Meaning of a line in "Kridati Vanamali"

[Rajani]

I am unable to understand the meaning of the last line of Sadashiva Brahmendra's "Kridati Vanamali"


paramahamsavara kusuma sumAli - the one who wears a garland wherein Paramahamsas are the flowers

praNava payOruha garbha kapAli - ?

Please help with your interpretations.

[keerthi]

kapAla has a connotation of vessel, receptacle etc; as does kapAli. [This word shares its semantics with other terms like karaTa that connote skull-bone as well as bowl].

The only way I can make sense of this samAsa is by taking it along the same lines as the other irregular bahuvrIhi-s in this song. prahlAda-parAshara-paripAlI clearly doesn't mean prahlAda-parAshara-paripAlita but p-p-paripAla(ka).

So,praNava-payOruha-garbha-kapAli could be taken as a somewhat contrived equivalent of Omkara-padma-garbha-kosha-(gataH). While garbha and KapAla/i are somewhat similar terms in the context of the lotus's pericarp, it is not uncommon in musical compositions to have some occasional punarukti.

[Rajani]

Thank you very much indeed, Keerthi. Now I see how the words come together.

[Rsachi]

Keerthi, thanks for giving your explanation so quickly.

Rajani,
I am always a bit intrigued by Sadashiva Brahmendra's lyrics. They are an admixture of esoteric mysticism, Advaita and colourful sringara-laden Bhakti imagery.

The referred line means the following to me:
In the thousand-petalled lotus Sahasrara, located in the head, is Pranava or Om, which is also called Akshara Brahma. Brahmanda or the egg(=womb) is the manifestation of Ishwara. So God encompasses both the Pranava in our (lotus based in the) head or skull and also all creation in the cosmic womb. So the line:
The skull which is the womb of Om located in the lotus.

[Rajani]

Thank you for your interesting thoughts on this, RSachi-ji.

[vgovindan]

keerthi,
I think the last epithet should be split as 'praNava payOruha garbhaka pAlI' - meaning - 'the protector of brahmA born of praNava (OM) lotus. The suffix 'ka' has also the meaning 'of', 'belonging to'. Therefore, garbhaka - would IMO mean 'born of'.

The meaning of 'kapAlI' does not appeal to me.

[vgovindan]

May I request input from RSachi and others too?

[Sachi_R]

Sir,
Whatever I could interpret is there posted in this thread before.
Honestly I don't understand these lyrics too much.

[Sachi_R]

Sir,
One thought.
praṇavapayōruha =the lotus that holds inside the Aksharabrahman
garbhakapāli= the head=mind within which is born the whole creation

Two epithets applied to the Sagunabrahman, Krishna.

The entire verse is in prathama purusha and describes Krishna's attributes and pastimes.

[vgovindan]

Thanks for your input.

[aaaaabbbbb]

I agree with the explanation of'garbhaka pAli' by

vgovindan Sir.

[Sachi_R]

Well, Savitri-ji,
There are two difficulties.
1.Pranava is the cosmic sound also called Akshara Brahman.
In the idea of Brahma's emergence from the lotus out of Vishnu's navel, we are not dealing with the Pranava or Akshara Brahman. Where do we fit it?
2. Why should the VanamAli protect or nurture Brahma? What is the idea behind it? Is Brahma in some need or danger?

Then there is a third point.
In the entire song, the thought process alternates between the abstract Nirguna Brahman and the Saguna Brahman who is sporting with Gopis and blessing the devotees. Bringing in Brahma seems a little tenuous.

However I can understand the sentiment behind Sri Govindan's interpretation. Maybe that was the poet's intention too.

By the way there is only one other verb after क्रीडति in the entire song, ध्यायन्ति. This third person plural verb requires a nominative plural subject. What is it?

[vgovindan]

Sachi,
Both in Tyagaraja kRtis and MD Kritis, the phrase 'praised by brahmA' or 'protector of brahmA' is not very uncommon, because, brahmA is having a definite life span as against ISvara; also brahmA is not given the same status as vishNu and Siva in terms of worship. Somehow, I am very skeptical about the term 'kapAli'. May be I am wrong.

dhyAyanti refers to, IMO to 'devotees referred in the second caraNa - prahlAda etc.