vikrama
0
Mahakavi Bharati, in some of his poems, prays to God for long life. In some others, he prays for immortality. Given below is an example for each.
கனக்கும் செல்வம் நூறுவயது
இவையும் தர நீ கடவாயே
சாகா வரமருள்வாய் ராமா.
We know that long life is something different from immortality. So we consider these requests as opposed to each other. Were they composed at different periods when his moods were different? No. In one and the same Vinayakar Nanmani Malai, he prays for long life in one stanza and for immortality in another.
நோவு வேண்டேன் நூறாண்டு வேண்டினேன்
நோவும் சாவும் நீங்கிச்
சார்ந்த பல்லுயிரெல்லாம்
இன்புற்று வாழ்க
This is nothing to be surprised about. The Vedas which Bharati respected very much also contain such different prayers. Vedas say that life gets eroded day by day at every dawn; that none among men knows his own life's duration and desire to live long is common to all men, but life is cut short by diseases, ill-will against others and sinful thoughts.
Look at the following Rig Vedic quotations recognizing the ephemeral nature of life and praying for long life:-
1-89-9 God! You have ordained one hundred years as the life of man.
7-23-2 None among men knows his own life's duration.
1-92-10 Ushas wastes away the life of mortals, like a skilled hunter cutting birds in pieces.
1-24-11 Varuna, I ask this of thee that life which the yajamana craves with his oblation. Stay here and be not angry; steal not our life from us.
2-33-2 I could keep busy in productive work for a life span of one hundred years. Not only may I keep sickness out of my body, I should also remove sinful thoughts from my mind, and in particular ill-will against any fellow man.
10-9-7 O Waters, teem with medicine to keep my body safe from harm,
So that I long may see the Sun.
2-33-2 With the most saving medicines which you give, Rudra, may I attain a hundred winters.
Far from us banish enmity and hatred, and to all quarters maladies and trouble.
1-116-25 Asvins! May I, enjoying lengthened life, still seeing, enter old age as 'twere the house I live in.
Here are some verses which pray for immortality.
5-63-2 This world's imperial Kings, O Mitra-Varuna, ye rule in holy synod, looking on the light.
We pray for rain, your boon, and immortality.
5-4-10 Vouchsafe us high renown, O Jatavedas, and may I be immortal by my children.
8-48-3 We have drunk Soma and become immortal; we have attained the light, the Gods discovered.
Now what may foeman's malice do to harm us?
9-113-7 O Pavarnana, place me in that deathless, undecaying world
Wherein the light of heaven is set, and everlasting lustre shines. Flow, Indu, flow for Indra's sake.
(The next part will appear on next Wednesday)
கனக்கும் செல்வம் நூறுவயது
இவையும் தர நீ கடவாயே
சாகா வரமருள்வாய் ராமா.
We know that long life is something different from immortality. So we consider these requests as opposed to each other. Were they composed at different periods when his moods were different? No. In one and the same Vinayakar Nanmani Malai, he prays for long life in one stanza and for immortality in another.
நோவு வேண்டேன் நூறாண்டு வேண்டினேன்
நோவும் சாவும் நீங்கிச்
சார்ந்த பல்லுயிரெல்லாம்
இன்புற்று வாழ்க
This is nothing to be surprised about. The Vedas which Bharati respected very much also contain such different prayers. Vedas say that life gets eroded day by day at every dawn; that none among men knows his own life's duration and desire to live long is common to all men, but life is cut short by diseases, ill-will against others and sinful thoughts.
Look at the following Rig Vedic quotations recognizing the ephemeral nature of life and praying for long life:-
1-89-9 God! You have ordained one hundred years as the life of man.
7-23-2 None among men knows his own life's duration.
1-92-10 Ushas wastes away the life of mortals, like a skilled hunter cutting birds in pieces.
1-24-11 Varuna, I ask this of thee that life which the yajamana craves with his oblation. Stay here and be not angry; steal not our life from us.
2-33-2 I could keep busy in productive work for a life span of one hundred years. Not only may I keep sickness out of my body, I should also remove sinful thoughts from my mind, and in particular ill-will against any fellow man.
10-9-7 O Waters, teem with medicine to keep my body safe from harm,
So that I long may see the Sun.
2-33-2 With the most saving medicines which you give, Rudra, may I attain a hundred winters.
Far from us banish enmity and hatred, and to all quarters maladies and trouble.
1-116-25 Asvins! May I, enjoying lengthened life, still seeing, enter old age as 'twere the house I live in.
Here are some verses which pray for immortality.
5-63-2 This world's imperial Kings, O Mitra-Varuna, ye rule in holy synod, looking on the light.
We pray for rain, your boon, and immortality.
5-4-10 Vouchsafe us high renown, O Jatavedas, and may I be immortal by my children.
8-48-3 We have drunk Soma and become immortal; we have attained the light, the Gods discovered.
Now what may foeman's malice do to harm us?
9-113-7 O Pavarnana, place me in that deathless, undecaying world
Wherein the light of heaven is set, and everlasting lustre shines. Flow, Indu, flow for Indra's sake.
(The next part will appear on next Wednesday)