(harichandran) 01 The Prayer Songs. Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

(harichandran) 01 The Prayer Songs.

Rating: 2.8


This story is from the famous epic Mahabharat and has been retold by many authours in several languages. The Father of Nation, Mahatma Gandhi loved this story for its moral that speaks of faith in the truth, honesty and courage. Some 600 years ago, a famous Tamil Poet Veerakavirayar wrote in Tamil Harichandran Puranam in the Tamil Venba style. He was an Aasu Kavi (Spontaneous Poet) next to Kalamegam of ancient times. It is next to impossible to translate his work in English word by word. He has written more than 1000 verses running to more than 600 pages. I have, however, brought in some of his excellence in about 76 pages in my own simple style for the reading pleasure of the world poetry lovers. The readers are requested to send their comments to my email address: rajaram1931@gmail.com, for which I will be grateful to them. The story goes starting with a prayer song to Gods in the heaven.

Prayer to Lord Ganesh.

Oh the merciful Lord Ganesh,
It’s my only humble wish,
That You grant me a boon,
Sooner or later, better soon.

When You dance in single,
I hear Your anklets jingle!
How happy I become.
Here, when You come!

Your elephant face is one
That attracts everyone!
To grant our every wish,
You’re the first One to rush.

You remove our every hurdle,
And free us from our struggle.
By your mercy, we have fame
And each one, a popular name.

I’ve with me to give you,
My humble respects for you,
Besides my offer of cane juice,
Pressed rice, and fruit juice.

For this, you grant my wish,
That I shall, with no blemish,
Write on the life of a King,
An exceptional human being.

His name was Harichandran.
In Solar race, he was born.
The world, in praise, to sing,
Allow me, his story to bring.

Prayer to Lord Shiva

From Brahma, the Creator,
Vishnu, the Protector,
And Shiva, the Destroyer,
I seek next their favour.

Shiva gave His consort,
Left half of his body part,
To reveal to this world,
Shiva-Sakthi in one fold.

He represents Vedas four,
Sama, Adarvana, Rig, Yajur,
And is spread in five elements,
Earth, water, fire, air, space.

From His invisible form,
He comes out, some time,
And takes a visible form,
To please His devotees.

The beautiful crescent moon,
O’er His head, he has worn.
He takes pride in Tamil,
And likes to be praised well.

Two of His divine children,
Lord Ganesh, Lord Murugan,
His two merciful creations,
Offer us all the protections.

To Lord Shiva’s lotus feet,
This only request, I submit.
Let me write on this King,
Who gave up everything.

Prayer to Mother Kaalli

Your names are many,
As sweet as the honey,
Oh merciful Mother Kaalli
You’re seated o’er Yaalli.

Allow me to keep your feet
O’er my head, when I write
The noble story of Harichandran,
Who was an extra-ordinary man.

Prayer to Goddess Kalaimagal

Oh Goddess Kalaimagal
Give me all the skill
To write about this King,
Who was, for truth, fighting.

Appeal to the wise men

Oh you, the wise men, listen,
May I request your pardon,
If there’s any unknown fault
In whatever I may write.

With milk, water gets mixed.
With paddy, husks get mixed.
With garland, thread gets mixed.
So, are my words, good and bad mixed

I appeal to the wise all
To take my good ones well,
And leave away the rest,
That may not sound best.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Sandra Fowler 30 July 2008

A bouquet of good wishes and applause for your dedicated work. Your creative energy is always to be commended. I am interested to learn that Mahatma Gandhi loved the story of Harichandran. He has always been much admired in the West. The Prayer Songs are gracefully and eloquently written. Take care. Warm regards, Sandra

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Sathyanarayana M V S 31 July 2008

Amazing! A Hindu mythological story can be told like this in such beautifully structured rhymed form of English poetry, without again leaving the Traditional Hindu way of telling the story. My heartfelt regards to you Sir sathya narayana

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Chitra - 02 August 2008

yet another masterpiece, gem of a write!

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Kesav Easwaran 02 August 2008

Man proposes God disposes… Before every action in life we should remember this truth. It is obligatory on the part of humans to pray God before commencing every job to get wishes efforts fulfilled unobstructed… It is up to Him only to heed to such requests be them deserving undeserving… Ganesha or Vigneshwara is God’s one thus Attribute among many; His Discretionary Power… Commencing here is a great literary work by a great poet...10/10

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Dr.subhendu Kar 03 August 2008

the benign prayers to God and Goddess of Hindu religion for the blessing as when trudging the path of life across the journey onto the finale, as we are always indebted to Almighty for His blessing for our mortal raves up, the very unequalled mysticism by the life, yet a master piece, i salute thee with all my reverences for the glorious work when written in golden colors for the living universal, excellent composition by the original author too. really most splendid prayers.

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Ganesha is our first God who is installed when good sork is to be performed.. beautiful one......10

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Ahmad Shiddiqi 09 May 2009

very Classic and magnificent writing! like Ravi Shankar on words!

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Your contribution here is a real treasure trove of Hindu literature.I'm really glad I found your works today.i'm going to give you a ten and I plan to read everything.I might not comment on every page but I will give you tens.Thank you so much for your work.....

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Reshma Ramesh 05 November 2008

wow.......amazing....well done sir...........keep it up

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Ashraful Musaddeq 10 September 2008

A wonderful job is done by you. Thanks.

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READ THIS POEM IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Rajaram Ramachandran

Rajaram Ramachandran

Chennai born, now at Juhu, Mumbai, India
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