்டு...

ஆசைக் கடலில் விழுந்தோம் - நல்
அறிவுக்கறிவை இழந்தோம் - நாம்
ஆசைக் கடலில் விழுந்தோம் - நல்
அறிவுக்கறிவை இழந்தோம்
We fell in the ocean of desireand lost the right senses

பாசமகல வழி தேடாமல்
எமப் பாசமகல வழி தேடாமல்
பரதவிக்கும் பாவியானோம்
Instead of searching for ways
to escape the rope of Yama called Pasa
We have become lamenting sinners

சிவலோகநாதனைக் கண்டு சேவித்திடுவோம் வாரீர்
சிவலோகநாதனைக் கண்டு சேவித்திடுவோம்
~~~ பக்த நந்தனார் பாடல்
~~~ Poem from Bhakta Nandanar

Radhe Krishna !!!