DEIVATHIN KURAL # 185 (Vol #3) Dated 05 Feb 2010.

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 185 (Vol #3) Dated 05 Feb 2010.
(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over a period of some 60 years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of the last century. These have been published by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from the end part of the last para on page No 845 of Vol 3 of the Tamil original. The readers are reminded that herein 'man/he' includes 'woman/she' too, mostly. These e-mails are all available at http://Advaitam. blogspot. com constantly updated.)

131. On occasions of festivals and functions such as Oonjal( in which the yet to be wed are seated on a swing and the entire lot of friends and relatives get to see them from close quarters!), Nalangu( in which the newly weds are enabled to get over their initial diffidence and shyness for each other, while being part of some sing-song routine!) and marriages, for all celebrations there was always the Nayanam Orchestra known as Mangala Vadyam. For declaration of war, there was this Rana Bheri (a special drum of a booming bass sound of high volume) and Dhundubi, (a horn of high pitched piercing sound!) whose sounds warned everyone to get armed for war at once! There were songs for marching and hoisting the national flag. At the time of our national struggle for independence from the British yoke, the poets with nationalistic fervour found it suitable to spread the word through music. Happiness, sorrow, defiance and bravery, all collective feelings were better expressed through music. All that happens to be so, that we may be fetched to the peacefulness of the mind in the end. As Thyagaraja Swami has sung, ‘...saantaamu lekha soukhyamu ledhu...’, there can be no comfort without peace, it is saantam derived from music that is the final aim! As we can see, that it is keeping our minds centred on God that can give you that peacefulness. Thus our national tradition in music has always been religiously oriented!

132. Art as a Way of Enhancing National Prestige! We should never forget this central aim, as explained in the previous para. Our music is now spreading across other countries. So is our dance forms such as, Bharata Natyam, Kutchi Pudi, Odissi and Katha Kali going places. In many of the International forums our art forms of music and dance are getting accolades. While we have lost our pride of place in many areas of human excellence, we are getting fame and recognition for going around with the begging bowl rather. Then we get ticked off for talking to them in a holier than thou attitude, trying to advice them on many issues! It is in this scenario that at least in the fields of music and dance, we are regaining some of the old pride of place amongst other nations! Instead of only being at the receivers' end, that we are also in the position of being able to contribute for others, at the least in the cultural field, is a great honour indeed! That has become possible because of our Gaandarva Veda!

133. Not to Forget the Aim! OK! Let it spread as so many forms of art. But, we are not to forget the reason why these arts have survived the test of time over thousands of years! They are meant not only as human entertainment but, mainly meant to be vehicles of approach to divinity. When Sarboji Maharaja requested Thyagaraja Swami to come and sing in the royal court, he remained steadfast in his ideal that he shall not sing anywhere else other than the court of God Himself! He said that, " I am not aspiring for any 'nidhi' (meaning funds), but only 'sannidhi' (meaning the proximity) of God! Such great people's ideal should always be in our minds. Gaandarva Vedam should thus be maintained at such high state for the sake of posterity, so as to attain the 'saantam & soukyam' ourselves and also enable others to do the same!

(KTSV adds:- That brings us to the end of Gaandarva Vedam. Next ten or so e-mails will be on 'Artha Saastra'.)

Sambhomahadeva.