Govinda Nama Sangeerthanam

Bhagawan Nama Bhodendra Swamigal

As the sun dawned on the eastern horizon, Kesava stepped out of his home and walked towards the Kanchi Mutt. Visiting the Mutt, worshiping the shrine of Adi Sankara and other deities and offering obeisance to the Acharya, Sri Athmabodendra Saraswathi formed parts of the daily routine of Kesava. It was like any other day but with a small difference. This day, he was bringing his young son also along, to seek the blessings of Swamigal. While walking, holding the young boy’s hand, Kesava pondered what his son would become in future. That was sometime in the year 1627.

“He is my son, Purushothaman” said Kesava introducing him to the Kanchi Acharya. Acharya Swamigal looked at the young son for a while and then asked the father: “What are you going to contribute for the Mutt”? “Whatever that you wish and command” replied Kesava with all reverence. “Well” said Swamigal, pointing at his son “then, give him to the Mutt”. Coming from the Acharya of a venerable Institution like Sankara Mutt, the order, however unpleasant it may be, had to be obeyed and Kesava agreed. The young Purushotham joined the Mutt, received the formal initiation to sainthood (Diksha) and ascended the Peetam in 1638 as Bhodendra Saraswathi Swamigal. It was Bhagawan Nama Bhodendra Swamigal, the 58th Achaarya of Kanchi Mutt who pioneered the Nama Sangeerthanam movement.

The spiritual fulfillment was sought in many ways in different ages. While the path of meditation was prescribed for Krita Yuga, the way of sacrifice was advocated for Treta Yuga and the emphasis was on service in Dvapara Yuga. As the Kali Yuga approached, Narada sought the advice of Lord Krishna. Having visualized the plight of the people in Kali Yuga, Lord Krishna advocated an easy path for them. He said: “He who seeks Me through the simple means of Nama Sangeerthanam would easily reach Me”. Thus, Nama Sangeerthanam has been recognized as the effective way of reaching the Lord in the age of Kali Yuga. The Lord had said: “I do not live in Vaikunta or in the heart of saints or among Gopikas. I live in the heart of devotees who sing my glories”

“Na Aham Vasaami Vaikunte, Na Yogi Hridaye Ravou
Mat Bhakta Yatra Gayanti Tatra Thishtaami, Narada!”

When Narada queried as to how to lead the people towards this belief and how to make them convince, the Lord said, He Himself would incarnate, over the period, as a seer, as a saint or as a singer to highlight the value of Nama Sangeerthanam. Over the ages, the Lord Himself descended to Bharatha Varsha, manifesting himself as Vyasa, Sukha and as other sages, kindled the light of devotion and guided humanity to the righteous path. Sri Adi Sankara expressed devotion through Bhaja Govindam. Arunagirinathar hailed the glory of Muruga through Thiruppugazh. The Musical Trinity, Saint Thyagaraja, Muthuswamy Deekshithar and Shyama Sastrigal showed us the way to God through music. There were legends like Jayadevar, Chaitanya, Annamacharya, Thukkaram, Ramadas, Purandaradasar, and Narayana Theertha, to mention a few, who highlighted the value of devotion through Keerthans. The life of each of them was a saga of devotion and dedication.

It was the boy who, one fine morning, walked his way to the Kanchi Mutt and later became its head as Sri Bhodendra Swaraswathy Swamigal who revived Nama Sangeerthanam tradition in South. Even while performing duties as the Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Sri Bhodendra Saraswathi Swamigal used to visit different holy places. Sitting on the banks of river Kaveri, he would start meditating, sing the glory of the God and then prompt others to join him. He believed that one who chants Rama Nama or sing His glory would find fulfillment in life. In his immortal works, Rama Karnamrutham and Naamamrutha Rasaayanam he stressed the importance of chanting Rama Nama. He said, while performing different duties assigned to each, one should seek God, with heart full of devotion, by singing (Keerthana), reciting (Japa) hearing (Sravana) and meditating (Smarana).

A contemporary of Bhodendra Swamigal, Sri Sreedhara Ayyaval, was another great exponent of Nama Sangeerthanam. Born to Lingaraya at Mysore, Sreedhara Ayyaval spurned the offer of Ministership and went on an extensive pilgrimage. He found Tiruvisainallur, located on the banks of river, Kaveri, as the ideal place to pursue his spiritual mission. He became an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and acquired mastery over Vedic texts and composed many scholarly works like Padamani Manjari, Navaratnamalika, Dayasathakam, Achuthashtakam, Ramamrutha Rasayanam, Stuthi Padhathi etc. Hearing his great works and the great miracles happening in his life, Sri Bhodendra Saraswathi Swamigal came in contact with Ayyaval and it became a lifelong association between them.

While the revered Acharya sowed the seeds of Nama Sangeerthanam tradition and Sri Ayyaval nourished it, Sri Maruthanallur Sadguru Swamigal (1977-1817) helped it to grow further. Venkatarama Desikan, who later came to be known as Sadguru Swamigal, was born in Thiruvidaimaruthur in Thanjavur District in 18th centuary. It is believed that while performing Pradakshina, Sadguru Swamigal happened to discover a rare book titled Nama Koumudhi which turned out to be a source of immense inspiration for him. He turned the river Kavery to a northern direction to build a memorial for his master, Bhodendra Swamigal. Sadguru Swamigal brought about an orderly system of Bhajan rendering, known as Sampradaya or Padhadi Bhajan. The elaborate Bhajan Sambradhaya devised by him is divided into three major categories like Thodaya Mangalam followed by Guru and Dasar Keerthanas, Divya Nama Sangeerthanam, Gopika Geetham and Dololthsavam each part containing slokas, songs and Namavalis and concluded with Mangala Aarathi. An elaborate Padhathi (method) has also been composed for Kalyanothsavam. Just as the Musical Trinity, a Nama Sangeerthanam Trinity has also come into being with Bhodendra Saraswathi Swamigal, Sreedhara Ayyaval and Sadguru Swamigal. There were many others, like Gjnananda Swamigal, Pudukottai Gopalakrishna Bhagavathar, Swami Haridas Giri etc. All of them left an indelible message in the minds of the people that Nama Sangeerthanam is the sure and easy way to God realization and salvation.

They were God-incarnates. Most of them, saints, musicians and composers who helped to nurture the tradition of Nama Sangeerthanam were born and grew up around Kaveri belt. It would seem that the waves of Kaveri produce the eternal notes of Thala in rhythm or sometime they sound like the music of Nama Sangeerthanam. The river Kaveri has come to symbolize the hoary tradition of Nama Sangeerthan. As the season of Bhajanothsavam dawns, the whole land would be immersed in the serenity of music. Kaveri, on whose surroundings the tradition of Nama Sangeerthanam flourished, would then flow through all over South India.

According to Ajamila Charitra in Srimad Bhagavatam, the practice of chanting the Divine Names would uproot all inherent Vasanas, carried over from previous lives, cleanse our mind and take us to the right path. The mind that is pure and free from all negative thoughts would then be able to concentrate on Krishna, the divine Power. The supreme Good that one is able to realize through meditation can now be easily achieved through the means of Nama Sangeerthana.

"Kalau Kalmasha chittaanaam Paapa Dravyopajeevinaam |
Vidhi Kriya viheenaanaam gathir Govinda keertanam" ||

The scriptures say that the practice of Nama Sangeerthanam would liberate us from past karmas (consequences arising out of past actions) and help us to attain spiritual fulfillment There is a misconception that the people of Kali Yuga are unfortunate because at this age only we witness a general decline in religious and moral values. The Vishnu Purana refutes this belief and says that the people of Kali Yuga are fortunate because they can achieve God Realization (Ishwara Sakshathkaram) through simple means of Nama Sangeerthanam whereas devotees of bygone ages had to undergo extreme hardship and struggle to attain the same end.

Unlike other paths, the concept of Nama Sangeerthanam does not stipulate any conditions or regulations. It neither requires in depth knowledge of scriptures nor binds one to rigid practices of meditation or penance. The path of Nama Sangeerthanam is simple. It calls for just chanting of Bhagawan Nama by means of rendering or hearing (Sravanam and Keerthanam). Anyone can render Namasangeerthanam, anytime and from anywhere. It is a simple way by which one could attain God realization (Iswara Sakshathkaram), the goal many saints and seers achieved through extreme struggle, sacrifice and penance in the past.

It is a rejuvenating sign that the spirit of devotion is progressively expressed through Bhajan and the concept of Bhajanothsavam is catching up at many places. Every village like Pushpagiri in Thrissur or Kalpathi in Palakkad used to celebrate a temple festival in a year. Now Bhajanothsavam has come to be accepted as the second grand festival and residents who have migrated to other places make it a point to visit their home town during this period.

We have a galaxy of luminaries like Sri O.S. Sundar, Sri Udayaloor Kalyanaraman, Kovai Sri Jayaraman, Erode Sri Rajamani, Abhang Vidwan, Ganapathi Maharaj, Senkottai Sri Hari etc. There are many such stars who are equally skilled and devotional and who uphold the Namasangeerthanam tradition with great zeal and enthusiasm. May such stars appear more and lead us to the path of devotion.

May the spirit of devotion find its expression through Nama Sangeerthanam at many more places. May the melodies of Nama Sangeerthanam reverberate all over. Soon, the sweet sounds of Bhajan would reach the ears of Krishna and he would descend and be one among us.

This was published in the souvenir brought out by Sri Namasankeerthana Trust, Coimbatore on the occasion of Bhajanothsavam 2007