Aanaaya Nayanar

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Aanaaya Nayanar

Thirumangalam... a tiny hamlet near Chidambaram...

An asramam in the forested area near its edge...  A Munivar is seated under a tree and a young man standing in front of him with his back bent and hands folded in great reverence.

Munivar

Mahane! Aanaaya! I am very pleased with your service. You wanted to know about Chidambaram. I will tell you now.    If someone mentions temple it ought to be Chidambaram!  There...  seated in the heart of the universe, Easan is by His graceful dance is bestowing His benevolence to all the creatures of this earth by His fivefold activity namely, creation, protection, suppression, provision and destruction.   He indicates that by surrendering to His gracious feet alone one can get Mukti! With His feet lifted up in His dancing pose, He declares that He and He alone is the fountainhead of all fine arts.     While Easan is holding Udukkai, Kannan has the flute in his hand, Annai Saraswati is holding the Yazh, Nandi is having Mridangam and Naradar the Tambura. The Sivaganas are having a variety of musical instruments.

Aanaayar

Aaha! You have literally taken me there by your vivid description. Munivar Perumane! I frequently have a dream in which Kannaparamatma is playing the flute   surrounded by cows which are looking up to Him without even a stir...  Can you please tell me the significance of this dream to me, a simple cowherd?

Munivar

Aaha! How fortunate you are! I will tell you the import of your dream ... Kannaparamatma who is playing the flute is Pathy... All the creatures of this world are Pasu... Only to signify to all of us that Iraivan is Pasupathy, Kannaparamatma appears with cows playing the flute...

Aanaayar (eagerly)

Will Easan be pleased if I play the flute?

Munivar

Why do you have this doubt?   Is there anyone   who is not pleased by music? Do you know what     Gayatri means?  Gayatri means ‘make music’...  Only because they are set to music, all the Vedas are recited without any distortion.  Out of the Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharvana Vedas, the Sama Veda is said rise up to Kailayam. That is the reason why Easan is also called Samaganapriyan (the One who is infatuated with Samaganam). I have heard you playing the flute sometimes. Though there are minor blemishes here and there in your playing, I can make out that you have the innate knowledge of music. You are a born artist....like a raw diamond   yet to be honed.  If properly honed, the whole world will come under your spell. Easan will also be captivated by your music. Now, the time has come to give you Siva Deekshai.

Mahane! Aanaaya!  Perform the Guru Puja. I am going to impart mantra Upadesam to you.

 He signals Aanaayar to come near. Though a little confused at first as to what guru puja is, Aanaayar quickly composes himself. He goes on his knees and catches the feet of Munivar piously. As the Munivar takes out thiruneeru and applies on his forehead liberally his finger touches the Agnyachakra of Aanaayar.

 Aanaayar feels as if a great fireball has entered through his body.

Munivar

‘Om’ is the pranavamantram. That is the moolamantram also. The sound of ‘Om’ or Omkara is surrounding this earth and   this universe as ‘Anahathadhoni’ (sound that cannot be heard or discerned). That alone became ‘Panchaksharam’ to be heard and discerned by all. Panchaksharam is none but Sivam. Sivam is none but Om.

 Mahane! Aanaaya! I will now recite the Panchakshara mantram. Control your five senses and concentrate.

Aanaayar closes his eyes and keeps his mind concentrated on Easan.  His ears are filled with the reverberating chants of ‘Om Namasivaya’.  Aanaayar feels as if he has been hugged tightly by someone who refuses to loosen his hold. Music engulfs him like a flood.    Aanaayar falls down unconscious unable to bear that exquisite feeling any longer.

    ******

Thirukailayam....

As Naradar enters, Nandi welcomes him with due respects.

Naradar

Nandiyare! You are looking very happy today! Is there something special/

 Nandi

Is there anything, you are unaware of?

Naradar (posing as if he really doesn’t know)

Nandiyare! Really, I cannot make out...

Nandi (proudly)

Just a while ago, an adiyavar realised his true self!

Naradar

Is that so? Who is he?

Nandi

Aanaayar! He belongs to the caste of cowherds.

Naradar

“Aa” denotes cow. “Aayar” denotes the caste of Yadavas. That means, he is definitely a relative of Kannaparamatma.

Om Namo Narayana! OM Namo Narayana!

Nandi (irritated)

You are always thinking of Narayanan only... He is not a relative of Kannan. Kannan lived in ‘Gokulam’ near Dwarakapuri whereas he is living in a hamlet called Thirumangalam near Thillai... How can be related to Kannan?

Nandi looks at Naradar as if he has scored a point over Naradar.

Naradar

You are also saying the same thing!  ‘Go’ means cow.. ‘Kulam’ means the caste that looks after the cows.. That is the caste of Yadavas. You said Aanaayar belongs to to the caste of cowherds.  Doesn’t that mean   Gokulam and Thirumangalam are one and the same!

As Nandi has no answer to that, Naradar laughs aloud.

Naradar

Let it be. When we say Wani (Saraswati), we immediately think of the Yazh in Her hands. When we think of Kannan, we relate Him with the flute... What do you co-relate when you think of Easan?

Nandi (proudly)

Being His vahanam, only I will be recollected.

Naradar (as if not happy with his answer)

When we think of Easan, we will recollect only the Udukkai that is rattling in His hand all the time!

Nandi is crestfallen on hearing this and Naradar in order to pacify him continues.

Naradar

Anyway.. What   will come to mind if we think of  Nandi?

Nandi looks at him angrily.

Nandi

 Only the two horns of mine will come to mind!

Naradar (in a tone to correct his answer)

Nandiyare!  Only Mridangam   comes to mind we think of you!

Hearing this, Nandi’s anger vanishes and he exudes exuberance.

Naradar

Tell me! What comes to your mind whenever you think of me?

Nandi is in the verge of a huge laugh.

Nandi

If I tell you the answer, you will get annoyed with me.

Naradar

No, I will not get angry. Tell me what it is!

Nandi (laughing)

Only chaos comes to mind!

Naradar (unmindful of the barb)

Nandiyare! Sometimes you forget that you are the vahanam of Easan and become that of Yaman.

 As he tries to continue, Nandi stops him in his tracks.

Nandi

Wait.. wait..  Clarify how come I become the vahanam of Yaman?

Now Naradar laughs aloud.

Naradar

When you think of me as Naradar, the Tambura in my hand will come to mind.

Nandi (as if not paying attention to his statement and in a firm tone)

How come you call me as Vahanam of Yaman?  First answer that question before proceeding any further.

Naradar (irritated)

You will not leave it, I suppose!  I will reply in case you keep your two horns a lttle away from me!

Nandi

 You called me as the vahanam of Yaman.  I deeply distressed as to why you called me so.

He moves a little away.

 Naradar (in a fearful tone)

What is the vahanam of Yaman?

Nandi

It is yerumai (buffalo)

Naradar (after ascertaining he is a little away from Nandi)

Because yerumai is a little dimwitted, I told you so.

Nandi gets angry and about to charge Naradar.  Naradar   pacifies him by raising his hands above his head pleading for peace. Nandi gets back to senses.

Nandi (regretfully)

You are a Gyani and knower of the past, present and future.. How foolish of me to charge on you!

Naradar

 Don’t feel sad. Nandiyare! Since you called me as one who creates chaos, I called you as a dimwitted yerumai. In all these, what I asked you has slipped from my mind.  What did I ask you?

Nandi

 You asked what would come to mind if Nandi is thought of. You also replied that Mridangam would come to mind. It is quite true. Playing Mridangam is very dear to me.

Naradar

It is not what I have asked! When we are thought of, the musical instruments we hold in our hands come to mind. But in your case, why you are not holding the Mridangam in your hands?

Nandi (confused)

Yes! Why it is so?

Nandi starts to think of an answer deeply.

Naradar

Don’t trouble yourself too much! You are always playing the Mridangam for the Easan, ever dancing in Thillai. Is that not enough to correlate you and Mridangam?

Nandi brightens up hearing this.

Nandi

Naradare! I have never been able to understand you! Sometimes you speak high of me and other times you ridicule me. I am always deeply worried as what you will say next!

Naradar (trying to change the topic)

Let it be. I want to ask you another question. Who taught you to play Mridangam?

Nandi (proudly)

I am self taught!

Naradar

You mean to say that you are born with that skill.

Nandi

Yes! Why you have the doubt?

Naradar

Let that be. Out of Udukkai, flute, Yazh, Tambura and Mridangam, which manifested on its own?

Nandi

All the musical instruments are created by hand. How can we say any one of them is self manifest?

Naradar

The flute (pullankuzhal) alone is self manifest. All others are fabricated. When wind passed through the holes made by bumblebees in the bamboo stalk, it created a divine sound attracting the man to music.

Nam Peruman Easan demonstrated that the languages of all the people of the world can be contained   with the seven swaras themselves! Music is one of the sixty four fine arts he has given to the world.

 That Easan Himself was captivated by the music played by Ravanan on Veena not proof enough that music can enthrall anyone? Likewise when Hanuman played Yazh in a competition with me, the mountain melted and my instrument got stuck in it. When he stopped his music, the mountain solidified and Hanuman had to resume his music to make the mountain melt so that I could retrieve my Yazh. Thus the music of Hanuman demonstrated to the world that music has tremendous power!

Nandi

True.... Very True.... Music is a great art.  By the way, though pullankuzhal is supposed to have self manifested, there has to be some set norms in making it. Are there any rules for making it?

Naradar

You are right. There are particular measures for its length, its circumference, the number of holes, the distance between each of the holes. There are seven holes for the seven swaras. The eighth hole is not for letting out the swaram. It is also specified which are the fingers that are to be used to control these seven holes. In the left palm, the little finger and thumb are not used.  In the right palm all the four leaving aside the thumb.  That makes seven finger tips for the seven holes of the seven swaras of “Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha,Ni”.   It is the different combinations of these seven swaras that make music.

Nandiyare! When our Easan danced in Thillai, five ragas emanated from His five faces.  Do you know what those ragas are?

Naradar continues ignoring Nandi’s discomfiture in not knowing the answer.

When the seven swaras combine, music is created. Music is supposed to occupy three stages namely Mandharam, Madhyamam and Dharam.

Nandiyare!  When our Easan performed in Thillai in His dancing pose, five ragas came out of His five faces. Do you know what are they?

Unable to answer the question, Nandi squirms and Naradar continues as if he has not noticed his unease.

Naradar

I will tell you presently…  Sri Ragam came from His Sakthiyosada face at the time of Siva-Shakti union. It is given the top most position as it emanated from Easan’s face.  From His Vamadeva face came Vasantha Ragam.  It was Bhairavi from His Agora face and Pancham from His Tatpurusha face.  The Natanarayani ragam came from the sacred face of Devi. It is from the Udukkai of Easan alone that music was generated first. The 108 Karanams of Bharatam are but the dance poses of Easan. Both the music and dance are said to have evolved on their own. They complement each other.

 Nandiyare! Please recite the Panchakshara mantram.

Unable to comprehend as to why Naradar is asking him to recite Panchaksharam of all the things, Nandi recites aloud “Nama Sivaya”.

Naradar

 Isn’t there a custom to recite it as “Sivaya Nama” also?

Nandi nods his head in the affirmative.

Naradar (stepping a few steps away)

Now I will say aloud both. Please pay attention to the swaras in the sound.

Om Nama Sivaya!

Sivaya Nama Om!

Can you discern the difference in the sound between them?

Nandi looks at Naradar without answering his question.

Naradar

 People, who hear “Om Nama Sivaya” aloud, will immediately stir up and look from where the sound has come. If “Sivaya Nama Om”, follows immediately, they will become tranquil and keep their mind on Easan reverently.

Nandi (embarrassed)

When you said that I am dimwitted like the Vahanam of Yaman, I got angry.  You may refer me as such now!  

Naradar quickly hugs him and pacifies him.

Naradar

Nandiyare!  Aren’t you aware that you, I, this Kailayam, this entire universe and all the creatures in it are all part of the Supreme Being… There is no one higher or lower among us…  We all play different roles in the great drama directed by Easan. You are doing the role of Nandiyar… I am donning the role of Naradar… That is about all… How can you feel disheartened even after knowing these facts very well?

It is doubtful that many learned Yogis may not know the answer to the question I posed. I will tell you the answer now…

Only to expound the underlying principle of Panchaksharam, Easan gets Himself seated in Padmasanam, with the brilliance of a thousand suns sporting five faces, one each for the four cardinal directions and the fifth facing the sky in the form of Sadasivan!

 I will now recite Panchakshara mantram in five ways..

Sivayanama Om!

Vayanamasi Om!

Yanamasiva Om!

Namasivaya Om!

Masivayana Om!

When you recite the Panchaksharam as Sivaya Nama Om, it glitters in the Mohana ragam. It is a ragam that can mesmerise any and every creature.

Taking the form of Shanmugapriya,   it hypnotises the listener   recited    Vayanamasi Om!

Yanamasiva Om, in the Kambodhi ragam will bind the listener with it. Namasivaya Om is the ragam Sankarabharanam, a lustrous jewel. When you recite Namasivaya Om it takes the ragam of Kanada. These ragas captivate the listeners and take them to the height of exhilaration. Masivayana Om, in the Thodi ragam, will make even the enemies to come on their knees.

There is another reason for reciting Sivayanama in Mohana ragam… Mohana Ragam has only five out of the seven swaras in its making. 

Aarohanam ( ascending notes) has   sa, ri, ga,pa, dha,sa  and  Avarohanam ( descending notes) has sa,dha,pa,ga,ri, sa  swaras. This is a very pleasing raga which will melt the heart of the listener.

He prays and bows to Easan reciting Sivayanama Om!

Nandi (overcome with emotion)

Naradar Perumane! Like Sage Patanjali who authored a treatise on Yaga and made it universally well known as ‘Patanjali Sutra’. Likewise you must write a treatise on music and title it as ‘Narada Sikshai’.

He bows to Naradar after making this request. Naradar closes his eyes and goes silent. After a few seconds, he opens his. A radiant glow emanates from his eyes. At that very instant, a captivating music is heard and touches Kailayam. Naradar and Nandi look around to locate the direction from which the music is coming. Easan also looks up.  All  the heavenly inhabitants rush to hear the place from where the music is originating in their respective chariots… They all reach Thirumangalam where Aanaayar is playing the flute.

    ****

In the forested area of Thirumangalam…

Captivated by the beauty of a Konrai tree blooming with golden flowers, Aanaayar stands transfixed.

 Aanaayar 

My Easan is very fond of these Konrai flowers! Like all these flowers of this tree reach Easan, all the creatures of this earth also reach His sacred feet ultimately. When I recite or recall the great mantra ‘Sivayanama’, I am brimming with happiness and my heart is filled with sweetness.

He starts playing his flute and the sweet music reaches Kailayam. This is what Nandi, Naradar and all other inhabitants of heaven hear. Starting like a mild stream, his music develops flows like a   flooded untamed river lapping both its banks.

  All the cowherds stand transfixed lost in the music. The cows stop their grazing … forgetting to lap up the milk , the claves stand making no movement… The peacock, the koel, the sparrow and other birds refrain from making any call lest it may disturb the enchanting music of Aanaayar. Even the venomous snakes are spellbound and stay next to the peacocks, their sworn enemies.  Lost in the music, the wild animals like tiger, lion, elephants and others stand next to each other without any inhibitions. The cows, deer and other timid animals stand around Aanaayar enthralled in his music. The tress, the waterfalls, the clouds and even the seven seas go motionless maganetised by the music.

The music from Aanaayar is all pervading and engulfing the entire universe….

 The sound of the conch shells reverberate suddenly and Easan along with Annai appears in His Nandi   Vahanam.

Easan (calls out)

Anba! Aanaaya Nayanare!  

Aanaayar stops plying his flute and looks up. Seeing Easan with Annai, he prostrates in great piety. Tears roll down his eyes in torrents in ecstasy.  He is dumbfounded.

Seeing that he is in a state of trance…

Easan  

Aanaaya Nayanare! You have demonstrated to the world that one can attain oneness with Easan through music also. Your name and fame will remain as long as this world remains. Whosoever worships Me will worship you as well. Let your music   bring solace to all My adiyavars forever.

By extending both His hands, Easan   welcomes Aanaayar to His fold.

Aanaayar blows Panchakshara mantram with his flute and merges unto Easan in a radiant Jyothi.  

Thiruchchitrambalam