Another "Jail bird(Kokilam )" singing from the top of the seven Hills

[Guest guest]

SrI:

 

NamO venkatEsAya !

 

Dear BhakthAs:

 

SrIman Sadagopan Iyengar's excellent piece on the jail bird

stirred the thoughts about another great devotee of Lord

VenkatesA , who went thru the ordeal of jail life

for a short period .

 

This bhakthA is none other than Saint AnnamayyA ,

who was imprisoned by the king of Tanguturu near

Thirumalai. The king is known today for his services to

Lord VenkatEsA and is known by the name of Saluva

NarasimharAya . He had heard a SrungAra Keerthana

of the Saint addressed to Lord VenkatEsa and was

moved by the Madhura Bhakthi bhAvam , which permeated

that krithi. He was eager to have the Saint sing

a KeerthanA on him . Saint Annamayya refused to

use his tongue to praise any one other than the Lord .

In a spirit of the Mukuntha MaalA SlOkam

(JihvE keerhaya Kesavam , Muraripum --) ,

the Saint responded strongly :

 

" This tongue of mine , which has tasted the glory of

singing Hari Naama will never agree to sing the praise of

any one else ;

 

This head , which has bowed low at the feet of Murahari

will not accede to bowing at the feet of others;

 

These hands of mine , which offered worship to SrIpathi

will never demean themselves and stretch out seeking

alms from others ;

 

These feet of mine , which walk towards the temple of Hari

will never proceed towards the house of sinners;

 

This mind of mine , which for ever dwells on SrI VenkatAchalapathi

will not even by mistake for a moment think of any one else;

 

This body of mine , which is His property will never be

subservient and amenable to control by any one else."

 

At that time , Saint was an invited resident of the court of

the King and through the above krithi , the Saint made it

clear that his stay in the court of NarasingsarAya would not

change his mind about singing on any one else except the Lord

of the Seven Hills.

 

The king was enraged and ordered that the Saint be imprisoned

and hand cuffs were put on . The Bhaktha SikhAmaNi felt that

the Lord had abandoned him and sang movingly in the jail

the Krithi " Aakativelala" appealing to the Lord :

 

" When I am hungry or when I am tired , the only succour

is the name of Hari;there is no other way (naanya: panthA--)

 

When I desire something or when I feel lonely or when I am

held captive or when I am threatened with incarceration ,

my only succour is Hari Naama;

 

However much we may try , there is no other succour or

source of help.

 

When I am in distress or when I am frightened or fear

a scandal or any other evil , I know for certain there

is no other succour except Hari naama.

 

When I am tied up by chains or when I am seentenced to

death or troubled by creditors , my only key for release

is the name of Lord VenaktEsA ; however much one may try ,

there is no other succor."

 

The moment the Saint completed this song identifying his

sole and irreplacable source of help , the cuffs on his hands

broke . The frightened guards , who witnessed this miracle

rushed to the king and told him of this happening . The egotistic

king did not get the message from the Lord . He ordered

the guards to re-cuff the hands of the Saint .The king was

still mad over the refusal of the Saint to compose

a krithi on him and his (puny ) glories.

 

The saint was disheartened and "reprimanded " the Lord

for neglecting His devotee and leaving him to the mercy

of the petty king . He sang again:

 

" Oh Lord reclining on the Milky Ocean! Weak and frightened

DevAs came pleading for Your help.Similarly , we Your dAsAs

have appealed to You very much in time.Why are You still

sleeping? Why can't You save us immediately?

 

Even as Draupadi cried out to You seeking help , when You

were at DwArakA , we suffering in the courts of cruel kings

are appealing to You. Why are You reluctant (to come to our

rescue )? Please ! Can't You save us now?

 

Even as GajEndrA the elephant trumpeted aloud seeking Your

help , when You were in (Far off) Vaikuntam with IndirA(SrI Devi),

we with utmost faith (MahA VisvAsam)apeal to You and present

our request .

 

Oh Lord VenaktAchalapathi! Please listen , heed our request

and hasten to our rescue".

 

The Lord heeded the reprimand and could not but act again.

The chains on the hands of the Saint splintered.The guards ran back

to the king , who got the message of the Lord finally and

fell at the feet of this Parama BhakthA of Lord VenkatEsa .

The Saint forgave the king , performed the UpadEsam on

the power of Bhagavan-nAma sankIrthanam in the age of Kali

and left immediately for Thirumalai to be near his Lord.

 

This "jail bird" in a spirit of Naicchiyam would observe in one of

his krithis : " Cheppedidhi VedAnthamu , CheppuvAralO Paamarulu"

( The subject matter being said is VedAntha philosophy but

the person , who says it is an illiterate).

 

He will go on to say elsewhere: " I am Your servant . I am only

a tool in Your hands. Please accept these songs as offering

at Your feet ".

 

How can the Lord refuse that plea from the Jail house ?

 

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil Vardachari SaThakOpan

 

P.S: The free translations of the songs of the Saint are by

Professor Dr. M.NarasimhAchAry and Dr. Miss M.S. Ramesh

(Spiritual Heritage of Annamacharya , TTD Publication 2001 ).