25.04.2016 : Anusham Day

On 25^th of April, on Anusham day, I had written a small poem in Tamil on Periyava. My dear Karthi anna (Bangalore) had asked me to pen down the gist or the translation of the same in English. I could pen it down only now…sharing the same here…

Thanks to Karthi Anna for making me think of Periyava again, in the garb of translating the Tamil poem into English…

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25.04.2016 : Anusham Day

Thinking about Periyava doay on this Anusham day, there was this thought running in my mind…

People say that Periyava is “The very incarnation of Dharma; He is incarnation of Rama”. I also thought like that till today, However, when I think about it, I think it is wrong…

People say that “Periyava is like Lord Krishna; and like Him, Periyava also came and guided us”. They also say that “Like Krishna the JaadGuru, Periyava also is our JagadGuru”. I also thought like that till today. However, I now think this is also wrong…

People say that “Periyava is the Very Goddess Kamakshi who is in Kanchi”. I also agreed till yesterday. However, I think that is also wrong…

“That Lord Siva Himself had come down as ‘Periyava’, say people. However, I think even that is wrong…

“The Adhi Sankara Himself had come and sat at the Peeta once again to tell us all the Upadeshas in lovely Tamil so that even simpletons can understand it”, say people. I think even this is wrong….

Before all the devotees gather together to beat me up, let me explain the reasons…!!

Periyava Charanam.

1.Are you Raman? No…

Ram is dharma; dharma is Ram

One arrow, one word, one wife Rama’s Mantram

You came here again to establish Dharma

As reincarnation of Lard Rama

So did I think all these days

What a mistake in my ways!

2. Are you Krishna? No…

He came as JagadhGuru; gave us Gita

He resides in us; but confounds us by His Maya

He who stole the butter, steals our heart

In the war, rode Arjuna’s chariot

To teach us all that He had taught,

You have come, I just thought!

But I realized that this thought

Is fully wrong, all for nought

3. Are You Goddess Kamakshi? No…

Goddess Mother Kamakshi, sits in Kanchi, showering grace,

Takes care of all living beings, of all creed, color and race

Sports a sugarcane bow and arrow

Removes our suffering, pain and sorrow

Like that Goddess, I thought You are

The one who showers grace with no par

I thought You are the Goddess Mother

Now I know it is something else rather!

4.Are You God Siva? NO… 

Lord Siva is God of love, He Frees all

From the painful Maya; saves from Fall

He gave boons to Demons too

Showered His graces all thru thru

Doing good is what He does

You came too in His form thus

So I thought, now I know,

Want to share, all I know

5.Are You Adhi Sankara? No…

Sankara came once before

Taught us advaitha to fore

For those who couldn’t follow,

He taught, “keep the mind on Siva’s Glow”

You came as the head of Kanchi Peetam

You taught all that He taught with Freedom

I thought You are Sankara incarnate,

I thought wrong, will now elaborate!!

The Reasons….

What did Rama, Krishna, Mother Kamakshi, Siva and Adhi Sankara do?

Inspite of Ram standing in front, Tadaka did not change

Inspite of Ram standing in front, Asuras did not change

Ram was Dharma and Dharma came as Ram

Stood in front of Ravana once upon a time

Inspite of Ram standing in front, 

Ravana, just didn’t change, kept his hunt

The one who Stole Sita, Ravan, the Cheat,

Didn’t try to fall on Rama’s feet

Ram Killed him finally; Ravan Fell

But only the body fell, the heart didn’t swell

Gauravas didn’t respect Krishna’s advice

They didn’t change their ways of vice

Arjuna’s Chariot, Krishna ran

Arjuna still thought HE was just a man

Pandavas won the war by Krishna’s guiles

Still they lived later not with smiles

Goddess Kamakshi came in person, as the essence of grace

Still Bandasura stood in front; full of menace!

The mother of universe, who gives birth,

She destroyed Bandasura, became his death

Countless Asuras Prayed to Siva, obtained boons

But, their outlook didn’t change, they stayed as goons!

Ravana prayed to Siva, got blessing

He still fought Rama, the sweetest thing!

There was an Asura, who got a boon from Siva, Basmasur the Name

His trying to burn up Siva, is his claim to fame!

Adhi Sankara, who came as Siva’s incarnate

Won over rivals by His debates, deep and passionate!

While Adhi Sankara was grace itself, showered grace all around,

The one who wanted to cut His head, still stood his ground

When Adhi Sankara gave his head to be cut, to save Him there,

God had to come as Narasimha, killing the Kapalika there

What did our Periyava do?

Whose heart didn’t melt, having seen you in flesh?

Even those who came with no belief, changed, completely new and fresh!

Whose mind didn’t change, having heard your voice?

Whoever heard, understood that there is no other choice

Having surrendered to you as their Teacher, has anyone lost their ways?

The form full of grace and compassion, always making their days

Siva, Rama, Krishna, Goddess, Adhi Sankara all here

Did show their care by killing demons everywhere

But, no one was killed, who came in front of you

All those who came, got the wealth of heavens and more from you

Demons got the boons , having done great penance,

But, their hearts and mind still sought vengeance

But, when anyone says “Periyava”, the very word

Makes even  a burning heart to cool down, put down the sword

The boons from the Gods don’t seem to have caused any change of heart

Periyava! Changing hearts is what Your one look does, perfected as an art!

There are many miracles there in this universe

While these are many, none is better than changing even the perverse

None is a bigger miracle than melting the iron heart to pure gold

All the others pale in comparison, not worth to be told

Rama’s Dharma, Krishna’s words, oh so sweet,

Mother Kamakshi’s grace, Lord Siva’s boons, oh so neat

And Adhi Sankara’s penance and Glow

Altogether came in your form in one full flow

All the avatars could not effect the change of heart, and the war was on!

Periyava! You could do all that with no effort, which still goes on!

While Your body is not there, You are there as photo, sculpture and as dream

You are there everywhere, saving your devotees, as your life’s theme

You melt their hearts, and nothing else equals this

Who else is there? Which God is there - who gives this bliss?

Periyava Charanam