Kanda Shasti Kavasam

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Shiva, in Chennimalai near Erode. It was composed in the 19th century.[2]

Composition

The hymn was composed in the 19th century by Balan Dhevaraya Swami.[3] The place where Devaraya Swami staged the hymn is the Chennimalai Subramania Swamy Temple near Erode in Tamil Nadu.[4] The lines 'Chiragiri Velavan' in the hymn refers to the lord of Chennimalai.[5]

Description

The song consists of a total of 244 lines, including four introductory lines known as the kāppu, followed by a couple of meditational lines and the main song portion consisting of 238 lines known as the "Kavacham." The grammar employed in the introductory part is the Nerisai Venba and that of the meditational part is the

Tirukkural. The "Kavacham" part follows the grammar of Nilai Mandila Asiriyappa. The plan of the song is as follows:[2]

Invocation
Main Song
  • Lines 1-16 Author invites the deity to the devotee
  • Lines 17-27 Mantras are used to invite the deity presented to the devotee
  • Lines 28-32 Upon using mantras, the divine light and the presence of the deity is felt
  • Lines 33-45 Author describes the way the deity looks at the devotee
  • Lines 46-54 Author strings the sounds of the deity's footsteps and anklets into mantras
  • Lines 55-56 Depict the swiftness of the deity in coming to the rescue of His devotee
  • Lines 57-58 Surrendering of the devotee to the deity and the devotee's prayers unto Him
  • Lines 59-95 Praising the deity, these lines concern with the protection of individual parts of the body
  • Lines 96-102 Concerns with the deity's saving of His devotee at all times of the day
  • Lines 103-129 Concerns with the eradication of vicious effects of demons and devils
  • Lines 130-140 Concerns with prayer to God's Messenger to release the devotee from the vicious cycle of birth and death
  • Lines 141-148 Concerns with the protection from wild and venomous animals
  • Lines 149-157 Concerns with freedom from diseases
  • Lines 158-159 Prayer to maintain a cordial relationship with others
  • Lines 160-175 Praises the deity by His various names and His divine deeds
  • Lines 176-177 Worshiping goddess
    Saraswati
    , the goddess of knowledge
  • Lines 178-186 Describes the divine power of the Sacred Ash (Vibuthi) and its effects
  • Lines 187-192 Praises the deity
  • Lines 193-199 Seeks asylum in the deity
  • Lines 200-208 Describes the procedures for reciting the song
  • Lines 209-214 Describes the divine effects of the song
  • Lines 215-219 Describes the effects of the song on evil elements
  • Lines 220-234 Praises the divine deeds of the deity
  • Lines 235-238 Salutation and complete surrender of the self unto the deity

The author's name is mentioned twice in the song, first in Line 64 and then in Line 201.[2]

Poetic form

The song employs Nilai Mandila Asiriyappa, one of the poetic forms in the Tamil language. The armour and meditation parts of the Introduction section employ the

Kural venba metre, respectively.[2]

Nerisai Venpa (Prayer)

Tamil Version[6] English Translation

Thuthiporkku val vinai pom, Thunpam pom,
Nenjil pathiporkku selvam palithu kadithongum
Nishtayum kaikoodum
Nimalar Arul kanthar sashti kavacham thanai

The sufferings great and sorrow will vanish for those who pray,
The riches will increase for those who remember it in their mind,
All penance will surely bear fruit
By this Shashti Kavacham written by the grace of God.

Kural Venpa (Protection)

Tamil Version[6] English Translation
அமர ரிடர்தீர அமரம் புரிந்த
குமரனடி நெஞ்சே குறி.

Amarar idartheera amaram purintha
Kumaranadi nenjeh kuri.

Mind, oh mine, meditate
On the feet of that Young God,
Who waged the war,
To end the problems of devas, great.

Music

The Kavasam has been set in music by various musicians over the years. The most notable of them all is that sung by the duo Rajalakshmi and Jayalakshmi, popularly known as the

Madhyamavathi.[8]

Significance

Sashti is the day that Murugan defeated the asura

peacock, which he took as his vahana. The other became a rooster, which and was transformed into his banner
.

The devas rejoiced—they praised the deity and prayed to him for six days. Devotees usually narrate the Kanda Sashti Kavacham during this period. Whoever fasts and prays to

Murugan
for the six days of Kanda Sashti is believed to receive Muruga's blessings. Those who are unable to fast all day can eat once a day or twice a day during this period depending on their health, age and will.

Devotees believe that regular chanting of this song causes the predicaments of life to be resolved and that chanting the full song 36 times a day brings wealth.

The hymn is highly popular in the Tamil-speaking diaspora across the globe that the phrases from the hymn, its music, and others are often imitated by people from all walks of life. The titles of the Tamil movie Kaakha Kaakha, Thadaiyara Thaakka, Thakka Thakka and the Indian soap opera Kakka Kakka are taken from the Kanda Shasti Kavasam. The Tamil film song “Padhinettu Vayadhu Ilamottu Manadhu” from the movie Surieyan imitates the tune of the hymn.[9][10]

Controversy

In July 2020, Karuppar Kootam, a Periyarist-Dravidian group, posted a YouTube video with an interpretation of the hymn that many Hindus around the world considered to be vulgar and offensive.[4] Soon after the incident, following a complaint filed by the Bharatiya Janata Party Tamil Nadu with the Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai City, the Tamil Nadu Police arrested two members of the YouTube channel.[11][12]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Kandha Shashti Kavasam". AppAgg. 2020-07-07. Retrieved 2022-09-12.
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-93-80541-08-2
    .
  3. ^ Krishnan, Valaiyappetai R. (31 October 2016). "சஷ்டி கவசம் பிறந்த கதையை தெரிஞ்சுக்கோங்க! [Know the story of Kanda Shasti Kavasam]". Vikatan.com. Vikatan Publications. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Kanda Sashti Kavacham controversy: TN police tells YouTube to block channel". The Federal. Chennai: TheFederal.com. 20 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  5. ^ "சென்னிமலையின் திகட்டாத தேனமுதன் கட்டுரை [The uncloying essay of Chennaimalai]", Kumudham Jodhidam, 28 March 2008
  6. ^ a b Shashti Kavasam in English. murugan.org
  7. ^ "Music: Profiles of Artistes, Composers, Musicologists". saigan.com. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  8. ^ "Music: Profiles of Artistes, Composers, Musicologists". saigan.com. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  9. ^ "How Kandha Sashti Kavasam helped Suriya, Vikram, Ajith & Arun Vijay!". The Times of India. 18 July 2020. Archived from the original on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  10. ^ Ramanujam, Srinivasa (18 May 2020). "Deva interview: 'Kushi' proved that I could do more than just 'gaana'". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  11. ^ Soundararaj, Sivaranjani (17 July 2020). "Kanda Sashti Kavasam controversy Surendran surrenders in Pondicherry police Station". News Bricks. Puducherry: NewsBricks.com. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  12. ^ "Kandha Shashti Kavasam controversy: Surendran surrenders at Puducherry police station". DT Next. Puducherry: Daily Thanthi. 16 July 2020. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
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