Kannadasan – A Realized Master (Part 13)

 

"Knock and it will be opened, seek and it will be found, ask and it will be given," said Jesus. "What you can perceive, you can conceive", say Western Thinkers. What Indian Spirituality says? Many Indian spiritual traditions express ideas similar but they usually add an important qualification: desire alone is not enough; it must be aligned with right action, karma, and the Divine will. In other words, Indian spirituality generally says right intention + right effort + Divine grace together bear fruit, rather than desire by itself. 

Katha Upanishad advises to seek actively rather than waiting passively. Mundaka Upanishad declares: "Truth is attained by the one who longs for it with sincerity." Chandogya Upanishad concludes, "Your deepest conviction shapes your life." Brihadaranyaka Upanishad maps the route: "A person is made of desire. As the desire, so the will. As the will, so the deed. As the deed, so the destiny." Yoga Sutras of Patanjali say, "Success comes quickly to those whose practice is intense." Tiruvallvar guarantees in his Kural 619, "Even if destiny does not help, earnest effort never goes unrewarded." Swami Vivekananda said in his discourses, "Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life... This is the way to success." Ramana Maharshi confirms, "The very desire for liberation is itself the beginning of liberation." Seeking is already the start of finding. And finally, Mahatma Gandhi's words are: "A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes." This closely echoes both the Upanishadic teaching and modern motivational thought. 

Kavi Gnani Kannadasan sang (Film: Ooty Varai Uravu) ("Thedinen Vandhadhu..."):

“I sought, and it came; I yearned, and it gave;

It stood at the threshold, and bade me live.”

Let us see if the divine abode (“Deiva Maaligai”) has opened. Due to the chemical turmoil within the brain, couples have believed since the dawn of humanity that ‘their love’ is unique. The poet Kannadasan expressed this sentiment in the film *Bale Pandiya* (“Aadi Manithan Kaadalukku Pin”): 

“After the love of primordial man,

This is the next love story.

After the pair of Adam and Eve,

This is the next couple.” 

Continuing with the lines, “The moment I saw you, my very thoughts changed; the moment I heard your voice, I was immersed in love,” he went on to declare in the song “Vandha Naal Mudhal...” from the film *Paava Mannippu* that “happiness and love are the laws of nature.” Romantic love is like an addition says Elizabeth Gilbert in her book, “Eat Pray Love”: “Addiction is the hallmark of every infatuation-based love story. It all begins when the object of your adoration bestows upon you a heady, hallucinogenic dose of something you never seen dared to admit that you wanted – an emotional speedball, perhaps, of thunderous love and roiling excitement. Soon you start craving that intense attention, with the hungry obsession of any junkie.” 

Lyricist Dasan, who adores Kannan, blends spirituality with romance in this song (from the film *Seervarisai*) (“Kannanai Ninaikkaadha Naalillaiye..”): 

"There isn't a day I do not think of Kannan,

Nor a day my heart does not yearn with love;

Whether eating or sleeping,

My thoughts are filled entirely with Kannan." 

In a romantic song like this, you may ask “where is spirituality coming?” Here if you consider Kannan as NOT a personality but ‘Krishna Consciousness’ ALL meanings will fall in place, for a seeker of the Divine. The same was later coined as ‘Christ Consciousness’ in the West. In the final line, Kannadasan concludes with a profound philosophical insight: that the mind originates from the consciousness known as 'Kannan'. Indian sages echo this very sentiment, further pointing out that the body itself arises from the mind. Western neuroscience also corroborates this; in his book *Phantoms in the Brain*, Dr. Ramachandran explains that the brain holds a map of all body parts—much like a GPS—and uses it to 'recognize' and control these organs via the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) and the Central Nervous System (CNS). Kavignar playfully concludes the romantic song with the words, "Jaya Kanna Mukunda Murare!" Beyond this, the lyricist has poured out his heart—melting with love—in countless songs dedicated to Kannan. Every one of these songs is a stream of musical nectar that flows through the soul. There is no love without Kannan; equally, there is no love without the eyes (“Kankal”). Love is blind. "My eyes seek you, longing to behold your beauty... my heart yearns for you," wrote Ku. Ma. Balasubramanian for the film *Kanavaney Kan-Kanda Deivam*. Kannadasan penned the lines, "The punishment for the eyes comes through the sight; the punishment for the sight comes through love," in the song "Irandu Manam Vendum" from the film *Vasantha Maligai*. 

Someone said, "Love is no doubt blind, but marriage restores the eyesight." Let us now see some of one-line Western wit and wisdom on love & marriage. "Love is the shortest chapter in the longest life story." At least it feels so for many of the love-marriage couple. For arranged -marriage partners, it is not a chapter but a whisker of a moment of seeing each other, though now a days they ‘allow’ the boy and girl to meet alone in the next room. Love can be said differently, it is a romantic intermission between youthful advertisements and reality of the product, after payment, delivery and installation! 

"Marriage begins when love ends and life continues with a home loan" says another leg-puller pointing to middle-class reality. During love every whisper sound like a beautiful poem. Romance is when 'I love you' is said a hundred times a day. After marriage, it's replaced by 'Did you lock the door properly?" Another revealer is, "Love ends when the man starts lifting the luggage instead of carrying in his hands his lover." 

Other truthful thoughts are: "Marriage is a book. Romance is the beautifully illustrated first chapter." "Marriage is the workshop... love is the coffee break." and "Enjoy the attractive comedy trailer of love before the tragic and long marriage film begins." Romance is also a brief period during which a man says, 'Yes, dear,' before learning to say, 'Whatever you think is best, dear.' During love, every silence is meaningful. Later, it's usually because one of them is checking the mobile phone. Ultimately, romantic love is the only time both people believe the other one is perfect. 

This proverb "Love is blind" has been around for centuries. The best-known early literary use is by Geoffrey Chaucer in The Merchant's Tale: "For love is blind all day, and may not see." William Shakespeare made it famous in The Merchant of Venice: "But love is blind, and lovers cannot see the pretty follies that themselves commit." He also repeats the idea in A Midsummer Night's Dream: "Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; And therefore, is winged Cupid painted blind." The meaning is that people in love often overlook faults or judge less rationally. "The way to the heart is through the eyes." There are also several related expressions exist: "Love at first sight." "The eyes are the windows to the soul." "The eyes are the mirrors of the heart." These emphasize that visual attraction or eye contact often begins romantic affection. 

Indian records are replete with expressions on the role of the eyes in love: Sangam literature frequently portrays the heroine and hero falling in love through exchanged glances, making the eyes the first messenger of love. Romance frequently begins with the eyes, and the eyes reveal and deepen the feelings of the heart. Tamil literature is especially rich in the idea that the eyes are the first language of love. Here are some beautiful examples: In Kurunthokai, many poems describe love beginning with a single glance. "Their eyes met; their hearts united before any words were spoken." The lovers often communicate entirely through eye contact. Akananuru contains many poems that describe the heroine saying that the hero's eyes "stole" her heart, while others describe the hero being captivated by the heroine's glance.

We have observed the saying that "love is blind." Yet, is there love without the eyes? Kannadasan remarked, "Eyes that do not behold you are no eyes at all (“Unnai Kaanaadha Kannum Kannalla" and another sang, "Amidst a thousand gazes, I would recognize yours (“Oraayiram Paarvaiyile Un Paarvaiyai Naanariven"). In the song "Ennirandu Pathinaalu Vayathu" (At the age of sixteen), the love visible in the eyes was portrayed thus: "Her love-filled heart dances within her eyes (“Aval Kannirandil aadudhamma kaadhal Konda manadhu"). In that same song, the nature of love—where pleasure and pain intertwine—was highlighted with the line, "We lay immersed in a pleasure that felt akin to a fleeting sorrow (“Siru Thunbam pondra Inbathhiley Iruvarume Kidanthom"). In the following song, Kannadasan metamorphosizes into a woman in love and sings the subtle feelings in gentle words (Film: Idaya Kamalam) (“Ennathaan rahasiyamo idhayathiley”): 

“What secret lies within my heart?

At times, the mere thought of it

makes me smile—

what secret lies within my heart?” 

He brings up again in this song, the contradictory role played by her eyes, heart (desire) and speech:

“Even if my eyes wish to look,

my heart refuses to speak;

and even if my heart wants to speak,

the words will not come to my lips.” 

In the following song, the lyricist goes a step further and touches the heart (Film: *Thaayai Kaatha Thanayan*) (“Moodi Thirantha Vizhi Irandu Paar Paar Endrana”): 

"The eyelids, opening and closing, seemed to say, 'Look, look!'

The fluttering edge of the sari seemed to beckon, 'Come, come!'

The restless feet seemed to command, 'Halt, halt!'

Yet desire alone opened its mouth to urge, 'Speak, speak!'" 

Kannadasan beautifully incorporates into this song what the poet Kamban sang in his *Ramayana* (“Iyyo Enum Idai”): 

“Her swan-like, graceful gait—swaying back and forth—

Seemed to cry out in sheer wonder;

Her slender, shapely waist—catching my eye—

Made me question if what I saw was real or a dream;

And the bloom of youth, upon beholding you,

Whispered only of love.” 

I am not responsible if ‘Kannada Paingli’ and ‘Vaathiyar’ are flashing in front of your eyes now. This is a recall from biological cells of dynamic cocktail registered by Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) in your body from powerful visual cues and emotional language mixed together. What next, wherever one’s eyes go, surely the foot of lover must follow too? (Film: Idhya Kamalam) (“Nee Pogum Idamellam Naanum Varuven, Po Po Po…): 

“Wherever you go, I too shall follow—go, go, go;

Wherever you live, I too shall follow—come, come, come.”

Eckhart Tolle says that in the initial period of love, both surrender their ego defense to the other and feel a completeness of their existence, though for a brief period. Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudeo in his two-in-one book “Emotion & Relationships” says, “Relationships are not about compatibility, companionship or about extracting happiness from each other. Relationships are an opportunity to achieve some kind of union which will pave the way for a greater possibility.” He states that love is essentially a process of self-destruction. To love someone means you have broken your personal boundaries and included them as a part of yourself. Earlier, saints like Mirabai, Radha, and Rumi spoke of total surrender (Sarangani) to the Divine. In this context, romantic love is seen as a mirror for divine love. You surrender your intellect, body, and soul entirely to the beloved until "you" no longer exist. Kavignar has captured the essence of these thoughts in the following lines: 

“My heart is with me, yet the right to it belongs to you;

Where else can I go now? I agree to whatever you say.

The overflowing turmeric and vermilion, along with the flowers, all merge with you;

I have nothing left of my own—I have surrendered myself to you; come, come, come.” 

Drawing upon ancient Tamil literary works, the poet describes the concept of two souls merging into one—using simple Tamil that everyone can understand—in this song (from the film *Vaazhkkai Padagu*) (“Netru varia nee yaaro naan yaaro…”): 

“Until yesterday you were someone and I was someone

From today you are not someone else and I am not someone else

Until I see you where are you and I am where …

As soon as I see you here and I am there” 

This is a poem from the *Kuruntokai* anthology, composed by the Sangam poet Chempulapeyanirar: “Who were your mother and mine? How were your father and mine related? And how did you and I come to know each other? Yet, like rainwater mingling with red soil, our loving hearts have truly merged as one.” In his book on mindfulness, "Wherever you go, there you are", Jon Kabat-Zinn, underscores the truth that “because you are always with yourself, the only way to find peace is by being fully present in your current moment and accepting where you are—both physically and mentally.” Lovers lose themselves in their ‘presence’ says Kavignar. 

Centuries ago, Valluvar sang in his *Kural*: "When I look at her, she looks at the ground; when I do not look, she looks at me and smiles softly." Kaviyarasar simplifies this and puts it thus: 

“When I look at you,

You look at the ground…

When I look at the sky,

You look at me.” 

Kannadasan also penned a variation of this sentiment (Film: *Paasa Malar*): 

"I heard a song and was enraptured,

Yet I did not sing it;

Someone gazed upon the maiden's face,

Yet I did not see it." 

If she did not see it, how did she know that *he* was looking at her? That is the magic of a woman's eyes. 

Finally, Nature's Neurochemistry wins. In the end, the intoxicated brain also intervenes to argue and convince both that, 'We are Made for Each Other' ("Enakkum unakkum thaan porutham"). But mischievous Kavi wonders in style ‘Oh… what a match!’ (Film: Rahasiya Police 115) (“Aha..Enna porutham”): 

“Ah, what a perfect match—

This harmony between us.

In the drama of love,

Marriage is the auspicious culmination.” 

Did the two compatible souls, whose hearts had found a connection, actually get married? One feels like singing, just like the poet: "Oh moments where hands entwine, do sing the wedding melody" (“Kaiyodu kai serkum kaalangaley”) (Film: *Kaviya Thalaivi*). 

Just as Kannadasan sang, the confusion that arises for couples facing the prospect of marriage persists. She is in a rush, while he hesitates (thinking about earning enough to support a family!). (Film: *Kadavulai Kanden*): 

“He: One must pause and reflect a while,

Understand without words, converse without touch.

She: Gaze into my eyes and hold me close,

Listen to my words and let us become a pair;

Gaze into my eyes and hold me close. 

He: Truly, I am confused—please forgive me,

I must also consider what society might say.

She: You must acknowledge that I am the one for you,

And gather me into your arms with a loving gaze. 

She: Can’t you tell from my look? Don’t you see I’m afraid?

He: I don’t quite grasp the question you’re asking,

Nor do I know the answer to it. 

He: I have feelings too, but the right time must come for everything.

She: Let’s just get the wedding over with quickly,

And lock ourselves away in a blissful prison of love.” 

Why rush to push the couple into the "prison" of marriage? Let them gain some clarity first. Let us wait a little—until the next episode...Stay tuned….

 

-J Jeyes (www.jeyes.in)