இராமாயணத்திலிருந்து ஒரு மகாபாரத பாடல்
Dear all,
Wishing you all and your family a very happy Pongal.
Pongal is about harvest, prosperity, and augurs the beginning of auspicious things to come. It’s more importantly a thanksgiving to the elements, primarily the Sun for its eternal and universal shower of light, warmth and life on this planet. No other song captures those sentiments better than the song I chose this week. This also being my 100th week of write ups in a row, I found it a perfect song to highlight the greatness of the poet who inspired me to do these write ups in the first place – கண்ணதாசன்.
Rama is fighting Ravana and is physically and mentally exhausted and troubled unable to get past Ravana’s valour. Sage Agasthya who along with other Gods was watching the battle approaches Rama, and teaches him a holy hymn (“Adithya Hrudayam” – The heart of the Sun) instructing him that saying this hymn will endow Rama the much needed vigour, energy and motivation to fight and kill Ravana.
Now a conglomeration of many different things create the magic and make this song one of the all time classic tamil movie songs:
First- கண்ணதாசன் – being an extremely well read poet, uses this hymn from Ramayana as an inspiration and creates a song for the movie “கர்ணன்”. Karna being the illegitimate son of Sun God worships the Sun in this song.
Second- MSV in all his wisdom uses this song as a “விருத்தம்”. Virutham by definition is not set for any particular tala and usually serves as a prelude to a bigger song in most Carnatic concerts.
Third – MSV uses lavish orchestration to enrich the song and elevates it to stratospheric heights.
Fourth – MSV uses the same raaga “Chakravagam” for this song (“Symbolising Karnan’s birth) and the song “உள்ளத்தில் நல்ல உள்ளம்” that captures his last moments in the movie – touch of a genius !!!
Fifth – Sivaji’s acting and the கம்பீரம் he brings to the character raises the image of Karnan in our eyes.
Finally the best part of the song, the lyrics – each line is unique and rich, profound yet relatable, imaginative and eloquent. Only the great poet Kannadasan could have pulled this off. (Rumours are that the duo finished composing all the songs for this movie in 4 days !!!!!)
The first line is so wise and deep:
“ஆயிரம் கரங்கள் நீட்டி, அணைக்கின்ற தாயே போற்றி”
( Two elements used astutely in this line by the Kavignar :
ஆயிரம் கரங்கள் நீட்டி” – Describes the Sun God having a thousand arms. This was inspired from a line from the Rig Veda in which “ Sun God” is described to have 1000 “horns” (Rig Veda: 5-1-8). Note that the numbers 10,100,1000, 10000 and lakh have been mentioned in the oldest Veda the Rig Veda.
“அணைக்கின்ற தாயே போற்றி” – Kannadasan sees the Sun God as the “mother” – a rare imagination and depiction indeed!!!!
The praise of Sun God continues:
“அருள் பொங்கும் முகத்தைக் காட்டி இருள் நீக்கம் தந்தாய் போற்றி”
( What a beautiful thought and line – By just showing it’s graceful face past the clouds, the sun absolves the world from its darkness “இருள் நீக்கம்”)
“தாயினும் பரிந்து சால சகலரை அணைப்பாய் போற்றி”
( கண்ணதாசன் elevates Sun even above a mother now – why ? A mother shows love on her children but the Sun surpasses it and provides its warmth and light to “everyone favourably and indiscriminately” – “பரிந்து சால சகலரை”)
Such positive lines follow next:
“தழைக்கும் ஓர் உயிர்கட்கெல்லாம் துணைக்கரம் கொடுப்பாய் போற்றி
தூயவர் இதயம் போல துலங்கிடும் ஒளியே போற்றி”
Kannadasan just leaves you in awe both for its imagination and erudition with his next line:
“தூரத்தே நெருப்பை வைத்து சாரத்தை தருவாய் போற்றி”
Brilliant – Sun Leaves the gruelling heat behind and just sends us the essence “சாரம்” that we need to sustain.
“ஞாயிறே நலமே வாழ்க நாயகன் வடிவே போற்றி (Now insinuating that despite qualities that befit a mother, Sun has a mascular physicality – “நாயகன் வடிவே போற்றி” !!!)
நானிலம் உளநாள் மட்டும் போற்றுவோம் போற்றி போற்றி!!!
No better song to thank the Sun for all the goodness in our lives on this auspicious Pongal weekend.
The last line can be used to re-affirm our duty to remember and celebrate this legendary poet as well:
கண்ணதாசனை
“நானிலம் உளநாள் மட்டும் போற்றுவோம் போற்றி போற்றி”
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