Noble Personages

[Guest guest]

Sri Anbil Ramaswamy and Sri Sundarajan have so eloquently wrote about

the noble

personages in whose time, we are blessed to be born.

 

One more noble personage was SadhaabishEkam GOvinda Narasimhachaariar

swami.

His clarity of upanyaasams and his talent in breaking things into such

easy

to understand pieces so that common folks like us could understand our

porvachaaryaas' works is unique. SadhabishEkam swaamis kainkaryams to

renovate temples in South Tamilnadu and reinforce the sampradaayam in

the temples

is unparallelled.

 

 

adiyEn

 

Varadhan

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

 

I was very pleased to see Sri Anbil Ramaswamy's post on noble personages.

His note on P.B. Annangarachariar reminded me of the Venkateshwara

Suprabatham composition. The aspects of Suprabatham, Nama Sankeertanam,

Prapatti and Mangalam have been brought out with consummate effect in this

work pregnant with meaning and simple to understand. The line Meena KrutE..

of the Suprabatham deals with the Dashavataram. The choice of expression

for each line of the Suprabatham sends one into raptures of appreciation.

 

The majestic rendition of the Suprabatham at Tirupati early in the

morning makes for a sonorous setting to the Tomalai Seva which follows.

The Suprabatham line of particular significance is

"AjnAninA Maya DoshAn AsheshAn Vihitan HarE I

Kshamasvatvam Kshamasvatvam Sheshashaila ShikhamaNE II". In this line,

Sri P.B. Anna begs the Lord for forgiveness for all sins committed knowingly or

unknowlingly. The sentiment expressed here is very similar to the message

of Sri Annamacharya in the Krithi "Neepada Kamalamu Ninne Vachina Nammi",

addressed to Alamelu Manga Thayar. Sri Annamacharya was initiated as a

Sri Vaishnava at a relatively early age by Sri Adivan Sadagopa Yatindra

Mahadesikan, the founding Jeeyar of Ahobila Matham. Upon initiation, Sri

Annamacharya made a promise to the Jeeyar that he would compose

one Krithi in praise of Lord Srinivasa each day of his life. This Vageyyakara

lived until he was nearly 95 years old, during the course of which he

delivered almost 20,000 Krithis in praise of the Lord.

 

In the above mentioned Krithi set to Revati Ragam, Annamacharya eulogizes

Alamelu Manga Thayar, the consort of Lord Srinivasa, in glowing terms and

carries on a beautiful conversation with Thayar. The following is

a loose translation of this Krithi. I seek forgiveness for all errors,

particularly from those members of the list who are knowledgable about

Sangeetam. I am reproducing the text and the translation entirely from memory.

 

Neepada Kamalamu Ninne Vachina Nammi Niratamu Rakshinchu Alamelu Manga I

NA Paali Daivamu Govinda Daivini VaNicharaNintini Alamelu Manga II

 

Here, Annamacharya appeals to the Alamelumanga Thayar to protect

him, who has come to her, seeking refuge at her Lotus feet.

 

Mangapuramunaku Mahima Vachina Thalli Na Sankatamu Theerchi Rakshimpavamma I

DharaNilo Neevanti Daivamu Ledani Telisayunaanamma Alamelumanga II

 

You who brought glory to Alamelumangapuram! Please come to my succour and

protect me after ridding me of my suffering! I am aware that there is no other

deity like you, Alamelumanga, on this earth!

 

Palumaru Pilisithini Palinthu Manineeku Paritapamu Ledu Alamelu Manga I

Telisi Teliyaganedu Chesina Tappu Manichavalamma Alamelumanga II

 

Here, the Vageyyakara begs to be forgiven for all sins committed knowingly or

unknowingly and seeks the grace of Thayar.

 

Manni JagamulO Talli Garbhamuledu MaraNa PadaluikanE TaLanamma I

Napaara Manneeyu Neepadamula Petti Namaskarinchitinamma Alamelumanga II

 

In this line, Annamacharya continues by imploring to Thayar to remain by

his side until his last moment and salutes her by placing everything

belonging to him at her feet.

 

Nee Divya Namamu Nitya Japamu Seyya Niyamamu Ledamma Alamelumanga I

Nee Nama Dhyaname Na Hrudaya Mantuni Niluvalanamma Alamelumanga II

 

There are no rules for engaging in constant recitation of your name,

Alamelumanga! Contemplation of your name alone brings joy and solace to my

heart!

 

Yedu Kondalapati Venkateshwaruluni Cheppata Chesina TapamemO Na Thalli I

Gamaniya Mainani Soundaryamuna Choosi Tapamemi Chesannu Alamelumanga II

 

My mother! What great penance did Lord Venkateshwara of Seven Hills perform

in secrecy (to win your hand)? After beholding your beautiful form what more

penance do I need to perform (to beget your grace)?

 

Revati is most appropriately chosen by the Vageyyakara for this intimate

conversation with Thayar, because it is the language of Vedic speech.

References to Revati can be found in the Rg, Yajus and Sama Vedam. Rendition

of Raivata Saman from the Sama Vedam is a majestic chant to hear. Revati is

sacred for Sri Vaishnavas since Panguni Revati is the Tirunakshatram of

Lord Ranganatha. From a musical standpoint, the elegance of Revati lies in

the Nishadam.

 

Revati Samhavan Tiruvadigale SharaNam,

 

Muralidhar Rangaswamy