Kannadasan – A Realized Master (Part 10)

(Disclaimer: Many readers who have seen these songs on screen might feel that they do not always align with the narrative of this series; some might even think I am merely spinning a yarn. Those who have watched the films would likely retain vivid memories of the plot, the impact of the actors, and the delightful ambiance of the songs. However, I am not recounting the stories based on having watched the movies; consequently, I am unfamiliar with their specific storylines or screenplay backgrounds. This humble effort of mine is simply to share the joy of discovering how beautifully Kannadasan’s profound lyrics resonate with Indian spirituality, scientific advancements, and the ideas of Western philosophers, thinkers, and writers).

Kannadasan was a master at weaving profound philosophies even into romantic songs (Film: Kai Kodutha Deivam. Song: “Aayirathhil oruthhi amma nee!”):

 “You are a rare gem among thousands,

A soul the world has yet to truly know;

A maiden in your gaze,

Yet a child in your ways.” 

While describing an innocent girl, how beautifully Kavignar brings in the point that the spoken is NOT the truth, i.e., ‘Word is NOT the thing!’: 

“Does the word ‘honey’ always taste like honey?

Does the word ‘fire’ actually burn like fire?” 

Just imagine, if you have to teach your young child as to what is honey. By describing it in so many words, such as ‘it is a sticky fluid, sweet, good for health, collected by bees from flowers, etc.’, will she ever ‘know’ it? Or will she ever have a taste of it? Can the ‘experience’ of honey be gone through by uttering the word? But just putting a drop of honey on to her tongue, having tasted it, will she ever need any explanation, any description of the phenomenon? Will she ‘ever’ forget the truth of ‘what is honey’? 

The purpose of language is for ease of understanding and communication amongst humans. Howsoever, I may say about ‘the sticky fluid’ meaning honey, you may never understand it, worse still, rather you may think of ‘castor oil’ instead. But without words can we bring common understanding in the human society? Truth is words cannot replace the experience of reality. At best, they are pointers to the personal experiencing of reality. In fact, as per neuroscience, our brains create their own unique ways of storing meaning for things, depending upon the random firing of neurons and forming of memory through the wiring of synapses. Similarly, worship places or idols can at best be signposts for that ‘immeasurable, unexplainable, infinite and eternal Truth’ beyond the comprehension of human logical thinking. Coming back to Kaviyarasar’s next line of the song, by uttering the word ‘fire’, will our lips burn?

 

William Shakespeare wrote in his play ‘Romeo & Juliet’, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet". Sounds similar? “Map is NOT the Territory” is a crisp expression of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) In their pioneering book, “Frogs into Princess”, Richard Bandler & John Grinder funnily state that “Language is one of the powerful and important media of understanding the human behavior. If I say "you that look understand idea can", you have a very different intuition than If I say "Look, you can understand that idea" even though the words are the same.”

 

Kannadasan also mentions it in another love song in the film ‘Paalum Pazhamum; “Naan pesa ninaippadhellam nee pesa vendum...” 

“You must speak all that I wish to say…

You must commune with the passing days and moments…” 

“There is no such thing as a word or a language…

Nor is there any meaning…

Nor is there any meaning…

There is no price for the unspoken word…

There is no price…” 

In his book, ‘Waking Up’, Sam Harris points out this startling reality: “Do you remember learning the meaning of the word door? Probably not. How do you recognize it and bring its meaning to mind? You have no idea. These processes occur outside consciousness!” How does this happen? The useful subroutine software of habits turns out to be extraordinary skills in one’s life due to neuroplasticity of the brain which captures regular physical inputs and wires them into railroads in the gray layers. After all, as brain science confirms, the neurons that fire together wire together into synapses in the back-office brain which get honed every time the activity is rerun, becoming more and more efficient. Childhood examples of learning cycling, picking up language and other social skills. Human brain is otherwise quite lazy. That is why it optimizes everything by linking meaning to words, hard wires repeat actions, for our own survival. Otherwise, ‘words’ don’t have NO meaning, they are just sounds/noises made by us!

 

Let us proceed with the ‘Ayirathhil oruthi amma nee’ song’s later lines: 

“Born among women and living among them,

Do you still not understand a woman’s heart?

What kind of eyes and heart are these?

Do those who cast aspersions lack a heart themselves?” 

Eyes see, but heart feels. I recall having written a short poem on the male-centric view of women:   

                                            “A man is bewildered—

Why do other women appear merely as bodies

to the man who sees

mother, sister, female friend,

wife, and daughter

as ‘personalities’?”

Let us not go down to travel on a guilt-trip or fall into a male vs female debate, which is a universal trap. I would strongly recommend books ‘Male Brain & Female Brain-An Essential Owner’s Manual for Every Man, and a Cheat Sheet for Every Woman!” authored by Neuropsychiastrist, Louann Brizendine. Having seen half-a-dozen books on the Biology of Brain by Neuroscientists, it is only time for us to look at the Neurochemistry. After all, knowing about the equipment which drives us nuts is not just curiosity but also helps in managing it well. These books should be kept as academic inputs for children going through puberty in schools. Reading this SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) will give them a license to drive themselves to safety. Will also give them a brain-hacking experience reading this great stuff on the gray matter!

Now, let us look at a song—penned by the 'King of Poets' (Kaviarasar) with remarkable insight into the female psyche—from the perspective of a woman (Film: *Parakkum Paavai*) (“Yaaraithhaan Nambuvatho Pedhai Nenjam..?”):

“Whoever you believe

Ghostly heart?

Mother, everything is a lie on earth!

Every relationship is a thorn

All life is stone

 

Having seen the man’s & Woman’s head from inside out, Louann compassionately concludes her books like this: “On a personal level, I believe that learning about the male brain can help men and women feel more intimacy, compassion, and appreciation for each other. Such understanding might be the most important factor in creating a genuine balance between the sexes. I hope that this book will foster such understanding and help create more humane and civil societies wherever it is read.”

Now, let us turn to the 'King of Poets'' song:

“A mirror of beauty

Shouldn't you show your heart?

Pros and cons when you get used to it

Shouldn't you look and tell?"

 

"You can read a person like a book" is an idiomatic expression. How helpful for humans if it can be mastered! Let us see in the next episode…

-J Jeyes (www.jeyes.in)