Kanthar Anubhuthi - Invocation

[Guest guest]

Hello All,A beautiful and complete commentary of Kanthar Anubhuthi is available inhttp://www.skandagurunatha.org/This was originally done in a book form by N.V.Karthikeyan who was a devotee of Swami Sivananda.In his words, ----""Anubhuthi," is rather a Sanskrit term used in the Tamil language as well in the same sense, i.e., direct or immediate Experience of God, and it denotes the spiritual union of the soul with God. It usually implies the highest non-dual or Advaitic realization."I will be posting the verses of Kanthar Anubhuthi, one verse at a time from this sitewith the kind consent of Pranavan who runs this site. Hope all Murugan devotees enjoy reading them.We begin with the invocation to Ganesha, the remover of obstacles.-ramasamy******************************************************Transliteration:nenja— kanakallu nekizhnTh— uruka, thanjath— aruL shaNmukhanuk— iyal sEr senjoR punai maalai chiRanThidavE, panjakkara aanai paTham paNivam.Meaning:Even the hardened stony heart melts and liquefies By the grace, to one that takes refuge, Shanmukha bestows; That this sweet word-garland to Him be glorious To the five-armed Lord's Feet bow let us. "Let us bow to the Lotus-Feet of the Five-armed Lord (Sri Vighneshvara) for the renown of this garland (Kanthar Anubhuthi), knit of beautiful Tamil language, to Lord Shanmukha, Who, on the one that takes refuge in Him, showers His Grace that liquefies and melts even a hardened stony heart."KAAPPU — WHAT IS IT?Kaappu is the invocatory song — a poem of prayer for the removal of obstacles. It is customary to invoke the blessings of Lord Sri Ganesha for the success of one's undertaken task. Arunagirinathar, too, adorns his work Kanthar Anubhuthi with a Kaappu. Even in this poem, wherein he bows to the Lord of five-arms (Sri Vigneshvara) invoking His grace of the successful completion of the work, he exquisitely glorifies Lord Skanda, as his love for Him was supreme.This invocatory song is to obtain the blessings of Lord Sri Ganesha so that the work may be completed successfully, without any obstacles and also for the renown of the work. This work will bring renown to those who sing, write, listen to or read it, because they will enjoy the Grace of the Lord. Also, it will bring glory to the saint himself, to the Tamil language, and to the Lord, too.FIVE FUNCTIONS OF SRI GANESHAFor the fame of Kanthar Anubhuthi let us bow to Lord Sri Ganesha of five-arms. Tamil scriptures vividly describe the functions of the five arms: the hand with the stylus does the work of creation; that with the Modaka (sweet-ball), preservation; that with the Ankusa (Goad), destruction; that with the Paasa (cord), veiling; and the trunk, the fifth-arm, the work of bestowing grace.SUPERIORITY OF WORD-GARLANDS OVER FLOWER-GARLANDSThis work is a garland made of beautiful, sweet Tamil. Flower-garlands fade away by usage in a couple of hours or at the most in a few days. But this word-garland wafts more and more fragrance as days pass by, because more and more people will come to know of it, sing or read it and be benefited by it. Hence, such word-garlands are more pleasing to the Lord than flower-garlands. In verse 29, the saint, therefore, says that the Lord is always wearing his garland of words.The Lord blesses those that take refuge in Him even as the sun gives warmth to those who expose themselves to it. It is the nature of the sun to give warmth; so also it is the Svabhava (spontaneous nature) of the Lord to melt the desire-hardened hearts of devotees, who take shelter under His feet, repenting for their past wrongs, and surrender themselves totally, realizing their helplessness and the greatness of the Lord.*************************************************