Divya Prabandham - Part 4

(Tiruchchanda Virutham - Part 1):
The Tiruchchanda Virutham was composed by Tirumazhisai Azhwar.
Lyrics and Meanings of verses telecast on 15.11.08:


பூ நிலாய ஐந்துமாய் புனற்கண் நின்ற நான்குமாய்
தீ நிலாய மூன்றுமாய் சிறந்த கால் இரண்டுமாய்
மீ நிலாயது ஒன்றும் ஆகி வேறு வேறு தன்மையாய்
நீ நிலாய வண்ணம் நின்னை யார் நினைக்க வல்லரே

Meaning: பூ - Earth, புனல் - water, கால்- air, மீ - space, sky
The five Gunas of Earth, the four Gunas of water, the three Gunas in holy fire, the two Gunas in the air around us, the one Guna in space above,are all your manifestations. You stand apart from all. Who can fathom thee, O Lord?

ஏக மூர்த்தி மூன்று மூர்த்தி நாலு மூர்த்தி நன்மை சேர்
போக மூர்த்தி புண்ணியத்தின் மூர்த்தி எண் இல் மூர்த்தியாய்
நாக மூர்த்தி சயனமாய் நலங்கடல் கிடந்து, மேல்
ஆக மூர்த்தி ஆயவண்ணன் என்கொல் ஆதிதேவனே

Meaning: என்கொல் - surprised
You are the Single-form (Paramporul), the three-fold form (Brahma,Vishnu and Shiva), the four-fold form, benevolent ! You are the joyous form, the holy form, the countless forms. You lie on the serpent couch in the seas. You come in different forms in temples for all to see.

வெற்பு எடுத்து வேலை-நீர் கலக்கினாய் அது அன்றியும்
வெற்பு எடுத்து வேலை நீர் வரம்பு கட்டி,வேலை சூழ்
வெற்பு எடுத்த இஞ்சி சூழ் இலங்கை கட்டழித்த நீ
வெற்பு எடுத்து மாரி காத்த மேகவண்ணன் அல்லையே

Meaning: வெற்பு - mountain, வேலை - ocean ,வரம்பு - bridge, இஞ்சி - wall
You pulled a huge mountain high to churn the Milky Ocean-deep. You later built a rocky mountain bridge across Lanka, ocean-deep (Rama Avatara). You then crossed a rocky mountain wall surrounded by the ocean-deep. You then held a mountain high on your little finger (Govardhana mountain carried by Krishna). Oh Lord of hue-like ocean-deep !

The Devarnama that I will never forget !

Year 1990. First year at college. Occasion : College Day Celebrations.

We, as freshers, were just hanging around on that day, trying to get accustomed to all the unfamiliar faces around us.

I was suddenly asked to go up on stage and render a song as a filler between two programmes.

It was a Purandara Dasar Devarnama that I chose to sing, in Raga Hamsanandhi. Borrowing a Sruthi Box from someone there, I started singing.

The moment I started singing, there were a lot of boos and woos from the students in the audience. Amidst all the din, I managed to finish the song and get off the stage.
I shed a few silent tears and for a moment, felt very insecure in that atmosphere. But the very next moment, I made up my mind that I would get myself noticed very soon and prove myself.

In the subsequent months, there were numerous important occasions at college, where I was asked to render the invocation song and things were totally different by the end of the first semester ! Students started enjoying the small bhajans and Tamil songs that I rendered during the College Assembly. I was soon identified as "singer" Gayathri belonging to I year, Maths Department ! (I was anyway S.Gayathri then and so this looked very apt :-) )

Very often, I bump into a lot of my college mates - be it in temples, malls or at the doctor's clinic. They immediately recollect the songs that I used to sing at college..
In retrospect, this particular incident in 1990 made me take a vow and my subsequent days and years at college were very enjoyable, fruitful and memorable.

Why am I writing all this now? - I sang this above said Purandara Dasar Devarnama at a concert two days back and my thoughts went back to this particular incident. Hence this post !

A Day Usefully Spent...

How does one feel at the end of a fruitful day?

As far as I am concerned, such a day leaves me exhilarated. Makes me more energetic, more happy ( I will be extra careful before I use the word "satisfied" - after what I heard from Sachin Tendulkar the other day on TV !!). My conscience is clear that I have made good use of the day.

I had a good music practice session today, polishing some old Krithis and learning a new one. Surprisingly, interruptions in the form of doorbell ringing and phone ringing were minimal today, which was a big relief :-). Singing a song or a phrase again and again helps very much. When an artist feels that he/she has internalized the song by repeated singing, the pleasure derived out of it is something very unique and cannot be described in words. It has to be felt. I strongly believe that each song that we present on stage should produce this effect.

I firmly believe in hard work and look forward to many more days of hard work in my chosen field..

With a hope that tomorrow will be as fruitful (or even more!) as today, I sign off now.

Good night !!

Inspiring TV Interviews

After my concert on 9th November, at BRRS,Chembur in Mumbai, I returned to my hotel and switched on the TV. While surfing through the channels I came across an interview on uTVi channel,with writer and leadership coach Robin Sharma. What an inspiring interview it was ! Such clarity of thoughts and ideas. He talked about the importance of realizing one's inner self and said how vital it is in life, especially in the current period, when there is global economic unrest. He talked about leadership qualities and how one should discover hidden opportunities even in one's failures.

I have really enjoyed reading books like "The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari", "Discover Your Destiny", "Family Wisdom",authored by Robin Sharma.

After this programme, I came across another awesome interview on IBN channel, where Mr. Rajdeep Sardesai interviewed two great legends of Indian Cricket, Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar. I really enjoyed watching this show.

I have always admired Sachin's simplicity and down-to-earth attitude. He talked beautifully and I could see that all his answers were very honest and straight from his heart ! Of course, I am no one to even comment upon Mr.Gavaskar's wonderful way of talking and handling situations ! He has always been one of my favourite cricketers.

When asked which has been the most glorious moment in each of their cricketing careers, Gavaskar immediately said it was India's World Cup victory in 1983. And, Sachin said the most memorable moment was when he adorned his Cricket cap for the very first time, when he represented the Indian team. I could "feel" the passion with which he gave that answer..

Sachin has always talked about his role models Viv Richards and Sunil Gavaskar in almost all his interviews, and this show was no exception. He said Gavaskar's three D's (discipline, determination and dedication) have always inspired him.

Gavaskar, when asked what he likes the most about Sachin, said it is the balance that Sachin displays, both on and off the field. He said mental balance is a very vital factor in anyone's path towards success and that he has found this in Sachin.

Sachin, when asked which has been his most satisfying innings so far,gave his usual charming smile and said," I have been happy on many occasions with my game, but seldom satisfied". What an answer from such a legend! In such a subtle manner, he gave the difference between "being happy" and "being satisfied".

Well, I can go on and on about this interview. Each question and each answer has got imprinted in my mind !

Along with thousands and thousands of fans of these two legends all over the world, I wish to convey that they have indeed made our country proud. Hats off to these two great players and wishing them all success and happiness..

Divya Prabandham - Part 3

(Naanmugan Tiruvanthaadhi - Part 2):
Lyrics and meaning of verses telecast on 8.11.08:

திறம்பேன்மின் கண்டீர் திருவடி தன் நாமம்
மறந்தும்,புறந் தொழா மாந்தர் இறைஞ்சியும்,
சாதுவராய்ப் போதுமின்கள் என்றான் நமனும்-தன்
தூதுவரைக் கூவிச் செவிக்கு

Meaning: கண்டீர்-beware ,திறம்பேன்மின் - மீறுதல்
நமன் - காலன்,யமன்

Yama, the God of death, called his messengers aside and said, "Beware, My orders are thus : the Lord's devotees may even forget His names, but they will never worship other Gods. If you see such devotees, bow down to them with courtesy. Don't disobey my orders".


செவிக்கு இன்பம் ஆவதுவும் செங்கண் மால் நாமம்
புவிக்கும் புவி அதுவே கண்டீர்-கவிக்கு
நிறை பொருளாய் நின்றானை நேர் பட்டேன், பார்க்கில்
மறைப் பொருளும் அத்தனையே தான்

Meaning: நேர் பட்டேன் - சந்தித்தேன்
Sweet to the ears are the names of the Lord. It is the place of refuge for all men. HE is the substance of my poetry and of the Vedas.


இல்லறம் இல்லேல் துறவறம் இல் என்னும்
சொல்,அறம் அல்லனவும் சொல் அல்ல - நல்லறம்
ஆவனவும், நால் வேத மாத் தவமும் நாரணனே
ஆவது ஈது அன்று என்பார் ஆர்?

Meaning: ஈது அன்று - இல்லை என்று

To say that pursuing the various Asramas - namely, student, householder, forest-dweller or that of renunciation- alone is sufficient to give the fruits of life is not correct. Even the paths of right conduct and renunciation taught in the Vedas certainly lead to Narayana as the Supreme goal. Who can deny this?

Divya Prabandham - Part 2

(Naanmugan Tiruvanthaadhi - Part 1):

Naanmugan Tiruvanthaadhi is a set of 100 verses composed by Tirumazhisai Azhwar.

(Five earlier verses of Naanmugan Tiruvanthaadhi have already been telecast during previous weeks).

I have given below the lyrics and meaning of verses that were telecast on 1.11.2008:

கொண்டு குடங்கால் மேல் வைத்த குழவியாய்
தண்ட அரக்கன் தலை தாளால் பண்டு எண்ணி
போம் குமரன் நிற்கும் பொழில் வேங்கடமலைக்கே
போம் குமரருள்ளீர் புரிந்து

Meaning: குடங்கால் - உள்ளங்கால், அரக்கன் - அசுரன்(here, Ravana),
பொழில் - சோலைகள், புரிந்து - ஆசைப்பட்டு
When Ravana performed penance, Brahma appeared before him to grant him boons. The Lord then,appeared as a child, sat on Brahma's lap and counted Ravana's heads with his ten toes (indicating that Ravana deserves punishment)
Young people ! Go with love to Venkatam, where He resides.


கூற்றமும் சாரா கொடு வினையும் சாரா, தீ
மாற்றமும் சாரா வகை அறிந்தேன் ஆற்றல்
கரைக் கிடக்கும் கண்ணன்,கடல் கிடக்கும் மாயன்
உரைக் கிடக்கும் உள்ளத்து எனக்கு

Meaning: கூற்றம் - யமன், வகை - வழி
The wonder, Lord Krishna, who resides in the ocean (திருப்பாற்கடல்) and the riverside (திருக்காவேரி),resides in my poetic heart. Death (Yama) will not approach me henceforth.No more will Karmas accrue on me. No more will the terrible effects of Karmas befall me. I know the way.

அன்பு ஆவாய், ஆர் அமுதம் ஆவாய்,அடியேனுக்கு
இன்பு ஆவாய், எல்லாமும் நீ ஆவாய் - பொன் பாவை
கேள்வா கிளர் ஒளி என கேசவனே, கேடு இன்றி
ஆள்வாய்க்கு அடியேன் நான், ஆள்

Meaning: கிளர் ஒளி - ப்ரகாசம், பொன் பாவை - மஹாலக்ஷ்மி
Oh Lord of lotus-dame Lakshmi ! My radiant Kesava ! You are my love ! You are sweet to me ! You are my all ! You rule over me without a fault ! I am your humble servant.

Virutham-Keerthanam Special Concert: 30th May,1998

I was not planning to post anything now,until five minutes back, when I happened to come across tapes of a concert that took place on 30.5.1998.

Of late, my blog has, by default, become the medium of expression for my thoughts- whether musical or philosophical, and a place for me to share my experiences and recollections from the past.

So this is why I have landed up writing now and here I go :-)

In April 1998 it was decided that we would have a thematic "Virutham-Keerthanam" concert, wherein, Vidwan Sethalapathy Balasubramaniam (Balu Mama, as he was known to us)would sing different Viruthams (Virutham singing had always been Mama's forte),and each of them would be followed by a suitable Kriti that I would render.

Kasturi Srinivasan Hall (Music Academy Mini Hall) was fixed as the venue for this concert. One day at my place,as Mama and I were sitting and planning the items for the concert, my grandmother was sitting and watching the proceedings..Her all time favourite song was Senthil Andavan (she would ask me to sing it at every concert of mine that she attended :-)).

She told Balu Mama, "I would love to listen to a Virutham for Senthil Andavan now, followed by the song". And, Mama immediately went into an excellent Kharaharapriya singing one Virutham after another. As she was listening to this profuse outpouring of soulful Viruthams from Mama, Patti's eyes were filled with tears.

We then decided to have Kharaharapriya as one of the pieces in this concert.

The concert did happen on 30.5.98. Mama did sing a beautiful Kharaharapriya that day. I did sing the Kriti Senthil Andavan. But Patti was not there to listen to her favourite Kharaharapriya at this concert. She passed away just a few days before this concert...