Enna Thavam Seidhanai
Raga: Kapi
Tala: Adi
Composer: Papanasam Sivan
Papanasam Sivan was born as the second son to Ramamritha aiyar and Yogammal at Polagam in Tanjore District on 26.9.1890. He was given the name of ‘Ramaya’ by his parents. He came to be called Papanasam Sivan by the inhabitants of Ganapathy Agraharam, Tanjore district in 1912 when they were all attracted to the Siva temple in that village at dusk, while Sivan was praying to the Deity singing ‘Arum Ponne Maniye’ with a voice full of fervour. He started composing songs as early as in 1910 and who used to sing them himself. While singing he always closed his eyes and he had expressed that he was on such occasions in communion with god.After 10 years of relentless work and purposeful concentration, Sivan compiled and brought out a rhyming Sanskrit Dictionary titled ‘Samskritha Bhasha Sabhata Samudhraha’ in 1952 (Vadamozhi Sorkadal). The last works of Sivan were ‘Sri Rama Charitha Geetham’ ,the Ramayana epic sung in 24 stanzas in 24 ragas and ‘Kaaraikkal Ammaiyar Charitham’ , Both these operas have been published in book form.
Enna Thavam Seidhanai portrays a mother’s love for her child through the love that Mother Yashodha shows to young Lord Krishna. The dancer portrays how Mother Yashoda adores and conditions baby Krishna. Additionally, the poet asks Mother Yashodha what penance she did to get Lord Krishna himself as her child and to hear him call her “Mother”. Lastly, the piece describes how Saints and divine beings are jealous that even after doing so much penance, they could not obtain the grace of Lord Krishna.
Pallavi
Enna thavam seithanayo , Yasoda ,
Engum nirai Prabrahmam , Amma yendru azhaikka
Anupallavi
Eerezhu bhuvanangal padithavanai,
Kayil yendi ,Seeratti, palooti , thalatta nee
Charanam
1.Brahmanum , indranum manathil poramai kolla,
Uralil katti, Vai Pothi kenja vaithai thaye
2.Sanakadhiyar thava yogam seidhu varundhi,
Santhithadai punitha mathe , elithil pera
English Translation
Pallavi
What great penance you did, Yasoda,
To make the divine God who is everywhere,
Call you as mother, What penance you did
Anupallavi
To hold the creator of the fourteen worlds,
In your hand , hug , feed milk and sing lullabies,
What great penance you did
Charanam
1.What penance you did for,
Making Brahma and Indra greatly jealous,
You tied him to a pounding stone, close his lips,
And beg pardon from you.
2.To get easily, what was got,
By Sage Sanaka and others by doing great penance
What penance did you do