Our Vedic saints have prescribed different paths to reach and realize God. Though the paths are different, the beginning or the first step and the end, the ultimate step are the same. The journey begins with devotion. It is the light of devotion that shows the way. The devotion clears the obstacles and takes the individual through different path like Jnana and Karma and reaches him ultimately to the state of ever-lasting bliss and peace, the Lotus Feet of the Lord.
Bhakti movement has a glorious past. Saints like Tulasi Das, Soordas, who manifested in North, highlighted the importance of Bhakti. The eastern region was immersed in devotion when Chaitanya Mahaprabhu danced in ecstasy singing the glory of Krishna. The nectar of Namasankeerthanam was bestowed by Jayadevar through his immortal songs, Gita Govindam. Saint Thukkaram, Namadev, Gnaneswar, Muktha Bai, Ekanathar created a powerful Bhakti movement through Keerthan in West. Songs hailing the glory of Panduranga reverberated in the air. There appeared in South many stars in the galaxy of Namasankeerthan like the musical Trinities, Sri Thyagaraja, Sri Shyama Sastrigal Sri Muthuswamy Dikshithar, Sri Annamacharya, Sri Badrachala Ramadas, Sri Purandaradasar, Sri Narayana Theerthar, i Sri Samartha Ramadas etc. Sri Haridas Giri Swamigal revolutionized the entire music world by his Bhajans. It is only after his constant efforts Sampradhaya Bhajans became an integral part of December Music festival in Chennai. Here, we pay homage to Trinities, Sri Bhodendra Swamigal, Sri Sridhara Ayyaval and Sri Marudanallur Sadguru Swamigal who pioneered the Namasankeerthan movement in Tamil Nadu. Arunagirinathar, the author of Thiruppugah prayed that Lord Muruga should come to him as Guru and uplift him.
Kesava, a simple devotee, living in Kancheepuram in 17th century, never knew that God would manifest as Guru in the form of his son. As part of his daily routine, Kesava was visiting Kanchi Mutt along with his son to pay obeisance to Acharya, Sri Atma Bhodendra Saraswati Swamigal. That day, while Kesava was taking leave, holding the hand of his son, Swamigal posed a question to him. “What are you going to contribute for the Mutt?”. Kesava, who least expected such a question, said that he would offer whatever Swamigal wishes or commands. Swamigal then said: “Offer your son”. Coming from the venerable Acharya, the head of Sankara Mutt, the request, however uncomfortable it may be, had to be obeyed and Kesava readily agreed. Soon, his young son, Purushothaman, joined the Mutt. Purushothaman, who had inherent divinity, found the atmosphere quite fulfilling as if it was destined for him. He found happiness in doing service to Swamigal. Devotion, dispassion and discipline formed his qualities. Under the guidance of his Guru, he mastered all branches of learning and aspired for the day when he would get the initiation to the order of sainthood.
A saint is compared to a cloud because they both keep moving. After giving some instructions to Purushothaman, Sri Atma Bhodendra Saraswati Swamigal left for Benaras. A few months have passed. Prompted by the eagerness to see the Guru, Purushothaman and his friend, Jnana Sagaran decided to visit Benaras. It was a strenuous and hard journey. Being deprived of timely food and rest, his friend Jnana Sagaran fell sick and passed away. Grief stricken, Purushothaman performed the last rites and then managed to reach the abode of his Guru at Benaras. He met the Guru, narrated his experience and the loss of his friend. The Guru consoled him, gave him advice and initiated him to sainthood (Sanyasa). Purushotham has now come to be known as Sri Bodhendra Swamigal. The word Bhodendra signifies one who is ever conscious of his Self.
Sri Bodhendra Saraswathi Swamigal, the 58th pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam has realized the importance of Namasankeerthan and dedicated himself to highlight its value by writing, by discourses and by rendering. He said Namasankeerthan is the best means by which one becomes free from all external and internal obstacles and attains spiritual fulfillment. One of his compositions was Bhagavan Nama Rasodayam. He also contacted a scholar, Sri Lakshmi Sridhar who, after intense study has brought out an excellent work called “Bhagavan Nama Kaumuthi”. Swamigal found Thanjavur a fertilizer field where Naasankeerthan could flourish by leaps and bounds. He collected the songs of all luminaries (Vidvans) like Badrachala Ramadas, Samarth Ramadas, Soordas, Kabirdas and other scholars, compiled them and established the Namasankeerthan Paddathi which is being followed with great reverence even today. He was responsible for the evolution of Bhajan Sambradaya in South India.
Besides, he undertook research on important references made about Namasankeerthan in Saastras and Puranas, assimilated them and presented them in 8 volumes (Granthas). These 8 volumes form the basis for what is highly regarded as the “Nama Siddantham”. Nama Siddantam, which consists of all aspects of Nama Upasana and Nadha Upasana, is regarded as the ideal means to reach and realize God.
The sacred name of God carries an inherent power. Anjaneya found bliss in reciting the name of Rama. It is said that the sacred name would serve as an ideal boat to take the devotee to the shore. Sages have said that reciting the different names of Lord Rama or Lord Siva is enough to be liberated from this world of illusion. The name of Rama was continuously on the lips of Papa Ramdas of Kanhangad Ashram. He attained realization by means of uninterrupted chanting of the divine name ‘Ram’. He always extolled the virtue of Nama Japa. “The Divine Name”, he said “carries great power which will create light where there is darkness, love where there is hate, order where there is chaos, and happiness where there is misery. However, since the younger generation may not find it quite convenient to recite the name continuously, the sweet sound of music was introduced, and it came to be known as Namasankeerthan. Having laid the firm foundation for Nama Siddantam, it was time for Swamigal to attain Nirvana. One evening, sitting on the banks of the river Cauvery at Govindapuram, he watched the children playing on the sandy ground. He then told the children “Bury me with sand and I would appear elsewhere”. When the children did so, he appeared at another place. When they repeated the process, he was not seen anywhere. The panicked children called the elders nearby. Though searches were made, it gradually became clear that Swamigal had gone into Jiva Samadhi. A memorial was built there. Every year Namasankeerthanam is held at Govindapuram in which many stalwarts participate. It is heartening to note that the tradition of Namasankeerthanam assiduously built by Sri Bodendra Saraswati Swamigal, Sri Sridhara Ayyaval and Sri Sadguru Swamigal is carried on with great devotion and Bhajanotsavam are held in a grand manner at places like Govindapuram, Palakkad, Coimbatore and Tripunithura.
Sridhara Ayyaval (1635-1720) : He alone is a true devotee who has no other thoughts except that of God, who considers every other person as sacred as his own, who is humble and who has no other desire but to reach the Lotus Feet of Lord. Sri Venkatesa Dikshitar, popularly known as Ayyaval, was one such devotee who ever immersed in the thoughts of Siva. Even when frogs created the sound of ’kar’ ‘kar’ during the rains, it appeared to him that they were reciting the name of ‘Hara’ ‘Hara’. He was one of the three Acharyas who created a powerful Namasankeerthan movement in South along with Sri Bodhendra Saraswati and Sri Sadguru Swamigal.
Venkatesa was born to Sri Lingaraya, an erudite scholar who held the high position of Diwan in the Court of Mysore. Even in his childhood, Venkatesa’s qualities of devotion and detachment became quite evident. He made a thorough study of scriptures and always remained in contemplation. He was married to Sow. Lakshmi. When his father expired, Venkatesa was offered the post of Diwan but he declined the offer saying that power or position was not his aim. He realized that the precious life blessed to him was to be utilized not to enrich himself with wealth but to enlighten himself with knowledge. He said the ideal way to liberate himself from the world of Samsara and to uplift himself from the repeated cycle of life and death is to hail the glory of Lord Siva through Namasankeerthanam.
One in quest of knowledge is always on the move because what he learns from the experience of seeing is much higher than what he learns from reading. Besides, when stationed at one place, one starts liking the place, gets attached to its surroundings and people and possibly lose sight of higher objective. Adi Sankara was always on the move. Saint Arunagirinathar visited almost all the temples in Tamil Nadu, the neighboring regions, Benaras and Sri Lanka. Sri Ayyaval too embarked on a journey that took him to many places of spiritual significance. After visiting sacred places, he reached Trichy, the abode of Jambukeswarar. When a parent residing nearby brought their sick child who was at the verge of death, Ayyaval composed Taravali Stotra containing 28 verses, sprinkled the water on the child and cured the child. Ayyaval proceeded to Tanjore which was being ruled by King Shahaji. The King held high respect towards Ayyaval and said that the city was blessed by the presence of learned scholars like Ayyaval. Though the King wanted Ayyaval to stay at Tanjore permanently, Ayyaval decided to move to a quiet place where he can be all by himself and remain contemplating, worshiping and singing. He then selected a peaceful village called Thiruvisanallur, on the banks of the river Kaveri. This place happened to be an ideal place for pursuing his spiritual mission. He has done several sacred works from here, explaining the importance of singing the glory of Lord and reciting His sacred names. Visiting temples, conducting Unjavrithi and composing works proclaiming the supremacy of God formed his daily routine. He led a life of simplicity and humility. Among the many works he composed, mention may be made about Bhagawan Naama Bhushanam, Kuleerashtakam, Dyadasha Manjari.
Sri Ayyaval was contemporary of Sri Bodhendra Saraswati Swamigal who pioneered the Namasankeerthan movement. Sri Bodhendra had already heard about the divine qualities of Ayyaval and it was a pleasant surprise for him when during a temple visit at Tiruvidaimaruthur he met Sri Ayyaval. For Ayyaval also it was a divine experience. They met quite often.
Sri Ayyaval believed that there is only one God or one Reality which reflects as the Atma in every human being. According to him, Sanatana Dharma means finding divinity in every human being and not differentiating others on any ground. A momentous incident happened in his life which proved that even Mother Ganga would manifest to cleanse the minds which are polluted by ignorance. It was the day of Sraddha (ceremony for the departed souls) and after all preparations made in advance, Ayyaval was looking for the priests to arrive. At that time, a poor man almost dying of hunger, appeared and asked for food. Ayyaval had no second thought and instantly offered him the food prepared for the ceremony. The priests, who turned up later and came to know about this incident, refused to take part in the ceremony. Though Ayyaval was ready to get fresh food for them, the priests did not relent. “What can I do to restore the purity so that you can participate in the ceremony?” asked Ayyaval. The priests replied that the only atonement for the sin committed is to immerse in the Ganga which remains pure despite being polluted.” Unable to go all the way where Ganga flows, Sridhara Ayyaval prayed to Holy Ganga through eight verses of Gangashtakam instantly composed by him. Surprisingly water gushed forth from the well in the backyard. When the continued flow of water submerged the area, Ayyaval made another prayer and water subsided. The priests realized their folly, begged pardon and participated in the event. This incident occurred on the new moon day in the month of Karthika. Even now, the Ganga Avatarana Mahotsava is celebrated and devotees come in large number and participate.
Lord Krishna had said that whoever remembers him or recites his names at the moment of death will easily reach Him (BG .5). But unless one gets used to chanting His name or singing His glory, it will be difficult to remember or recite at the last moment. Only when Namasankeerthan is practiced often or the names of Rama or Muruga are chanted regularly, it will naturally reflect in the tongue. The names should come effortlessly on the tongue. In his ‘Kandhar Anubuti” (17) Arunagirinathar makes a strange prayer: “Oh Muruga, come, walk on my tongue” (Name Nadaveer). In one of his compositions, Sri Papanasam Sivan sings: “Oh! My tongue, always recite the sacred mantra “Saravanabhava”. “Start the practice of Namsankeerthan even from early stage”, said Ayyaval “so that His sacred Names will ever remain in our tongue”. Ayyaval was satisfied that that the Namasankeerthanam movement he aimed to establish has been fulfilled to an extent and he shed his mortal remains. It is said that he merged himself with Mahalinga Swami shrine at Tiruvidaimarudur.
Almost all scriptures and Vedic texts stress one single point; Chitha Suddhi, the purification of mind. It is the mind that distracts, differentiates and deviates us from pursuing our goal. The mind merely generates thoughts which are mostly negative. The wandering mind should rest peacefully in the recess of heart. According to Ajamila Charitra, the only way by which the mind is kept pure, steady and still is by means of Namasankeerthan (Kalau Kalmasha Chittanaam gather Govinda Keerthanam). Saints and sages have stressed the need to purify the mind (Chitta Suddhi) through Satsang, reverence to Guru and Namasankeerthan.
The rivers play a major role not only in making the land fertile and flourishing but also in purifying the minds. The river Kaveri has come to symbolize not only prosperity but also concordant music of Namasankeerthan. A devotee said that when the river Kaveri flows, the ripples and splashes create sound like sweet notes of music. It seems that the waves of Kaveri produce the eternal notes of Thala in rhythm to Sangeetham. It was around Kaveri belt that many Namasankeerthan stalwarts appeared and Marudanallur Sri Sadguru Swamigal was one of them.
Venkataramana, born at Tiruvisanallur in 1777 inherited all the divine qualities of his father, Venkata Subramanya, a priest well versed in Vedas. Finding his son mute and unable to speak, the father took him to Gopala Bhagavathar. Gopala Bhagavathar beckoned Venkataramana to his side and uttered the Taraka Mantra, “Rama” “Rama” to his ear. The child remained still for a while and then the same words “Rama” “Rama” came from his tongue. While the father performed Puja at home, Venkatara Ramana used to sit behind and look at the portrait of Lord Sri Ramachandra, flanked by Sita, Lakshman and Anjaneya. He saw not merely the images but all the events that happened during Bala Kandam, Aranya Kandam, Kishkinda Kandam, Sundara Kandam. He then got the vision of Lord Rama. He drew inspiration from the life and teachings of Sri Bodhendra Swamigal and Sridhara Ayyaval which his mother used to narrate. He has come to be known as Sri Sadguru Swamigal.
A practice which Sadguru Swamigal followed with great dedication is ‘Unjavrithi’. Unjavrithi means going to every house in the neighborhood by singing the songs in praise of God and subsisting mainly from what others have offered. Adi Sankara went to the neighboring houses and sought alms. Sri Ramana Maharshi composed Aksharamana Malai meant for those devotees going in Unjavrithi but it became the best means for everyone to convey their prayer to Arunachala. Unjavrithi may not be practicable in this modern life but it gives us the message of contentment and detachment. It gives us the message that our wants should be limited. It gives us the message that desire to possess should be discarded at least mentally. It gives us the message that while symbolically seeking alms from neighborhood, the ego, the big obstacle, vanishes. By referring an event in Ramayana, Sadguru Swamigal described Rama, the King of Ayodhya as an embodiment of contentment and humbleness. When Rama was taking leave before proceeding to forest, Kausalya said: “Oh Rama, son of emperor Dasarata, having used to a luxurious life at palace, how can you live in forest? Rama replied: “He who is contended and he who has no desire can live at any place happily.”
Sadguru Swamigal wanted to go on a pilgrimage visiting places like Chitrakuta, Panchavati and finally to Ayodhya where Rama walked. Leaving behind all his possessions and accompanied by his wife, Sadguru Swamigal embarked on his long journey. Walking through arduous terrains and thick forest, he reached a place called Thalapakkam in Andhra Pradesh. This happened to be a place where devotional singers from all regions have congregated. It turned out to be a confluence of all singers. When everyone joins the Keerthan, it becomes Samkeerthan. Songs of Meera Bhai, songs of Namdev, Thukkaram, Saint Jnaeswar, songs of Purandaradasa and Annamacharya, and songs of Chaitanya and Jayadevar all reverberated in the air. Sadguru Swamigal was very much impressed by the Keerthanas rendered in various languages. He decided to bring all different expressions of Bhakti under one umbrella. He then created a system which assimilated the unique value of each song in different languages. What an ideal way of devotion and what an ideal way of national integration. The Bhajan Sambradaya devised by him is divided into different categories like Thodaya Mangalam, followed by Guru Keeertans, Divya Nama Sankeerthan, Gopika Geetham, Ashtapati and Dololtsavam. Every year homage is paid before the samadhi (memorial) of Sadguru Swamigal at Govindapuram and devotees from all over India come and participate in the Namasankeerthan with great devotional fervour.
It is heartening to note that the tradition of Namasankeerthan built by eminent pundits is being carried over with equal devotion and commitment. Namasankeerthan is not confined at home alone or in community halls. It is extended to the streets in the month of Markazhi. The whole month of Margazhi is devoted to singing the glory of God. It is a wonderful sight when young and old walk through the Mada Veedhi of Mylapore singing the songs of Jnananda and Papanasam Sivan. There is a Bhajan song on Lord Ganesa which says that one need not go in search of God anywhere. All that he has to do is to look within and he would find God residing in the heart within (Prabho Ganapathe). Lord Krishna told sage Narada: “Neither do I reside in Vaikunda nor in the hearts of Yogis; I dwell where my devotees sing my name” (Noham vasami vaikunde Yoginam hridaye…)
