Srimathe Rangaramanuja Mahadesikaya Namaha
Srimathe Sri Varaha Mahadesikaya Namaha
Sri Velukkudi Krishnan Swamy Thiruvadigaley Sharanam

Sri:
Swamy,
Sri Vaikuntam vraja nadhi thAndi pOga vEndum Appozhudhu indriyam thollai irukkAdhu.

AdhAn kaeten. Pradhakshinam varuvadhu Kainkaryam thAney!

Murugan ulagai valam vandhAr
PillaiyArO pAvathi Parameshwaranai valam vandhu vittAr

Enakku Sri Vaikuntam evvalavu peridhu enbadhu theriyAdhu

So edhavadhu seiyanumOllliyo adhAn pradhakshinam pannalAm nu yosichen

Chinna vayasula namba brought up vera swamy

VEda pAtashAalaila padichirundha indha dharma sandeha forumlaye itundhirukka mAtten

Vidwat sadas la participate panni iruppen

Dasanudasan

Kambandasan swami,

Kindly do not mistake my views. This is on your statement :: “சும்மா திரை பாடல்களை அல்லவா மனப்பாடம் செய்தேன். அந்த பாடல்கள் இன்றும் சிறிதே கேட்ட மாத்திரத்தில் அடியேன் மனதை சுலபத்தில் திசை திருப்பிவிடுகின்றன”.

Phylosophical songs attracted me from my school days. It induced spiritual quest making me to think about self and the Creator. This is how my spritual journey commenced. While listening to devotional and other songs, I mentally connect with God. I follow the same even now, whenever I listened to songs.

Regards.

PD Jayaram

Jayaram swamy,

could you kindly remind me which thread I said the quoted part, so that I can read the whole context again and reply accordingly. Thank you.

adiyen dasan.

Kambandasan swami,

This thread itself. Kindly scroll up for ref. It is referred not to pick up any argument.

adiyen

Oh sorry! I had said that in this thread only. See, that is how poor my memory is.

Jayaram swamy, namaskaram. let me please share my understanding of this and how it has worked out in my life.

From Bhagavad Gita 17th chapter we learn that whatever mix of the three gunas one is at the time of death the next life is scripted accordingly. From the ninth chapter we learn that those who are almost mature in devotion at the time of death is provided a great opportunity by birth in the family of a great devotees.

So, the circumstances and environment I faced in childhood is reflection of my level of mixture of the three gunas in my previous life. During childhood I was not exposed to the songs of divya-prabandhams; I can not blame anyone for that; I didn’t have the qualities for receiving such opportunity so I was not born in such circumstances. But at least I was given the opportunity to learn Thirukural and similar satva gunam poetry through school syllabus; but did I put any effort in that direction? No, rather I got attracted to the movie songs effortlessly. So, between two options I choose the worse one! What was the consequence? To begin with, I liked philosophical songs, mostly by Kannandasan and some of his nobel contemporaries. Then the interest gradually degraded to his non-philosophical songs; then it degraded to the level of the likes of vaali – philosophical, soon followed by non-philosophical. (today when I hear the ‘non-philosophical’ lyrics of vaali I feel disgusted!) பிறகு கழுதை தேய்ந்து கட்டெரும்பாக ஆகி, கட்டெரும்பு தேய்ந்து கழிசடை ஆவது போல், my taste degraded to like lyrics of vairamuththu.

பகவத் கீதையில் 14ஆம் அத்தியாயத்தில் குறிப்பிட்டிருப்பது போல, ஆரம்பம் சத்வ குணம் என்று வைத்துக்கொண்டாலும் கூட (உண்மையில் அந்த so called philosophical songs சத்வம் அல்ல), விரைவில் அது ரஜோ குணத்திற்கு தள்ளி அதலபாதால தமோ குணத்தில் எறிந்துவிட்டது. Therefore I conclude that the so called philosophical songs I so eagerly learnt in younger days have no role in my spiritual development today. What actually contributed is the association of some of the devoted relatives, some of the devoted teachers in school, and some devoted friends. Despite my innate tendency for choosing the ‘worse options’, the sat-sangam of these individuals slowly had the purifying effect. When the condition was right, life arranged for me to meet my acharyan and receive his guidance and blessings. It is from that moment my life is going in the right direction; I have started hearing regularly from mahans like our Velukkudi swamy, and associating with sat-sangam in a forum like this.

Do you think I would be able be part of a sat-sangam like this Dharma sandheha forum where people with noble interest in the real goal of life meet and discuss scriptural message, simply based on the strength of the ‘philosophical songs’ I memorised? Definitely not. I’d rather be spending time on other social platforms trying to bolster my ego.

Let us  discuss a little deeper about the ‘philosophical songs’. However hard I think, I can not think of a single movie song that makes a clear Philosophical statement. All we have been hearing in the name of ‘philosophical songs’ is a கூடாஞ்ச்சொறு of some moral principles, mixed with lines that highlight the miseries of life, mixed with a completely confused conception of God. For example song starts with “ஒன்றே குலமேன்று பாடுவோம்….” (speaks about God; seems good), proceeds to “பாவம் என்ற கல்லறைக்கு பல வழி, என்றும் தர்மதேவன் கோயிலுக்கு ஒரு வழி” (this moral instruction also seems good); but then ends with “இதய தெய்வம் நமது அண்ணா தோன்றினார்…”. Thus the song tells people to worship God, follow a righteous path…. but confuses on who God is!

So, if I am in a spiritual path, that too the topmost philosphy of Ramanuja darshanam, it is not because of the philosophical songs; it is despite the contamination of the ‘philosophical songs’. The sole credit for my redemtion goes to the sat-sangam I was fortunate to receive and the pure speech by mahans/ acharyas.

Now when I see those song lyrics in light of what I hear from the acharyas I am able to get something good. The words of acharyas act like the swan bird that can separate milk from all other contaminations, and help me see some good things in the ‘philosophical songs’. Without the guidance of acharyas, the ‘philosophical songs’ will only put me to confusion on who God is, what is my relationship to God, how I should conduct myself in relation to God and other members of His creation. 

This is how my spiritual life commenced and it is proceeding now.

Jayaram swamy, Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to reflect on my past and remember those who have helped along this spiritual path with a grateful heart.

adiyen dasan.

It is referred not to pick up any argument.From pd_jayaram

Jayaram swamy, I didn’t think you are picking an arguement. This forum is an amazing forum where everyone tries to place oneself completely in a humble mood. 

If what I have shared seems like an arguement, kindly bear with me. I really don’t mean to argue. I am just expressing my gratitude to those who helped me in my spiritual journey.

adiyen dasan.

Kambandasan swami,

Namaskaram.

Thanks for expressing your views on my comment. I am also sharing my experience here as a reciprocal.

Whatever I have mentioned are my experience on
Phylosophical songs. There is no doubt for me about the spiritual quest made by the songs. I have taken my experience on songs on positive note. It really played an important role in my spritual journey.

Quote : “Do you think I would be able be part of a sat-sangam like this Dharma sandheha forum …….”.
Why not. Yes. I feel my case is an example. These songs gave a start.

As I mentioned, while listening to devotional and even other songs, I mentally think of God and connect with Him. Many a times I even felt emotional. e.g even a social song ‘endru thaniyum indha sudhandira dhagam’. I imagined moksham here. Similarly with duet songs. I listened to mostly kannadasan song or his contemporaries only. I am talking of 12 to 14 years of age, a period before knowing about Creator or even reading scriptures. I want to mention mainly, “It instilled the interest in spirituality”, though it would not have given much idea on Creator.

I am not referring to gunas here, which as you mentioned got the understanding after reading scriptures.

It is worth to mention here about the great singers / composers like Theagaraja, Annamacharya goes to Layam and get engrossed into the songs.

Mine may an unconventional bhakti. I read that there are 9 types of bhakti. I hope this will fall under one of them.

I was worshipping Supreme God only whenever I go to any temple. I read Gita @ 25 years, then prayed to Him for guidance. Started meditation @ 32 years under an able Guru. Cleaning of samskaras were done as a part of sadhanas. Continued for 14 years. I was in satsang during this period. Had few spiritual experiences. Could not continue because of health issues. Still struggling with health issues. (Would put up post later for answer). I happened to read / listened to some scriptures. But after grosping the essence, I am forgetting. My memory has reduced. I am 58+ now.

I think after surrender, one should not think or worry too much about the last minute before departure or gunas. Just follow what is to be done. My principal is leave it to Him. It is upto Him to do the needful. I prayed for guidance and is really confident that I getting the same from Him through my experience. He knows what is to be given.

I am happy to note your appreciation on songs after getting Spiritual ideas.

Besides all my above scribbling, I am also a man with imperfections struggling in Spiritual journey.

Regards.

Narayana dasan
PD Jayaram

Kambandasan swami,

Namaskaram.

Thank you.

If we think back the incidents and analyse based on the present situation, we may wonder whether things have happened in a pre planned manner as per our sankalpa or our inner desires.

Regards.

adiyen