Literary Treasure - Thandialangaram - Part 2

Thandialagaram never ceased to amaze me when I read it. In continuation to Part 1 of the post, we will see more constructs and literary beauty that will amaze us more. Not just that Chithirakavi part of it that is so amazing, the other sections are equally beautiful and full or surprises that we can be proud of the language being so rich and vibrant that it allows itself to be bent to your imaginations.

There are few constructs that are a different form of poetry called  the Viththaara Kavi, they are special in a way that they embed/hide one song in another. In other words, you can find another song by collecting letters in a specific fashion or dissecting the song in a specific way. The first one that we will see is the Kaadhaikarappu.

Kaadhaikarappu is where the alternate letters are gathered starting from the last but one letter of the last but one word of the poem. The gathered letters in that order will form another poem by itself. Let’s see that in the following illustration

காதைகரப்பு

தாயேயா நோவவா வீரு வெமதுநீ

பின்னை வெருவா வருவதொ ரத்தப

வெம்புகல் வேறிருத்தி வைத்திசினிச் சைகவர்

தாவா வருங்கலநீ யே

Thaaiyae Yaan Novu Ava Eeru Yemadhu Nee

Pinnai Veruvaa Varuvadhu Oru Aththaba

Empugal Vaer Iruthi Vaithisin Ichchai Kavar

Thaava Arungalam Neeyae

meaning, You are our mother, You remove our sorrows. You standby us to protect, yet at time You appear scary. After all this you provide a solace to remain in peace. You are the armour that protects us.

தாயேயா நோவவா வீரு வெமதுநீ

பின்னை  வெருவா வருவதொ ரத்தப

வெம்புகல் வேறிருத்தி  வைத்த சினிச் சைகவர்

தாவா வருங்கலநீ யே

Starting with the letter க, which is the last but one letter of the last but one word of the poem, the letters that alternate traversing in the reverse for each line, we end up with the following subset of the poem which itself is another poem.

கருவார் கச்சித்

திருவே கம்பத்

தொருவா வென்னீ

மருவா நோயே

Karuvaar Kachchi

Thiruvaekambathu

Oruva Venni

Maruvaa Noyae

meaning, when the mind recite the name of Kachiappar at Thiruvekambam, the curse of being born again will be eliminated

It seems that this construct, could have been a forerunner of cryptography/steganography, where one could conceal the actual message without even encrypting and without causing any doubt. Simple and effective, however I haven’t come across any historical references of using it in secret transmission of messages.

Next is the even more interesting form, the Chakkara Bandham. The letters of the poem are written along the rim and the toggle in a specified way. There are variants to this Chakkara Bandham based on the number of toggles/spokes that wheel has 4,6 and 8 called as Naalaarai Chakkara Bandham, Aaraarai Chakkara Bandham and  Ettaarai Chakkara respectively. We shall see these forms in that order

நாலாரைச்சக்கர பந்தம்

Naalarai Chakkara Bandham has 4 spokes in the wheel

மேரு சாபமு மேவுமே

மேவு மேயுண வாலமே

மேல வாமவ னாயமே

மேய னானடி சாருமே

Meru Saabamum Mevumae

Mevumae Unavu Aalamae

Melavaam Avan Aayamae

Meyanaan Adi Saarumae

meaning, The One who has the mountains has his bow; The One who intakes the great poison as if it was food; The One who plays with His devotees as a friend. Surrender to that One - Lord Shiva - at his feet.

Naangaarai Chakkarabandham - High resolution image here

The following song is a variant of the same form.

மாதவா போதி வரதா வருளமலா

பாதமே யோத சுரரைநீ தீதகல

மாயா நெறியளிப்பா யின்றன் பகலாச்சீர்த்

தாயே யலகில்லாத தவ

Maathava Bodhi Varadha Arul Amala

Paadhamae Odha Asurarai Nee Theedhu Agala

Maayaa Neri Alippaaiyin Thann Anbagalaa Seer

Thaayae Alagillaadha Dhava

meaning,  the One who is deep meditation, bestow Your blessings. Praising your blemishless feet, You remove the sins that torture us as the Asuras. You enlighten us by eliminating the illusion of ignorance (Maayaa); You show Your love like a mother. You are an immeasurable Supreme Being.

 

This song can be interpreted to refer Lord Shiva who is always in a deep meditation under a peepul tree (Lord Dakshinamoorthi) and as Lord Buddha who meditates under the Peepul Tree.

Naangaarai Chakkara Bandham - High resolution image here

In the image, you can observe the that hub has the letters that read - “வசுதாரை” - “Vasudharai”

ஆறாரைச்சக்கர பந்தம்

Aaraarai Chakkara Bandham has 6 spokes in the wheel

தண்மலர் வில்லிதன் போரன தஞ்ச நமக்களித்த

கண்மலர்க் காவிக் கெதிர்வன வன்று கரமளந்த

பண்மலர் யாழ்பயில் வாரன்பு சூழ்பதி நாகைமிக்க

தண்மைய கத்துப் பதுமத்த மாதர்த் தடங்கண் களே

Thann Malar Vill Idhan Por Ana Thanjam Namakkalitha

Kann Malar Kaaviku Edhirvana Andru Karam Alandha

Pann Malar Yaazh Payilvaar Anbu Soozhpadhi Naagai Mikka

Thannmai Agaththu Padhumaththa Maadhar Thadam Kangalae

meaning,  When Manmadhan drew his love arrow and aimed at us, the blue eyes that provide the shelter at that time, can never be compared to the cool lotus like eyes of the women of Nagapattinam where genial people practice the entrancing Yaazh music with their broad arms

Aaraarai Chakkara Bandham - High resolution image here

If you observe the image, the hub has the letters that read “போதிவானவன்” - “Bodhivaanavan”

எட்டாரைச்சக்கர பந்தம்

Ettaarai Chakkara Bandham has 8 spokes in the wheel

மலர்மலி சோலை யகநலங் கதிர்க்க

மடமயி லியற்றக மாதிரம் புதைத்து

வளைந்து புகன்மேக வல்லிருண் மூழ்க

வரியளி துதைந்த கதுப்பினி தடைச்சி

மன்னுமா மடமொழி வடிவாள் வளவன்

கன்னித் துறைவன் கனகச் சிலம்பே

Malar Mali Solai Aga Nalam Kathirkka

Mada Mayil Iyatra Agamaadhiram Pudhaithu

Valaindhu Puganmega Vallirul Moozhga

Variyali Thudhaindha Kadhuppu Inidhu Adaichi

Mannuma Madamozhi Vadivaal Valavan

Kannith Thuraivan Kanaga Silambae

This song describes about beauty and how the queen/the king’s lover standing in his garden. She stands in the garden with her long braided hair covered in garlands. The garden is blooming with flowers that have blossomed, surrounded with peacocks in every direction, and the rain clouds gathers over making the sky dark and covered. The bees humming to drink the nectar from the flowers in the trees.

Ettaarai Chakkara Bandham - High resolution image here

In the image, the hub would contains that would read “யறமே தநமாவது” which when corrected would read - “அறமே தனமாவது” which means “Righteousness is wealth”   

சுழிகுளம்

The Suzhikulam depicts the whirlpool where the content of the same poem could be read as a spiral, the way an eddy/whirlpool looks

கவிமுதி யார்பாவே

விலையரு மாநற்பா

முயல்வ துறுநர்

திருவ ழிந்துமாயா

Kavi mudhiyar paavae

Vilai Aruma Narpa

Muyalvadhu Urunar

Thiruvazhindhu Maayaa

meaning, The well learned and experienced poet would be able to compose great poems that are invaluable, though will it take more effort and relentless endurance, but it will stand as a wealth that would never perish

Suzhikulam - High resolution image here

Another illustration of the same form

மதந  விராகா வாமா

தநத  சகாவே நீவா

நதத நதாதா வேகா

விசந விரோதா காரா

Madhana Viraagaa Vaamaa

Thanadha Sagaavae Neevaan

Adhuadhan Thaadhavae Vega

Visana Virodhaa Kaara

meaning, The One who is free of desires and with great brightness; You are the friend of the person of great wealth (Lord Mahalakshmi/ Kuberan); The One who is more benevolent than the clouds that bestow the rains; The One who looks scary because of the scary mount; Remove our troubles and sorrows

Suzhikulam - High resolution image here

சருப்பதோபத்திரம்

Saruppadhopaththiram is the form where the poem is written in a 8x8 grid containing 64 cells, the first four rows contain one letter each of the poem as is and the second four rows is the mirror image of the first four rows. Each corner can be used as an entrance and if we traverse the cells like a snake for four rows or columns, we get the same poem. Interestingly, each of those rows/columns are palindromes

மாவா நீதா தாநீ வாமா

வாயா வாமே மேவா யாவா

நீவா ராமா மாரா வாநீ

தாமே மாரா ராமா மேதா

Maava Nee Thaadha Vaama

Vaayaa Vaa Aamae Maevaai Aavaa

Neeva Rama Maara Vaan Nee

Thaamae Maar Aar Aamamae Thaa

meaning, You are a great Being, Just and Wealthy. When You are within me, what else would one need. You are like Lord Rama and also like Manmadham who showers the arrows of love. You are benevolent like the rain clouds. You are generous and we request a place in your heart.

Sarupadhopathiram - High resolution image here

நிரோட்டம்

Neerottam is a in interesting piece of poetry, thought it might not belong to the Chithira Kavi form, but it is notable that when the poem is sung, the words are used in such a way that the lips DO NOT touch each other when singing. The words that have the syllable formed by these letters - “உஊஒஓ ஒளபம வ” are not present.

சீலத்தால் ஞானத்தால் தேற்றத்தால்சென்றகன்ற

காலத்தால் ஆராத காதலால் - ஞாலத்தார்

இச்சிக்கச் சாலச் சிறந்தடி யேற்கினிதாங்

கச்சிக்கச் சாலைக் கனி

Seelaththaal Gnanaththaal Thaetraththaal Sendragandra

Kaalathaal Aaraadha Kaadhalaal Gnalaththaar

Ichichikka Saala Sirandhadiyaerk Kinidhaang

Kachichikkach Saalaik Kani

meaning, The One who is disciplined, learned, and with clarity of thought. The memorable time that passed in thinking about You. The never ending affection in You. You are very kind even to the mean and the modest like me. With all these characters, You are fruit that resides in Thirukachi.

முரசபந்தம்

Murasabandham  is much complex form of poem, where the first two line are “Komoothri bandham” by themselves and so are last two lines. For detail on the Komoothri bandham, see Part 1 of this post. Additionally, the lines of the poem run along the strap of the percussion instrument Murasu - hence the name - also called as Thavil or Mridhangam

கான வாரண மரிய வாயினனே

தான வாரண மரிய வாயினனே

மான வாரண மரிய வாயினனே

கான வாரண மரிய வாயினனே

Gaana Vaar Ranam Ariya Ayinanae

Thaana Vaaranam Ariyavaai Inanae

Maana Vaaranam Ariya Vaayinanae

Kaana Vaaranam Ariya Aayinanae

Which says the place where the Chola King waged war was a place that was abundant with raging elephants, forest fowls and roaring lions.

Murasa bandham - High resolution image here

திரிபங்கி

Thiribangi is a form of poem where the poem as a whole gives a meaning. In addition, the poem can be split into three parts vertically and each of those parts are poems themselves. This is a form of the Viththaara Kavi, as mentioned earlier

ஆதரந் தீரன்னை போலினியாய் அம்பிகா பதியே

மாதுபங்கா வன்னிசேர் சடையாய் வம்புநீண்முடியாய்

ஏதமுய்ந் தாரின்னல் சூழ்வினை தீரெம்பி ரானினியார்

ஓதுமொன் றே!உன்னு வாரமு தே!உம்பர் நாயகனே

Aadhuram Theerannai Pol Iniyaai Ambikapathiyae

Maadhubanga Vannisaer Sadaiyaai Vambuneen Mudiyaai

Yaedha Muyandhaarinnal Soozhvinai Theerembinnaarin Iniyaar

Odhum Ondrae Unnuvaar Amudhae Umbar Naayaganae

meaning,Like a mother who showers her affection to her full on her child, You show affection to your devotees. The consort of Goddess Ambika, The One who has shared half of the body to His consort. The God with long hair who holds fire in his arms. The long locks of hair that hold a pleasant fragrance. Those who have realised you get their troubles and sins eliminated and being praised by the noble people. The nectar to those who consume your thoughts. The leader of the Devars.

The poem can be split vertically as follows and each of them standing as separate poems by themselves

ஆத ரந்தீர் மாது பங்கா! ஏத முய்ந்தார் ஓது மொன்றே

அன்னைபோ லினியாய் வன்னிசேர் சடையாய் இன்னல்சூழ் வினைதீர் உன்னுவா ரமுதே

அம்பிகா பதியே வம்புநீண் முடியாய் எம்பிரா னினியார் உம்பர்நா யகனே

Aadharam Theer Maadhu Panga Yaedham Uyindhar Odhum Ondrae

Annai Pol Iniyaai Vannisaer Sadaiyaai Innal Soozh Vinaitheer Unnuvaar Amudhae

Ambika Pathiyae Vambuneen Mudiyaai Embiraan Iniyaar Umbar Nayaganae

Corresponding meaning in the corresponding cells

The realised praise the one Universal Being - Maadhu Pangan (Lord Shiva) who half of his shared the body with his consort Goddess Shakthi

Kind and affectionate like a mother The One who wears the flowers of the Vanni tree on his head Remove the troubles and sins that surround me The nectar to sings Your praise

Consort of Goddess Ambika Having long hair with pleasant fragrance You are the God to the Noble people and the leader of the Devas

With that we have come to the end of the post, however we have just scratched the surface of what Thandialangaram actually contains. This great treasure contains even more interesting pieces of poetry like the Varukka Paadalgal - ஒரு வருக்கம் (Oru Varukkam), இரு வருக்கம் (Iru Varukkam), மூவருக்கம் (Moo Varukkam) - where Oru Varukkam is a song sung using only the letters of one series of alphabets, for example, க, கா, கி, கீ, etc. Likewise there are poems that use only the Vallinams, Mellinams and Idai Inams. The tamil alphabets are classified in the aforesaid group based on the sounds.

Thandialangaaram is one drop in an ocean where there are a lot to explore and cherish for our lifetime. No wonder that there are many people who have dedicated their lifetime’s effort to actually find out the example illustrations - taken from the works of Thirugnanasambandhar, Arunagirinathar, Kaalamega Pulavar, Ramalinga Adigalar and many more - to these different forms that Thandialangaaram defines. We will definitely delve deeper into this treasure in the future posts.

More to come, until then...