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 11^th, 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

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Photo Courtesy:http://www.srambharati.com/photos/Swamiji02.JPG