Ananda Narthana Sabha - Text improvement and translation

kmrasika · Post by **kmrasika** » 07 Feb 2007, 08:55

The clip reminded me of the dhanurmAsa sampradAya bhajanAs (sigh!!!). Anyhow, I corrected by what I heard. I know haridAs giri's pronunciation is known to be spashTa (perfect) and his knowledge of music solid. What meter (chhanda) is this set in?

rAga: nATTa tALa: khaNDalaghu Composer: svAmi haridAs giri(?)

ananda nartana sabhApati samIpam
hAlAsya puranAtha dAsAnudAsam
kailAsa girivAsa prEma svarUpaM
tarakamahalaya vAdyadhara mandahAsam

dEva gaNa bhUta gaNa yakshagaNa bhr^ngaM
devakI varabAla karatALa Shr^ngaM
sakala gaNa parivAra vAdyamayarangaM
nandIsha sammElanam naumi sangam

tarakaTaka karatala jhala(j) jvaLita jAlaM
tA thI, thOm naM, ityAdi tALam
ShambhO mahAdEva sankIrNa pAlam
nandISha rAjaM bhajAmi kr^pAlam

kAlakAlam sadA vandita gayALam
kAruNya sAgaram mAnadyalOlam
karuNa kaTAksham dharaM mukhAmbhOjam
ghambhIra bIjam bhajE nandi rAjam

Shankara padAmbuja sadA vanditam taM-
santatam pancAkshara mantrOpadEShaM
avicchhinna Shiva guru paraM parAnandaM
haridAsa abhayam vandE nandikESham ||

gitapriya · Post by **gitapriya** » 09 Feb 2007, 06:43

marybum, pls give me a day or so and I'll try my best to provide a translation. I have to look up some words as well.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 09 Feb 2007, 11:23

Mary,
Some corrections to the lyrics posted by kmrasika, and my attempt at a translation:

CORRECTIONS WELCOME!

rAga: nATTa tALa: khaNDalaghu Composer: svAmi haridAs giri(?)

Ananda nartana sabhApati = the happy (Ananda) dancing (nartana) form of lord of the (cit)sabhA - cidambaram (naTarAja)
samIpam = (I am) near
hAlAsyapura nAtha = the lord of madurai (hAlAsyapuram) - sundarEshwarar
dAsAnudAsam = (I am his) slave of slaves
kailAsa girivAsa = The lord who resides in mount (giri) kailAsa
prEma svarUpaM = loving (prEma) form (swarUpam)
karakamala = (in his) lotus-like (kamala) hands (kara)
laya vAdyadhara = holding (dhara) an instrument (vAdya) of laya (the damarU)mandahAsam = and an ever-smiling face

The composer states that he is close to the dancing form of the Lord of cidambaram, and the slave of the Lord of madurai. He describes the ever smiling, loving face of the Lord who resides on mount kailAsa, and holds the damarU in his hand.

dEva gaNa = the demi gods
bhUta gaNa = the elements (bhUta)
yakshagaNa = the yakshAs
bhr^ngaM = swarm or group
devakI varabAla = the son (bAla) of dEvakI (kriSNa)
kara = hand
tALa shr^ngaM = ??? decoration (the divine flute - vENu that kriSNa plays on), or karatALa could relate to the cymbals that vishNu weilds when Siva dances...
sakala gaNa parivAra = the family (parivAra) of all (sakala) the attendants (gaNa)
vAdyamayarangaM = a theater (arangam) filled with music from musical instruments (vAdyamaya)
nandIsha = the Lord of nandI (Siva)
sammElaNam = gathering
naumi = I pray/bow down to
sangam = the union

Here the poet salutes a gathering of Lord Siva and a group of gods/demi gods and attendants who make for musical theater with their varied musical instruments, including the flute/cymbals in the hands of Lord kriSNa/vishNu.

dharakaTaka = wearing (dhara) a ring (kaTaka)
karatala = (in his) palm/fingers
jhala(j) jvaLita jAlaM = ???? that shines
tA thI, thOm naM, ityAdi tALam = (with) tAlas like tA, dit, tOm nam etc (ityAdi)
shambhO mahAdEva = Lord Siva
sankIrNa pAlam = protector (pAlam) of all and sundry/various kinds of devotees (saMkIrNa)
nandISha rAjaM = The Lord of nandi - Siva
bhajAmi kr^pAlam = I chant/pray/sing praises of the merciful one (kripAlam)

While the ornaments that adorn his body flash (as he dances) to the various tALa combinations, I pray to the ever merciful Lord of nandI who protects all of his devotees.

kAlakAlam sadA = for ages (kAlakAlam) and always (sadA)
vandita = (one who is) prayed to
dayALam = the kind one (dayALam)
kAruNya sAgaram = repository (sAgaram) of compassion (kAruNyam)
AnandalOlam = moving (lolam) with happiness (Ananda)
karuNA kaTAksham dharaM mukhAmbhOjam = your lotus-like face (mukhAmbhOjam) bears the glance/sideways glance (kaTAkSam) of compassion (karuNA)
ghambhIra bIjam = the majestic (gambhIra) mystical syllable that forms the Siva matram (bIjam)
bhajE nandi rAjam = I pray to the Lord of nandI

The Lord Siva is the repository of compassion, who creates jouyous movement, who is the bIja mantram, and who is the ever benevolent lord who is prayed to by everyone for ages and always.

shankara padAmbuja = the lotus like feet (padAmbuja) of Siva (Sankara)
sadA vanditam = He is always prayed to
taM-
santatam = everyday
pancAkshara = the five syllables (Om na ma Si vA ya)
mantrOpadEShaM = of the teachings (upadESam) of the (SivapancAkSara) mantram
avicchhinna = uninterrupted/continuous
shiva guru param = Siva, the teacher (guru) extrodinaire (param)
parAnandaM = eternal and extreme (parama) bliss/happiness (Anandam)
haridAsa abhayam = the protector (abhayam) of the poet (haridAsa giri)
vandE nandikESham = prays to the Lord of nandi/Siva

The poet/composer always meditates on/prays to the lotus-like feet of lord Siva, and continuously utters the teachings/essence of the pancAkSara mantra (Om na ma Si vA ya), as adviced by the guru of gurus (the Lord SivA as dakSinAmUrti is considered The teacher of teachers), the protector of haridAsa.

vgvindan · Post by **vgvindan** » 09 Feb 2007, 15:59

karatala

When I was going through for some other reference, I found this piece. I do not know whether this is relevant or not for the question posted by marybum. This particular webpage contains very valuable information about dance -

பரத மூன்றுமுத் தேவன் வடிவமாய்க்
கரதலக் கனியெனக் காட்டிய வற்றைத்
தெரிக்கு நூலுந் தெளிமறை யந்தமு
முதலிய வெல்லா முன்னரி யயனுமை
பின்னிந் திரன்முதற் பண்ணவர் தமக்கும்
நந்தி முதலிய கணஞ்சா ரங்க
தேவர் முதலா முனிக்குஞ் செப்பினன். ....23

பரத சேனாபதீயம்
http://www.tamilnation.org/literature/p ... /mp119.htm

vgvindan · Post by **vgvindan** » 09 Feb 2007, 17:11

On a second reading of the verse, I find the word 'karatala' here does not seem to pertain to your question.
'karatalak kani' means 'as plain as a myrobalan fruit - (amalaka) in the hand' or in Sanskrit it is called 'hastAmalaka'. Sorry for putting you off.
However, this site contains many useful references regarding dance - all in Tamil for which no translation is given there.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 09 Feb 2007, 19:01

Mary,
There are 2 words in the slOka that you posted:
1. karatala
2. karatALa = cymbals used to keep time...

I am not exactly sure of how to differentiate kara from karatala - so, I use this part of the verse from kriSNa karNAmritam as guide:

karatalE vENU, karE kankaNam

karatala = palm
kara = hand/wrist...

kriSNa is described as wearing a kankaNa around his wrist and holding his flute in the palms of his hands...

vgvindan · Post by **vgvindan** » 09 Feb 2007, 19:08

In jayadEva aShTapadi 'karatala tALa' comes in Sloka 6. For translation - http://www.sulekha.com/groups/postdispl ... mid=756964

Rajani · Post by **Rajani** » 09 Feb 2007, 21:31

Sorry friends, to jump in quite late. I think the song is in praise of Nandikeshwara, the mount of Shiva. Here is my attempt. Corrections are welcome.

Ananda nartana sabhApati samIpam = One who is near Nataraja
hAlAsyapura nAtha AsAnudAsam = One who is slave of slaves of Shiva
kailAsa girivAsa prEma svarUpaM = who is love personfied towards Shiva
karakamala laya vAdyadhara = one who holds the instrument of laya
mandahAsam = one who has an ever-smiling face

naumi sangam - I Praise the group
dEva gaNa bhUta gaNa yakshagaNa bhr^ngaM - swarming wth Devas, Shiva-gaNas and Yakshas
devakI varabAla karatALa Shr^ngaM - where Krishna's Talam is the crowning glory
sakala gaNa parivAra vAdyamayarangaM -with a stage full of instruments played by all
nandIsha sammElanam - gathering around Nandi

bhajAmi kr^pAlam - I praise the merciful
nandISha rAjaM - Nandishwara
tarakaTaka karatala jhala(j) jvaLita jAlaM
tA thI, thOm naM, ityAdi tALam - one who sounds the mridanga thus
ShambhO mahAdEva sankIrNa pAlam - one who is the protector of Shiva's collected hordes

bhajE nandi rAjam - I praise Nandishwara
kAlakAlam sadA vandita dayALam - who is the merciful one alwys bowing to Shiva(destroyer of Yama)
kAruNya sAgaram - who is an ocean of mercy
AnandalOlam - who is swaying with bliss
karuNa kaTAksha dhara mukhAmbhOjam = one who has a lotus-face with a compassionate glance
ghambhIra bIjam - one who is the seed of majesticity

vandE nandikESham - I salute Nandi
Shankara padAmbuja sadA vanditam - who always bows at the lotus-feet of Shiva
taM santatam pancAkshara mantrOpadEShaM - Him who always initiates (devotees) into panchakshara
avicchhinna Shiva guru paraMparAnandaM - who rejoices in the unbroken line of teachers starting from Shiva
haridAsa abhayam - who grants freedom from fear to Haridasa

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 09 Feb 2007, 23:00

Rajani,
That is another interprettation that it is in praise of nandI...makes sense as well.
Mary,
In the context of Siva and or nandi, the word bhUta will NOT translate to ghosts/ or the dead....

Lakshman · Post by **Lakshman** » 09 Feb 2007, 23:32

Wouldn't bhUta also mean a spirit?

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 09 Feb 2007, 23:50

It could, but in reference to Siva, the implication is the elements.

meena · Post by **meena** » 10 Feb 2007, 00:23

vgvindan

A request : NOT all mem. (including moi) here can read/write thamiz . If u copy/paste thamiz txt. pl. care to translate it for us, so that ALL mem. will feel at home

thanks

member
meena

Rajani · Post by **Rajani** » 10 Feb 2007, 09:34

Ravi, bhuta could mean the demons who are Shiva's followers ( the ones depicted with short pot-bellied figures, playing all kinds of instruments while He dances) Ref : ST's "Shankara Shrigirinatha" he says "bhUtan ke sang nAchata Bhringi".

They are the ones referred in "gajAnanam bhUtagaNadisevitam" too.

vgvindan · Post by **vgvindan** » 10 Feb 2007, 10:01

meena,
Noted. Sorry for the inconvenience caused.

meena · Post by **meena** » 10 Feb 2007, 10:27

vgvindan

thanku.

kmrasika · Post by **kmrasika** » 12 Feb 2007, 07:25

marybum: I'm sorry I did not read your full request for a translation as well. Anyhow, I don't think I would hav done full justice in that department as well as these wonderful posters have.

Just my thought:

rajani wrote:hAlAsyapura nAtha AsAnudAsam = One who is slave of slaves of Shiva

I think hAlasyapura refers to the city of madurai. And logical word following is dAsAnudAsam = dAsa + anu+dAsa, I guess the prefix, "anu-" is added to intensify the word appended to it. Thereby, in this case, it would be roughly, "ever in the service of the lord of madurai.