To millions of his devotees Kanchi Maha Swamigal was a living God who walked this earth during their own life time. Many who had the fortune of a brief association or even only his darshan consider themselves supremely blessed and many who did not have such a fortune derive inspiration and guidance from his teachings and recorded conversations.
“Ponnar Menianudan Ponnana Natkal” is a faithful record of Periyava’s conversation with Dr. Subramaniam on the subject of the Thirumurai songs of the Saivite saints Appar, Sambandar, Sundarar and Manickavachagar.
The book starts with an arresting description of the author’s first darshan of Periyava and how his saintliness and simplicity of Periyava sowed the seed of spiritual yearning in him. His next attempt to stay longer with the Swamigal meets with initial disapproval. How the author manages to overcome the disappointment and continues his stay with the tacit approval of Periyava through his tenacity and earns the friendship and guidance of Dunlop Krishna Iyer makes for interesting reading.
What follows is the chanting of Thirumurai along with Sri Krishna Iyer every evening in the presence of Periyava and the illuminating discourses he delivers on these hymns. The order in chanting that was followed was based on the Saivasthalams irrespective of the author, as in the Thiruppanandal Mutt publication, starting from the Chidambaram Temple of Sri Nataraja.
The story of the retrieval of the Thirumurai through Nambiandar Nambi by Raja Raja Chola is lucidly narrated in the beginning followed by insightful observations on each Sthala, interesting comparisons with Sanskrit devotional literature and sub-stories hinted by the saints in their hymns.
We learn that Sri Rudram is at the heart of Yajur Veda and the Panchakshara – Nama Sivaya - is at the heart of Sri Rudra. One does not need any specific initiation to chant the “Panchaksharam” and in order that this important mantra reaches the masses, Manickavachagar most appropriately starts his Thiruvachagam with “Nama Sivaya Vazhga”.
Periyava was a story teller par excellence. This comes out in his narration of the Puranic stories associated with Thiru Veezhi Mizhalai, where Lord Mahavishnu got the name Pundarika as well as the weapon chakrayudha. Similarly in his elaboration of the Sirkazhi padikams we are reminded of the connection between “thoni” (boat) in Thoniappar and “nowka” of chandoga samam in Sama Veda. We understand that even the first hymn of Sambandar gives an indication that he is the incarnation of Lord Subramanya. Even Adi Sankara mentions in Soundarya Lahari that Sambandar (denoted as Dravida Sisu) became such a renowned poet owing to the grace of Goddess Parvati.
For those unfamiliar with the poetic intricacies of Gnana Sambandar, an elaborate albeit simple explanation of “Malai Matru” padhigam and Thiru Ezhu Kootrirukkai in the words of Periyava will give intellectual pleasure.
The book is in simple conversational Tamil and is bound to receive wholehearted support from all spiritually inclined Tamil speaking population. Most appropriately the author was called “Thevaram Doctor” by the Maha Swamigal himself. A second book, in continuation of the first is under preparation we are told.
The book is available at Sankara Natyalaya, Adambakkam, Chennai (9442173709) (www.sankaranatyalaya.com) where the author’s daughter Kanaka teaches Thevaram and dance. Thevaram Doctor Subramaniam can be contacted at 9443908612.
