At The Lord’s Feet…
At The Lord’s Feet… My brother tells me of this sublime experience, shared by millions of others… The temple at Sabarimala opens at three in the morning during the pilgrimage season and other designated days. Lakhs of devotees converge at the Sabari hills for the darshan, enduring many hardships that the forest and the hilly terrain lay out. Right through the day and night, there is an unending stream of pilgrims who trek their way to the Sannidhanam for a second’s glimpse of The Lord. Thousands upon thousands of devotees are always present in the Sabari hill ranges and on the banks of the River Pampa, calling out The Lord’s name and singing songs in His praise. As the night falls, lamps and lights are lit all around, and the pilgrims wait, often braving chilly winds, wild animals and inclement weather. Night birds and insects add their voice to the constant entreaties of the pilgrims and the orders and directions of security personnel. Coming from a million and more gathering, the many sounds of the multitude make the night reverberate with His name repeated endlessly. The evening pooja is over, but The Lord is awake, showering His infinite blessings on the devotees… Comes the stroke of midnight, and it is time for The Lord to sleep and The Temple to close its door till it reopens in another three hours’ time. The public address system comes alive, and the announcement is made… “Harivarasanam…” In a second, silence descends miles around; even the night birds and insects have fallen silent. It is as though nature stands still to let The Lord rest… And then… Harivarasanam… The Lord’s song breaks through the silence in the divine voice of Gaana Gandharvan Yesudas, bringing tears of gratitude to the millions fortunate to live the sublime moment. The song echoes through the misty hills and vales of Sabari, through the forests spread across miles, wafting over the gently flowing River Pampa, giving solace to all His devotees. The head priest and his assisting priests put out the lamps one by one, and as the last Aum is pronounced, The Temple door at the sanctum sanctorum is closed… According to published sources, Harivarasanam was written by Kambangudi Kulathur Iyer and was first sung by Swami Vimochanananda at the Sannidhanam. V.R. Gopala Menon who accompanied the then head priest Easwaran Nampoothiri used to recite Harivarasanam every day as The Temple was closed. After Menon’s death, the head priest himself would recite the divine song. Yesudas, an ardent devotee of Lor Ayyappa, has sung Harivarasanam at Sabarimala which is now played every night as The Temple closes… I haven’t had an occasion to be at Sabarimala when the Harivarasanam is sung. But every time I hear the divine song, I can well understand – and feel - the sublime experience my brother talks about: one has to close one’s eyes, mentally shift oneself to Sabarimala, be on the banks of the River Pampa or at the Sannidhanam or in the sabari hills range on a moonlit night, breathe in the fresh air of the gently swaying forest trees, savour the cool breeze of the hills on one’s body, submit oneself to The Lord… Source of Harivarasanam: Youtube, as above.
And then, Harivarasanam…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_hQ-9qymXQ
harivarasanam is the lullaby to our own soul!the one who want to be with the Lord.Just listen to it in the night , listen to it with the stars twinkling above on a dark starry night, or on a milky night with the moon shining through the velvetty clouds, or on a rainy one, when the pitter patter of the (OLD nursery Rhyme) rain drops in the background, it is a great pacifier, and also if you happen to be at the sannidhanam you witness the silence after the rendition and thank GOD to be alive to witness the Ambience.
SharanamAyyappa!
1You have narratived a sublime experience that won’t get sublimated from the mind of anyone who has visited Sabarimala. I have never had an experience to witness this part of the ceremony. But I had a similar experience in ‘Mukambika’ where the priest would sing a lullaby to put Devi to sleep. It happens around 10 PM I think. The intonation with which they sings it was very enchanting. I have visited sabarimala only twice. For me the most transcendental experience was that walk through forest early morning and witnessing a marvelous sunrise just a KM away from the temple when I visited the first time. The whole temple was bathed in that golden glow creating a profound spiritual aura . For me, that was the most divine experience which , unfortunately , dwindled as I witnessed the clutter inside…You have made those who witnessed ‘Harivarasanam’ to relive that experience through yr beautiful prose…PGR
2Hello Chitra! It was great seeing you here at my iLand after so long! Of course, I do remember you! You were one of my earliest friends in the good old days in the blog-land! Most have migrated from here, but by force of habit, I am still in iLand, though hardly anyone reads rediff blogs any more! Trust all is well with you! Dilip
3Hi Dilip, not sure if you remember me, Chitra, CV on rediff, had blogged a long time back, must be 2007. I came to the blogs page and came across you in my friends’ list. Hope you’re doing fine..:)
A beautiful write, it’s one of the most beautiful devotional songs I’ve heard and none can come any close to the great Yesudas. It’s news to me about this song being played in Sabarimala and the way it is done every day- wonderful! Nice reading you after so long..Take care..:)
4It sounds heavenly, Dilip!
5Very nice.
6Swami Sharanam. I should thank you for writing this and Shivaji for forwarding this to me do that this is the first thing I read on makara sankranti day. Now if that is not a divine blessing I don’t know what it. I have heard this experience narrated by my brother too. Your words here just heightened the experience. Dasettan…. I think even earth stops midspin to listen when he sings Harivarasanam… Someday, I too hope to experience that sublime moment at sabarimala.. Swami Sharanam.
7Very nice to know and feel…
8Swamiye Sharanamayappa!
Your brother shared the sublime experience and you in turn shared it with us in your inimitable style. I wish and hope some day, with His grace, I can experience what you have described here. Meanwhile, I close my eyes and hear our Gaana Gandharvan KJY sing Harivarasanam to feel a part of the sublimity described here.
The silence…….wonderful dilip!
9dat was a wonderful description Dilip. I cud almost c d scenes unfolding. Beautiful.
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