Aasai Mugam Marandhu Pochae

 

"Aasai Mugam Marandhu Pochae" is poem written by Subramania Bharathi, or simply referred fondly as Bharathi or formally with his title as "Maha Kavi" Bharathiyar. 

So many of his poems are written with a passion for Kannan. Kannan is an interesting term that used in Thamizh culture. A direct reference to Lord Krishna, who affectionately called as Kannan, specially manifesting as the naughty child constantly upto some mischief. Numerous stories that glorify these acts. But this term therefore also equally applies to that special someone in your life that you love or are fond of.

This poem is written apparently lamenting the loss of a picture of his mother, the only one had (as per numerous sites and references on the web). However he played with words, specially using the term Kannan to allow dual references. Allowing the listener to apply the meaning appropriately. 

I came across this song on youtube quite by accident while i was still recovering from my Covid-19 attack. This rendition by Suchitra quickly caught my fancy. Bharathi words, or maybe because heard a few other poems, are relatively easy to grasp and understand. After playing it on loop for sometime, i had find more on the lyrics, meanings. Thats when i came across the story behind the song. These lyrics below are also thanks to many people on the internet. 

The english means as usual are mine, using my poetic license and ability to choose the most appropriate words to bring the best of the emotion and love associated with the poem.

The youtube video below of Suchi is the best i found. There were other renditions that attempted to fuse new music, or rendered in traditional carnatic style. The purists dont like her rendition, as is noted by a few on the comments. But there are always these egocentric uncles and aunties, who wont allow any freedom. Well, Suchi has done an excellent job, keeping it simple, and allowing the words to express its emotions and warmth, without overpowering music or using those puristic banal tones. More importantly her pronunciation of Thamizh words are also perfect. It still playing in loop. She unfortunately skipped a couple of verses (3rd and 5th), i guess to keep it short and grasp attention of today's music aficionados. Beautiful, i only wish there was a longer and complete version for people like me.

 

Tamil Lyrics	English Transliteration	English Translation
ஆசை முகம் மறந்து போச்சே -இதை யாரிடம் சொல்வேனடி தோழி? நேசம் மறக்கவில்லை நெஞ்சம் - எனில் நினைவு முகம் மறக்கலாமோ?	aasai mugam maRandhu pochae - idhai yaaridam solvaenadi thozhi? naesam maRakkavillai nenjam - enil ninaivu mugam maRakkalaamo?	Lovely face i seem to have forgotten Who will i tell this aching to, my friend? The desire my heart couldn’t forget But then to forget the  beautiful face?
கண்ணில் தெரியுதொரு தோற்றம் - அதில் கண்ணன் அழகு முழுதில்லை; நண்ணு முகவடிவு காணில்-அந்த நல்ல மலர்ச்சிரிப்பைக் காணோம்.	kaNNil theriyudhoru thotRam - adhil kaNNan azhagu muzhudhillai; naNNu mugavadivu kaaNil - andha nalla malarchiripai kaaNom.	My eyes visualizes a form Where Kannan's allure is not complete Contours of a face, i see That blossoming smile is missing.
ஓய்வு மொழிதலும் இல்லாமல் - அவன் உறவை நினைத்திருக்கும் உள்ளம் வாயும் உரைப்பதுண்டு கண்டாய் - அந்த மாயன் புகழினை எப்போதும்.	oayvu mozhidhalum illaamal - avan uRavai ninaithirukkum uLLam vaayum uraippadhuNdu kaNdaay - andha maayan pugazhinai eppodhum.	Without a break I keep thinking about him My mouth chanting constantly this charmer’s glory.
கண்கள் புரிந்துவிட்ட பாவம் - உயிர்க் கண்ணன் உருமறக்கலாச்சு; பெண்கள் இனத்தில் இது போல - ஒரு பேதையை முன்பு கண்டதுண்டோ?	kaNkaL purindhuvitta paavam - uyir kaNNan urumaRakkalaachu; peNkaL inathil idhu pola - oru paedhaiyai munpu kaNdadhuNdo?	My eyes realize its sins, Image of Kannan that it forgets Among all women everywhere A bewitched one like me, nobody will see
தேனை மறந்திருக்கும் வண்டும் - ஒளிச் சிறப்பை மறந்துவிட்ட பூவும் வானை மறந்திருக்கும் பயிரும் - இந்த வைய முழுதுமில்லை தோழி	thaenai maRandhirukkum vaNdum - oLi siRappai maRandhuvitta poovum vaanai maRandhirukkum payirum - indha vaiya muzhudhumillai thozhi	Bee that ignores honey Flower that neglects light Seedlings that disregards sky No where in the world you will see, my friend
கண்ணன் முகம் மறந்து போனால் - இந்தக் கண்கள் இருந்து பயனுண்டோ? வண்ணப் படமும் இல்லை கண்டாய் - இனி வாழும் வழி என்னடி தோழி?	kaNNan mugam maRandhu ponaal - indha kaNkaL irundhu payanuNdo? vaNNa padamum illai kaNdaay - ini vaazhum vazhi ennadi thozhi?	If I should forget Kannan's face These eyes have no value No framed picture to see What will i do with this life, my friend

 

Meera - a prayer of love

I dont recall when and how my love of Krishna began. But i dont know if i ever really cared for any other god as i cared for this one being. I first read and learnt about Mirabai, in my early childhood thru' the Amar Chitra Katha series. Being a kid, it was another story. But slowly as i started facing problems in life, which could be as simple as losing a pen or book, and at the other end of the spectrum to farcical wish that a girl respond to my affections, i slowly but steadily relied on my one god to help me out, when i needed it. I also had a chance to get some formal (if you can call it that) training on a few slokhas and the Bhagavad Gita in my youth. Soon Krishna became more spiritual than real, but remained as real as any other human being can be in me.

It was during this time, i was reintroduced to Mirabai, albeit thru' a movie. The movie had nothing to do about Mirabai, but the director tried to present a waylaid lover as Meera. What affected me most was the song or poem written by the bling muscian and composer Ravindra Jain, 'ek radha ek meera'. I soon forgot the movie, no sooner than i had watched it, but the song played on, for a long time. I pick this up again now, because of my recent visit to the temple here in metro Washington DC, where i picked up a CD of Meera Bhajans.

I read some more about Meera, thanks to the internet. But then again, as is common in the internet, it was the same information doing its circles. I also happened to come across a few sites about people who are following this tradition of Meera. What struck out was the Bhakti tradition. Like i indicated before, knowledge acquired from a guru (altho' this is the first time i speak of him as such), there are three paths to attain mukti. Mukti is defined as relief from the cycle of birth and death, and attaining oneness with god. Bhakti, is one such path, where you surrender yourself to god, and sing and praise his love and name.

Meera, through the many trials and tribulations in her life, devoted her life to Krishna. She believed from her childhood that she was Krishna's wife, and was meant to please him and love only him. It is difficult to fathom such impact on a small child. But then like she proved with her life, she was no ordinary soul either. It couldnt have been a physical attraction, because to Meera, Krishna was but a doll, made from clay or stone. It could be the stories about Krishna, his consort Radha, and his many gopis that may have moved her. I read that Meera considered herself to be a re-incarnation of a gopi, Lalitha.

Meera surrendered herself to her lord. She even sings that her family (her husband's family) tried to poison her, to kill her. She is said to have consumed the poison, and letting Krishna decide her fate. It requires a lot of courage and patience, and the destruction of the ego, to be able to wander thru' the path of Bhakti. When i read about the different paths, i, like most other mortals on this planet, knew it wasnt for me. How can you ignore your family and people around you and wander about singing the praise of the lord? Well, you can, but its not easy. Today, just as it happened then, people around you will curse, spite and ridicule you. This path where you live amongst others but surrender and devote your life to the love of someone else, could easily be construed as insanity.

Meera, thru' her life and poems, prove that it is possible to reach mukti or salvation. Whether you believe her story and conjure up the doubts regarding it or not. You cannot but ignore the fact that salvation at one level, is to be at peace with oneself. Through out the teaching of Krishna, in The Gita, this point sticks out. Meera was at peace with herself, because she devoted every emotion regarding her self to someone else. She put her being, present and future in the hands of someone else, thereby transferring responsibility to other person.

Is all of this practical today or for that practical ever ? I too am not sure of that. But then each person has to take that journey alone. Lives, teachings, Vedas, books and gurus can only give you information so as to make a learned choice. The life after making such a choice is entirely yours. Or is it ? Even as i write this, i can see two sides of me, pulling me towards to 'complete surrender' and 'choice'. It is not going to be solved by one discussion of Mirabai and her life.