Author: Uma Natrajan
One day all of a sudden, my mind started on a voyage to seek Transcendental peace, love and happiness
First I sailed to the port of Transcendental peace and searched for a shelter. Lord Buddha offered me a place to rest.
Buddhism ‘s philosophy and practice got embedded in my mind with its various delusions, misunderstandings and cravings but, happily I could see the other side finding, a way out through higher consciousness and mindful practice, because of this view of reality I could quest for happiness in Buddhism so tremendously full; the ideas contained in Buddha’s teachings point to a thorough engagement with lived reality.
I could come to conclusions that, it is through such an engagement with one’s self, the world and reality that we are able to achieve a transcendent happiness by following mindfulness, investigation of reality, determination, rapture, relaxation, concentration, equanimity etc.
My next halt was at Transcendental love’s junction, where I loitered and came with the notion that, transcendental love goes beyond the boundaries of ordinary human experience and understanding.
This halt was really needed to make me understand love, Pure and unconditional love, free from the constraints of materialism, I searched for Kavi Bharathi yar’s poems absorbed wholly in transcendental love. Same I found in Meera ‘ s thought provoking lyrics.
“Is love surrender or liberation?”. Here is the answer, the kind of love that makes you evolve and transcend boundaries is both surrender and liberation. If your surrendering doesn’t liberate you, then there’s a problem either in your surrendering or the one you are surrendering to; pure love is always liberating.
मैं तो सांवरे के रंग राची॥ साजि सिंगार बांधि पग घुंघरू, लोक लाज तजि नाची। गई कुमति लई साधु की संगति, भगत रूप भै सांची। गाय गाय हरि के गुण निसदिन, काल ब्याल सूँ बांची। उण बिन सब जग खारो लागत, और बात सब कांची। मीरा श्री गिरधरनलाल सूँ, भगति रसीली जांची॥ Translation in English I’m dyed dark with him. I put on ankle-bells, give up shame and dance I take up with mystics but I am faithful, true in my body, I am coloured in him, I sing in his praise day and night describing his colors that seep through me. The whole world tastes bitter he is all blue and so I am, O Mountain-lifter, listen, I’m drenched in your sweetness. This Meera ' s writings invoked my inquisition, now I caught the thread of another great poet Bharatiyar, who introduced me to myself, Here admiring the expanse of the ever-embracing sky and just felt getting soaked in the sunrise or sunset, I started feeling sad that in this tech-driven hurried lifestyle I am losing my sense of wonder and awe? I am getting more aloof from nature. Now, I changed my priorities and perceptions following to this absolutely adorable poem by Mahakavi Bharathiyaar. C. Subramania Bharathi was a great Tamil writer, poet, journalist, Indian independence activist, social reformer and polyglot. His writings revolved around the central themes of a progressive society, caste abolition, transcendental love, mysticism, patriotism and feminism. It’s a difficult task to choose any one poem from all the wonderful poems that he has written. Yet for the topic chosen, this particular poetry spoke to me more in the given span of time. What particularly stood out in this particular poem is how completely he is absorbed in love that everything surrounding him reminds him of his beloved Kannamma. How involved he must have been with nature itself so as to make such vivid comparisons! What can be more romantic than this? Here’s the poem for you in Tamil மாலைப் பொழுதிலொரு மேடை மிசையே வானையும் கடலையும் நோக்கி யிருந்தேன்; மூலைக் கடலினையவ் வான வளையம் முத்தமிட் டேதழுவி முகிழ்த்தல் கண்டேன்; நீல நெருக்கிடையில் நெஞ்சு செலுத்தி, நேரங் கழிவ திலும் நினைப்பின்றியே சாலப் பலபலநற் பகற் கனவில் தன்னை மறந்தலயந் தன்னில் இருந்தேன். ஆங்கப் பொழுதிலென் பின்பு றத்திலே, ஆள்வந்து நின்றெனது கண்ம றைக்கவே, பாங்கினிற் கையிரண்டுந் தீண்டி யறிந்தேன், பட்டுடை வீசுகமழ் தன்னி லறிந்தேன்; ஓங்கி வருமுவகை யூற்றி லறிந்தேன்; ஒட்டு மிரண்டுளத்தின் தட்டி லறிந்தேன்; ‘வாங்கி விடடிகையை யேடி கண்ணம்மா! மாய மெவரிடத்தில்?’என்று மொழிந்தேன். சிரித்த ஒலியிலவள் கைவி லக்கியே. திருமித் தழுவி“என்ன செய்தி சொல்”என்றேன்; “நெரித்த திரைக்கடலில் என்ன கண்டிட்டாய்? நீல விசும்பினிடை என்ன கண்டிட்டாய்? திரித்த நுரையினிடை என்ன கண்டிட்டாய்? சின்னக் குமிழிகளில் என்ன கண்டிட்டாய்? பிரித்துப் பிரித்துநிதம் மேகம் அளந்தே. பெற்ற நலங்கள் என்ன?பேசுதி”என்றாள். “நெரித்த திரைக்கடலில் நின்முகங் கண்டேன்; நீல விசும்பினிடை நின்முகங் கண்டேன்; திரித்த நுரையினிடை நின்முகங் கண்டேன்; சின்னக் குமிழிகளில் நின்முகங் கண்டேன்; பிரித்துப் பிரிந்துநிதம் மேகம் அளந்தே, பெற்றதுன் முகமன்றிப் பிறிதொன் றில்லை; சிரித்த ஒலியினில்ன் கைவி லக்கியே, திருமித் தழுவியதில் நின்முகங் கண்டேன்.” Translation in English One evening alighted on an elevated seat observing the vast ocean, I was watching into the expanses of the skies and the ocean . I witnessed the rainbow kiss and caress to the sky. Totally engrossed in the intensity of the surrounding blueness, I had stopped realising the passing of time. In the numerous mesmerising and entrancing dreams that followed, I found myself in a state, where I forgot my existence! I realised in the nature of the touch of her hands, I realised her in the fragrance of her silk fabric, I realised her in the fountain of euphoria that followed, I realised her in the exhilarated heart’s beat, then, I started my communications, Oh! Kannamma, release your hands from my eyes, I removed her hands from my eyes, turned back, embraced her, She asked to me, What I could search in the vast oceans,In the blue skies, and in those tiny bubbles, I answered that I could see only her face, In the wandering spume of the oceans I glimpsed her face, In the tiny bubbles of water, I viewed her face, In the process of studying the clouds in detail, all I realised that everywhere her beautiful face danced. My explanation brought a big smile to her face. Finding her happy I felt this is the element of happiness, praising one truly and making one realize their importance brings happiness. Thus my journey starting from Transcendental peace to happiness concluded happily. About the Author:
Uma Natarajan is M.A. in English literature from Gwalior University.
She retired as a Teacher of Higher secondary school teaching, English, Hindi languages in convent schools.
She writes poetries in Hindi and English and have published many articles. She published 18 books on English poetries and 2 on Hindi poetry. She also contributes her English and Hindi poems on many creative writing platforms.
