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Natya Yogi Shudhananda Bharati –Ananda Tandavam
Come
dance joyously in Thillai, O Nataraja,
Dance
in my heart and may my mind overflow with blissful knowledge.
The Yogi
Kaviyogi
Maharishi Shudhananda Bharati was a Yogacharya, a prolific poet and author. His
life was a kaleidoscope of achievements which added amazing facets to his
personality. Born on May 11th, 1897, he attained Maha Samadhi in 1990 at the age of 95. His intense physical
and spiritual power, energy and creativity remained unabated till his last
breath.
He
was a devotee of Madurai Meenakshi Amman since the tender age of eight. A
Nataraja icon with Meenakshiamman
as consort accompanied him wherever he travelled in the world to speak to
countless devotees. His spiritual search even as a youth lead him to intimately
associate with illustrious holy men like Ramana Maharishi, Shirdi Sai Baba, Sri
Aurobindo, The Mother, Sri Seshadri Swamigal and Avatar Meher Baba. Initiated
into Yoga early in life, he walked from village to village teaching yoga and
simple nature therapy remedies for good health.
The Kavi Yogi
It was only
recently that I had the privilege of being associated with the extended family
of this great Maharishi. Before choreographing dance for his compositions, I read
a few books by him. “Natananjali” has lyrics specifically written for dance. Short
dance-dramas like Siva -Gowri Natanam, Shakti Natanam, Valli-Muruga Natanam and
Rasa Leela are ideal for a modern repertoire as the lyrics are rich with
imagery and jatis. From his biography we learn of his life and works. He never believed
in establishing an ashram or organising his devotees who can today be counted
in thousands scattered round the world. He translated Upanishads, Vedas,
Dhammapada, Gita, Koran
and Bible into Tamil. A newly discovered manuscript authored by the Maharishi
on the art of dance “Natyakalai Vilakkam” was published recently. He was a
modern Tamil poet, writing 500 books before he was 50.
He was editor of
magazines like ‘Swarajya’ (Tamil), `Bala
Bharati’, `Iyarkkai’ (Nature in Tamil), and `Samarasa Bodhini’. The Kavi Yogi's songs have been popularised by
the evergreen voices of veterans N. C. Vasanthakokilam, D. K. Pattammal and M.
S. Subbulakshmi. The singing brothers (late) B.V.Raman and B.V.Lakshman played
a part in propagating the Swamiji’s compositions. The magnum opus Bharata Shakti, (in
50,000 verses) was awarded the first `Raja Rajan Award’ for best Tamil
literature, constituted by the Tanjore
Tamil University
The Natya Yogi
His
passion for dance comes through in the pieces on Nataraja. When he was writing a commentary on Ilango’s
classic epic Silappadikkaram, he realised the significance and beauty of this
scientific art. This was at a time when, he says,” this great art came to be
regarded as an intoxicant to one’s vulgar sensual pleasure. I desired to
educate people about its aesthetic significance and restore its original
status”. He decided to study dance to gain a better understanding of the art.
The Kaviyogi was given Natya Diksha by an elderly traditional danseuse well
known in her time. He underwent strenuous training in Tandava and Lasya for a
year in a small village called Kollumangudi in Thanjavur. His “auto”-biographical
book “Experiences of a Pilgrim Soul” (written in the third person) speaks of
all the influences in his life. I quote: The Yogi took delight in the art of
dance too. He sang songs and danced in delight. His very life was a
choreographic representation of his feelings and emotions, kindled by
environment. Dance is an aesthetic science of mood, time, and melody. He freely
joined holy concerts, ecstatic dances round the lamp (Deepa- pradakshanam) and
took part in Bhagavata Melas or holy dance-dramas.’ (Close quote)
Poets are
inspired by the elements, by divine insights, by experience and events in their
life. In the brilliant lyrics of the piece ‘Ananda
Tandavam Purivaye’ one can draw parallels to the trials and tribulations in
his life, his passion for Nataraja and dance.
The
vast sky is filled with silence.
Let
me draw energy from the sound of OM
That
shines like a jewel, like the sun in the sky
The sky, the
entire Universe in open space is enveloped in silence and the pulsating energy
of OHM glows like a jewel. Is it the silence in Bliss or the bliss in Silence
that the poet speaks about? For twenty years he observed an oath of silence
while staying at the Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry
(now Puducherry). It was here that that vast horizon of knowledge from other
countries opened up to him. His mind absorbed the rich legacy of European
literature and languages like French and Latin. He translated The Divine Comedy of Dante, the comedies of Molière,
Shakespeare, Goethe and the novels of Anatole France, Victor Hugo, and
Alexandre Dumas. The Yogi wrote several hundred works in English, French,
Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Sanskrit; five thousand songs, and fifteen hundred
poems in French.
The song ‘ananda tandavam purivaye’ continues...
May
the rhythm of the damaru’s OM pulsate in my
heart
And
energise my entire being!
Scholars have
waxed eloquent on the symbolism of the Nataraja icon. The Kaviyogi transforms
the symbols into metaphors and figuratively animates the weaknesses of the mind
and body.
Let
my mind not yearn for those which are obstacles
Remove
the ropes of ignorance that coil around me
Desire and
ignorance are our greatest enemies. Help me free myself from this O Nataraja!
Destroy
the tiger of my destructive anger
Anger
in man is described as a tiger. O Nataraja, the Kaviyogi exclaims, destroy the
evils of anger inside me as you did the tiger which sprang from the fire!
Tear
apart the black elephant of my enormous ego
Tear apart the
enormous ego which envelops me like a shroud. The size of the ego is
elephant-like and as difficult to conquer.
Stamp
out the evil demon Muyalagan in my heart
Like you stamped
on the demon who dared to defy you, stamp out the evil in my heart which rears
its head now and again.
Squeeze the snake of greed in my heart
Greed will
destroy me, O Nataraja, help me to strangle it like you strangled the snake and
made it your ornament.
Show
me the hand which protects
Show
me the beautiful smile
Show
me the dancing feet
Show
me the one Path
Show
me the red sky of sunrise (which removes the darkness)
Reveal
to me the drama that unfolds in the Universe
Your hand will
protect me, your mystical smile and rhythmic footsteps will show me the Path.
The dark night of ignorance will break into the red sunrise of knowledge. And
the drama that unfolds in the Universe by You may be revealed to me.
Come
dance in my heart
Hail
Nataraja! My friend!
When my heart is
cleansed of all the negativities and made pure what prevents you from making it
your dwelling? Come and dance in my heart O beloved Friend!
The Karma Yogi
It is clear that
the Kaviyogi’s life was not a bed of roses. Not many understood him. He says in
his book: ‘...they scandalised him, tore his poems, burnt his manuscripts,
enclosed him in dark rooms, manhandled him ...’ Silence was the magic mantra he
learnt at the feet of the Master –Ramana Maharishi at Tiruvannamalai which
helped him to endure the foolishness of his fellow-men.
He
worked with national leaders like Lokamanya Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi and Netaji,
for India ’s
freedom. He campaigned against evils of untouchables, liquor and animal
sacrifice for rituals. His passion for his motherland comes through in many
compositions. Listen to this composition which brims over with love and dream
for India :
May this land
prosper! May this land be blessed with joy!
Like the moon,
like the sun and the infinite ocean
Like the
sweetness of milk, honey and fruit nectar
Like the rain
-clouds and the crops
Like the body
and soul
The sky and
light, the fertile soil and the food crops
Like the Yoga of
Dance which gives Bhoga (happiness)
(Like all these
above are inseparable from each other)
May prosperity
and peace be inseparable from this country!
I worship you,
my Mother, with an offering of my body, life and soul
Through this
Natananjali
Note: This was written for a arts magazine, but was never published, as far as I know.
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