An incomplete story...... A longing feeling....

I was reading story written by Bharathiyar. "Chandrigaiyin Kathai". I knew Bharathiyar only as poet - not as a story writer. His writing is a pure joy to read.

But you may not try this one... The story is only half. He died before completing the story... I ended up with a longing feeling.   

Regardless, the subject he has taken for that "time", subtle twists he brings, bringing in philosophical discussions - not a bookish / intellectual stuff, but much linked to practical life scenarios and radical - vow... The stroy had not yet reached the life of "chandrikai".. still at the stage of her mother... 9 big chapters are over..

Looks like it is enough only to read Bharathi - and all our "soft needs" of life (knowledge, poetic, politic, religion, spirituality, science, art , love, entertainment and on and on... ) would be fulfilled...

If the people have to instill respect for women in the society - Bharatiyar literature should be propagated , far and wide... to every nook and corner... I bet, the "male" community would be afraid to do that. From what I have read, Gandhi was confined to his time w.r.t. women liberation. Bharathi is truly beyond time.

Aasai Mugam Maranthu Poche

Of late I have been listening to audio , videos of Bharathiyar.   This is ever refreshing....

The below is yet another novelty of Bharathiyar.

It is very typical for poets to portray they see their beloved in everything what they see....   The modern cinema ( at least Tamil ones ) often have songs based on the theme that the lover sees his/her beloved in every person seen.

Bharathiyar brings a totally different picture in our view.    Oh alas... the lover had forgotten beloved's face... What kind of emotion would that be ?    It requires a lot of integrity more than creativity or courage to bring such an imagination.   An unique experience yet again...

Below my "crude" translation as usual and a layman commentary....  ( The song is written as a lamentation by lover girl of Lord Krishna.   I read from some commentaries on Bharathiyar work that this song was written by Bharathiyar as his yearning for his mother though it fits more of a love relationship)


ஆசைமுகம் மறந்து போச்சே – இதை யாரிடம் சொல்வேனடி தோழி?
( Aasai mugam marandhu poachchae – idhai yaaridam solvaenadi thoazhi)
Alas.. the desirous face of my beloved had faded from memory...whom will i complain/share about this my friend...

நேசம் மறக்கவில்லை நெஞ்சம் – எனில் நினைவு முகம் மறக்கலாமோ?
(naesam marakkavillai nenjam – enil ninaivu mugam marakkalaamoa)
The love is intact in the heart , yet how can I forget that memorable face?

1. கண்ணில் தெரியுதொரு தோற்றம்- அதில் கண்ணன் அழகு முழுதில்லை;
(kannil theriyuthoru thotram - athil kannan azhaghu muzhuthillai )
There seem to be a distorted picture (of his).... but, the "bright and beauty" of his face is unfulfilled.

நண்ணு முகவடிவு காணில்-அந்த நல்ல மலர்ச்சிரிப்பைக் காணோம்
(nannu mugavadivu kaanil - antha nalla malarchirippaik kaanom)
when i attempt to bring his face in front of my eyes,   that "flower blossoming" smile is missing....

2. ஓய்வு மொழிதலும் இல்லாமல்-அவன் உறவை நினைத்திருக்கும் உள்ளம்
( oyvu mozhithalum illamal - avan uravai ninaitthikirukkum ullam )
Un-intermittently - my heart is yearning for his relation

வாயும் உரைப்பதுண்டு கண்டாய்-அந்த மாயன் புகழினை எப்போதும்
(vaayum uraippathundu kandai - antha maayan pugazhinai eppothum )
My lips are always enchanting the praise of the "beloved"

3. கண்கள் புரிந்துவிட்ட பாவம்-உயிர்க்கண்ணன் உருமறக்கலாச்சு;
( kangal purinthuvitta paavam - uyirkkannan uru marakkalachchu )
It is the sin done by my eyes that the image of my beloved Krishna is lost from my memory;
பெண்கள் இனத்தில் இது போல-ஒரு பேதையை முன்பு கண்டதுண்டோ
(pengal inaththil ithu pola - oru pethaiyai mumbu kandathundo )
Have you ever seen such a stupid enough girl ?

4. தேனை மறந்திருக்கும் வண்டும் – ஒளிச் சிறப்பை மறந்துவிட்ட பூவும்
(Thenai maranthirukum vandum, oli Sirapai maranthu vitta poovum)
Honey bee that had forgotten the honey (that it strives on) ; A flower that had forgotten the sunlight (that blossoms it )
வானை மறந்திருக்கும் பயிறும் – இந்த வையம் முழுதுமில்லை தோழி
( Vaanai maranthirukum payirum, indha Vaiyam muzhuthum illai thozhi )
Crop that had forgotten the drizzle from sky (that lives it) - does not exist in this world, dear friend


( So, how could this happen that "I" who had forgotten my beloved might exist!!!!)

5. கண்ணன் முகம் மறந்துபோனால் – இந்த கண்களிருந்து பயனுண்டோ?
(Kannan mugam maranthuponal, intha Kangal irunthu payan undo )
If I forget the face of krishna, then what is the use of my eyes?

வண்ணப் படமுமில்லை கண்டாய் – இனி வாழும் வழியென்னடி தோழி?
(Vanna padamumillai kandaai, ini Vaazhum vazhi ennadi thozhi )
you see,  there is no photograph (of his), how would I live (missing him totally)!!!

Ninai Charanadainthaen - Bharathi

"Ninnai Charanadainthaen" - yet another beautiful poem by Subramanya Bharathi. I have heard this song, sung by Unni Krishnan in one of the karnatic album (ragam punnagavarali?).   However, I liked the song more in Ilayaraja's music in the movie "Bharathi".  

Bharathi had written poems on Lord Krishna with imagination of different roles.   The one below is written under "Kannamma - Enathu Kula Theivam" ( Kannan - my God )

The way I cherish the song is that it reflects different stages of "devotion".  

Typically,  our prayers start with wants based on our "Desire and Fear" ( independent of if they are materialistic or not,   if they linked to silly things or big ones ).  (stanza 1 & 2 )

Then we come in terms to a stage that "all are His deeds and we are just here to execute" ( stanza 3)

Then the realization comes that the way to live is "Love"... Love alone can elevate us above the negatives of life...   Still the "two" exists,  "intelligence of the self" exists.... "judgement of the self" exists....  (stanza 4)

Finally comes the total surrendering... surrendering the intelligence..   leaving everything to the almighty... (stanza 5)

பல்லவி

நின்னைச் சரணடைந்தேன்-கண்ணம்மா!
நின்னைச் சரணடைந்தேன்!

Ninnai Charanadainthen - Kannamma
Ninnai Charanadainthen

"I surrender myself to you - Kannamma
I surrender myself to you"

சரணங்கள்- Stanza

1. பொன்னை உயர்வைப் புகழை விரும்பிடும்

    என்னைக் கவலைகள் தின்னத் தகாதென்று                                       (நின்)

    Ponnai uyarvaip pugazhai virumbidum

    ennaik kavalaigal thinnath thagathendru

    My pursuit is for wealth, pride, fame... 

    I surrender to you...  let not those wants disturb my peace "

---

2. மிடிமையும் அச்சமும் மேவியென் நெஞ்சில்

   குடிமை புகுந்தன,கொன்றவை போக்கென்று                                     (நின்)

    midimaiyum acchamum mevi en nenjil 

    kudimai pugunthana kondravai pokkendru 

    " poverty - i interpret not just a financial state,  but in a general term , lack of capability - and fear 

      have occupied in my heart and haunting me... I surrender to you...  to liberate me from them"

---

3.   தன்செய லெண்ணித் தவிப்பது தீர்ந்திங்கு

     நின்செயல் செய்து நிறைவுபெறும் வண்ணம்                                          (நின்)

     thanseyal ennith thavippathu theernthingu

     ninseyal seidhu niravu perumvannam

    " let that be over, the weary of doing things of me, by me, for me... 

       i surrender to you, to do things of you, for you...towards sense of fulfillment "

---

4.  துன்ப மினியில்லை.சோர்வில்லை,தோற்பில்லை,

     அன்பு நெறியில் அறங்கள் வளர்ந்திட                                                    (நின்)

    thunbam iniyillai sorvillai thorpillai

    anbu neriyil arangal valarnthida

    "no more sorrows... no more helplessness... no more losses... 

     you lead me through the path of Love; to prosper of good.."

---

5.  நல்லதுதீயது நாமறியோம் அன்னை

     நல்லது நாட்டுக! தீமையை ஓட்டுக!                                                        (நின்)

    nallathutheeyathu naamariyom annai 

    nallathu naattuga theemaiyai Ottuga

    "I possess no intelligence, and am ignorant of good or bad....   

    O Mother, let the good [in (for) me] prevail and the rest to be driven away....

    I surrender to you... "

---

Veenaiyadi Nee Enakku - Bharathi

This article is about one of my favourite poem of Subramanya Bharathi .

I consider this song as very special for its uniqueness. In general, the poetic way of expressing love has been to place the beauty/supremacy of the beloved above the lover altogether or to show the commitment of the lover to protect/preserve the superiority of the beloved. But in this song, Bharathi had painted a totally different picture by portraying the oneness of the beloved and the lover. This is an astonishing portrayal.

For me, even in the relationship of love, it sounds a bit "unacceptable" to surrender the pride - by either of the two. In this beautiful poem, Bharathiyar has portrayed how "two" reaches their best by becoming one. As the days go by, I start to realize that love is absolute and untouchable by materialistic values ( including pride, honest, good, bad etc). I still feel that beauty of the "married life" can be first realized by recognizing the pride of individuals and then appreciating the togetherness.

The transiliteration of the poem followed my attempt of translation in English

paayumoli nee enakku paarkum vizhi nan unakku
thoyum madhu nee enakku thumbiyadi nan unakku
vaayuraikka varuguvathillai vaalinindran meanmai ellam
thuya sudar vaanoliye suraiyamuthe kannamma

( Flooding light you are to me ;  I am to you the eye, Feeling the brightness
  Flowing nectar you are to me; I am to you the Flying bee ;

   Live long your supreme nature; To list it is impossible;
   Thou are Spotless shine, essence of immortal - Kannamma )

veenaiyadi nee enakku mevum viral naanunakku
puunum vadam nee enakku puthu vaiyram nan unakku
kaanumidanthorum nindran kanninoli veesuthadi
maanudaiya perarase vaalvu nilaiye kannamma

( Musical Veena you are to me;  I am to you the Playing hand ;

  Shining Gold you are to me;  I am to you the sparkling Diamond;
  Shine of your eyes is seen everywhere ;
  Speciality is your speciality; you are my liveliness )

vaana mazhai nee enakku vanna mayil nan unakku

baanamadi nee enakku paandamadi nan unakku
nyaana oli veesuthadi nangai nindran jothimugam
uunamaru nallalaghe uuru suvaiye kannamma

( drizzling rain you are to me;  I am to you the dancing peacock ;
  fizzing drink you are to me;   I am to you the holding glass ;
  radiant is your presence
  spotless beauty you are and springing pleasure )
 
vennilavu nee enakku mevu kadal nan unakku
pannusuthi nee enakku paattinimai nan unakku
enni enni paarthidilor ennamillai ninsuvaikke
kannin mani pondravale kattiyamuthe kannamma

( luminous moon you are to me; I am to you the sea waving beneath
  mesmerizing musical you are to me; I am to you the meaningful poetry 
  even after endless thinking, nothing could i find matching your virtue
  light of the eyes you are ; everlasting pleasure you are )

veesukamazh nee enakku viriyumalar nan unakku
pesuporul nee enakku penumozhi nan unakku
nesamulla vaansudare ninnalaghai yethuraippen
aasai madhuve kaniye allu suvaiye kannamma

( fragrant breeze you are To me, I am to you Blossoming flower ;
  Underlying meaning you are to me; I am to you the uttered word ;
  Loving divinity are you;  untellable beauty is yours;
  Lovely nectarful fruit is your sweetness;  Punching sweetness you are )

kaathaladi nee enakku gaanthamadi nan unakku
vethamadi nee enakku vithaiyadi nan unakku
pothamutra pothinile pongivarum theenchuvaiye
naathavadivaanavale nalla uyire kannamma

( Eternal love you are to me ;  I am to you the endearing love;
  Knowledge, you are to me;  I am to you the tactful skill;
  booming joyous, flowing in exalted stage, you are ;
  enchanting music you are;  vibrant life you are )


nallavuyir nee enakku naadiyadi nan unakku
selvamadi nee enakku semanithi nan unakku
ellaiyatra peralaghe enggum nirai potchudare
mullai nigar punnagaiyai moothuminbame kannamma

(  life you are to me; I am to you the reflecting beat ;
   prosperity you are to me;  I am to you the richness ;
   boundless beauty you are ;  omnipresent radiant you are;
   budding flower like is your smile; sparkling happiness you are )

taaraiyadi nee enakku thanmathiyam nan unakku
veeramadi nee enakku vetriyadi nan unakku
tharaniyil vaanulaghil saarnthirukkum inbamellam
ooruruvamaai samainthai ullamuthe kannamma

( star you are to me;   pleasing moon i am to you ;
  courage you are to me;  victory i am to you;
  all of the happiness of both the worlds
  descended as the one in my heart - its you )