MY SWAN SONG

Triveni Sangama  - Confluence of Three Holy Rivers, as we studied in our child hood school books;  Right?  And ‘My Swan Song’ captioned is also Triveni Sangama – Convergence of Holy Trio!  To know how it is so, let us get in to the details…

Our traditional cultures are manifest still, at least to diminutive degree, in the villages and small towns which are conspicuous by their absence in metropolitan cities largely because of busy scheduled urban life style. Even now, as I hear ‘Mangala Vadyas’ (music of festivity) from a house in the small towns and villages my mind immediately surmises ‘Oh, there must be some  festive event like Kalyanam (Wedding Ceremony), Gruha Pravesam (House Warming Ceremony), Dolotsavam (Cradle Ceremony),  Shasti Purti Mahotsavam (by men at the age of 'Sixty') or some such event being celebrated in that house.'

Contrary to this, when I happen to see a shamiana (a flat tent with optional detachable walls) in front of a house and sound of Bhagawadgita by Ghantasala from loud speakers, my mind picks up the thought of some body having 'passed away' in that house.  Of course, in my child hood I tried to avoid that house and lane, being 'scared' about the ghastly sight of preparation (on public road) of the corpse for the final journey to cemetery.

One sound ‘dynamic’, another ‘depressive’;  Both are part of our life. So, I thought can I have a peaceful pleasant ambiance for my final journey?  At least if it happens in own house, I could do something about the pleasant sounds (of course devotional) falling in my ears - a swan song at bidding adieu to this noble birth.  I hit upon one such thing during my exercise of devotional songs recently.  As I said already, it’s A Holy Trio. “Pruthula hema koupina dharah” is confluence of  1) Devotional Sanskrit (Deva Bhasha, Language of the Gods) kriti by great tatva jnani, savant, Annamachaarya, 2) Melodiously sung by Nigtingale  from Bollywood and Guinness Record holder, Bharata Ratna,  Lata mangeshkar, 3) Accompanied by heartful  Mangala Vadyas - Shehnai, Tabla  and Vina (Mangala Nadam for My Mangala Yatra) :  ‘Triveni Sangama’  indeed ! (Pruthula Hema Koupina Dharah by Lata Mangeshkar in You tube).

In this Sanskrit kriti,  Lord Vishnu’s incarnation of Vamana murthi is vividly eulogised for boons/benefactions (not for earthly pleasures) worthy of a seeker'.   (My apologies for freelance translation) -  "O Noble One with gold coloured loin cloth! Celebrated Celibate! Bestow me ‘Strength’.  O Vamana Form, my salutations to you.  You show kindness to the pious ones. You have discarded anger, animosity etc., Noble of the nobles. You rule over cow like ‘individual souls! O lord I pray thee for sanctifying my attributes. This young boy (Vamana) with umbrella, holy vessel and holy stick (used by sages at tapas - penance) in  both hands, is pious and kind hearted and always in praise by the devatas - Srimannarayana, please bestow sacred intellect ! He that occupied all the three lokas (planes) with his feet is none other than the present Lord Venkateswara, the one who feeds all living beings in the world. O lord of the universe bestow me with Intellect!"

In our journey into the next birth, it is not only the Soul but also other subtle ones like mind and intellect make the immortal journey carrying vasanas (sub-conscious, latent tendencies) of this present  birth. Hence so much stress on ‘bestowing good intellect’ by the Almighty in the above kriti by Annamacharya.

So, with good intellect thus bestowed we can come back directly in to this world again, donning Saffron robes, with a ‘name  and form of a jnani’ – the wise one ! – for deliverance of the fellow beings.  Hence it is worth hearing by me (happily prepared for the other world any moment, any day) frequently, this mellifluous "Swan Song" !

"Pruthula Hema Koupina Dhara"

Vamana Avatara (2.11.'15)

Om Shanti !