I've been enjoying the beautiful rendition of 'Aadum Padhanai ..' over the past few days. This poetic invocation, written in Tamil, is filled with profound devotion and longing for Lord Shiva. Composed as a Varnam, it beautifully blends sahityam, swaras, and jathis, which inspired me to translate the lyrics in order to gain a deeper understanding of the devotion and fully appreciate it. I believe that we can connect more deeply with any art form when we truly grasp the emotions, devotion, and meaning behind it.
---------------------
Aadum Paadhanai kaanaven
Enkuthen maname ..
Aadum Paadhanai kaanaven ..
(My mind is longing to experience the divine presence of Lord Shiva in his cosmic dance form, searching earnestly for Him )
Paayum Gangaiyum seerum aravamum
Kaayum nilaveyum thangiyen Thillai-yil
Aadum Paadhanai kaanaven
Enkuthen maname ..
(My mind is earning to see Him, Lord Shiva , adorned with the Ganga flowing from his matted locks, the fierce snake coiled around him, and the crescent moon shining on his head—residing in the sacred temple of Thillai (Chidambaram), the divine abode of Lord Nataraja )
Aynthezhutthu manthirame
Shivaya Namashivaya
Aynthezhuthu manthirame
Ananda thaandavam padam uyarthi
Aduthal kaanaven Ullam uruga
Aadum Paadhanai kaanaven
Enkuthen maname
(My heart melts in devotion to think about the blissful cosmic dance, raising His foot while the sacred panchakshara mantra 'Na Ma Shi Va Ya' reverberates around )
Arul tharum param porulaye enni
Manam dinam perum thuyaril innum
Vaattuthal murayo munvinai payano
Neerani meniyan dharani potru
Aadum Paadhanai Kanaven
Enkuthen maname
(I pray daily to Him-the one who grants all the blessings,
but my heart is still weighed down by daily sorrows
Is this the way, or is it the result of my past deeds?
My mind is longing to experience the divine presence of Lord Shiva-
The one who is covered in Ashes, as he dances with his rising feet on earth)
Varam tharuvaro ..Thirukaram abhayamenthi?
oru varam tharuvaro ..Thirukaram abhayamenthi?
(Will He grant me a boon...
With His divine hand raised in assurance.. ?) Kan sumantha netriyan man sumantha meniyan
varam tharuvaro .. thirukaram abhayamenthi
oru varam tharuvaro ..Thirukaram abhayamenthi?
(The one with an eye adorning his forehead, the one who bears the essence of the earth,
Will He grant me a boon...With His divine hand raised in assurance?)
Adar viri sadayan vidayerum azhakan
Aalnizharkkudayan maalvanageeshan
Varam tharuvaro ..thirukaram abhayamenthi
(The one with matted hair and radiantly beautiful,
The one who wears the moon as his crown, the Lord of the universe,Will He grant me a boon...
With His divine hand raised in assurance?")
Sinthai urukippozhiyum kanneer vinthaya
Thanthai endre nanpi vanthen pizhaya?
Munthaivinai kalaya sitham illaya?
Thayumaki nindravane Kailayil
Pavam neekki thazhai chera ezhaikku
varam tharuvaaro..thirukaram abhayamenthi
(Oh Lord,
Tears is flowing from my heart and eyes, as I came to you..
Calling you my Father, have I made a mistake?Is there no redemption from the past, no way to erase my sins?
The one who resides in Kailasa along with the Mother(Parvathi) / the one who embodies the feminine &Masculine forms-Ardhanareeshwara)
Will He grant me a boon...to cleanse my sins
With His divine hand raised in assurance?")
With His divine hand raised in assurance?")
Maanum mazhuvum aaru oorum sadayum
Thangiye aadidum vendane
Mutrunarnthon natrunayaan
Sitridayaal Umayaal kathalil**
Oru kanam thannai than maranth**
Marumeyyil pennai than kalarnthu
Urukidum Ennai than unarnthu
Athirpaadhanai..Thillai Nathane
Kanavile enum
Varam Tharuvaaro...Thiru Karam Abhayamenthi...
Oru varam tharuvaaro ..Thiru Karam Abhayamenthi...
(The one who dances holding the axe in his hands
and with the flowing Ganga in his matted locks,
The self manifested one,
The one who got lovestruck with Uma and forgot himself momentarily
The one who embodied the same Uma in half of his body
The one who embraced me with his compassion
Oh, The Dancing Lord of Thillai (Chidambaram)
Will He grant me a boon...Coming to my dreams
With His divine hand raised in assurance?")
With His divine hand raised in assurance?")
-----------------------------------------*---------------------------------------------------------
Sitridayaal Umayaal kathalil**
Oru kanam thannai than maranth**
**I was particularly struck with this lines thinking how beautifully a story is weaved in two lines. or May be my overthinking brain is trying to connect this with the mythological stories that were once read in Amar ChitraKathas and Paico classics or the stories that were told to me in childhood by the elderly.
So the story goes like this:
Shiva was so angry and devastated by Sati's death and in grief went into a deep penance in Himalaya abandoning all his divine duties. During this time, Tharakasura was wrecking havoc in Devaloka. Tharakasura achieved a boon from Brahma that only Lord Shiva's Son can kill him.
Meanwhile Sati is reborn as Himavan's daughter-Parvathi and based on Prophecy, Parvathi would be married to Shiva and reunited . Parvathi comes to where Shiva is meditating and assign herself as a devoted servant to him. But as he is in deep penance there is no way he gets interested or can get united with Parvathi and produce a son.
So Brahma ,Vishnu and Indra persuade and send Kamadeva to ignite love and passion in Shiva . When Kamadeva arrived where Shiva was meditating , changed the season to Spring with his powers. The sudden change in season made Shiva to open his eyes from the meditative state . As soon as Shiva opened his eyes , he got struck by the Kama Bana and upon seeing Uma nearby and her divine beauty , Shiva got mesmerized and forgot himself momentarily in love!
I can't help but visualize this whole story when I am listening to this two lines.
-----
(Realizing his distraction and the cause for it, Shiva was so enraged in anger and opened his third eye and instantly burned Kamadeva to ashes . However the lovestruck Shiva falls for Uma and accept her as his consort. And their union led to the birth of Subramanya , who later killed demon Tharakasura).
-Radhika Veda
11/14/2024
