Kandhar anubhuthi
(Spiritual union with
Kanda)
By
Saint
Arunagiri nathar
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander*
*(My
understanding is based on a Tamil translation by poet Pi.Ra.Natarajan and
English translation by Swami Anyananda)
( God Kanda (or Skanda-He who supports everything))
or Muruga (the pretty lord)or Kumara(The young lad) or Guha(he who lives in the
cave of our mind) or Karthikeya(He who was taken care of by Karthigai maidens)
or Arumugha(Or Shanmuga-the God with six faces)
has been sung about by literally
thousands of poets in Tamil Nadu. But the pride of place among those poets
would be occupied by Saint Arunagirinathar of
Thiruvannamalai in Tamil nadu. His Thiruppugazh(divine fame of god) is
possibly the greatest ever book that would extol Kanda. “The poet
Arunagirinathar represents a remarkable blend of Tamil literary genius, a high
degree of devotion to Murugan and a musical expertise” It literally melts one’s mind . Kandar alankaram(Description of
Kanda) and Kandar Anubhoothi(Spiritual union with Kanda) are two other great
books of this poet. I have tried my best to translate Kandhar Anubhuthi , realizing well, that I am too much insufficient
for the job that I have undertaken. )
Kappu
(Protective verse-A
prayer to Ganapathi)
Nencha kana kallum
negizhndu urugath,
Thanjathu arul shanmuganukku iyal cher,
Chenchor punai
malai chiranthidave,
Panchakkara aanai
padam panivom.
We salute the holy
feet of the five armed elephant god,
So that this garland
made of naturally flowing words,
Which are very apt to
describe the six faced lord,
Who protects devotees who
approach him with devotion
In their mind , would even melt very heavy stones.
Nool
(Book)
Aadum pari Vel
ani cheval yenap,
Padum paniye paniyay arulvay,
Thedum
kayamaa muganai cheruvil,
Chadum thani
yanai sodharane.
1
Oh , god who is the
brother of the elephant god,
Who defeated the
elephant faced asura in a war,
“Give me always , the
only job Of singing about you .
Your dancing peacock,
your spear and the cock on your flag.”
Ullasa
nirakula yoga idhach,
Challabha vinodhanum nee yallayo,
Yellam
aara ennai izhanda nalam,
Chollay
muruga sura bhoo pathiye. 2
“Are you not he who
gets interested in,
Happiness, absence of
sorrow, yoga,
And joyful actions and
so please advice me,
To get detached from
everything and forget me and my ego”,
Oh Lord Muruga , who
is the lord of earth and heaven.
Vaano punal
paar kanal maaruthamo,
Jnanodhayamo navil naan marayo,
Yano manamo
, yenai aanda idam,
Thaano porul
aavathu Shanmugane. 3
Oh Lord Shanmuga
please tell, which is really real,
Is it the sky, water, earth , fire or wind?
Or is it the rising of
wisdom or Is it the four Vedas,
Or is it myself, or my
mind or the place where you blessed me?
Valai patta
kaimmathodu , makkal yenum,
Thalai pattu azhiya thagumo,. thagumo,
Kilai pattu
ezhu choor uravum giriyum,
Tholai pattu uruvathodu Velavane. 4
“Is it proper, is it
proper, to be imprisoned,
By love for the wife
wearing bangles, sons and relations,”
Oh Lord with the Vel
who pierced and killed Sura Padma,
Along with his
relations and also the flying Krouncha
mountain.
(Krouncha was the
assistant of Tharaka(brother of Sura Padma) , who used to take the shape of a
mountain and prevent, his enemies
Vel- is a spear
carried by Muruga)
Maga mayai
kalainthida valla piraan,
Mugam aarum
mozhindum ozhindilane,
Agam
maadai madantair endru aayarum,
Chaga
mayayul nindru thayanguvathe. 5
Oh Lord who is capable
removing the great illusion,
Though I shouted
several times,” Oh Lord with six faces”,
I am not able to get
rid of the illusion of my house,
My wealth, my wife and
only think about them.
Thiniyana
manochilai meedu unathal,
Ani aar
aravindam arumbumatho,
Paniya yena
valli padam paniyum,
Thaniya athi
moha daya prane.
6
When will you place
your lotus like feet,
On the hard hearted
mind of mine, Oh God,
Who is the merciful
lord, who salutes the feet of Valli,
And ask her, “What can
I do for you?”
Keduvay
manane gathi kel karavaathu,
Iduvay vadi Vel
irai thaan ninaivay,
Chuduvay nedu vedanai thool padave,
Viduvay
viduvay vinai yavaiu may. 7
Oh mind which is
getting spoiled,
I would tell you a
solution to improve,
“Give all that you
have and meditate on the feet,
Of Him who holds the Vel,
And get all your long
time problems burnt,
And stop, and stop
worrying about your fate.”
Amarum pathi
kel, agamam enum ip,
Pimaram keda
mey porul pesiyava,
Kumaran kiri
rasa kumaari makan,
Samaram poru
danava nasakane. 8
Oh Kumara, the son of
the daughter of the mountain,
Oh Lord, who destroyed
all asuras in war,
Oh Lord who talked
about the eternal truth that,
“My home, my
relations and myself are but illusions.”
Mattoor
choozhal mangayar maiyal valai p,
Pattu oosal
padum parisu endru ozhiven,
Thattu
oodara Vel sayilathu eriyum,
Nittoora
nirakula nirbhayane.
9
Oh angry Lord without
confusion and fear,
Who threw his Vel on
Krouncha mountain,
And made it split in
the middle,
“When will you save me
from the passionate net ,
Spread by girls
wearing honey sweet flowers?”
Kaarma misai
kalan varin kalapath,
Therma
misaim vandu yedirapaduvai,
Thaar maarba
valaari thalaari yenum,
Soormaa
madiya thodu Velavane.
10
Oh Lord , wearing a
flower garland,
Who killed the king
called Valan,
And who killed
Surapadma,
Who took the form of a
mango tree,
And destroyed of
heaven Of Indra,
“Please come to save me riding on a peacock,
When God of death
comes riding on a buffalo.”
Kookaa yena
yen kilai koodi azhap,
Pokaa
vagai mey porul pesiyava,
Nagachala Velavaa
nalu kavith,
Thyaga sura
loka shikamaniye.
11
Oh Lord with the Vel , living on the serpent
mountain,
Who is the gem of the
land of devas and who bestowed on me,
The capacity to sing
poems in all four different types,
“When my relatives gather
and cry loudly with sorrow,
At my death, you
taught me the ultimate truth.”
Serpent mountain -Thiruchengottu
malai in Tamil Nadu
Chemman
magalai thirudum thirudan,
Pemman
murugan piravaan iravaan,
Chumma iru
chol aara endralume,
Aamma porul
ondrum arindilane.
12
When he , the thief
who eloped with the deer’s daughter*,
The great Lord Muruga
without birth or death,
Told me, “avoid words
and do nothing”,
Oh God, I did not
understand the meaning of those words.
* Valli- she was brought up by
Nambi Raja a hunter king
Murugan
thani Vel , muni nam guru endru,
Arul
kondu ariyar ariyum tharamo,
Uru andru ,
aaru andru, ulathu andru, ilaathu andru,
Irul andru,
oli andru yena nindrathuve. 13
That which has neither
form or no form,
And is Neither a being
or a non being,
And is neither darkness nor light,
Is understood as
Murugan, a sage with a Vel,
And who is our teacher,
only through His grace.
Kai vay
kadir Vel murugan kazhal pethu,
Uyvay manane
ozhivay ozhivay,
Mey vay
vizhi nasi yodum cheviyaam,
Aiwai vazhi
chollum aavaa vinaye. 14
Oh mind, please leave out,
and leave out all desires,
Flowing through the body,
mouth, eye, nose, ears,
And get salvation by surrendering
at the feet of Muruga,
Who holds the shining Vel in his hands.
Murugan,
kumaran Guhan endru mozhindu,
Urugum
cheyal thanthu unaruv endru arulvay,
Poru punga
varum puviyum paravum,
Guru pungava enguna panjarane. 15
Oh Lord who is the
teacher praised by,
Devout devas and the
people of earth,
Oh Lord who is blessed
with eight qualities,
“Please grant me the
senses which make my mind to melt,
When calling you,
“Muruga”, “Kumara”, and “Guha””
Muruga-Pretty one: Kumara-Lad :Guha- He who lives in the
cave of our mind.
Perasai enum
piniyil pettu,
Oraa vinayen
uzhala thagumo,
Veera mudu
choor pada Vel eriyum,
Soora sura
loka durandarne.
16
Oh Valorous one , who
threw the Vel,
To destroy the ogre
Surapadma,
Oh God who protects
the heaven,
“Is it proper for me,
who am not wise and bad,
To always suffer the
ties ,
Of the disease of avarice?”
Yaam odhiya
kalviyum , yem arivum,
Thaame pera Velavar
thandathanaal,
Poo mel mayal poy aara
mey punarveer,
Naa mel nadaveer, Nadaveer iniye. 17
The knowledge we have
learnt ,
And the wisdom that we
have ,
Are only gifts given
by Lord Muruga himself,
And so renounce
the craze for worldly life,
Understand the truth
and let your toungue walk*.
*Walk- sing the praises of
Lord Muruga.
Udiyaa mariyaa unaraa maravaa,
Vidhi maal ariya vimalan pudalvaa,
Aadhikaa, aanakaa aabhayaa aamaraa,
Vadhi kavala soora bhayangarane. 18
Oh son of Lord Shiva, who is birth less,
Deathless, cannot be felt and cannot be known,
Even by Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma,
Oh protector of the
town of
Oh God , who is the greatest,
Who is without sins and who grants protection,
And who was seen as a fearful one by Soorapadma.
Vadivum
dhanavum manamum gunamum,
Kudiyum
kulavum kudi pokiyava,
Adi andham
ilaa ayil Vel arase,
Oh king with a spear
who has no end nor beginning,
“If the sinner called poverty were to visit me,
then
Will not my beauty, my
wealth, my mind, my good qualities,
My family status and my
caste status desert me and go somewhere else.”
Arithagiya
mey porulukku adiyen ,
Urithaa
upadesam unarthiyava,
Viritharana
vikram Vel emayor.
Puri tharaka
naga purandarane.
20
Oh God who taught me
the real meaning,
Of the rare and difficult to get truth,
Oh Lord who is the Pranava
wanted by devas,
Oh Lord who saved the city of
And Oh Lord who due to his great strength ,
Is liked by every
body.
Karuthaa
maravaa neri kana enakku,
Iru thaal
vanasam thara endru isaivai,
Varada ,
Muruga, Mayil Vaganane,
Viradha
Soora veera vibhadanane. 21
Oh giver of boons, Oh Muruga, Oh lord who travels on peacock,
Oh God who considers protection of his devotees as his duty,
And Oh Lord , who cut
asunder the hated Soorapadma,
“When will you consent to give your lotus like feet
to me,
So that I can find the
unthinkable and unforgettable way.”
Kalai
Kumaresan yena karudhi,
Thalai
paniya thavam yeythiyava,
Palai
kuzhal Valli padam paniyum,
Velai sura
bhoopahi meruvaye.
22
When I was doing penance
to worship your feet,
Thinking you as
youthful Lord Kumara,
You , who was the king
of devas and
Strong like the great
mountain Meru,
Were worshipping the
feet of Valli ,
With tresses as long
as an areca nut sheath.
Adiyai
kuriyathu ariyamamayinal,
Mudiya
kedavo murayo murayo,
Vadi vikrama
Vel makiba kuramin,
Kodiyai
punarum guna bhoodarane. 23
If due to ignorance,
when I was not able to worship your feet,
“Is it proper, Is it
proper for you to forsake me and make me suffer,
Oh Lord with a sharp Vel,
Oh Lord with mountain like virtues,
Oh virtuous Lord, who
is in tight embrace of the lightning like Valli.”
Koor Vel
vizhi mangayar kongayile,
Cherven , arul cheravum ennumatho,
Choor
verodu kundru tholaitha nedum,
Por Vela
purandara bhoopathiye. 24
“I embrace the busts
of spear sharp eyed women,
And when will I ever
be able to embrace your grace,”
Oh king of deva loka,
Oh lord who destroyed Soora Padma
And Oh Lord who split
the mountain in to two.
Meyye yen vevvinai vazhvai ukandu,
Iyo adiyen
alaya thagumo,
Kaio ayilo kazhalo muzhudum,
Cheyyoy
mayil yeriya chevagane. 25
Oh Warrior who rides
on a peacock,
Whose hands , Vel and
everything emits red colour,
“Alas, Is it proper
for me to wander about,
Because of the life of
evil ways that I lead?”
Aadaram ilen
, arulai perave,
Nee thaan
chathum ninaindu ilaye,
Vedagama
gnana vinoda mano.
Theethaa,
sura loka shikamaniye. 26
Oh Crest jewel of the
world of Devas,
Who takes interest in
knowledge of Vedas and Agamas,
Who is much beyond the
human mind,
“You did not ever
think of showering your mercy,
On me who does not
merit receiving your grace.”
Minne nigar
vazhvai virumbiya yaan,
Yenne vidhiyin payan ingu idhuvo,
Ponne,
maniye, porule ,arule,
Manna mayil
yeriya vahanane. 27
Oh king who rides on
the peacock,
Oh gold, Oh jewel, oh
wealth , oh grace,
“Is this result of proper fate for me,
Who liked the life
which is like lightning?”
Aanaa,
amuthee ayal Vel arase,
Jnana karane
, navila thagumo,
Yaan
aagiya yennai vizhungi verum,
Thanai nilai nindrathu tharparame. 28
Oh nectar for, which
one says never enough,
Oh God who is having a
pointed Vel,
Oh God who blesses me with
wisdom,
“Is it not proper for you to tell the truth,
Which would help me
swallow the “I”,
And make me reach the
highest ever state?”
Ille yenum mayayil
ittanai nee,
Pollean
ariyamai poruthu illaye,
Malle
puri panniru vaguvil yen,
Cholle
punayum sudar Velavane. 29
Oh, holder of the
shining Vel, who carries,
In his twelve hands
which are meant for wrestling,
The garland of words
that has been spun by me,
“You made me drown in
this illusion of family life,
And so please pardon the
ignorant mistakes done by me.”
Chevvan
uruvil thigazh Velavan andru,
Ovvaathathu yena unarvithathu thaan,
Avvaru arivaar arikindrathu allal,
Yevvaru
oruvarkku isaivippaduve. 30
The lord who has a
body of crimson colour of the sky,
Who holds the Vel,
that day made one realize, the divine
knowledge
And those who understood
it , can really know and experience it,
But are unable to tell , what they know to others and make them understand.
Paazh
vaazhvu yenum eppadu mayayile,
Veezhvay yena ennai vidithanaye,
Thazhvanavai cheythanathaam ulavo,
Vazhvay ini
nee mayil vahanane.
31
“Did you fate me to
fall in this useless life,
Which is but a mire of
illusion ,due to my bad acts,
Or those which I did
in my earlier life,
Oh God who rides on a
peacock, may you prosper.”
Kalaye
padari kadari thalai yudu,
Alaye padumaaru aaduvay vidavo,
Kolaye puri
vedar kula pidithoy,
Malaye malai
kooridu vagayane. 32
Oh God who split the
mountain in to two,
And Oh Mountain like God , who embraced the girl ,
Who is as pretty as the she elephant ,
From the clan of hunters, who kill for living,
“When will I , get freedom from this dizzy feeling,
Created due to the
fuddled learning of all sciences.”
Chinthakula illodu chelvam yenum,
Vindhadavi endru vida peruven,
Mandakini
thanda varodayane,
Kanda muruga
karunakarane. 33
Oh Kanda, Oh Muruga ,
Oh doer of mercy,
Oh God who was given
by river
Oh God who was born as
a result of boon to devas,
“When will I ,be able
to leave out of Vindhya jungle,
Of worries created by having wife and wealth?
Singara
madanthayar thee neri
poy,
Mangamal yenakku varam tharuvay,
Sangrama shikavala shanmugane,
Oh God with six faces
who rides on a peacock,
Which is expert in
warfare,
Oh boy from river
Oh God who does
merciful deeds,
“Give me a boon that
mind and intellect,
Should not get
dimmed due to pursuits,
Of evil women ,who are
extremely pretty.”
Vidhi kaanum
udambay vidaa vinayen,
Gathi
kaana malar kazhal endru arulvay,
Madivaal
noodal valliyai allathu pin.
Thudhiya
viradar sura bhoopathiye.
35
Oh King of devas, who
has taken a vow,
Not to praise any one
else except Valli ,with a crescent forehead,
“When will this
miserable me ,attain your lotus like feet,
Leaving out
this body afflicted by misery created by Brahma?”
Nadhaa ,
Kumaraa nama, endru aaranaar,
Oodhaa yena
odhiyathu yepporul thaan,
Vedaa mudal
vinnavar choodumalarp,
Pada kuramin
pada shekharane.
36
Oh God whose lotus
like feet is meditated,
By Lord Brahma and
other devas,
But who has the feet
of Valli on his head,
“When Lord Shiva called
you, “Oh Lord, Oh Kumara”
And requested to teach
him, what did you teach him?”
Kirivay vidu
vikrama Vel irayon,
Parivaram
yenum padam mevalaye,
Purivay
manane porayaam arival,
Arivay
adiyodu aganthayaiye. 37
Oh mind, please
prefer to be,
one among the family
of the God
Who made a hole in the
mountain using the Vel,
And uproot the feeling
of ego with the sword of patience.
Aathaaliyai ondru ariyenai arath,
Theethaaliyai aandathu
cheppu matho,
Koodaala kirada kulikku iraiva,
Vethala kanam pukazhum Velane. 38
Oh Lord who wears
Koothala flowers,
Oh Lord of the girl
from hunter’s clan,
Oh Lord who is praised
by clan of demons,
“Why did you make me , who is boastful,
Ignorant and addicted
to evil, your slave?”
Maa yezh
chananam keda mayai vidaa,
Moovedanai endru mudithidumo,
Kove kuramin
kodithol punarum,
Deva shiva
shankara desikane. 39
Oh king, Oh Lord who
embraces ,
The shoulders of Valli
of the hunter clan,
Oh teacher of Lord Shiva,
“When will the three
desires* attached ,
To illusion which push me away ,
From the seven higher
births**, end?”
*Three desires: desire
for wealth, wife and progeny
**Seven higher births:
Devas, Men, Animal, Birds, insects, water living beings and plants
Vinai oda
vidum kadir Vel maraven,
Manayodu
thiyangi mayangidavo,
Chunayodu , aruvi thurayodu, pasun,
Thinayodu ,
ithanodu thirinthavane. 40
Oh Lord who wandered
in search of Valli,
In streams, river
ghats and green millet fields,
“I will not
forget your Vel which drives away fate,
And in this state should
I get attracted to the family life?”
Chakaathu
yenaiye charanangalile,
Kaka
namanaar kalakam cheyum naal,
Vakaa muruga
, mayil vahanane,
Yoga siva jnana upadesikane.
41
Oh Victorious one, Oh
Muruga,
Oh Lord who rides on
the peacock,
Oh Lord who taught the
knowledge of Shiva,
“When the God of death
is quarreling with me,
Prevent my fear of death and keep me under your feet.”
Kuriyai
kuriyathu kurithu ariyum,
Neriyai
thani Velai nigazhthidalum,
Cherivathu ulagodu
urai chinthayum athu,
Arivu athu ,
ariyamayum athadhuve. 42
That pretty Lord who has a Vel,
Lived deep within my mind and
Made me understand
that method to meditate,
Which lies in thinking of “that” and nothing else,
And that made me cut
off, my attachment with the world,
And Speech and mind
ceased , along with ignorance and knowledge.
Thoosaa
maniyum thugilum punaival,
Nesa murugaa
ninathu anbu arulaal,
Aasaa
nigalam thugal aayina pin,
Pesaa
anubhuthi piranthathuve. 43
Oh Lord who is the
friend of her,
Who wears beads and
cloths,
By your loving grace, the
animal,
Of desire was made
into a dust,
And that understanding
which ,
Makes one silent was
born.
Chadum thani
Vel murugan charanam,
Choodumpadi
thanthathu chollumatho,
Veedum
churar maamudi vedamum vem,
Kadum punamum kamazhum kazhale. 44
Oh Lord with a Vel, which destroys fate,
Your feet which is placed in , the city of salvation,
The heads of best
devas, on Vedas and in the ,
Weltering forest as
well as in millet lands,
Gives them a perfumed
existence and
“How do I tell your
grace for permitting,
Those feet placed on my head also.?”
Karavagiya
kalvi ular kadai chendru,
Irava vagai
mey porul eeguvaiyo,
Kurava, kumara
, kulisayudha kunch
Charava , siva yoga daya parane.
45
Oh teacher, oh Kumara
, oh God with,
Thunderbolt as weapon,
oh consort of Devayani,
Oh compassionate one
,oh bestower of Shiva Jnana,
“Would you please give
me the true knowledge,
Without my begging for
that, from those,
Who have knowledge but
do not tell others?”
En thaayum ,
yenakku arul thanthayum nee,
Chinthakulam
aanavai theertha yenai aal,
Kanda , kadir Velavane, umayal,
Maintha ,
kumara, marai nayakane.
46
Oh Kanda, Oh lord
having the shining Vel,
Oh son of Parvathi ,
Oh Kumara, Oh lord of Vedas,
“You are my mother as
well as father who showers his grace,
And so please destroy
all my worries and rule over me.”
Aaraarayum
neethu , athan mel nilayai,
Pera adiyen
peramaru uladho,
Cheera
varuchoor chidaivithu imayor,
Kooraa
ulagam kulirvithavane.
47
Oh Lord who destroyed
the very irate Soorapadma,
Oh Lord who protected
the land of devas as per their request,
“When will you cast
the way for me to get the state,
Of assimilation with
you , which is beyond the thirty six states*?”
Thirty six states are,
1.State of the
soul(24):-
Five elements: Earth, water, fire, wind
and ether,
Five sense organs, Body, mouth, , eye,
nose and ear.:
Five senses: Touch, taste, sight, smell
and sound
Five Karmendryas: Word, feet, hands, Gas
and phlegm
Four interior organs: Mind, wisdom, anger and grace
2.State of
learning(7):-
Time period, law ,
art, education, desire, Past Karma and basic personality
3.State of
Godliness, pure knowledge,
power, sound and Divine grace.
Arivu ondru ara nindru
ariyar arivil,
Pirivu ondru ara nindra
piraan aalayo,
Cherivu
ondru ara vandu irule chidhaya,
Veri
vendravarodum urum Velavane. 48
Oh god who cuts off
attachments,
And make the darkness
of ignorance run away,
Oh God with Vel, who puts me in to contact,
With those who have
won over their five senses,
“You are the one who
never moves away and stays,
With those who have
cut off the feeling of ego.”
Thannam
thani ninrathu thaan aariya,
Innam
oruvarkku isaivippathu vo,
Minnum kadir
Vel vigirtha ninaivar,
Kinnam
kalayum krupai choozh chudare. 49
Oh God , who holds the
shining Vel,
Oh God , who removes
problems of those who think of you,
And Oh God , who is
the light that is surrounded by mercy,
“How can we tell others, the divine knowledge ,
That the true soul is unattached and stands alone?”
Madhi kettu
aravaadi mayangi arak,
Kadhi
kettu avame kedavo kadaven,
Nadhi puthira jnana
sukadhipa ath.
Thithi puthirar
veeru adu chevakane.
50
Oh, Son of the river
who gets pleasure from true knowledge,
And who destroyed the
sons of Thithi with his valour,
“Should I move away
from the fate of the good ,
Due to my loss of the intellect and consequent,
Trance of Ignorance
brought about by illusion?”
Uruvay
aaruvau ulathay ilathay,
Maruvay
malaray maniyay oliyay,
Karuvay
uyiray kathiyay vidhiyay,
Guruvay
varvay , arulvay Guhane.
51
Oh Guha show mercy on
me and come,
As one, with form and one without form,
As one , who has and
one who has not,
As scent , as flowers
, as gems , as light,
As the seed, as the
life within the seed,
As the aim and as the
fate leading to the aim,
And as the
teacher ,who teaches me.