Social reformer who was a visionary
PREMA NANDAKUMAR
NARAYANA GURU — Complete Works: Translated and Introduced by Muni Narayana Prasad; National Book Trust, A-5, Green Park, New Delhi-110016. Rs. 200.
Eminent Advaitins like Swami Vivekananda and Narayana Guru have also been social activists with a transforming touch. Narayana Guru (1854-1928) was a gift of the Time Spirit to caste-ridden Kerala. Swift was his action in bringing about the emancipation of the “lower” castes without rejecting the germane portions of the Sanatana Dharma. He knew that religious faith focussed the energies and aspirations of the common man towards self-improvement. So he built tem
ples and wrote hymns. At the same time his penance continued to draw him into his inner spaces and engaged him in writing philosophical poems.
The publisher has done well to ask Muni Narayana Prasad to prepare the complete works of Narayana Guru in English translation. Some of them are already available thanks to disciples like Nataraja Guru and Nitya Chaitanya Yati. But another version is always welcome.
Translation
The inner coherence of the Guru’s works which were written in Sanskrit, Tamil or Malayalam laid new pathways for the aspirant. Put in simple terms, the essence of the Guru’s philosophy is that Brahman (Atman, cit, consciousness) is the ultimate truth: “The phenomenal appearance of the world and of oneself happens in that one Reality owing to the creative urge called Maya inherent in it. This drama goes on unhindered as a sort of divine sport.” The hymns addressed to gods like Vinayaka, Vishnu, Bhadrakali and Siva reveal his immersion in the Upanishads. The translator opts for simple words in everyday parlance to lead us into the immediate presence of the Guru. The variations in the Guru’s approach to the Ultimate Reality are delineated with clarity. We have even a fine “ninda stuti” in “Ardhanarisvara Stavam”. Addressing Siva to succour the people of Aruvipuram suffering from a drought, the Guru asks a pertinent question:
“Look, all the three worlds
Are in ruin now.
And you, carrying
The illustrious water
on your head
Remain in
constant Self-absorption!
Why is it so?”
The Guru shows that soulful prayers to Siva can bring the mind under control, and chase away the miseries that attack the aspirant. There are then the verses, Tevarapatikankal, inspired by the Tamil Nayanmars which record that one can experience the Ultimate Reality as Ananda consciousness.
Muni Narayana Prasad’s task becomes harder with the philosophical poems, but he takes them in his stride. So we get “Atmopadesa Satakam”, “Darsana Mala” and “Nirvriti Panchakam”, among others. There are also poems on the avoidance of eating meat and the need to reject caste-born differences.
The Guru’s “Anukampa Dasakam” helps activate the finer shades in one’s character. Remember, “He who loves is, Who really lives.” This work is an intensely human document that ought to be the proud possession of everyone committed to our Sanatana Dharma.
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