Music: Heals the Soul

I was listening to few old Tamil songs and one particular song caught my attention. It was this song “Boomiyil Maanidan” from a 1941 movie Ashok Kumar. The singer was none other than MKT himself. But what amazed me were the hard hitting lyrics by P Sivan. It was after 6 times of looped listening I decided to draft my experience.

I felt so guilty of being born in this world and doing nothing which is expected out of a human. I see the world around me which is engrossed in hurting and killing other fellow men for some reason or the other. We do not act like human beings after all. In an instinct to survive and in utmost greed we forget that there is greater happiness in showing compassion for others. We often disregard humanity. We forgot the little good things we learnt as youngsters - Sharing, caring and love for our fellow beings. We live among Hitlers and Osamas who battered and assaulted men. What did they achieve? Why couldn’t they be men who spread happiness in as many people they killed? In the few years that we have come here to live in this lovely world we must ensure we do not see pain in anybody again.

“Boomiyil Maanidan” comes to say exactly this in old Tamil and soft music that the humans have forgotten the way of life which is to spread peace and not to slay.

A piece of this music was included in a recent song from the movie Arinthum Ariyamalum of Arya - a Song that was composed by Yuvan. I do not want to rip off the credits from yuvan who offered a wonderful number which is still remembered for its beats and hot dance, but at the same time want to share the goodness of the forgotten legend that was emblazoned into it.

So all that I could do as a good human now is to share the song with few pictures that flashed in my mind while listening.

Let not another drop of blood spill: let there be no pain: Let love be shared

Three doors to salvation: Thiru Ananthapuram

There is an old saying “when one door of opportunity shuts, other doors open”. One lakh crore scam, I thought India was plundered of its wealth and there was no scope for more. As we thought the door for ransack is shut, there opened five more doors of Ananthapura Nagar. When the third door opened it was estimated 90,000 crores and I assume they would not have accounted the premium for antique.

As this news spread, many were Stumbled by its potential of becoming the richest temple in India. Few started looking into wiki and information portals to know the existence of this temple. Being located in God’s own country brought disappointment for many kazhagams in Tamil Nadu. This is not the first time but we already lost the Richie Rich to Andhra Pradesh Government. Or should I say we kazhaga adherents are not interested in these lowly wealth as we are born in the same land where Alwars preached passivity, objectivity, benevolence, clemency, tranquility, reparation and candor through their Hymns in our own Tamil?

Satakopan (Namalwar) sang ten verse on Anantha Padhma Nabha Swamy reclining at the temple of Ananthapura Nagar seen through three doors. One of the verse is

“ thudaiththa kOvindhanaarE* ulakuyir thEvummaRRum*
padaiththa emparamamoorththi* paampaNaip paLLikondaan*
madaiththalai vaaLaipaayum* vayalaNiyanandhapuram*
kadaiththalai seeykkappeRRaal* kaduvinai kaLaiyalaamE.”

The last line of this pasuram means, the one who cleanses the floors of the abode Ananthapura Nagar will be freed from the vicious circle of life and death. The Maharajas of Kerala were well informed about Alwar’s hymn and surrendered their wealth at the feet of the Lord on realizing that the material wealth is of no use. They realized that the only way for salvation is in Bhakti and kainkarya and swept the floors at this temple. Till day there is a practice in the temple where visitors could sweep the floors if interested in salvation, for those who believe in it. Unfortunately, the temple is immaculate, warning us that we have to wait longer for salvation.

Today, as this temple is richer than many institutions, there are bystanders, opportunists and speculators buzzing around. Security has tightened to safeguard the wealth from raiders. Government at both centre and state ready to strike at any moment. Social activists do their bit by stressing on distribution of wealth. Several ideas emerge like installation of a museum displaying these wealthy arty-crafts. Whatever be the idea is, we will fail miserably if we do not align it with the idea of Namalwar to reach Ananthapuram temple on look out for salvation. As Krishna preached in Gita, Whenever there is decline of Dharma (righteousness) and rise of Adharma (unrighteousness); To destroy the wicked and to re-establish Dharma, he manifest himself through the ages - Here he is showing a way for all those who are obsessed with wealth. When one door is shut, God has opened three doors of wealth only for us to realize Alwar’s hymns and eternity. Now that we have known the existence of this Temple, Alwar’s Hyms and what Maharajas did, let us follow them. Let us fill immaterial in several rooms with doors and leave it for our generations to apprehend when they are in need. Of course, we have several Rajas here who have the wealth to do so.

Pencil Sketch:Digital Fusion