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		Sri Sri Swamiji's 'Kali Dharma Undiyar'

Sri Sri Swamiji has blessed the world with “Kalidharma Undiyaar” to establish the glory of the path of Namasankirtan, which is the easiest in this Age of Kali. It is common for all beings sans any kind of discrimination, advised by our Shaastras as the best way for this Age and the only way that can be followed by anyone.

From the start of Sri Krishna Janmaashtami Brahmotsav, 2006, several kirtans were flowing in a gush from Sri Sri Swamiji who was in deep ‘bhaava’. It was in this state that one late evening, standing in front of Sri Premika Varadan-Madhuri Sakhi sannidhi,

Sri Sri Swamiji was singing Krishna Kirtan even as he was doing ‘anukarana’ [enacting in dance form, with deep spiritual bhaava]. All of a sudden Sri Sri Swamiji stopped the singing and ‘anukarana’ and softly uttering ‘Undi para’, sat down!

No sooner had he sat on the floor than he began to sing, ‘Virodamaam imbhoodangal’!

At once, one of the devotees standing close by began to write it down on a piece of paper.

The verses began to flow from Sri Sri Swamiji one after another in quick succession and this devotee was equal to the task of writing it down. In this manner did all the 30 verses come out of Sri Sri Swamiji, in a very short time. These 30 verses were not sung in the order that it is found now. Later, in keeping with tradition and general practice, a prayer was written and added at the start by Sri Sri Swamiji and the 30 verses were rearranged as found now.

In “Kalidharma Undiyaar” Sri Sri Swamiji at first proves the existence of the omnipotent God logically to the Atheists and to those who hold ‘Nature’ as the cause of the Universe. Sri Sri Swamiji then firmly establishes the very reason for creation being attainment of God by each and every one of us.

He also points out, ‘the path chosen for the attainment of Liberation should be one shown by the Vedas,’ and adds, ‘nevertheless, the path thus chosen [from the Vedas] should be suitable to this Age.’

Sri Sri Swamiji without condemning the high paths of Karma, Jnaana and Yoga in any manner explains and clarifies how these paths are not conducive to this Age of Kali whence all minds are impure and there is none with a pure mind. He then goes on to confirm that in this dreadful Age of Kali the easiest and the best suited for today’s lifestyle and also the highest path that can make God of man is verily “NAMASANKIRTAN’!

‘Undiparathal’ is a traditional game of girls just like ‘ammaanai’, ‘kolaattam’, ‘gummi’, etc. These verses have been sung in this style of ‘Undiyaar’. Sri Sri Swamiji has used simple Tamizh terms that everyone can understand.

Though no reference has been made here to any particular Deity, Sri Sri Swamiji says that chanting the Divine Names of the One who is the Lord of all, the Primordial Being, One who is the cause of the Divine Play – creation, sustenance and destruction – is the right dharma for the Age of Kali.

• Text:
  
  Mutthozhil purindum puriyaadirukkum
  Mudalvaa charanam undeepara!
  Muktthikku vithiduvaai undeepara!

• Synonyms
  
  muthozhil purindum – in spite of carrying on the three functions of creation, sustenance and destruction,
  puriyaadirukkum – not carrying out
  Mudalvaaa charanam – Primordial Being! I surrender unto you.
  muktthikku – for Liberation
  vitthiduvaai – show the way

• Verse meaning:

  Oh, Lord! I surrender unto you who remain a non-doer in spite of carrying on the three functions of creation, sustenance and destruction. Please show me the way to Liberation!

• Commentary

  It is the tradition to begin a Text with a prayer to the Lord. In keeping with that tradition this “Kalidharma Undiyaar” that establishes the philosophy of the Divine Name [“Naama Siddhaanata”], enlightening “Namasankirtan” as the easiest path to attain God, begins with a prayer to the Almighty.

  God performs the three functions of creating all the worlds with the innumerable living beings in them, sustaining them and finally resting them unto Himself. A magician casts his spell on the onlookers but never is he caught in it. Likewise, the Lord who performs these functions through His Maya called ‘prakriti’ remains beyond Maya. Therefore, God remains a ‘non-doer’ though ‘doer’ of the three functions! But if the one caught in the net of Maya desires to disentangle himself he should surrender unto the one who has spread the net. Only when the magician lifts his spell is one able to come out of it. As the one who has cast the spell of ‘samsaara’ [life] is the greatest magician [casting spell even on the magicians!] we surrender unto Him, pleading, “Oh, Lord! Please show me a way out!”

  There is yet another purport to this.

  “Oh, Lord! I remain ignorant of you who perform the three functions of creating this wonderful world, sustaining and finally destroying it! Further, there are people who deny your very existence! Oh, Lord! How deep is our ignorance that we fail to know you who carry on the three functions! It is by your Grace that I surrender unto you. Please show me the way that leads to you!”

  [A very interesting feature can be found in this prayer. This prayer verse is very similar to the first verse of Srimad Bhaagavatam, the Holy Text that forms the very basis for Namasankirtan. Srimad Bhaagavatam says, “The Supreme Being from whom the three functions [creation, sustenance and destruction] emanate, the cause of existence of this universe without whom it [the universe] has no separate existence, on that Truth let us meditate!” It is amazing that the prayer verse of “Kalidharma Undiyaar” that establishes the Siddhanta of the Divine Name [“Naam Siddhaanta”] has also been sung along similar lines!]

• Verse 1 Text:
  
  virOthamAm aiymbhoothangaL ozhungil iruppathAl
  virOtham iyarkkai vAtham undeepara !
  virOthamAm nAththikamum undeepara !

• Verse Meaning:
  
  The five elements viz. Earth, water, fire, wind and space, though opposed to each other function in an orderly way. Therefore, the case that the world has come into existence by itself contradicts the Truth and atheism that refutes God also does not fit in.

• Commentary:
  
  Everything in this world is the combination of earth, water, fire, air and space is indisputable truth. Every one of us can observe the fact that this world which is made up of the five opposing elements functions in an orderly fashion!

  The Sun rises in the east and in the evening sets in the west! The Moon is visible at night.

  There are innumerable stars and planets in space. Each one of them stays in its place in space. What would be the fate if any one of these were to hit against our earth?

  The vast and deep ocean stays within its boundaries! A day has only 24 hours. When everything functions in a controlled, orderly fashion how can the argument of ‘Nature’ taking care of itself be accepted? Even Science accepts the need for a controlling power to maintain orderliness in any sphere! Disorderliness is the nature of things and a power is required to bring about orderliness is the hypothesis of scientists.

  The argument that this orderly world has come into existence by itself is wrong. The Atheist argument denying the existence of God is also baseless due to the very fact that there is One who is the power controlling and conducting the world in an organized manner. This can be illustrated with the pot and the potter – none can deny the fact that where there is a pot there has to be the maker of the pot. Likewise, can one refuse to accept the controller of this colossal, wonderful, amazing and orderly world? One may refer to it by any name – Shakti [power], God, etc. but it cannot be refuted. Therefore, Atheism and the case of “Nature” are not right.

Sriman Nigamãntha Desikan, a great Vaishnava Saint lived from mid-thirteenth to mid-fourteenth century- 1268-1369. Of the innumerable 'Granthas' (texts) written by Him the highly revered and considered as the most extraordinary piece is His "Pãduka Sahasram" - a thousand verses on the 'Pãduka' of Lord Ranganãtha. The Saint has in all composed 1008 verses, the last eight apologizing in all humility for daring to compose these 1000 verses on the Pãduka!

Sri Desikan's contemporary Sri Appayya Dikshitar had written a commentary on the "Pãduka Sahasram" but unfortunately it has been lost.

Avadheerita Sãdhu padhateenãm
alasãnãm madhuvairi Pãduke dve!
yitaretarasãhacharyamittam
pratipanne yiva daivapourushe nah ||          (766)

Oh! Twin-Paduke!
   You two together guiding us
   appears to illustrate to us,
   who have
   forsaken the ways of Sadhus and are also lazy,
   the need for both
   Divine Grace and human effort!

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