Tiruvasagam

Hearing the Sublime Melody

Today, I got the opportunity to hear in full, what I heard in bits and pieces. When I was listening to it at home as I went about my household chores, it was just music. But this particular rendition of Tiruvasagam demands more of my attention. It wants my total focus, attention and concentration. The power of Shiva's silence is not so easy to obtain from one corner of the mind. It has to be total.
This opportunity was also soon given to me when I plugged on the headphones to listen to the music with a stereo surround effect and Oh My God, I should say it is mind-blowing as Raaja fans describe Tiruvasagam.
"Aaa Hu ....aaa hu," the most powerful Kundalini Mantras that awaken the energy within mark the beginning. The initial chants are like the Vedic tunnes beginning with ‘Poovar chenni mannan.’ Just as Ramana Maharishi's mantra for contemplation, "Nan Yaar? or Who Am I? Ilaiyaraaja’s contemplative thought process revolves around "Thaame Thamakku Chuttramum...Yamar, Yemadar, Pasam Yaar?
The sounds of the drums and violins not just blows the mind off all the crowding thoughts but wakes up the sleeping energies within as the song concludes again with the mantras, "O A..hu ahu ahu a..hu ahu ahu a.."
Ilaiyaraaja's voice cries along with the words Polla Vinaiyen,’ The silence that follows is broken by the shrill notes of the violins with the drums in tow. Raaja's favourite lines in English translation: I'm just a man Imperfect lowly! How can I reach for something holy?" The sacred conversational oratorio begins here.
when the words refer to the worldly body, the music falls down and with greatness of the self, it rises to a magnificent crescendo. "Polla Vinaiyen," one with the worst of sins - the notes nosedive to the ground and with "Pullagi Poodai Puzhuvai," it rises as it goes on to the higher and higher manifestations of life, the Munivar, Devar and the highest Omkara, it zooms out into an enormous silence.
After Gnanam comes the outpouring of Bhakti. "Namasivaya Vazhga," There is the cheer, joy and dance of the bhakta drunk with the divine ecstasy.
"Valvinaiyen Thannai,"is full of the sorrow of life on earth and the violins support the moods and emotions as they change. One can actually hear the dance of Shiva with "Thillaiyut Koothane! Thenpandi Nattane!"
"Masattra Jothi," is a dance of a song and then Bhavatharini sings with Ilaiyaraaja in "Pooeru Konum Purantharanum." Ilaiyaraaja takes the cake with the meditative verses in that part and sings it himself.
Umbarkatkarase with chorus is contemplative and sung without rhythms. I know no fear is the essence of the last song "Puttrilvazh Aravum Anjen! Poyyar Tham Meyyum Anjen."
I end this as does Ilaiyaraaja:
Vaadavoor Adigal Vazhga: Vazhthmavar Adiyar Vazhga.
*****